Full text of "Lectures on primitive Christianity in doctrine, experience, worship, discipline and mannners : as it appeared in the church at Jerusalem in the time of the Apostles; also on the epistle to the church at Sardis and on the faithful in the days of Malachi, interspersed with notes, reflections, and addresses with a view to awaken a becoming zeal for the communion of saints, in order and love"

See other formats

^■■f

«w«» T«^ff- ^■^5^' -»«l^

j>>^'

i:^ 5:i 3::=3 ^^. ..^^ s:^. ^2^

OF THE
AT

PRINCETON, N. J.

S^ A MUEL AaNE^V,

OK PHILADELPHIA, PA.

QTo.

Pl^mA/ cJ^ /«d'fJL^§^iX'^

5>03<;^^©3''

^0 '^^^^^ Divi5,on.OC<(^..|^^^?^^^'^

: 'W' «*' *»^

LECTURES

O N

Primitive Christianity :

I N

iD<ft£TRiNE, Experience, Worship^
Discipline, and Manners, as it
appeared in the Church at 'Jeriijalem^
.^^^'^''^ in the Time of the Apoflles.

ALSO

On the Epistle to the Church at Sardis. And
on the Faithful in the Days of MalacM,

INTERSPERSED WITH

if^OTES, REFLECTIONS, and ADDRESSES.

With a View to awaken a becoming Zeal for the Com^

munion of Saints, in Order and Love.

* '' \ 'I , ' li' ' 'f \^-/ » \ i .1, Li ,

By BENJAMIN WALL EN.

•——And exhorted them all, that with Purpofe of Heart they
would cleave unto the Lord. Acts xi. 23.

LONDON:

Printed for the Author;

And fold by MefT. Robinson, Keith, Gardiner, Tomkins»

DiLLY, BucKLAND, and Johnson.

PiU§ bgwnd Six SMlUngs, or Five Si^lli.ngs fewsd,

PRE F A'^e^-E:"

THESE Ledures are the fubflance of
what I delivered fome years ago ; many
of which were compofed oh a rcqueft for pub-
Jifhing two Volumes on a vari-.ty of fubjeds,
containing thofe hefe prefented the Reader. I
Toon found the undertaking interrupt me in the
more important duties of my office, and there-
fore laid it afide, with little or no expeftatioil
of reaffuming the deflgn ; but laft Summer,
being called off, for a feafon, from my ftated
miniftrations, I revifed the manufcript^ and '
went forward with the work, which providence
gave me a further opportunity of purfuing, by
laying me under a partial confinement, through
a cafualty, under which my life was mercifully
fpared -, thus it was finifhed. And if my at-
tempt to improve this occafional leifure fhould
in any degree promote the kingdom of God, I

a 2 Ihali

iv PREFACE.

fliall have reafon to rejoice in the afflidionv
and adore his wifdom and power, whofe plea-
fure it is to. bring good out of evil.

Thanks be to God, the churches have reft,
and liberty of confcience is preferved by our
gracious fovereign the King, and his Parlia-
ment, v.'ho are over us under the mofl High,
unto whom we are more efpecially indebted,
who vievv the doctrines and precepts of fcrip-
ture in a light different from the popular opi-
nion, and are obliged to practice accordingly.
May this invaluable privilege be improved, by
walking in the fear of the Lord, as the primi-
tive difciples, in Judea and Samaria, after the
firft perfecution, that in like manner, through
the comfort and operations of the Holy Gholl,
we may abundantly increafe»

The profane and immoral condufl: of maa^y
of every rank, in the nation, may juflly alarm
us ! We are notorioully given to pleafures, at
a time when providence calls us to mourning

and

PREFACE. V

and falling; witnefs the cries of the induflrious
poor, under a long continued fcarcity of almoft
every kind of provifion, &c. but the ignorance
and diforder of many, who by their holy pro-
feffion, fhould be as lights of the world, and
the fait of the earth, is ft' 11 more threatning.
What intercouric wini heaven is held in private,
f leave-, but, in all appearance, family-devotioa
is much negledted, nor will it comport with the
manner of lite in fafnion with moil •, and with
refpc(5b to focial religion of a more public na-
ture, it is notorioufly flighted ; the pious, of eve-
ry name, lament a growing negle6l of particular
chriftian communion in the land. The multi-
tude, whofe god is their belly, and who break
the fabbath continually, in purfuit of fenfual
delights, more and more fill the roads and pub-
lic-houfes, inftead of attending the houfe of
the Lord, v»'hile the hearers of the word, in
general, regard not the peculiar inflitutions of
Chrill. In the nationalchurch, every native,
who is fprinkled by her miniiter, is confidered
a member, and as fuclr, on a teftimony of

a 3 com-

vi PREFACE.

competent knowledge, faith and fobriety, enti-
tled to confirmation by the bifhop, and through
his hands to the table of the Lord ; yet how few
claim the privilege! And what excufe can be
made for Diflenters, who feparate under a no-
tion of zeal for the purity of worfliip, and at
the fame time negled: ordinances they allow to
be of divine authority j neverthelefs their num-
ber in cornmunion is comparatively fmall ; yea,
in fome inftances, it is melancholy to fee how
little a church is covered with a large congre-
gation or audience! It may be queftioned, with
grief, what people under heaven, fo generally
omit the principal difiinguifhing rites of their
religion, as thofe who call themlelves chriftians,
not excepting them who pafs under the vene-
rable and glorious name of Proteftants ; ftridl-
Jy fpeaking, there is but little fellowfhip among
them, in gofpel-order, according to their own
particular fentiments. The Lord's-fupper, that
criterion of fellowihip, in which we commemo-^
rate the fufferings of the Saviour, whofe atone-
ment is the ground of our hope ; a feaft which

PREFACE.

he has commanded his dL'liples frequently to
keep till he comes j alas, how is it in a manner
laid afide ! Can we think ic was thus when a
law was enafted to difqualify perfons, who had
not taken the facrament at church within a few
months ? Surely the communion-table was then
more frequented in the nation than now, and,
can we reflect: without blufhing, on the ihameful
omifllon of this principal teil of our obedience
to Chrilt ?

But, why do I trouble the Reader about the
communion of faints, in this or the other parti-
cular form ? We are fallen in a day when ma-
ny devoutly difclaim it. It is now very com-
mon to make light of ordinances, and even for
ferious perfons to talk as if they valued them-
felves on being of no denomination of chrlftians ;
if a man, fay they, loves Jefus Chrifr, or a
pr-eacher fets forth the mercy of the Father in
him, we have no concern about his form of
religion ; yet they cry up the martyrs, many of
whom might have faved their treafure and
a 4 blood,

VUI

PREFACE.

blood, had they made no confciencc of the au^
.thority of Chrift in his houfe. The upright will
deprecate a me e name, under any form, how-
eyer agreeable to the didlates of fcripture, but
if a man intends by his being of no denomina-
tion, that he regards not the manner of fervice
appointed by tne Lord ; where is his religion ?
They who blame an adherence to peculiar
niodes, and boafl: in their freedom to a variety
in religious fervice, do well to conlider, that
there is certainly a right way of worfliip, pre-
fcribed by the fole King of faints. I may inno-
cently miflake the fenfe of his order, but indif-
ference about it can be no proper evidence of
my devotion to his will. Indeed if it' be a mat-
ter of no importance how God is worOiipi^ed,
the voluntary fufferings, exile, and ruin of in-»
numerable perfons and families, who gave am-
ple proof of their real piety, and alfo of their
good uiiderftanding, was the height of folly and
madnefs; yea, and ftill more, the orders of the
fanduary by our Lord and his infpired apoftles^
in his name, are impertinent, which no fober

perform

PREFACE. U

perfon will admit. The truth Is, that to wor»
ihip God in the way that he hath appointed, is
an abfolute duty under every di^penfation. Je-
hovah alone is the objed of worfhip, and it is
his prerogative to direct the manaer in which
his fervants lliali wait upon him j this is left
with Jefus, the head of the church, who before
his afcention, charged his minifters with teach-
ing the people to obferve all things whatever he
hath commanded them, to the end of the world,
which includes, if not principally intends, the
orders of his houfe; fo that while the world
ftands, his difciples are to be taught to worfhip
in the particular way he has prefcribed, and no
other, but how this confifts with an indifference
about the mode of religion, is hard to conceive.
Some reprefent the order of fervice as only the
garb or drefs of religion ; be it fo ; it fhould be
remembered, that there is a uniform eflablifhed
by the infinite wifdom of our divine lawgiver,
which belongs to the obedience of faith, and
which cannot be defpifed, without affronting the
Majefty of heaven, pouring contempt on the

authority

X PREFACE.

authority of the Son of God, and danger of
fuperftition.

It is an allowed criterion of piety, that we
efteem thofe who fear God of every name, and
take pleafure in the fpread of his gofpel. If
Chrift is preached, and the power of godlinefs
prevails, by whomfoever, or in whatever parti-
cular form of profeflion, his minifters and peo-
ple rejoice ; yet, if judicious ; not fo but that
wherein a man appears defective, in any doc-
trine of the gofpel, or article of inftituted wor-
fhip, they mull wilh him to know the way of
the Lord more perfedly, and confequently, ra-
ther in meeknefs point out his raiftake than
join him in his error ; and, furely, my love to
thofe who differ from me in fome points of
chrillianity, may confid v/ith a confcientious re-
gard to every appointment of my Lord. Cha-
rity and truth are effential, and never to be fe-
paraced. That love which abounds in know-
ledge and in all judgment will be fincere, in-
oficnfive, fruitful and abiding, and is much to

PREFACE.

be dtfired. In a word, that notion of charity,
that renders the fubjed indifferent about any-
thing which he is perfuaded to be the will of
Chrift, is falfe and pernicious ; it tends to cap-
tivate the minds of men from the authority of
God, and lap the foundation of all true reli-
gion, it is therefore dangerous when, under
any pretence, perfons are taught to be un-
concerned about the appointed form of wor-
ftiip ; it fhould rather be commended to every one
to fearch the fcripture, and keep to that which
his confcience direds, and regard not the cenfures
of men.

Another thing which eclipfes our glory,
is this, namely, the little concern of many,
•who have a name in the churches, to under-
ftand the nature, or pradice the duties of their
facred covenant with one another in the Lord ;
hence they cleave not together, but are rather
averfe to the unity and order which are ap-
pointed, and needful to anfwer the purpofe of
particular fellowHiip j this deflroys the founda-
tion

xii PREFACE.^

tion of godly difcipline, from whence alone
can be expected the purity and mutual advan-
tage to be hoped fox in chriftian fociety.

It is gratefully acknowledged, that notwith-
ftandingthefe defe6ts, there is one thing prevail-
ing, efpecially in the capital cities, which is highly-
commendable ; many copy after the firft difci-
ples at Jerufalem in a rich liberality, on every
occafion •, this bountiful fpirit is not confined
to any particular kdc, but reigns among all
forts of people, to the honor of the age, but to
the fhame of thofe who are not to be moved by
the mod flriking and popular example -, may
this hopeful fymptom, under all our juft com-
plaints, continue and become univerfal, that a
bleffing in flore from on high being poured our
upon us, we may revive and flourilli again !
but at prefent \ye have to bewail our many
backflidings in other refpeds, with the tokens
of the divine difpleafure upon us ; alas the fear-
city of able and acceptable minillers ; how few
the inftances of convcrfion ! and how little com-
fort

PREFACE.

Xlll

fort and joy in our aflemblles •, wh^e many
wander, or mourn as fheep without a fhepherd,
the ordinances of the fandiuary are but in too
many inftances as dry breads and a mifcarryino-
womb! Under thefe fad circumftances, ihall
it be thought unfeafonabJe that we advert to
the fimplicity and zeal of the firft chriftians,
with whom the Lord dwelt, that following the
original pattern of piety and brotherly love,
we may in like manner rejoice in his prefence
and blefling ?

To thefe valuable ends, and for the help of
young and ordinary chriftians, I drew up the
following papers, in accomplifliing which I
have confulted feveral writers in this and the
century paft, from whom I hav? found myfclf
obliged, with due refped, to differ in feveral in-
ftances, for I write to pleale no man, and at the
fame time would give no juft offence to any
who are otherwife minded, nor will it offend
the ingenuous, that I have freely declared my

thoughts

xiv PREFACE.

thoughts on every point, as it fell in my way j
this liberty is granted, when the rules of decency
are not tranf^reffed.

My title will, I hope, be allowed, and not
deemed a magifterial air, to which I have as
litde inclination as pretence. What led me
into this choice was the manner in which thefe
pieces were exhibited before they went to the
prefs, namely, by reading them over to fome
chriftian friends in ftated or occafional aflem-
blies , fo that they are truly and properly
leSiures. I wilh they were more corrcdt ; but,
having difcovered no capital error, I rely on
the fenfe and goodnefs of the Reader to reflify
miftakes, which are not very numerous. As
to the contents j it is at leafl highly probable
that fome will find their fentiment, fpirit or
condu(5l difapproved, but I am unconfcious of
introducing an article with a defign to refledl
on a fingle perfon or particular fociety, much
lefs have I rejoiced in myfelf, on the con-
trary.

PREFACE.

trary, my own great deficiency has been the
occafion of feveral rebukes to be found in this
piece ; and, permit me to fay, that if my own
foul is not warned by thefe meditations, it will
come (hort of the defire of one, who is deeply
convinced of the importance of taking heed,
left after having preached to others, he himfelf
fhould be a caft-away.

I SHALL only add further, that I have en-
deavoured to diftinguifh the things which are
peculiar to the church, before her order was
compleated, an imitation of which is a mark
of ignorance and impofture, from thole in
which llie is an example to future generations.
I have likewife attempted to point out the
caufe of the declenfions we mourn, and the
motives and means of recovery, together
with the difpofition, and duty of thofe who
fear God in a degenerate age ; with what
fuccefs the Reader will judge ; his prayer,
hsi^^y^Yi is defired, that this imperfei^ eflay

may

XVI

PREFACE.

may not be in vain, on which I prefume, and
fubfcribe myfelf his friend and fervant in tht
Lord.

THE

CONTENTS.

BOOK I.

Containing refleftions on the death, refurreftion,
afcention, and exaltation of the Lord Jefus
Chrift.

LECTURE I.

/I N IntroduSiion to the apojiks difcourfc. The murder
"^^ of Cbriji imputed to the Jeius : His death foreknown

and determined P^gc i

LECTURE n.
Notes and reJie£lions on Peter'' s addrejs to the men of fudea

LECTURE in.

The refurre^ion of Chriji^ by whom. What is implied in
hofening the hands of death 3^

LECTURE IV.

What to he underflood by a witnefs. Who ate witnejfes of
our Lord^s refurreofion : Their credibility ^ i

LECTURE V.

The Holy Ghoft a iviinefs to the refurreSiion of fefus : His
teftimoiiy in the believer appealed to by the apoftle^ i yohn
V. 10. conftdered and proved 6;/

LECTURE VI.

The afcention of Jefus : His fejfion at the right hand of God

LECTURE VII.
77?^ Father'' s concern in exalting his Son^ who immediately re-
ceives the Spirit at his hands ; with the noble end of his
€07itinuancs «n the throne. Reflexions loi

li BOOK

CONTENTS.

BOOK II.

Being fome thoughts on the apoftle's improve-
ment and application of his difcourfe to the
Jews on the day of Pentecoft.

LECTURE yill.

Containing the Jpo/iU's a(ld7~efs to his audience in general:
His pwitiunl dtfiripticn oj the Saviour. Ihe charge of
his tnurder on the Jews repeated. An earneji exhortation
io confidcr him as the Lord's Chriji ; and the coKvi6iion^
•which naturally rejult from fuch a perfuafion page lib

LECTURE iX.

Notes and refcPAcns on Petei 's proclamation and audrefs in
the Ciofe of his Jtrmon to the 'Jeivs 130

BOOK TIL

In which the wonderful fuccefs of the apoftle's
firft fermon at Jerufalem is particularly con-
fivdered and improved.

LECTURE X.

Shewing the fiaie of their hearts who fell under conviSilon.

By what means they Were awakened j and the method they

■ took for relief ' 143

LECTURE XL

An irnprovemsnt on the cafe of thoj'e who were convinced by
the preaching of Peter ^ on the day of Pentecofi 156

LECTURE XIL

the rature of evangelical repentance. IVhat it is to be bap-
tized in the name of Jejus for the remiffion of fins ; and
in zvhai refpcii the Holy Ghofi is given to them that believe

169
LECTURE XIII.
'The pro mi fe on which Peter raijes the expe^alion of the awa-
kened Jews, upon their obeying the gofpel, briefly and fairly
examined., with notes and reflexions on the whole if his
reply io their anxious quejiion 188

LECTURE

CONTENTS.

LECTURE XIV.
The converted Jews tejVtfy their reception vf the gofpel^ In be-
ing baptised ana j'Aning the church. Notes on their vifibls
'obedience to the faith paa;e 2p8

LECTURE XV.

What included in a fa<uing ' reception of the tvord, and the
manner in zvhich it is embraced 221

LECTURE XVL

The fource and jyrnptoms of that pleafure vji:ich attends a cor-
dial acceptance cf the gofPel. The duty of thofe zuho em-
brace it to an immediate external obedience , and the joy of
true faith compared with that which may he found vuith
an hypocrite 233

BOOK IV.

Being an hiflory of the church in her infant ftate.
LECTURE XVn.

The confiancy and faithfulnefs of the firjl difciples in their
communion together y under a prof effton of chrifiianity 252
LECTURE XVIIL

The manner in which the primitive difciples lived together in
the church at Jerufalem 277

LECTURE XIX.

How the difciples at Jerufalem were employed ^ with praSlical
notes on their conduSi 287

LECTURE XX.

The daily increaje of the primitive church 305

BOOK V.

The early declenfion of the church from her
• original fimplicity.

LECTURE XXL

JntroduSlion. The Lord's tefiimony againjl the difciples at

^ardis. In what re[pe£is a chmch may he dead\ notwith-

Jlanding fhe hath a name that fhc liveth. The occofvms and

fymptoms of this dreadful fiate. Motives to zvalch againjl

. '^^ page 337 '

I.KCTURK

C O N T E N T 1

L E C r U R E XXII.
The difc'ipks at Sard'is exhorted to repent : Their zuorh are
impeached. How the Lord appears a judge of what a
people perform in his name. The me a fur es to be taken to
rejiore a church when declined, Reafons for attempting it^
mtwithflanding her things may he dying away page 357
LECTURE XXIII.
A repetition of the Redeemer s call to repentance, with particu-
lar direSiions ; and a threatning in cafe of difoledience 377
LECTURE XXIV.
Tloe faithful diftinguijhed in a time of general defeSlioi^^ with
the promife of a glorious reward 389

LECTURE XXV.
The honors decreed the believer in the day of Chrift ; being a
dejcription of his white raiment, the book of life, and like-
zvife what is implied in not having his name blotted out of
that book 404

LECTURE XXVI.
The univerfal obligation of chriftians to attend to the voice of
the Spirit 425

BOOK VL

The conduct of the faithful in the days of Malachi.

LECTURE XXVII.

The degenerate Jiate of the fews. IVhat implied in the faints
Jpeaking often one to another ; topics of dijcourje. Reflexions

440^
LECTURE XXVIII.
What included in thinking on the name of the Lord. His heark-
ening to his peoples difcourfe, and book of remembrance ex-
plained, RefeSlions 458
LECTURE XXiX.
Lord of hofts ; whence that magnificent title ; the day when
he will make up his jewels ; and what implied in Jo doing

474
LECTURE XXX.

Chrift^s people comparable zvith jewels ; their difperfton in
time \ the certainty of their accompHJhment at his coming.
ReflWwns 489

PRIMITIVS;

LECTURES

O N

Primitive Christianity, &c,
BOOK h

CONTAINING

Refle<5lions on the Death, Refurre<5lion, Afcenfion,'
and Exaltation of the Lord- Jesus Christ.

LECTURE I.

An Introdudllon to the Apoftle's difcourfe — the mur-
der of Christ imputed to the Jews — his death
foreknown and determined,

IT is pleafant and ufeful to behold the power and
faithfulnefs of God in fetting up the kingdom of
his Son. It began under a famous fermon by Peter the
apoftle at Jerufalem, on the day of Pentecoft, o£
which we have a full and particular account in the
fecond of the Adls. On this part of fcripture fome
following Ledlures are grounded; which I hope, by
the bleffing of God, will entertain and comfort the
chriftian who reads them ; and if they (hould fall into
the hands of any one in a ftate of unbelief, I heartily
^ifh they may prove a means of convidion.

A Pente-

a LECTURESON

L Pentecost, it is known, was a feaft of the Jews,
on which they offered the firft-fruits of the field,
Exod. xxiii. i6. It is called, Deut. xvi. lo. " The
*' feaft of weeks," being feven weeks from the pafT-
over; and it is ftiled Pentecoft, which fignifies the
fiftieth, becaufe it fell on the fiftieth day after the
feaft of unleavened bread , the ufual diftance be-
tween our Eafter and Whitfuntide. It has been re-
marked, that this feftival* happened on the firft day
of the week; for this^ year it began on Saturday
evening : So that on our Lord's-day morning, it
might properly be faid " to be fully come," ver. i.
This was the day on which Chrift- rofe from the
dead, '' and became the firft-fruits of them that
*' flept," I Cor. XV. 20. And on the fame chofen
day the Spirit was poured out on the difciples, who
immediately fpake in a variety of tongues, as he gave
them utterance, to the amazement of all who heard
them. And thus the Holy Ghoft bare witnefs to
the glory of their afccnded Mafter, and enabled
them to publifli his name in the vi'orld. In this
manner it pleafed God to make way for the fpread
of the gofpel; not by' a miraculous alteration in the
hearers, but by furnifliing his minifters, who were
chofen from illiterate men, with an extraordinary
power of fpeaking his wonderful works to all peopl«
in their own native language : this they did in a very
large audience, compofed of perfons providentially
colleded at Jerufalem from every nation under
heaven, ver. 5. Thus, as hath been often obferved,

as-

• Thus as Chtlft fufFered at the feaft of the paffover he was glorified
en the neift great feftival of the Jews, which being in ths fummcr, waf
attended by numbers who othefwil's would iiave t)«ca abfeati

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 3

as the confufion of language at Babel divided man-
kind, and feparated the world in general from the
means of grace, whereby the true knowledge of God
was loft; this vail was deftroyed, and the nations
turned from darknefs to light, through the gift of
tongues in the c]iurch.

One might have expelled, that every one who faw
the aftooifhing faft, would have afcribed it to the
power of God ; but alas, what are the greateft mira-
cles with hardened unbelievers ! It is not uncommon
for fcepticks to plead, that they have never feen the
like wonders performed which are produced in favor
of chriftianity, but experience hath fhewn, that no'
kind of evidence, however ftriking, can remove the
inveterate prejudices of men who oppofe themfelvej
to the truth : *' If they hear not the fcriptures, nei-
*' ther will they be perfuaded, though one rdfe frorn
** the dead," Luke xvi. 31. And accordingly iti the
inftance before us the multitude marvelled ; " they
** were amazed and in doubt, faying one to another^
" What meaheth this ?" But we read of none whoi
Were truly convinced ; on the contrary, many of them
mocked, and were even fo bafe as to impute this pre-
ternatural volubility to the force of new winej fome
have thought it incredible that any fhould be fo ex-
tremely abfurd as to imagine that an excefs of drink-
ing could enable the difciples to fpeak with tongues
they underftood not before, and therefore fuppofe
that thefe fcofFers, being native Jews, as the next
verfe declares, and not acquainted with any diale(5t
tut that of their own country, the apoftles feemej
A % ii$

4 LECTURESON

to them as bablers ; but, why fliould any be fur-
prized that a generation, who had been taught to re-
proach our Lord with calling out devils by Beelzebub,
and who had afterwards cruciiied him as an im-
poftor, fhould be ftupid and malicious enough, thus
to apprehend, or mifreprefent this wonderful energy
of the Holy Ghofl ? However, this is their charge ;
*' Thefe men are full of new wine."

To this flander, Peter, fcanding up with the eleven,
and having intreated a hearing, replies, that it was
but *' the third hour of the day," or nine in the morn-
ing : this was the time of the daily facrifice, at which
the Jews in general came falling, and at thefe fefli-
vals they were accuflomed to abftain from wine till
noon ; it was therefore mod unreafonable to imagine
that thefe men were drunken. From thia pertinent
remark the apoftle haflens to obferve, that what they
faw and heard was no other than what Joel the pro-
phet foretold, by whom God faith, " And it fhall
'* come to pafs in the laft days, I will pour out my
«« Spirit on all flefii." By the laft days the prophet
intended, and the Jews themfelves underftood, the
days of the Meffiah, when " all fiefh fhould fee the
*' falvation of God;" for it is written, "that who-
*' foever fhall call on the name of the Lord, fhall
" be faved." The apoflle having explained this ap-
pearance from fcripture, in faithfulnefs turns on thefe
Jerufalem-finners, and with a view to their repen-
• tance, boldly charges them with the murder of Jefus,
and points out the light againft which they fmned
in fhedding his blood, and alfo that their end was not

obtaine4

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 5

obtained without the counfel of heaven, ver. 22, 23.
" Ye men of Ifrael, hear thcfev/ords; Jcfus ofNa-"
*' zareth, a man approved of God among you, by
** miracles and wonders and ligns, which God did by
*' him in the midfl of you, asye yourfelves alfo knov/:
*' him being delivered by the determinate counfel
" and foreknov/ledge of God, ye have taken, and
*' by wicked hands have crucified and flaln." Thus,
from a general report of certain falvation in Chrift
to every one that believes, which is the tenor of the
gofpel, his miniflers are without refer^'e to lay before
fmners their evil and danger, that obtaining mercy they
may repent and be faved.

From this introduction it appears that the apoflle
ciireds himfelf to the Jews who dwelt at Jerufalem,
and that they were prepared for his alarming remon-
ftrance, by his reafoning out of fcripture relating
to Jefus whom they had crucified, and alfo concern-
ing the efFufion of the Spirit at which they had igno--
rantly fcoffed ; and this no doubt was fubfervient,
by the blefling of God, to thofe painful convictions
under which many of them hereafter cry out.

Peter might have upbraided them as Stephen did
on another occafion, chap. vii. 51. *' Ye fliff-necked
*' and uncircumcifed in heart and ears, ye do alv/ays
« refift the Holy Ghofl !" They deferved to be ftiled a
perverfe and abfurd generation, who had no regard to
reafon or truth; but behold he accoRs them as the
people of God, and under a title which was to their
lienor, "Ye men of Ifrael." In Ifa. xli. 14. the
A 3 Lord

6 LECTURESON

Lord thus addreffes his people, " Thou worm Jacob:**
Not in contempt, but in compaflion he fpeaks in this
manner, to let them know, that though in themfelves,
and according to their own apprehenfion, they were,
as Jacob their Father, greatly afflided and threatned,
helpleis and mean as a worm ; neverthelefs he, their
tnicrhty Redeemer, would help them, and their adverfarieg
fhould be as nothing: But Peter's defign wasto {hew the
regard he had for the Jews, while he fpared not to cen-
fure their folly and wickednefs, and accordingly he ftiles
them " men of Ifrael." And under a more refpe^lful
character he could not bcfpeak them ; yet what could more
highly reBe£l on their condu61"? Great was the honor
^nd advantage of being a defcendant from Ifrael, that
renowned patriarch j in this 'they mJght have gloried,
had they behaved as became their eminent anceflor-j on
the other hand, their bafenefs in the crucifixion of
Jefus, and biafphcming hisdifciples, who were endued
with the Holy Ghoft, appeared in proportion to this
their high charaftcr, and the privilcdges they enjoyed :
They were Ifraelites, and many of them, it is proba-
ble, leaders of the people, to whom were committed
the oracles of God, and who profefTed to be waiting
for the Meffiah, and the effufion of the Spirit, which
aggravated t|ieir condu£l ; and no doubt this manner
of addrefs was defigned the more deeply to afFccSl: them
\vith a fenfe of their guilt : V/ith the fame view the
prophets frequently, under the Cziv.e charaiSer, call on
^hc degenerate Jews to repent, Hofea xiii, 9. " O Ifracly
?* thou haft dellroyed thyfelf." And again, chap. xiv. I.
<f'' OKr^iel, return unto the Lord thy God ; for thou
S^ hgft fallen by thine iniquity." lii thefc, and ether-

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 7
like places, this backfliding people are ftiled Ifrael, as I
apprehend, at leaft among other things, to ftiew how
unworthy they a£led iri departing from the Lord ; and
it muft be acknowledged that this was an excellent
means of conviction.

The apoftle proceeds, and craves their attention,
«* Hear thefe words ;" which, in connexion with what
went before, runs to this purpofe, q. d. ' O ye
' men of Ifrael; you fee how unreafonable it is to

* fuppofe, that thefe perfons are drunken, or to ima-

* gine that the excefs of new wine fhould enable
' them to fpeak in this variety of tongues : this abi-

* lity proceeds from the Spirit, which the prophet
^■foretold fliould be poured out in the days of the
? Mefiiah 5 now I have fomewhat to fay which nearly

* concerns you, I befeech you therefore patiently

* to hear me.' Note, it is the univerfal and earneft
defire of minifters, who feek the falvation of their
hearers, that they attend without prejudice, that un-
der a divine bleiling, they may convince them of
error, and bring them to repentance.

But, what are thefe words ? They are words,
the hearing of which would make their ears tingle j
yea words which hereafter appear to make their
hearts tremble : Words by which the divine Spirit
raifed thofe convictions that pierced and punctually
wounded their confcience. The apoflle might well
be anxious for an hearing, for there was reafon tQ
expert that thefe bold tranfgreffors would flop their
sars againft the heavy charge he was about to lay
A 4 01^

8 LECTURESON

on them. For what impenitent criminal will liften
to the voice of his accufer ? but with God all things
are poflible ; he can draw the ear of the moft obfti-
nate fmner, as a means of convincing his heart, at
his pleafure, and his hand is evident in the prefent
cafe, fmce, otherwife, why fhould they not behave
in the fame manner as with Stephen the martyr, men-
tioned before ? However, what Peter delivered in gene-
ral, related to their having crucified the Lord, not-
withftanding they had feen the fulleft teftimony of
God in his favor. It contains his defcription of the
Saviour, the ftriking evidence afforded thefe Jews of
his divine miflion, their concern in his death, and
the counfel of God in refpedl of this amazing fcene
of iniquity and blood ; from whence may be drawn a
variety of ufeful obfervations.

In defcribing our Saviour, whom thefe men had
{lain, the apoftie ftiles him " Jefus of Nazareth." Now
Nazareth we know was a poor and fmali city on the
borders of Zebulun, and held in the utmoft contempt.
Hence faith Nathaniel to Philip, " Can there any good
" thing come out of Nazareth?" John i. 46. But
that which men difefteem is frequently honored by
God : This poor defpifed city was the place where
Jofeph and Mary refided, and confequently where the
incarnate Son of God dwelt a confiderable part of hi?
time in the flefh ; yet, alas ! what are the moft dif-,.
tin2;uifliing external advantages ! There was no con-
l^exion between the place of our Lord's abode and ^
participation of his grace : This city was no lefs noto-
rious for its perverfe infidelity than its very great mean»

nefsj

PRIMITIV.E CHRISTIANITY. 9

nefs; fo hardened were the inhabitants, that on our
Lord's preaching to theai, and upbraiding them with
their incredulity, they rejected him with the utmoft
indignation, ani in wrath attempted to deftroy
him, Luke iv. 28, 29. And accordingly he foon left
them becaufe of their unbelief; fo that there is reafon
to fear that the generality of thofe among whom the
Saviour of the world lived more than thirty years,
perifhed in their fms. Thus perfons may be highly
exalted in an early enjoyment of the richeft means of
grace, and in the pride and wickednefs of their heart
fmk deep into hell, under a fatal oppofition to the
counfel of God !

• But to return : It may feem flrange at firft, that
Peter, who appears at this time to have a realizing
profpedl of the Redeemer now exalted at the right-hand
of God, fhould mention him under this diminutive
charadler; but when we confider to whom he was
fpeaking, and the defign he was upon, we fliall admire
the propriety of this chofen defcription. He is addrefiing
the Jews, v/ith a view to convince them, that this fame
Lord, of whom Joel prophefied, and in whom alone
falvation is to be found, was no other than that very
perfon whom they had unrighteoufiy flain. Now what
pould be more to his purpofe than to fpeak of him under
|:he identical terms by which he was defcribed in the
writing over his head when he hung on the crofs r Which
is known to run thus j *' Jefus of Nazareth the King
" of the Jews," John xix. 19. q. d. that fame Jefus,
jvhom ye in contempt call Jefus of Nazareth, is no
Other than that great perfon of whom the prophet

fpeakS|

10 LECTURESON

(peaks, in calling on whofe name the fubje61: fnall be
faved. Befides, in defcending to this defcription of the
Saviour, the apoftle is not. aftiamed to own his Lord in
that very charaiSler under which he was defpifed and
pcrfecuted to death ; and he likewife afccnds with the
greater advantage to his glorious ftate in heaven. An
inftance of courage and wifdom we may juftly
admire !

The next thing which Peter rcnionftrates is, th?
ample and undeniable proof offered the Jews of our
Lord's divine miiTicn. This was admirably calculated
to affe6l them with a fenfe of their folly, which was a
main thing in view; it was as full and as ftrong as
could poffibly be given : *' A man approved of God."
Jefus was approved, and fometimes applauded by men ;
his mighty works and holy converfation rendered him,
for a feafon, admired and followed as an extraordinary
perfon; but the Jews are called upon to reflect on the
undeniable and glorious teftimony they had received
from heaven j " A man approved of God f, by miracles,
*' wonders and figns :" The wonderful works br
which the Father teftified of his Son in the courfe cf
his miniftry were many, and known to thefe men,
Thefe miracles were not done in a corner, or at a
diftance, but openly and among them ; *' which God
f did by him in the midft of you," faith the apoftle,
j. e. in your fynagogues, in the temple, apd in places

o£

■f ^vv:-i:/.i:Ti ri^aai a a-yijj.iloii; are words nearly of the fame fignifica-
tion ; and, however critically diftindt, feem in this place each to convey the
i^ea of works or tokens above or contiarj'to the cotsrfe of nature, and ma^
be confidered as a redundancy of exprefiion, to fliew the number and variu'-jr,

fif thofe amazing tsflimonies of a divine power nianifsfl by Chrift,

PRIMITIVE CPIRISTIANITY. u

of public refort. They were not lying wonders, but
miracles indeed, the reality of which no man could
decently quefiion : figns which were evident, and of
which his enemies themfelves were convinced ; and ac-
cordingly he adds, " Ye yourfelves alfo knowj" q. d.

* O ye men of Ifrael, ye are witnefies to the truth

* of what I declare, for thefe divine works were per-
' formed in your prefence I Did ye not daily behold,

* in Jerufalem, many wonders and figns wrought by
' Jefus, by which God approved him ? You cannot
^ deny it.' Thus he appeals to their confciences, and
many of them were deeply convinced on refledion, and
forely wounded uilder a fenfe of their guilt, as will
hereafter appear.

Having reprefented their perverfe incredulity iii
Vvithftanding fo clear divine evidence to the characler
of Jefus, the apoftle proceeds to the concern Virhicii
the Jews had in his death. It was his great defign to
convince them that they were guilty in (bedding the blood
not only of|an innocent perfon, but of killing the Mef-
fiah, fnat being awakened, they might repent of this
hainous tranfgrefiion and all other fms, and call on
his name and be faved ; he, therefore, fpares not to
pharge them diredly with crucifying and flaying the
man whom God had approved, in which he is very
circumftantial.

He firft obferves that they took him. *' Him have
^^ ye taken." Now this may include their laying
hands on him as upon a malefaftor, with all the iUr
■ireatmeiit they gave him from his being apprehended

12 LECTURES ON

to their nailing him on the crofs. Our Lord himfelf faid,
Matt, xxvi.55. *' Are youcomeoutas againfta thiefwith
*'• fwords and ftaves?" In this manner they came with
Judas their guide, and when they had, by means of
the execrable traitor, found our Saviour in the garden, "
by his own permiffion, they feized him, and led him
bound to his judges to be condemned, in order to
vhich they fubborned falfe witnefs againft him ; and
when he was delivered into their hands they Impi-
©ufly infult and curfe him for an impollor ; they
Block, fpit upon, and crown him with thorns, and,
having unmercifully fcourged'him, thus mangled, they
fering him with bitter revilings up to mount Calvary :
In a word, they treated the divine Jefus with all the
contempt and cruelty which the malice of earth or
Jiell could invent. In this vile manner the Jews ap-r
prehended and dealt with our Lord ; and there is rea-
fon to think that while Peter exprefled thefe words,
♦' Him have ye taken," fome individuals prefent began
to reflecSl with fhame on their own concern in this
wicked tranfadiion.

Then comes the charge of his death, " Him ye
*' have crucified and flain." Crucifixion is known to
be a manner of punifhment ufed by the Romans ; it
was infli(9:ed only on flaves, and that for crimes the
moft infamous ; He that fuffered this kind of death
bore t his crofs on his fhoulders to the place of exe-
cution, - where, being ftripped of his clothes, he

was

f Not the whole crofs, but the Patibulum, or piece of timber that Uy
crofs the eredl part which Hood fixed in the earth, and on which the armi^
•t" ;ije criminal were ftretched.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 13

was faftened naked unto it, and this was ufually, if
not always with nails, attended with the caufe of his
death written over his head, in capital letters. Now
we know that this exadlly agrees with the manner
in which our Lord was treated by the Jews ; fo that
they dealt with him as with the bafeft of men and the
vileft of criminals ! Such was the rage and envy of
thefe Jerufalem-fmners ; they thirfted after his blood ;
their malice prompted them to fhed it in a manner
the moft 'ignominious and painful. He was crucified
and flain indeed under a form of law, and by the
hands of the civil magiftrate, which had a fpecious
appearance, neverthelefs the holy and innocent Jefus
was unjuftly cut off out of the land of the living,
and his crucifiers are truly faid to kill him, and charged
with his murder. Ails iii. 15. chap. vii. 52. com-
pared.

The means by which they fhed the blood of the
Saviour, is the next thing which the apoftle remarks ;
namely, " by wicked hands ;" for the underflanding
of this, we are to remember the civil ftate of the Jews
at this time; they were now in fubjedlion to the
Romans, under whom they enjoyed far greater pri-
vileges than a conquered people might expeili but
it was the well-known policy of that famous ftate to
proteft the nations they fubdued in the free exercife
of their own religion, and accordingly the Jews were
in this refpe6l remarkably favored, infomuch that they
were allowed to kill a Gentile, even though he were
a Roman, who prefumed to enter and defile their
temple. On this pretence it was that fome went

about

t4 L E C T U R E S O N

about to flay Paul, as appears by comparing A^s
3cxi. 29. v/ith chap, xxvi. 21. So highly were they
indulged by their heathen mafters ; they had alfo A
power to judge petty offenceSj and to inflicl lefTer pe-«'
nalties by their counfel where the high-prieft prefided
in chief, but they could not judicially purtifh any cri-
minal with death. This paint indeed, like moft ochef
articles hath been difputed, but it feems evident from
the inflance before us, the Jews had not the power
of life and death ; as a learned and laborious writer %
obferves. If in any cafe they had this authority, it muft
have been in the cafe of our Lord, whofe fole" charge
tvas blafphemy, in afluming the charadler oftheMef-
fiah : it was therefore a point of religion in which the
Romans, who, as hinted, gave their conquered fubjedls
full liberty, would not have concerned thenifelves, had
they in any cafe allowed the Jews the authority of
capital puniftiment, nor would a people fo fond of
power, and I may fay, fo enraged againft Jefus, and
determined to take away his life, have committed a
caufe within their own jurifdifhion to a foreigner, or
left his execution to the will of the Romans j but that
which one fhould think would fet it beyond all difpute
is their own declaration to Pilate, John xviii. 31*
V/hen the governor bids them take Jefus and judge
him according to their law, which indeed they had
already done, for they had brought hiili in guilty of
death, fee Mat. xxvi. 66. John xix. 7. but it was

not

% Dr. Lardincr's Credibility, vol. I. page 77. Sea alfo page 97,
154. Whether the Jevvt had this power taken from them, or Idd by
their own negligence, as Dr. Lightfoot afferts. It is, I think, generally
allowed, that they enjoyed not this priviUdge forty yeiri bafore tbc templa
wa» dtllroysd, Lardiner, yol. I. 201,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, i^
not in their power to execute this fentence. Hence the
anfwer is this ; " It is not lawful for us to put any
" man to death j" and accordingly they brought him to
the judge, who though he was convinced of the inno-
cence of Jefus, and knew that for envy the Jews had
delivered him, j^et fo bafe was this magiftrate, that
through fear, or with a finifter fend, he yielded to the
pomjlar cry, and gave up this holy perfon to the will
of^efe wretches, fee Matt, xxvjii. i8 — 24. Thus the
Jews crucified and flew our Lord, not by their ov/n,
but by the hands of the Romans ; thefe hands were
thofe of Pilate that wicked man and unjuft judge, and
the officers and foldiers under him, who, being ftimu-
lated by the voice of the multitude, ftirred up by
their leaders, were but too eager in the execution of
his unlawful fentence. The Jews themfelves took
Jefus, with their own hands into which he was be-
trayed, and did unto him fpitefully as they could, but
they could not put him to death; this they brought
about by means of the Roman civil power, who
moft unrighteoufly crucified him as a malefa6tor; it
is therefore truly declared, that with wicked hands,
that is, of others, they flew him, which the facred
hiftorian moft accurately placeth in his account, be-
tween the apprehending and crucifixion of our Lord,
according to the fail. Thus the fcripture was fulfilled,
PC ^, 2. " The kings of the earth fet themfelves, and
*' the rulers take counfel together, againft the Lord
** and againft his anointed.'* And as Chrift came into
the world to fave Jews and Gentiles, they were both
^oncqrned in putting him to death.

But

•j6 l e c t u r e s o n

But there is nothing in the whole of the addrefs
more inftrudtive or important than the divine hand in
this afFedling event. The death of Chrift was no pre-
carious or cafual thing, but fettled in the counfel of
God, whofe underftanding is infinite, and who de-
elareth the end from the beginning j this the apoftle
afferts j " Him , being delivered * by the determi-
*' nate § counfel and foreknowledge of God." The
fame is confirmed and explained by Peter and John on
another occafion, A£l:s iv. 27, 28. " For of a truth
*' a^ainft thy holy child Jefus both Herod and Pon-
" tins Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of
*' Ifrael, were gathered together, for to do whatfoever
*' thy hand and thy counfel determined before to be
*' done." The word determined J, in this proof in-
deed differs from that in the paflage we are upon, but
the idea is the fame, and they concur to afcertain the
predeftination of this great event. It was determined,
i, e. fay fome it was- written, which no doubt is a truth ;

thus

* It has been fuggefted, that for particular reafons the Jews voluntarily
furrendered Jefus, though they might thenofelves have put him to death,
but we have already feen they had not this power, ^and Dr. Lardiner
has proved that the word eyMiov in this place does not carry in it a yield-
ing any civil authority or right, and Ihewn that it is ufed in the New-
Teftament fer the aB: of private perfons who profecute, or bring any one
before a court of juftice in order to be condemned, and I think he haj
alfo entirely removed the moft plaufible pretence for this opinion, See
Lardiner's Credibility, Vol. I. page 86.

§ ufirjAevn a ofiQci} to declare, as by definitive fentence, Rom. i. 4. of
to ordain, or decree, as in Ads x. 42. where it is ufed to exprefs the divint
ordination of Chrift to the office of judge.

X 'o-foufla-B to foreordain gr predeftlnate, Rom. viii, 30, i Cor, il, J*
Iph. i. 5.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 17
thus faith our ^Lord, Luke xxii. 22. " The Son of
" man goeth, as it is determined ;" and in Matt, xxvi,
24. in relating the fame, the facred hiftorian ufes the
phrafe " it is written; " for the fame was both deter-
mined and written ; but we are not to refolve the de-
termination of Chrift's death into a fimple predidlion,
as if it was determined in no other fenfe than as de-
clared in the fcripture : things are not properly deter^
mined becaufe declared in^God's word ; on the con-
trary, they are foretold becaufe predetermined. The de-
cree of God is the ground of prophecy, which is no
other than a revelation, as providence is the execution,
of the divine will. Nothing can be plainer than that
the blood-fhedding of Jefus was not only foreknown,
but truly and properly predetermined by the mofl High
who worketh all things after the counfel of his own
will. And what Peter now preacheth concerning this
point he afterwards wrote in his firft epiftle, chap,
i, 20. ** Who," fays he, meaning Chrift, " was ve-
" rily fore-ordained,"i. e. to his fufferings and death, as
appears from the context, " before the foundation of
*' the world." To which agreeth Rev. xiii. 8. where
he is ftiled, " The Lamb flain from the founda-
•' tion of the world." And this is the current of fcrip-
ture. So then the delivery of the innocent Jefus into the
]hands of the wicked to be crucified, as 1 may fay,
according to the known idea of the terms, was fettled
in the definitive counfel of God from everlafting ; it
was all fixed before in that adorable conftitution, the
covenant of redemption, of which the Son of God is
the Mediator and Surety j and indeed his being deli-
vered was in confequence of his undertaking jjj that
B hc>ly

i8 LECTURESON

holy and gracious compa6l, to be the Subftitutc of the
people; by which a juft and legal foundation was
laid, for his bearing their fins in his own body on
the tree.

This is the addrefs of the apoftle to the men of
Judea, who killed our Lord. After befpeaking their
attention in a manner moft refpedful, he plainly and
faithfully remonflrates their aggravated guilt, in pre-
fuming thus to ftied the blood of the innocent and
holy Jefus, in defiance of all the miracles which God
did by him in the midft of them, as a teftimony of
his charadter ; he pofitively charges his murder upon
them, though they could not themfelves perpetrate this
horrid fa6t, but did it by the hands of other wicked
men, who put him to death, and then he declares that
he being thus delivered into their hands to be crucified
and flain, was determined before in the counfel of
God; which might juftly alarm them, and made way
for a further account of Jefus in proof of his being
the MelTiah ; an addrefs which, by the bleiling of
God, proved a means of the converfion of many who
.heard him, and Vv'ho, as it afterwards appears, cried
.out in diftrefs, under a fenfe of their perifhing condi-
tion, and being inftru6ted, gladly embraced the word
of the gofpel. Many other glorious things are fpoken
of Jefus who was crucified ; but, before we proceed,
it may be ufeful to paufe, and refleft on feveral points
which {land fupported by this remonftrance of the apoftle
. to the Jews ; and this will be attempted in the fol"
lowing ledure.

LECTURE

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 19

LECTURE II.

Containing notes and reflections on Peter's addrefs to
the men of Judea.

THE foregoing Ledlure, contains the apoftle's high
charge on the Jews with the murder of our
Lord, in prevailing on the Romans to crucify him,
and the foreknowledge and counfel of God, in refpeCt
of this fcene of iniquity and blood, in the prefent the
Reader is defired to confider the following articles, which
appear from the account, and nearly concerns us !

I. The Infufficiency of every kind and degree of
evidence to convince the unbeliever, and bring him
to repentance. This has already been hinted, and is
a point fully proved in the inftance before us. The ab-
furd light in J, which the fcornful and prejudiced Jews
placed the wonderful effects of the Spirit, in their un-
fair, if not malicious imputation on the difciples, who
fpake by his influence, evidently fhews their infuperable
pervencnefs ; and their crucifying Jefus, notwithftanding
the repeated and undeniable teftimony from heaven in
his favor, is no lefs a proof that all external means
whatever are in themfelves infufficient to open the eyes,
or turn the hearts of men enflaved to fin and unbelief.
What could be more ftriking, or more adapted to con-
vince the Jews that Jefus was the Chrift, than the
JB 2 variety

20 LECTURESON

variety of miracles and wonders, by which God [^ap-
proved him in their fight ? Yet, behold ^this feries
of fupernatural works are in vain ! thefe men were
filled with envy aad malice againft our Lord, for no
other reafon than that of his alTuming the character of
Mefliah ; and, being left to their own will, nothing
could prevent their fhedding his blood. In like man-
ner all unbelievers are hardened ; however their cir-
cumftances may differ, fuch is the power and deceit
of the flefh, that thofe who are in it, are proof againft
every means of conviction, even miracles themfelves
cannot turn them. The carnal mind is enmity againft
God, and wHl ever find an excufe for perfifting in op-
pofition to his will j it is not fubjedt to his law, and
defpifes his grace ; and he that is under its dominion,
if left to himfelf, will withdraw from the cleareft
light J he will either prevent, or by fome means ftifle
convictions, for he is a rebel in heart, and in nothing
is he more determined than againft a fubmiflion to God
and his righteoufnefs : fo ftout is corruption in the
unregcnerate mind that nothing can remove it; mere
moral fuafion is by no means fufficient ; yea, if
reafoning out of the fcriptures is attended with miracle
on miracle and prodigies without number, unlefs a
divine power is exerted in the finner, even this, or
whatever elfe of an ^Jcternal nature, can be conceived,
will certainly fail of Winging an Infidel to repent. Again,

II. We fee that the condemnation of thofe who
finally rejeCl the Lord Jefus Chrift, willbe in proportion
to the evidence afforded them of his divine miffion,
and the means of grace they have enjoyed. This

awful

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, tt
awful truth ftands confirmed by the inflance before
us. The abundant teftimony God gave to his Son,
in the midft of Jerufalem, is urged by the apoftle on
the 'Jews who crucified and flew him, to fhew the ag-
gravations of their guilt in that murder. Let him that
in wantonnefs defpifes or negleds the falvation of God
beware I Think, O carelefs and fcornful tranfgreflbr,
■what a judgment awaits thee, if thou die in unbelief 1
The Impenitent man, unto whom the gofpel has been
preached, and in whofe days it hath flouriflied, fhall
hereafter find that every fermon he has heard, and
every inllance of converfion he hath feen, will rife up
and witnefs againft him, at the tribunal of Chrift ;
and how wilt thou endure the wrath of the Lamb,
when he is revealed from heaven in flaming fire, to
take vengeance on them who obey not the gofpel !
But,

III. How aftonifliing is it that the lufts of men,
fhould be overruled to fulfil the purpofe of God ! To
make evil anfwer a good and valuable end, is a
noble effeS: of infinite wifdom. A moft illuftrious
inftance of this appears in the gofpel of Jefus, in
which we behold the chofen redeemed to life cver-
lafting by his fufferin^s and death. Herein is the
wifdom of God in a myftery indeed ! He hath taken
oecafion, from the moft fhameful and hateful evil, to
yield the brighteft difplay of his love, and of all his
perfedlions j for in no point of light doth the glory
of God fhine with that fplendor as it doth in Chrift,
in whom the Father hath righteoufly magnified his
grace, in advancing his people to a bleflednefs , in

B 3 fome

%% L E C T U R E S O N-

fome refpeds fuperior to that which would have re-
fulted from innocence itfelf. The fame adorable
wifdom is feen in accomplifhing this great defign, by
the crucifixion of Jefus. Behold, the vileft paffions
of men fulfil the counfel of God ! their lufts prompt
them to do what no one could with reafon expeft ; for
by the moft flagrant inftance of wickednefs , they
ftrangely bring to pafs the defign of him againft whom
they rebel. How unlikely was it, that Jefus of Naza-
reth, who in every tittle fo plainly anfwered the
prophecies of the MefBah, or that he who was fo cir-
cumftantially pointed out in the fcripture, fhould be
put to death by the people, to whom were committed
the oracles of God ! It is wonderful indeed, that the
men, who had feen undeniable teftimonies from heaven
to the authority of Jefus, fliould neverthelefs fet
themfelves to prove him an impoftor, and be fatisfied
with nothing lefs than his blood ; and, flill more
aftoniftiing, that In this bafe attempt they fhould put
him to death, in the very manner the prophets de-
fcribe ! It had been eafy for the Jews to have taken
away the life of our Saviour in a method contrary to
the account given of the MefiTiah, and thereby thrown
a doubt on his character j but behold they are diligent to
do to this Jefus whatever the fcriptures declare fhould
be done to him they expected, as if they defigned to
prove him that very Chrift he profelTed himfelf to be.
Who could have thought that the injuftice, folly,
hatred and cruelty of thefe v/icked men, was fubfer-
vientto thejuftice, wifdom, love andmercyof God ! " O
^' the depth of the riches, both of the divine wifdom and
f' knowledge!" "How unfearchable are God's judg-

f' ments^

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 23

<« merits, and his ways paft finding out !" Surely his
counfel ftands, whoever fins, or whoever fufFers ! If the
vileft of lufts and a conduft againft all humanity and
righteoufnefs, in a people profeflTing the fear of Jeho-
vah, could have defeated the purpofe of lieaven, it had
now been the cafe; but lo, Jefus is " delivered by the
*' determinate counfel and foreknowledge of God. "Could
not the Almighty have reftrained the wicked tlia't they
might not have found their hands ? No doubt he could
have interpofed and defended the innocent from blood : it
was therefore his will to permit it, but for an end v/orthy
ofhimfelf, that grace might reign through righteoufnefsin
the falvation of finners through the death of his Son.
And indeed it is unworthy of God to fuppofe that he v/ill
fuffer any kind of evil which fhall not prove an occafion
of good to his glory. But then,

IV. We are to note, That the decrees of God,
which are infallible in their event, entirely confift with
the free agency of man who ails under them. All
things arepoflible, yea, and certain in confequencc of the
divine counfel. Thus there was a neceffity of infallibi-
lity in the death of Jefus; i.e. it could not but fall
out as God had determined, that Chrift fhould be
delivered into the hands of the wicked, and be cruci-
fied and flain in the manner defcribed ; neverthelefs
there was no neceflity of compulfion, whereby the
freedom of their aiSlion who killed him, was interrupted.
The decree of God is not properly the caufe of any
thing that comes to pafs, but of the futurition of its
fubjedl : And his decree of permiffion, in refpeil of
the fin of the Jews, had no phyfical or moral influence
B 4 on

24 LECTURESON

on any of the people concerned, each one a6led freely,
and of choice. The pretence fome have againft the
divine decrees, as being inconfiftent with man's free
agency, is groundlefs, and no other than a cavil,
-iince nothing is clearer on record, than that our Saviour
was delivered and crucified according to the determinate
counfel and foreknowledge of God, and at the fame
time it is equally plain, that the Jews moft freely and
wilfully flew him. And thus it is always in refpedl of
the finful actions of men, as one obferves, *' they firi

* as freely as if there was no decree, and yet as infal-

• libly as if there was no liberty,' fo then God is not
the author of fm, though men fm according to the
divine foreknowledge and counfel. In a word, on the
one hand, there is not the leaft colour for the impu-
tation of evil to the Almighty, who decrees to permit
fm as the occafion of good for his own glory, nor,
on the other, of excufe for the tranfgreflbr, who,
when he fmncth, afis freely, not to fulfil the will of
God, but to gratify his own. It follows,

V. That the moral evil of thofe finful actions, which
are permitted by the counfel of God, are juftly impu-
ted and involve the tranfgreflbr in guilt. The wicked-
nefs of a criminal is not the lefs, becaufe his unrigh-
teous adl was foreknown, or fell in with the divine
purpofe, fmce his ailion was free, and committed to
fatisfy his own carnal inclinations j his wicked c»ndu<3:
is no other than wilful rebellion, and deferves to be
punifhed. It was a rightepus thing with God to pcfur
out his long threatened vengeance on the rebellious
Jews, who in that generation filled up the meafure
of their iniquity, in crucifying his $on. Sinners may

n ov¥

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 25

now prefume, imploufly to blafpheme the decrees of the
Almighty, or thiwk to fkreen themfelves under them,
but their mouths will be flopped, when God fhall
judge the fecrets of men ; then, alas, too late they
will be convinced, and fee that they have deceived
their own fouls, and that the reward of their doings
is juft ; when they fhall go away into everlafting pu"
nifhment ! And further,

VI. It fhould not be omitted, that men are charge-
able with the evil that others commit at their inftir
gation. The aflafiine is not more truly worthy of
death, than he that procured him to take away the
life of his neighbour, i Sam. 22. 21. Saul, faith Abi-
ather, hath flain the Lord's priefts. Uriah the HIttitc
was flain by the fword of the enemy, yet David who
ordered him in the front of the battle, with a view to
his death, is juftly charged with fhedding his blood.
In like manner, thefe men of Ifrael, though they did
not, for they could not with their own hands, put to
death the Lord Jefus Chrift, yet having condemned
him by falfe accufation, and procured the power by
which he was crucified, are truly declared his murder-
ers. The Jews were no lefs guilty than the Romaas,
and under the imputation of that guilt, each one con-
cerned perifhed, who obtained not remillion through
faith in that blood which he fhed. Thus we have rea-
fon to conclude, that many will be condemned in the
great and laft day for crimes which they had not in
their power themfelves to commit, but which, to
gratify their lufts, they prompted others to do. O let
us take heed that we are not the occafion, efpecially
fhe luilfiil occafion of other mens fms, for he that is fo

fhalj

26 LECTURESON

fhall not be clear, but is juftly liable to the punifhment
due to the evil committed. Once more :

VII. Note, It becomes the minlfters of the gofpel,
to be bold in reproving fmners, and faithfully to re-
monftrate all the guilt that is evident upon them.
Mankind are far more fmful than they can apprehend,
while in their natural flate, fo that moft hearers lie
under vain conceits , which, if not removed , will
prove their deftruftion, and therefore, however it may
be dlfrelifhed by many, there is need of infixing .
much on original and heart-corruption, the curfe of
the law, and the certain and everlafting perdition of
him that dies in his fms, left the blood of fouls is
required at our hands : but, befides the general ftate
and condudl of men fmce the fall, which calls for
plairi dealing, there are often many particular evils
in praftice to be fet home on the confcience ; when
thefe become notorious and habitual, we ought after
the example of the apoftle in this cafe, with all due
refpe<51: to their perfons, to tell the guilty of their
crimes. It requires great wifdom and courage duly
to warn them who prefume, efpecially thofe who
are of a diftinguifhed character : we are not to be rude,
nor yet on the referve. Peter, you fee, accofls thefe
Jerufalem-finners, as men of Ifrael, yet fpares not to
charge them with the murder of Chrift. : in like
manner a minifter may be civil, and, at the fame time,
fmcere ; he may be decent, yet faithful. Men are
not to be flattered in their iniquity to their ruin, but,
in love to their fouls, minifters fliould cry aloud, and
plainly remopftrate to fmners, hardened in their way,

tht

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 27
the whole of their wickednefs, with a view to awaken
and convince them, that obtaining mercy to believe
on Jefus they may be faved. He that lives after the
flefh, under any form of religion, may be pleafed with
the minifter who difturbs not his courfej but, in^the
day of judgment, he will not look on that man as his
friend, who hath covered his fm and foothed him to
the lofs of his foul. Is any man tempted, through
fear or 'private advantage, to connive at tranfgreffors,
let him confider the heavy charge that will lie on every
unfaithful teacher, when thofe who have deceived
themfelves under him are finally condemned, and
configned to the everlafting fire prepaced for the devil
and- his angels !

These notes on the apoftle's remonftrance to the
Jews deferve our ferious attention. The greateft mi-
racles are infufficient to convince the unbeliever ; his
prejudices are not to be removed, by any kind or de-
gree of evidence whatever, fo that objeftive grace or
mere moral fuafion will never convert him ; yet the
condemnation of them who obey not the gofpel, will
be in proportion to the evidence afforded them : It alfo
appears, that the lufts of men are wonderfully over-
ruled by infinite and adorable wifdom, to bring about
the purpofe of God, whofe holy and unchangeable
decrees, though they infallibly infure the event of what
is determined, perfedlly confifts with man's free agen-
cy. A tranfgrefTor therefore is juftly charged with the
evil he commits, however foreknown to the Almighty,
and fettled in his immutable counfel, feeing his aftion
^s free: It is further to be remarked, that men are

accountablea

28 LECTURESOM

accountable, not only for the evil which they them-
felves do, but likewife for every wicked a£l per-
formed by others at their inftigation ; and finally,
from this example, minifters of the word, are led to
confider, that it becomes them to treat their audience
with every kind of refpedl due to their character, and,
at the fame time, on no confidcration whatever, to
flatter any man in his iniquity, but freely to lay open
the perveifenefs and crimes of the guilty, with a view
to their being converted and faved.

And now, my dear Reader, art thou not aftonifhed at
the popular prejudice againft the dodlrine of predcftina-
tion ? At this many ftumble through unhappy miftakes,
and fee not the confequencc ; but confider the current of
fcripture, and is it not ftrange that any perfon, above
the character of a Deift, fhould be offended at a
doctrine fo well fupported by divine revelation ? And
how can a man read and credit what is declared on the
the death of Chrift, and with reafon rejed it ? I fup-
pofe fome, who are fo unhappy as not to endure this
clear and fundamental truth, would ftartle, if it (hould
be aflerted that it becomes them only to blafpheme it,
who would exclude the throne of the Almighty from
under the heavens ; yet the obfervation is juft, for pre-
deftination is the ground of providence. If the decrees
of God exift not, or his counfel fhould fail, his govern-
ment in the world would be at an end.

And what fhall the end be of them that obey not
the gofpel of God ? Wo be to him who finally rejeds
the Lord Jefus Chrift ! If Jefus of Nazareth was ap-
proved

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 29
proved of God to be the Saviour of the world, moft
certainly God will difapprove and caft away the man
who believes not on him. He that defpifeth this
glorious Saviour, reje£kth the counfel of God to the
lofs of life everlafting, and to the eternal ruin of his
immortal foul. O carelefs fmner, who art tempted to
content thyfelf ftiort of an intereft in Chrift ! was it
determined that Jefus fhould be delivered, and by
wicked hands crucified and flain ? It is no lefs
the determinate counfel of God, that the man
fiiall be delivered into the hands of the judge, and be
punifhed ^with everlafting deftruftion, who is found an
unbeliever in the day of the Lord. Think not that
Jerufalem-finners alone were obnoxious to the venge-
ance of heaven becaufe of unbelief J for " except you
" repent, you fhall likewife perifti." You are not
guilty with the men of Judea, or like them chargeable
with the blood-fhedding of Jefus ; but is not your un-
J)elief as hainous as theirs ? Yea, and more fo, if, as
we have feen, the condemnation of unbelievers will be
meafured by the evidence offered them. Since our
Saviour was crucified he is rifen from the dead, and
hath fent down the Spirit of promife from the Father ;
and in token of his power at the right-hand of God,
his gofpel hath taken a marvellcus fpread in the world ;
which, with the ruin and difperfion of the Jews, and
the appearance of antichrift, events clearly foretold by
Chrift and his apoftles, adds greatly to the evidence
given of Jefus, for they amount to a ftronger proof of
his power and glory than even all the miracles per-
formed in the midft of Jerufalem confidered by thera-
felves -. So that unbelievers, in the prefent day, refift,

30 LECTURES ON

or newleil flronger evidence of the Mefliah, than the
men of Judea themfelvesj and fhall not their guilt ex-
ceed in proportion ? It is an alarming confideration !
Unbelief in them who crucified our Lord, was lefs
aggravating than it is in thofe who now believe not, and
it will be moretolerable for the men, of that generation
who rejected the only Saviour, than for thee, O Rea-
der ! if thou art difobedient. Take heed then that thou
fall not into' this fore condemnation i

But I hope my addrefs is to one that has embraced
the gofpel. And haft thou, my Friend, received Chrlft
Jefus the Lord, and fubmitted thyfelf unto him?
Adore (jiftinguifhing grace. The beft of means, or the
moft able inftrument, are incapable of producing this
faith which is unto falvation ; much lefs is it owing to
any previous good difpofition in thyfelf that thou haft
obeyed. Be not offended when I fay, the Jews were not
more averfe to Jefus of Nazareth than thy heart, through
pride and unbelief, was naturally fet againft the righte-
oufnefs of God in him. Since *' the carnal mind is
*' enmity againft God," where is the man who can
fay, that left under the fame prejudices and tempta-
tions with them who crucified his Son, he fhould not
have beenjguilty of his blood ? Therefore boaft not, but
remember thou art indebted to grace, and let God
have the glory. Shun the appearance of thofe apofta-
cies, whereby fome, who, after a fpecious fhew of
chriftianity, " have cruified to themfelves the Son of
*' God afrefh, and put him to an open fhame /' and
ftudy to (hew that thou art not of them who draw

back,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 31

back unto perdition, but of them which believe to the
faving of the foul.

Anx> fliould not this remonftrance of the apoflle to
the Jews in Jerufalem, refpeding the teftimony of
God unto Jefus his Son, embolden thee, O believer !
under thy profeflion of his name ? What folly and
madnefs muft have been imputed to Peter, thus openly
in the city where our Lord was crucified, to call thofe
very men whom he charged with his blood, to witnefs
the wonders by which he was approved of God in their
fight, could the fa^ have been denied ! Yet we fee he
did thus appeal, even to his murderers, and no one
gainfayed : Yea, fo evident was the truth, that, as
we afterward find, thoufands were convinced and
brought to the obedience of faith ; but was this
morally poffible had they queftioned the evidence re-
ferred to ? How confirming then is this to the chriflian !
Hear ye captious Infidels, who defpife the Lord's
Chrift ! If God did bear witnefs unto him by evident
miracles, no doubt he is the Meffiah ; and, admitting
the truth of the hiftory, which cannot with reafon
be refufed, we are as certain that thefe real and great
miracles were indeed done by Jefus, as if our own eyes
had feen him perform them. Blufh then, ye Deifts,
and repent J but let the faithful blefs God and rejoice,
and not be aihamed of their hope.

From the example before us there alfo arifeth com-
fort to the poor and afflidled, who truft in the name of
the Lord. Art thou fmall and defpifed, look unto
Jefus } behold he was defpifed of men, but honored of

God!

32 LECTURSON

God'! It appears from the cafe of our Redeemer him-
felf, that no contempt in life, or aggravating circum-
ftances in death, will impeach the charadter of the
righteous, or leflen them in the eyes of their heavenly
Father. Art thou trampled upon and reviled ? See in
thy Lord, O believer ! a man may below in this world,
and little efteemed, yea he may be treated as the ofF-
fcouring of all things, under the vifible tokens of a
divine approbation : but hath the man any reafon to fear
or to be afhamed, however obfctire and rejedted by
others, who hath a witnefs from above, and is ex-
alted in the favor of the Almighty ? Chriftian, this is
thy lot i wait on thy Redeemer, and be of good courage,
and think it not ftrange that thou art partaker of his
fufFerings : Fear not, he will ftiortly bring forth thy
righteoufnefs as the light, and thy judgment as the
noon- day.

In one word, What then remains, but that every
man fee to it, that he is accepted of God ? This can
be attained alone in Chrift Jefus, whom the Father
approved by a variety of miracles, wonders and figns,
his enemies themfelves being judges, and who was de-
livered, according to the decree of heaven, to be cru-
cified and flain, " that he might put away fm by the
" facrifice of himfelf.'* Wilt thou, my dear Reader,
be happy ? Truft in this Saviour ; Bleffed is the man
who is wafhed from his fins in his blood !

LECTURE

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 33

LECTURE III.

The refurreilion of Chrift, by whom. What is implied
in loofening the bands of death.

THE manifeft defign of the apoftle in imputing to
the Jews the blood of our Saviour, in a perverfe
oppofition to the teftimony of God, was to awaken.
them to repentance, that they might believe and be
Caved; and accordingly, as a further means of con-
viftion, he proceeds to fhew, that this fame Jefus
whom they had crucified, was rifen again from the dead^
This glorious and important event, on which depends
our hope in Chrift, Peter declares with a freedom
becoming a man who had feen with his eyes, had looked
upon, and whofe hands had handled of the Word of
life : he declares it on his own teftimony, with the reft
of the apoftles, who were all prefent, ver. 32. and with
a boldnefs which fliews that he feared no con trad idlion
even from the Jews themfelves. And is not this a proof
that the refurre6tion of Jefus was in fa6l believed by the
inhabitants of Jerufalem, notwithftanding the abfurd
ftory by which their leaders had ftiamefuljy attempted to
deceive them r The account Peter gives of this won-
derful and interefting fa<Sl runs in thefe words, *' Whom
*' God hath raifed up, having loofed the pains of
C ''death J

34 LECTURESON

" death, becaufe it was not poflible that he (hould be
" holden of it,'' Ads ii. 24. They contain the author
of our Saviour's refurredion, who is God ; a peri-
phrafe of this divine a£t, " having loofed the bands of
*' death ;" and a remark by which this blefled truth
ftands confirmed ; " becaufe it was not poflible that
*' he fhould be holden of it."

These particulars will lead us into the fublime
myfteries of the gofpel ; in attending to which I fhall
purfue the following inquiries, namely. Who is that
divine perfon unto whom the refurredtion ofjefusis
afcribed in this place? what is implied in his loofening
the bands of death ? and in what refpefts it was im-
poflible that he fliould be holden by it ? And,

Firjiy This adorable and important event is afcribed
to God. The refurrc£lion of the dead is a fupernatural
work, but it is not impoffible. The Gentiles indeed,
who were without a written law, difcerned not this
truth ; they were therefore without this hope in the
world. Death was not in the original conftitution of
things, it came in by fin ; a deliverance from, its
power mult therefore arife from the fovereign will of
the offended Majefty of heaven, v/ho might juftly have
held apoftate man in the bands of eternal death. So
that the knowledge of this truth depends on divine
revelation: And it muft alfo be confeffed, that to an
eye of fenfe there are unfurmountable difficulties
in the refurredlion of the dead. If we view a corpfe,
there is nothing in the nature of the object adapted or

difpofed

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 35
difpofed to revive, nor is there any created power that
is able to raife it again.

Nevertheless, the very heathen vrould be with-
out excufe, who fhould fay that it is not in the power
of God to quicken the dead. Thus Paul reafons with
Agrippa, *' Why fhould it be thought a thing incre-
" dible with you that God fhould raife the dead ?" That
man's notion of a Deity muft be exceeding low and abfurd
.who can quefrion the pofTibility of a refurredlion with
God J it implies no contradidtion, nor is it the leaft
unworthy the divine Being to efFedt it. To the Al-
mighty, whofe power and knowledge are infinite, it
furely cannot be impofTible ; nor is raifmg the dead in-
confiflent with his juflice, good nefs and truth, or with
any of his adorable perfedlions *, BlefTed be his name,
life and immortality arc brought to light through the
gofpd ! It is elTential to the faith of God's eledl to give
him the glory of raifmg the dead. Thus Abraham our
Father, when heofFered up Ifaac his fon, Rom. iv, 17.
This was a noble inflance of faith, it being before any
C 2 example

* The immediate and vifiblp confequence of natural death on its fub-
jeft, which is the body, vvherccf we have daily ocular demon flration,
may juftly rebuke the unbeliever. Who, that furvtys the human frame in
a living and healthful ftate, could difcern or imagine that this curious
tabernacle of flelh, with all its members and powers, was formed of the
ground ? This indeed is the dodtrine of the Bible ; but it is no lefs myfte-
rious and incredible to an eye of fenfe and to unaflifted reafon, than the
refurreftion itfelf. Men, who fet up their underftanding againft the tefti-
mony of God, cannot but own that the natural body is principled in the
duft, it being vifible to all : But why then do they deny a true and proper
refurreftion of this body from the ftate of the dead, no lefs plainly revealed,
merely becaufe the manner is not to be defcribed, and thereby deftroy the
foundation of the gofpel ?

36 LECTURESON

example of a refurreftion. Indeed Enoch was tranf-
latcd, which might be an hint to the church that the
power of death would actually be deftroyed by the feed
of the woman, but as yet no man had been raifed from
the dead : And may it not with reafon be concluded,
that the father of the faithful, who believed that the
dead "might be raifed, who faw Chrifl's day and was
glad, John viii. 56. was animated in his obedience
from a believing profpedl of the Mefliah's future refur-
reftion ?

However, Chrift is rifen, and God raifed him up.
But who is intended ? The refurreclion of the dead is
indifferently afcribed to Father, Son and Holy Ghoft ;
and accordingly the raifing'up the body of Chrift is men-
tioned as his own z&:. " Chrift both died and rofe,"
faith the apoftle, Rom. xiv. 9. And again, i Cor.
XV. 4. " He rofe again the third day j" and indogd he
affumes it to himfelf, John ii. 19. "In three days I
** will raife it up ;" meaning, as the facred hiftorian
declares, " the temple of his body." Thus the Son,
who quickeneth whom he will, laid down his life, and
alfo took it up again. Neverthelefs the fcriptures fhew
that the divine Spirit is the agent in the refurredtion ;
it is he that quickeneth from fin and the grave; and by
him, as the immediate efficient caufe, both the body
of Chrift and thofe of his faints are revived. *'Ifthe
" Spirit of him that raifed up Jefus from the dead
*' dwell in you, he that raifed up Chrift from the dead
" (hall alfo quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit
" that dwelleth in you," Rom. viii. 11. And in chap.
i. 4. he is faid to be declared *' to be the Son of God with

*' power

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 37

" power, according to the Spirit of holinefs, by the re-
*' furredtion from the dead." So that this glorious event
is afcribed to the Holy Ghoft. But in the oeconomy of
falvation, both the Son and the Spirit a6l in ofRce un-
der the Father ; who is generally defigned in the gofpel
wher-e God is ufed diftinfl: from the Lord Jefus Chrift,
and it is obvious that the Father is here intended j it
was the Father, whom David refers to, that was fworn
to raife fup Chrift to fit on his throne, to whom he
afcended, and at whofe right hand Jefus is now exalted
with power : And that this is the divine Perfon referred
to, appears from the current of fcripture, to whom alfo
is afcribed the refurredlion of the dead, and the raifing
of Jefus. The Father raifeth the dead at his pleafure,
John v. 21. And in Rom. vi. 4, we are told, '* that
*.' Chrift was raifed by the glory of the Father." And
again, Eph. i. 19, 20. it is declared, that *' the Father
*' of giory wrought in Chrift> according to the work-
** ing of his mighty power, when he raifed him from the
'* dead." This is a certain fa6t of the utmoft impor-
tance, that the hand of the Father was feen in the re-
furreilion of his Son ^ an article of faith which lies
at the foundation of our hope in the blood of Jefus, and
enters deeply into the myftery of Chrift, as will ap-
pear from the next enqi^iry, to which I proceed.

Secondly^ What is implied in God's having loofed the
pains of death ? This in general is a periphrafe of
Chrift's refurre6tion, or at leaft contained in it. And
here I cannot fall in with thofe, who, as I humbly
apprehend, have inadvertently given into a myftical
fenfc, and applied it to the agonies endured by our
C 3 Redeemer*

3« - LECTURES ON

Redeemer J and accordingly have taken occafion from
this pafTage to expatiate on the fpiritual fufFerings of
Jefus, which are ftiled " the travail of his foul."

It is far from being agreeable to differ from perfons
of fuperior charadter and abilities, nor would I by any
means difcourage the jud application of a fingle paffage
to the forrows of our Saviour ; but whether it is proper
to fay, that God, who inflifted the punifliment of fin,
delivered him, our Surety, from the pains which were
upon him, may be decently queftioned. The divine
Father ceafed not to afHi£l him till he had poured out
his foul and yielded up the ghoft : And his not being the
fubjef^ of eternal death, was in no degree owing to any
favor fhewn him by his judge, who in this righteous
and awful tranfatStion " fpared not his own Son ;" and
fmce he made ample fatisfaclion to juflice for our fins,
and trampled over his enemies in his crofs, may it not
rather be afierted, that, like Sampfon, by his death he
delivered himfelf from the bonds he was under ? How-
ever, to apply this fentence unto our Lord's delive-
rance from dolorous fufferings, either inward or out-
ward, is intirely againft the fcope of the place. Peter
is evidently treating on the true and proper refurredlion
of Jefus, agreeable to his quotation out of the Pfalms,
which relates to the raifing up the body of Chrift from
the grave ; this he urges in proof of his being the
Meffiah ; So that to take death here in 3|figurative fenfe,
and a diflblution of its pains of a deliverance from fpiri-
tual forrow, is to depart from the fubjeiSl in hand. The
apoftlc had no view to fenfible pains of any kin4
whatever • tVoin all thele Lhe Redeemer wss certainly

releafed

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 39

releafed the moment he expired, but the pains of death,
fpoken of in this paflage, were evidently loofened at his
refurredion.

There is another paraphrafe I cannot approve : hav-
ing loofed the bands under w^hich he lay, i. e. fay feme,
' when the pains of death had done their work upon
' him ;* but fenfible grief is not the intention of the
place, nor is the idea efTential to the word rendered
pains. Death is a flate of confinement in which the
fubje£l is held or tied faft as with bands ; and in
I Kings XX. 31. the expreffion is ufed for cords or
ropes, with which captives are bound ; and fome
critics note, that the allufion is to cruel creditors>
who will be fare to tie their debtors faft, which agrees
with Prov. XX. 16. where the fame word is rendered a
pledge, which we know is held faft till redeemed with
a price.

Now he that underftands the myftcry of Chrift in
his death, will fee the term pains in this view, exadlly
correfponds with the circumftances of Jefus when he
became obedient to the death of the crofs. Was he not
taken in judgment for his people's tranfgreffions, and
bound as their Surety ? Our debts were upon him, juftice
feized him, and he died as a criminal ! And furely he
that was thus caft under the power of death, when de-
livered therefrom, which is the thing recited, may well
be faid to have his pains or bonds loofed. Thus our Re-
deemer lay in the grave for a feafon, while his foul wa»
rejoicing in paradife ; not that I apprehend he was now
fufFering the penalty of the law^ which was infli<Sted
C 4 and

4iO LECTURESON

and fulfilled in his death; *' but having;, in the death
*' of the crofs, put away fin by the facrifice of himfelf,'*
his body was thus laid under the pains or confinement
of the grave, in order to an open and glorious' releafe,
tvhereby a public and undeniable proof was given of his
having made a righteous and honorable peace by his
blood.

This opens to our view the importance of what is
declared, namely, that God^ i. e. as we have feen, God,
even the Fathei:, raifed up Jefus : He is that divine perfon
who laid our iniquity on Chrift, in co&fequence of his
voluntary fubftitution in our ftead in the cove^nant of
redemption. The Father adled as judge and redlor in
his demand of fatisfaftion to lav/ and juftice for our
offences; he ftretched forth his omnipotent avenging
arm, and his fword awoke againft our heavy-laden
Surety, and flew him. Thus the Father brought the
Lord Jefus under the power of death ; His bringing
him again from the dead is an a£l of the higheft con-
lequence, and full of encouragement to the faith and joy
ef his people. O what a comfortable and glorious
fjght is this ? Chriilian, behold God raifed up Jefus !
See the Father as judge, who had juftly bound him as
thy Surety, releafe him. The righteous and fin-hating
God, who confined thy Bondfman, and required at his
hands whatever was due unto thee as a finner, in order
to thy redemption from the curfe of the law ; lo, this
fame divine perfon fets him at liberty ! Thus glorioufly
was thy Redeemer delivered from his confinement in the
grave, into which he was caft for thy fins ! Was it to
the honor of the apoftles, when falfly imprifoned at

Philippi^

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 41

Philippi, to be fetched out by the magiftrates them-
felves, and thereby declared to be innocent, A£l3
xvi. 39. What glory muft arife on thy Saviour, O
chriftian, when he was brought again from the dea<;i
by the righteous Father himfelf, after he had made
fetisfsition to juftice ! and how well grounded thy
hope in him !

This is the beauty of our Lord's refurreftion. We
are to confider, that it is not merely Chrifr's being
raifcd from the dead, or fimply that God raifed him up j
the gofpel of this intereftir.g event lieth in this, name-
ly, that tne Father, who, as judge, had laid the Re-
deemer under the power of death for our fins, did,
under the fame righteous charadler, adlually and volun-
tarily releafe him. This is gofpel indeed ! the glory
of which, no doubt, the angels beheld with reverence
and joy: and fhould it not fill us, who truft in this Jefus,
with triumph? But of this more hereafter; we have
fomethingftill further to excite our admiration and hope.
It is declared, '* that it was not poifible that he fhould
*' be holden of the bands of death :" So that the body
of our Saviour could not be detained in the grave ; he
muft be difcharged, nor could any thing hinder it.
This is a glorious truth ! a truth which reflefts un-
fpeakable honor on Jefus who was flain, and muft yield
a proportionable fatisfadlion to his people, who are re-
deemed with his blood, and truft him for life. And
this brings,

Thirdly, To fhew the impoffibility of Jefus being
held under the power of death and the grave. Now> on

reflection;,

42 LECTURESON

reflection, it will appear that it was impoflible in the
following refpetSls : As,

I. It was naturally impoflible, both on account of
hisdcitv, and the victory he had obtained by the blood of
his crofs. In order to clear up this point, we are to
confider whofe body it was that lay in the grave from
which it was raii'ed : It was the body of him who is
the Son of God. To this confideration, the term
ufcd in the pallage direCIs us. The apoftle doth not fa}'',
becaufe it was not poflible that it, but that he fliould
be holden ; thereby leading our thoughts to that di-
vine perfon who took thisflefh into union with himfelf.
This " great myftery of godlinefs, God manifeft in the
** fiefii," runs through every branch of the gofpel, and
lies at the foundation of the truth we are upon. Before
this body was conceived in the womb of the virgin, it
was declared by the angel, " That holy thing (hould
" be called the Son of God," Luke i. 35. Now this
holy thing, I apprehend, chiefly intends the natural body
of Chrift ; and this is.fo called, becaufe being an effen-
tial part of his whole human nature, it is united with
deity in the perfon of the Redeemer, who i« God's
own Son, equal with the Father : For this reafon the
body of Jefus continued under the fame divine charac-
ter when it lay entombed in the earth j and accordingly
it is faid, Rom. i. 4. that he was " declared to be the
*' Son of God with power, by the refurreition from
*' the dead." This ineffable union of the human with
the divine nature in the perfon of the Redeemer,
having taken place by the counfel of God, fubfifts for

ever :

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 43

ever; What could diflblve it ? Ifanything, the fufFer-
rings of Chrift muft caufe the feparatlon ; but this can-
not be fuppofed, feeing this body was prepared and
afTumed by the Son of God, that he nn'ght therein
fufFer and die, and fo " become a facrifice for fin,"
Hcb, X. 5. If any period could be pointed out in
which this union was diffolved, our hope In Chrift
would be loft, fince the infinite merit of his obedience
and blood as a fatisfadllon to juftice, on which we de-
pend, refults from his deity ; but thanks be to God, we
know, that the man Chrift Jefus was truly his Son when
he expired on the crofs ; nor could any change jn his
flefti, no not by death itfelf, in the leaft afFedt, much
lefs deftroy a union which is fpiritual and divine ; and
therefore far above the reach of any natural caufe. The
condition of our Saviour, while in the ftate of the dead,
was like that of his brethren deceafed ; his foul and bo-
dy were feparate for a feafon, but neither body nor foul
from the divine nature in the perfon of the Son : this
union fubfifted through every change, and will be eter-
nal. And was it poflible that this body, thus united ia
the perfon of the Mediator unto Deity itfelf, fhould
be finally held in the grave ? Could not the Son of
God have rifen at his pleafure ? How then could he be
a moment confined againft his own will? We may
therefore be certain, that the pains of death, which
God loofed when he raifed up Jefus, " could not detain
him.

As it was naturally iir.poffible that Jefus fhould be
Jield under death on account of his divine nature; this
jikewife appears from his glorious vidlory over fatan and

death

44 LECTURESON

death on the crofs. We are told, that " through death
" he deftroyed him that had the power of death, that is,
*' the devil." Heb. ii. 14. And again, " He fpoiied princi-
*' palities and powers, and made a ihcv/ of them openly,
*' triumphing over them in it," Col. ii, 15. If Jefus by
himfelf, through the blood of his crofs, deftroyed the
power of fatan, and confequently triumphed over death
and the grave, by removing the guilt of fm, how is it
poflible that the pains of death fliould confine him ? It
cannot be imagined that an enemy, however terrible or
deftructive toothers, fhould be able to keep under that
perfon by whom he is taken and deftroyed : Shall the
vanquiflied detain his conqueror, or bind him at his
plcafurc ? Who can fuppofe it ? But thy Saviour, O
chriftian, obtained a vidlory over death and hell j it
was therefore not poiTible, in the nature of things,
that they fliould detain him. Thus it was naturally
impoflible that Chrift fhould be held in the grave, both
on account of his glory and power as a divine perfon,
and alfo as the mighty conqueror of death and the devil,
who had gained a dominion, through the curfe of thelaw,
over the guilty race of apoftate Adam. Either of thefe
confiderations apart, and much more when united,
abundantly prove that ^efus could not be held by
conftraint under the power of death ; no, not a mo-
ment. I do not deny that the Redeemer's lying in the
grave for a feafon is a point of his humiliation, but
rather think it was in refpe£l: of his bodyj yet this
jTuiy be foberly affirmed, that our Saviour's continuance
in the ftateof the dead, after he had made fatisfa(ftion fo.r
fin, and thereby deftroyed the power of death, was

voluntary,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 45

voluntary, and fubmitted unto for ends of his glory.
Again,

11. It was morally impoflible that Jefus fliould be
detained in the grave, in refpeiS: of the divine decrees,
the prophecy of fcripture, and the end for which he
was delivered unto death. That the refurre<Stion of
Chrift was determined beforehand, will fcarcely be
doubted : It was no lefs the fettled counfel and fore-
knowledge of God, that Jefus fhould be raifed from
the dead, than that he fhould be crucified and flain.
Hence our Lord fpeaks of taking up, as well as of laying
down his life at the commandment of the Father,
John X. 18. And, indeed, this is included in that
glory of which the Spirit teftified in the prophets, and
which was fpoken of by them from the beginning : So
that the railing up Chrift was predetermined in the coun-
fel of heaven, fmce prophecy is no other than a reve-
lation of the divine decrees. But again, Thefe prophe-
cies themfelves (hew it morally impoflible that the body
of Chrift ihould be holden by death. The veracity of
God is engaged for the accomplifhment of his word ;
it is therefore an undeniable maxim, that the fcripture
cannot be broken, but they contain the promife of
the Father to raife up his Son : and this is the very
thing which Peter infifts on, namely, that God had
fworn to raife up Chrift and fet him on the throne of
David, which could not be accomplifhed without his
refurre(Slion from the dead j and accordingly he (hews
the Jews that the Pfalmift fpake of this in the prophecy
<juoted,ver. 25. and following: So that by the connexion
•f the difcourfe and argument of the apvftle, he more

efpecially

4^ LECTURE SON

efpecially intends, by its being impoffible, this moral
impoflibility ai iiing from the faithfulnefs of God to his
word, in which he had declared he would raife up Jefus.
As Chrift muft fufFer and die, in like-manner there was
a neceflity for his rifmg again from the dead, for this rea-
fon among others, that the fcripture might be fulfilled,
it being impoffibic that the word of the Almighty
fhould fail. And this moral impoflibility of detaining
our Saviour under death, is ft ill further confirmed by
the defign of the Father in delivering up his Son to
fufFer and die, namely, that his"people might live through
him, I John iv. 9. The defign of God in delivering
up his Son could not be fruftrated ; and this was to
deliver his adopted fons from death and hell, arid to
bring them to glory, Heb. ii. 10. But how could this
come to pafs if the Saviour himfelf had continued in
the grave ? Had Chrift our Surety been held in thefe
bands, we could not have beenjuftified in himj Co
argues the apoftle, '/' If Chrift be not raifed, your faith
" is vain; ye are yet in your fins," i Cor. xv. 17,
But blefled be God, he " whowas delivered for our
*' offences, was raifed again for our juftification," Rom,
iv. 25. And further,

III. I may fay it was kgaify impoffible that our Lord
fhould be held in thefe bands, on account of the latis-
fa(5tion he had made to the jufticeofGod. Having be-
come the voluntary fubftitute of finners, in the cove-
n.^nt of redemption, he died by the hand of the Father,
under the righteous imputation of all their iniquity;
and in this his obedience unto death, he fully anfwered
the demands that were upon him, *' for he put away

" fin

PRIMITIVE CHRSTIANITY. 47

** fin by the facrifice of himfelf," Heb. xi. 26. This
fatisfadion, which appears from his being releafed,
entitled him to a deliverance. It would have been un-
righteous to have continued our Surety in prifon, who
had fully difcharged our debts, yea and made a glorious
reparation to the honor of the law, under which he was
held in our ftead. But is there any unrighteoufnefs
with God ? It was therefore not poflible, becaufe it
was unlawful. With God all things are poflible that
agree with the divine perfecStions : It is therefore pof-
fible, however wonderful, that God fhould raife the
dead, for ends of juftice or mercy, or for a difplay of
his power; but for the divine Father to hold the inno-
cent as guilty, or to detain our Surety in the grave, into
which he was caft for our fins, after he had completely
atoned them, would be to con trad i 61 his cflential righte-
oufnefs, and to impeach his character as a judge;
Jefus having finiflied his work, and made a full end of
fin, juftice required that he fhould be fet free, it not
being equitable for that perfon to be held under death
who had merited life, or to have with-held the vi6tori-
ous Captain of our falvatlon from the reward of his
fufFerings. Thus it was naturally, morally and legal-
ly impoflible that the Son of God fhould be holden by
his bands, which were loofed by the Father when he
raifed him up.

How glorious then is the tomb of a crucified Savi-
our ! Look, O believer ! into this grave j confider
who it contains, and the end for which it is there !
Iris the body of him who is able to rife at his pleafure.
O aftoniftiing fight ! here lies the Conqueror for a fea-

foQ

48 tECTURESON

fon in the arms of his captive, and the Lamb in the
jiaws of the lion, unhurt, for the deftroyer cannot con-
fume him ! The grave of thy Redeemer, O chriftian !
is full of myftery and grandeur. Here lies the man in
whom no fm was found, though death is alone the
wages of fin ! yea here lies dead the Surety, who, in
the ranfom he hath given, had delivered his people
from the fting of death, and condemned the laft ene-
my to a final deftrudion ; for *' death itfelf fhall be
*' call into the lake of fire and fwallowed up in vi6lory.'*
This is he that faid, " O death I will be thy plague,
« O grave I will be thy deftrudion !" And *' who,
*' through death, had defi:royed him that had the pow-
** er of death, which is the devil." " He laid down
" his life that he might take it up again : " and lies thus
confined, not by conftraint, but willingly, while, ac-
cording to the fettlement in the counfel of peace, in or-
der to his being openly raifed by the glory of the Father,
to his immortal honor, and the joy of his faints.
This, this truly was lying in ftate ; not like the gods or
princes of the earth, in a vain pomp of funeral decora-
tion over their corpfe, already corrupted, to be gazed
at by a thoughtlefs multitude of furviving mortals, and
then covered in the earth till the refurreftion of the
dead : No ; the Prince of life lies in death like himfelf,
that juftice having loofed his bands he may arife. He
accordingly rofe, and as it were ftiook ofF his duft
and afcended to his throne, to be viewed with adoration
and praife by the heavenly hofi-, who continually afcribe
to him everlafting dominion and glory.

And

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 49

And was Jefus raifed up by God, it being not
poflible that he (hould be holden by death ? then v/o
be to them who refift or defpife him ! Nothing can be
more dreadful for unbelievers and impenitent finners,
than the deliverance of Chrift from the grave. The
refurre61:ion of Jefus proves the righteoufnefs of God,
and judgment to come, Adts xviii. 31. By this he is
proclaimed Lord of all, and him by whom God will
judge the world in righteoufnefs. Reader, if thou
haft not fubmitted to the Saviour, I befeech thee to
confider that he is exalted at the right-hand of the
Father, till all his enemies are fubdued. Chrift is
rifenj what then muft become of the man who doth
not obey him ? The evidences of his refurre6lion
abound, as will hereafter be fiiewn, yet he is preached
in vain to men dead in fins. Well faid our Lord,
" They will not believe though one rofe from the dead."
We have ample external proof that Chrift is rifen, yet
alas how few to whom the gofpel is preached believe on
his name ! But know, thou carelefs hearer, that this
fame Jefus, whom God hath railed up a Saviour, is
appointed his Judge. And as it was not poflible,
for the reafons affigned, that the pains of death fhould
hold him, in like manner, it fhall not be poflible for
the heavens to detain him, when the fet day is come ;
then (hall he be " revealed in flaming fire, and take
" vengeance on them who know not God, and obey
*« not his gofpel, 2 Theff. i. 8. And be perfuaded,
that from the exquifite pains of this death, which he will
infli(9:, thou fhalt never be loofed, if thou art caft in
judgment, for they who fall into the bands of this living

D God,

50 LECTURESON

God, as the avenger of fin, will furely " be punifhed
^' with everlafling deftru£tion from his prefcnce and
" from the glory of his power," ver. g. O then>
I befeech thee, deceive not thyfelf, but take warning,
and may the Lord convince thee, that, repenting of thy
fins, thou mayeft flee to this only Saviour, who hath
delivered us from wrath to come !

But, with what fatisfadion and joy may you, my
dear friends, who truft in the Redeemer, reflcfl on his
glorious releafe from the grave ! to you this grand evtnt
is no lefs interefting than wonderful. Behold, O chri*
flian, thy Surety raifed and difcharged by the fame,
hand vi^hich bound him for thy fms ! Herein thou art
juftified, and here is a pledge of thine own refur-
redlion. What a ground of triumph is this I " Who
*' fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's ele£t ? It
" is God that juftifieth." He juftified thy Saviour,
believer, and it is God that juftifieth thee in him ;
thou art therefore righteoully acquitted. And with
rcfpe<Sl: to judgment to come; haft thou any thing to
fear ? " Who is he that condemneth ? It is Chrift that
*' died, yea rather that is rifen again." Unfhakca
IS thy confidence, O man, in the blood of Chrift for
the remiffion of fms. With boklnefs come to thy hea-
venly Father, in the name of this Jefus he hath bimfelf
raifed up ; and be alTui^ed that the end of thy faith will be
thy complete and eternal falvation. If Chrift is rifen,
and it was not poffible that be iliould be holden, ;ro
man fliall perifh for whom Chrift died, neither can
death have -final dominion over him. Jefiis is rifen,
and become the firft-fruits of them that fleep in him.

Hence

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 51
Hence, fays he to his difciples, " Becaufe I live, ye
*' fhall live alfo," John xiv. 19. The members of a
living head muft a fhort fesfon, for valuable ends, fall
into a ftate of natural death, but they fliall furely re-
vive. May this ftrengthen thy faith, enliven thy
hop5, and increafe thy joy in the Lord. Finally, O
chr'ftian, is there not the higheft reafon for thee to
give thanks to the Father? Behold his faithfulnefs,
juftice, power and love, illuftrioufly difplayed in raif-
ing up thy Saviour ; and confider the infinite oblip-a-
tions thou art under to him, that this important and
,interefting fail ftands confirmed by fo many credible
teftimonies. But of this in the follow^ing leilure.

LECTURE IV.

What to be underftood by a witnefs. Who are wit-
neffes of our Lord's refurrediion. Their credibility.

THE natural prejudice' againft a refurreciion- in ge-
neral, and the particular ftrefs laid in the gofpel
on the raifmg up Chrift, requires the mofl ample and
undeniable proof of that glorious and important
event; and, blefled be God, this is not wanting. He
hath abounded in every kind of evidence, v/hich the
nature of the thing and the circumftances of the cafe
will admit, among which the teftimony of his difciples
hath a principal place, and is now to be confidered.

D 2 Tki:

52 LECTURESON

The apoftles having declared, A£ls xi. 24. that
God had raifed up Jefus of Nazareth, and pointed
out the neceffity of his refurreiSlion, to the glory
of his name, proceeds to fhew, from the prophecy of
David, that thus it was determined, vcr. 25 — 31. And
in ver. 32, repeats his alTertion vv'ith a punctuality and
boldnefs becoming a man who could prove what he
faid, " This Jefus hath God raifed up." In evidence
of this he produces the teftimony of many, including,
his own ; " whereof, faith he, we are all witnefTes."
The like declaration is made on another occafion,
chap. iii. 14- And likewife again, before the high-
prieft and Sanhedrim, Peter boldly declares, that he
and others were his, i. e. God's witneffes of thefe
thinf^s, meaning among the reft' that of the refurredlion
of Jefus that .was flain. In attending to this article it
may be ufeful to ftate the notion of a witnels, confider
who arc defigned by the witneffes of Chrift's refur-
reclion, and then (hew their credibility, or rather that
their teftimony cannot with reafon be queftioned.

A WITNESS in the Ample and common idea of the
word, is one that beares open teftimony to the truth;
it fignifies clearly to affirm the thing that is true. And
thus it is applied to a man's profefllon of his faith in
Chrift, by an open confeffion of his name, and a per-
fonal fubje«5tion to him before men ; in this fciife to
confefs is to witnefs. Hence our Lcrd himfclf is faid
to witnefs a good confefTion before Pontius Pilate,
when he flood to the truth and denied not his cha-
rader, i Tim. vi. 13. compared with John xviii. 37.
And the word l^af\vl^;i martyrs, here ufed is more parti-
cularly

^ ^T T D 5f.J
PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 53

cularly applied to them who, being called to it, fcal
their profefllon with their blood. Hence Saul pleads,
faying to the Lord, AcSls xxii. 20. *' And when the
*' blood of thy martyr Stephen was fhed I was ftanding;
" by, &c.'* And we read, Rev. xvii. 6. of the blooJ of
the martyrs, i. e. according to the text, of the wit-
neffes of Jefus. The fame chara6ter is lilcewife eivcn
to the mlnifters of the word, who are employed to
affirm and declare the truth : thus of the prophets, who
by fpecial untSlion from heaven teftified beforehand of
Jefus, it is faid, that they all gave witnefs to him who
rofe from the dead, concerning remiffion of fins
through faith in his blood, ASis x. 43, Hence alfo
John the baptift, is faid, John i. 7. to come for a wit-
nefs, to bear witnefs of the light, i. e. to teftify unto
Chrift the true lightj and the witnefles mentioned.
Rev. xi. 3. as fome apprehend, feem rather a number
of gofpel minifters than any two individual perfons.
However our Lord was a witnefs, as he bore witnefs,
to himfelf ; which was no other than bearing witnefs to
the truth, John viii. 18. And in the fame fenfe all his
faithful minifters, who teftify and declare the truth as it
is in Jefus, may be ftiled witnefTes of the fame.

But this falls fhort of the fenfe in which Peter and
others were witnefles of our Lord's refurredlion. A
witnefs properly fpeaking is one who, being called
or appointed by authority, to afcertain any fail, gives
good and fufficient proof of the fame ; he is one that tefti-
fies a thing upon his own knowledge as certainly true.
Such are the evidences required in relation to facts by
the world in general or fpecial focieties, and particu-
D 3 larly

54 LECTURES ON

larly In courts of juftice. Thus every thing by the
law was to be eftablifhed in the mouth of two or three
witnefies, and the fame rule is adopted under the gof-
pel, Dcut. xvii. 6. compared with 2 Cor. xiii. i. And
it is in this fenfe that the apoftle declares concerning
himfelf, and many others, that they were all witnefies
of the refurre£lion ofjefus. He intends nothing lefs
than their being appointed of God the true and pro-
per witnefTes cf the adorable and interefting faft, and
which they accordingly teftified upon their own
knowledge, having feen the Lord after he was rifcn, and
before whom he faid and did fuch things as amounted
to a full demonftration that God had indeed raifed up
this fame Jefus who was crucified ; of which more
hereafter. Thus as Peter, James and John, were eye-
witnefles of the majefty and glory ofjefus in his tranf-
figuration on the mount, in like manner all thefe
v/hom the apoftle refers to and joins himfelf with,
were eye and ear-witneffes of his being rifen from the
dead.

Now, who are thefe witnefies, or from whence
sre they chofen ? from angels ? No : Indeed he was
feen of angels after he rofe, i Tim. iii. 16. And we
read that angels laid to the women. Matt, xxviii. 6.
" Ke is not here, for he is rifen." So that we find
g.ngels waited at the fepulchre, and report the Sa-
i'iour's refurrediion ; and we lil<ewife are told, a glo-
rious hoft of thefe illuftrious fpirits attended our Lord
when he afcended on high, Pfalm Ixviii. 17. But an-
gels were not appointed of God, to bear witnefs to
jhs world of bis SoHj that|-s hath raifed him fronts

th§

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 55
the dead. Neither are thefe vvitneiTes t^ken from the
body of the Jews, or frocn any of their rulers. Chfifl:
did not appear unto the^-n afi.er he was rifen. At this
unbelievers have frequently cavilled. If Chrifl:, fay
they, indeed rofe again, why did he not fhcw hiipfelf
openly to the Jev/s and their rulers ? It has been
juftly replied : This would not have confifted with
the ftate of the Jews, nor vyith the deAgn of the wit-
nefles, which was not to be a teftimony only to that
nation, which was foon to be dertroyed, byt that all
the world might know th^t God had riiifvd up Jefus a
Saviour. The Jews, through unbelief, had rejected the
Meffiah as a people, and thereby filled up the ineafure
of their fin. Hence they were under an awful dere-
liction. Our Lord had fonie time before his death
pronounced their doom, namely. Matt, xxiii. 38,
that their houfe was left ,unto them defolate*, 1. e., de-
voted to de{l:ru6lion as the. reward of their iniquity.
And in^the next verfe hs folemnly declares, faying,
" Ye fh-all not fee me henceforth, till ye fhall fay,
^.' Bleffed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
And it doth not appear that cur Lord once after ad-
drefled the Jews in the courfe of his miniflry, in order
to their conviction, but only warns his hearers of their
approaching deftruftion, and declares the many awful
figns that would forerun it. There is reafon to ap-
prehend that fome crafty fceptics are aware, that if
in thefe circumftances our Lord, had acStually appeared
D 4 to^

* To be defolate is fometimes to be underftood of being left under fin and

J the punifliment thereof. Thus in Pfalm xxxiv. 2I, 22. it is faid

that the wicked dizU be defolate or guilty as the word C L!^'K f.gnifics,

from which they who truft in the Lord are fecure, being juftiucd

ift> him.

56 L E C T U R E S O NT/ T H^

to the Jews, he had furely falfified his own prediftion j
in which cafe no doubt they would have availed them-
felves againft him, but they have not this advantage*
Chrift did not fhew himfelf to the Jews after he was^
rifen, and the reafon is plain ; he had profefledly left
them, fo that his immediate concern with them as a,
body was long fmce at an end ; nor was it probable
that a people who had, in the hardnefs of their hearts,
withftood the evidence of fo many miracles, and even
that of his raifing the dead, as in the inftance of Laza-
rus j I fay, it is not likely that a people, who againft
all this divine tefiimony had reje6ted Chrift as an im-
poftor, and as one that had a devil, would have re-
pented and received him, upon feeing him after his re-
furredion. However, we are toconfider that Jcfus was
to be the Saviour of the world, and his refurredion to
be publiftied in every nation under heaven. The ru-
lers of the Jews could be no better evidence than the
perfons chofen ; for, as one well obferves, ' What

* greater fatisfadion would it have been to the world

* in general that Chrift appeared to the Jews, or to
' the magiftrates at Jerufalcm, than that of his ap-
' pearance to his difciples, provided their witnefs is

* credible?' Any unprejudiced perfon may fee that the
feleded witnefs of Ch;ift's own difciples, duly quali-
fied to give their tcftimony, was the moft rational and
convincing, and confequently the fitteft external evi-
dence that the world could receive. It is therefore
perverfe and manifeft prejudice to complain that the
witnefTes of our Lord's refurredion were chofen from
his own difciples.

Put

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 57

But to return. Neither are the witnefles referred to
every one wh© faw and converfed with the Saviour af-
ter he rofe from the dead ; he vi^as feen of five hundred
brethren at once, i Cor. xv. 6. And it is at leaft
highly probable that each of his difciples faw him be-
fore he afcended j and that as they had opportunity de-
clared his appearance unto them. But to be a witnefs
of Chrift's refurre6lion includes a fpecial cemmiffion
and authority, by divine appointment, to teftify this
wonderful and glorious event in the world. Thus Pe-
ter declares that they were " witnefTes chofen before
** God, who did eat and drink with him after he rofe
" from the dead," A6\.s x. 41. It was effential and
peculiar to the character of an apoflle to bear this tefci-
mony of Jefus ; and therefore when the number of the
apoftles was to be completed by the filling up the
place of Judas the traitor, it is faid, Acls i. 21, 22.
*' Of thefe men which have companled with us all the
** time that the Lord Jefus went in and out among us,
*' beginning from the baptifm of John, unto that fame
** day that he was taken up from us, muft one be or-
" dained to be a witnefs with us of his refurreclion."
And accordingly when Saul was converted, and called
to the office of an apoftle, the Lford faith j " For I
*' have appeared unto thee for this purpofe, to be a
** minifter and a witnefs both of the things which thou
" haft feen and thofe things in the which I {hall ap-
" pear unto thee," Adls xxvi. 16. One of which was
that of the refurredion, which he not only preached,
but likewife bare witnefs of having feen Jefus Chrift,
D5 1©

58 LECTURESON

to which he appeals in proof of his apoftlefnip, i Cor.
ix. I. And in chap. xv. after aflerting that Chrift; rofe
again the third day according to the fcriptures, and ap-
peared to many in teilimony of the fanie, he declares,
ver. 8. " and laft of all he was feen of me alfo." So
then thefe witnefles are no other than thofe firfl and
great miniftcrs, the apoftles of Chrift, v/ho being
qualified by their own converfe with him after
he was alive from the dead, were chofen and or-
dained before God to teftify, by undeniable evidence,
to all the world that he raifed up Jefus ; and ac-
cordingly they went forth in his name, with figns
and miracles attending, in proof of their miiTion from
heaven.

It remains to confider the credibility of thefe chofen
witneffes, which is by no means to be taken for grant-
ed, nor is it defired. For though the enemies of chri-
ftianity have prefumed to queftion the evidence of the
difciples, it hath largely been fhewn by many excel-
lent writers, and will be found on trial that their cha-
rafter, under the notion of a witnefs to this glorious
and important event, will bear the niceft fcrutiny, to
the abundant fatisfaflion of every impartial enquirer ;
nor do I know of any thing that can be added to what
has already been urged on the head, the fum of which
I fhall prefent to the reader. In general it appears
that they had every qualification eflential to a credible
witnefs. They had knowledge, peripicuity, and upright-
ncfs; but more particularly,

Firft,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 59

First, they v/ere corhpetfeht judges. The thino- to
be proved was level to any man's Gapaeity*. Unbe
lievcrs may attempt to raife difficulties and pretend Breat
danger of being deceived in a cafe of this nature, but
they have been told, and every man's reafon will tell
him, that evidence is -eafily obtained v.'here the thing
in queilion, as in the cafe of the refurreclion, is mani-
fcftly an object of fenfe. The body of Chrift is a fenfi-
ble obje6t, and the apoftles had fenfes to difcern that
object. It has been juftly pleaded, nor can it be mo-
deftly denied, that the refurreclion was to be fup-
ported by the evidence of fenfe; now, as a celebrated
writer obferves, * it requires no more ability to be a
' witnefs to a man raifed from the dead, than a per-

* fe6l: knowledge of him before his deceafe, and a ca-

* pacity to diftinguifh between a dead man and a man

* alive } and what living man doth not think himfelf

* a judge in this point ?' As to a pretence that the body
of Jefus was not truly and properly a body, feeing he
often appeared to the difciples and withdrew from'
them in a fudden miraculous way, it is without any
foundation, fmce at Nazareth before his dleathj when
his body is allowed to be real, and ia .othei; places, fee
Lake iv. 30. John viii. 59. he withdrew from the
midft of the people, when in danger, in a manner no
lefs wonderful. Befidesjthe apoftles had undeniable tefti*

mony

• It is the fubtlety of a deiftical writer to infinuatc that the credibility of
a v/itnefs can at mod be only presumed ; for if it may not be certainly
known, there can then be no dependence on any hiftory, facred of
prophane, snd in confequence the gofpel itfelf is incapable of proof.
But it is hoped that the feader is not to be moved by any fuch fo-
phiftry, and that the charadler of ihs apoftles who teftified that Jef«
j§ rifen will appear undeniable.

6o LECTURESON

mony concerning the reality of our Saviour's body,
as appears from Luke xxvi. 39. " Handle me and fee,
*' for a fpirit hath not flefli and bones, as ye fee mc
" have."

The knowledge thefe witneflfes had of our Lord's
refurredion depended not on occafional or tranfitory
yifits ; they had fufEcient opportunity to examine his
body, and to be fatisfied it was Jefus himfelf, which,
in connexion with their capacity forjudging, demands
our credit. Mary Magdalen, the firft who faw the
Lord after he rofe, was forbid to detain him for a rca-
fon afligned, yet it doth not appear that flie touched
not his body ; however it is plain that fhe had fuffi-
cient proof that it was the Lord fhe had feen, and ac-
cordingly makes her report, John xx. 18. And with
refpedt to thefe chofen witnefles we have already feen
that they eat and drank with him, yea, faith Luke
the facred hiftorian, A6ls i. 3. *^ He (hewed himfelf
** alive after his paflion, by many infallible proofs,
** being feen of them forty days, and fpeaking of the
** things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Thus
God (hewed his Son, whom he had raifed openly,
chap. x. 40. i. e. clearly as the fun fhines, in the mod
confpicuous manner, {o as to leave no doubt on the
minds of his followers, for as the apoftle acquaints us,
I John i. I. " They heard, they faw with their eyes;
** they looked upon, and their hands handled of the
** word of life." A pleonifm or redundancy of ex-
prefTion which implies the fullefi: opportunity for
trial by their fenfes, which, as hinted, were the pro-
per, judge of the hd:. In a word, had Chrift lived

with

PRIMITJVE CHRISTIANITY. 6i

with his difciplcs an hundred years after he rofe from
the dead, they could not have obtained a more cer-
tain proof that he was rifen indeed.

In confequence of their full fatisfaiiion on fufficient
evidence that Jefus was rifen, the apoftles declare it
without hefitation, which is another credible circum-
ftance ; they fpake of it boldly at Jerufalem, as in the
inftance before us, and even before the high-prieft and
council of the Jews, Adls v. 33. Now it is not cre-
dible that they fhould thus freely and conftantly de-
clare that Jefus was alive on the fpot where he was
crucified, and among a people that had feen him laid
in the grave, and this to the magiftrates themfelves,
who wanted not for means to deteft, nor power or
inclination to punifli them, if the fa<Sl had not been
notorious.

Integrity alfo is cfiential to the credit of a wit-
nefs, and of this the difciples had every poffible mark.
And here I might infift on their morals, the miracles
they wrought, their faithfulnefs in recording their
own infirmities and fins, their many and great fuffer-
ings for the teftimony of Jefus, and when called to it,
their fealing this teftimony with their blood. Thefe
are more than fufficient ; and efpecially the laft is an
undeniable proof, if proof can be had of human up-
rightnefs. Men corrupted with infidelity have not
fpared an attempt to fet afide the force of this argu-
ment, by comparing it with that of a criminal under
fentence of death, who denies the fa<St for which
he is condemned, which hath frequently been the cafe.

But

fy2 1/ E C T U R E S O N

But to this it has been juftiy replied, that ' thefe i«
' no comparifon between a criminal denying the truth

* to fave his hfe, and a perfan expofing himfelf to fuf-

* ferings and death by attefting a known falfliood.' And
indeed, who cannot fee that this is rather an oppo-
iite than a parallel cafe ? The apoftles might at any
time have quitted their teftimony, and faved their
Jives, but they refiftcd unto blood, ftriving againft Cm ;
which, joined to the wonders they performed, is fuch
evidence, that to refift the fame is to refolye againft
believing either God or man.

Thus if we confider that thefc witnefTcs were ca*
pable of judging the matter in queftion, the fufficient
means they had of knowing the fa£t, the open manner
in which they declared it, and the ample proof we have
of their integrity, nothing but prejudice can hinder our
pronouncing them credible, and receiving their tefti-
mony of our Lord's refurreclion ; they are certainly true
wtineiles of God who teftified to the world that he
raifed up Chrift.

But, befides their being poffefled of every qualification
required in a witnefs, there are many other things which
tend to corroborate their evidence, which are not to
be pafTed over in filence. Their own incredulity, for
which they ftand juftly reproved; their being never
called in queftion, in relation to the fa£lj which, to-
gether with Gamaliel's advice, A«S^s v. 34.. aii4 f aul'p
anfwer to Agrippa in the court of Csefaria, chap. xxvi.
are more than Sufficient to lliew, that the Jews them-
selves

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 63

felves Were far from being convinced that Chrift was •
not rifen. The teftimony of unbelievers themfelves
is another ftrong circumftance in favour of the apoftles
credibility. The foldiers who guarded the fepulchre,
though bribed to conceal it, at firft, in their fear, fcru-
ple not to report the aftonifhing event. Matt, xxviii. 1 1,
By fome apologies of the fathers it appears that even
the Roman fenate denied not the refurreQion of Jefus,
and it is very remarkable that Jofephus the Jewifli hift-
crian fpeaks without hefitation, that Chrift rofe again
on the third day. But ftill greater is the teftimony of
God by the mouth of his prophets who foretold the
refurre£lion of his Son ; this will confirm the credi-
bility of his witnefles with them that believe. To this
purpofe the apoftle pleads, Ads xxvi. 22, 23. that he
faid ** none other things than thofe which the pro-
*' phets and Mofes did fay. fhould come : That
« Chrift ftiould fuffer, and that he fhould be the firft
*' that fhould rife from the dead." It certainly adds
to the -credit of perfons every way qualified to be wit-
nefles, that in what they report, however wonderful,
they declare nothing but what God had foretold fhould
come to pafs. The amazing fpread and efficacy of the
gofpel might alfo be urged, and likewife the number of
thofe who attefted the fame ; not one or two, but twelve ;
and afterward the apoftle of the Gentiles, who once
thought it became him, and therefore to his utmoft de-
ftroyed the faith ; fo that he cannot be fuppofed to join in
their teftimony without the moft convincing evidence;
together with all the other difciples who faw the rifen
Saviour, befides the witnefles themfelves, fo that many
hundr-ede confirmed their report. Thus it was the wifdom

64 LECTURESON

of God by a great variety of circumftances to eflablifli
the vvitnefs of his chofen fervants to the refurredion of
our Lord.

As to the popular obje£tions of infidels, they are
trifling and perverfe. Some cavil that he was not
three days and three nights in the earth, as priedifted,
for v\^ant of admitting the known manner of reckoning
the nights into the day, when we reckon by fo many
days. Three days and three nights are expreflions equi-
valent to three days, or in three days. And three days
inclufive take in the firft and the laft in the account,
however fmall a part of either is employed, which an-
fwers exactly to the time of our Saviour's lying in the
grave. The Jews plainly underftood the next day,
which was the fabbath, to be the fecond day, and the
pains they took to fet a guard on that day, left in the
night the body of Chrift ftiould be ftolen away, fliews
that in their account, the next, i. e. the third day was
the day on which he, whom they call a deceiver, faid,
" I will rife again," Matt, xxvii. 63. The predi6lion
was that he fhould rife again the third day, which he
actually, truly, and properly did, as we learn from the
teftimony of the angels, Luke xxiv. 7. alfo from his ap-
pearance to the women, and the difcourfe of thedifciples
■with him as they walked to Emmaus, " To-day, fay
*' they, is the third day fmce thefe things were done,"
ver. 21. which was the very day on which Chrift
rofe, as appears from the context. Others deny
that a refurrettion is poflible ; this is exceeding
bold if not impious ; it is moft unreafonable to doubt
whether the Almighty who informed this curious veffei

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 65
bf duft with a principle of life can revive it from the
ftate of the dead at his pleafure ; and, as hinted alrea-
dy, there is no contradi£tion in raifing a dead body,
nor is it in any reipeci unworthy of God to perform it ;
and if the dead may be raifed, the refurre£lion of Jefus
is not to be fcruplcd under a notion of its beiiig im-
poffible. In a word, the ftory told by the Jews, of
our Saviour's body being ftole in the night by his
difciples, notv/ithftanding all their precaution, is too
ridiculous and abfurd to be received by any fober un-
prejudiced perfon. The difciples were at this time in
the utmoft fear and jeopardy, were themfelves dif-
couraged at the death of their Lord, and had no ap-
prehenfion of his rifing again, and therefore had no
motive in themfelves to attempt the removing his
'body; but if they had, they were utterly incapable of
performing it; could they roll away the ftone fronn
the fepulchre, or do it without awaking any of the
guard r but if the guard continued afleep, how came
they to know that his body was ftolen ? or if it was,
that his difciples were concerned ? they neither heard
nor faw any thing ; and, as a late ingenuous vy^riter *
obferves, * was it ever heard fmce the world began

* that evidence was admitted to a fa£l: that took place

* while the parties attefting were confeiTedly afleep ?*
Befides, who in their fenfes, on fuch an enterprize,
would have flayed to fold up the cloths, and lay them
apart in the manner they were found by Peter and
John ?

E So

* Trial of the witnefles of the refurreftion of Jefus, -wherein moft of
the arguments mentioned in favor of the apoilles credibility are intrcdu»;ei
» ith great propriety and force.

66 LECTURESON

So then it appears that this glorious and important
event, the refijrre6tion of our Lord Jefus Chrift, ftands
fully attefted by proper witnefles chofen before God,
whofe credibility is not to be queftioned, being con-
firoied by every poflible mark of truth, and againft
which every objection of the adverfary is groundlefs
and vain. Unbelievers are therefore inexcufable j
their folly is manifell, fince nothing can be more cre-
dible ; nor was any fail in the world more abundantly
proved, than that Jefus was raifed from the dead. May
fuch obtain mercy to repent ; for fmce Chrift is rifen,
wo be to the man who fhall be found to have denied
him v/hen he comes to judgment !

To conclude, he that believeth hath the witnefs
in himfelf, and may be afTured from his own expe-
rience that Jefus is rifen. The efficacy of the gofpel
unto faving faith in the heart Is owing to the fame di-
vine power which wrought in Chrift when God raifed
him from the dead, Eph. i. 19, 20, And the death of
Jefus is the procuring caufe of fuch divine operation ;
fo that the faithful have an internal evidence, whereby
the veracity of thefe chofen witnefles is confirmed to
themfelves. O chriftian, thine own refurre6lion from
the grave of fin is a fure teftimony to thee that thy Sa-
viour is rifen ! Had not thy Surety rofe from the
dead thou hadft been yet in thy fins, but now God
hath quickened tliee, who wert thyfelf dead in tref-
pafies and fins ; he that died for thee is certainly alive !
Under this teftimony of the Spirit rejoice in thy hope,
give glory to the Father, who raifed up his Son, and gave
him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God,

LECTUR E

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 67

LECTURE V.

The Holy Ghoft a witnefs to the refurre^lion of
Jefus : His teftimony in the believer appealed to by
theapoftle, ift epiftle John, ch. v. 10. confidered and
proved.

WE have feen that nothing can be more credible,
than the open and united teftimony theapoftles
gave to the refurre6lion of Chrift; yet there is one
objeftion boldly advanced, which if admitted throws
a dead weight on all that can be faid in proof of this
point, namely, the fa6l is fo extraordinary, it being,
fay the objedtors, contrary to the laws of nature for
the dead to arife, that no human evidence can
be fufficient, fmce the voice of nature outv^eighs the
utmoft that can be faid againft her. To this fome
have juftly replied, that the ideas men form concern-
ing nature are governed by prejudices they have re-
ceived and not by reafon : and this is at leaft fre-
quently the cafe. But furely, however above or con-
trary to the law of nature it may be fuppofed, God
is able to raife the dead j and who can fay that he will
not ? and if he doth, will any deny that the fenfes are
competent judges of the fa£l ? Now it is alTerted that
God did raife up Jefus, who fhewed himfelf openly
to his difciples, whofe convidlion and knowledge of
E 2 their

is LECTURESON

their rifen Lord were inconteftible ; which, together
v/ith the uprightnefs of their charaiSler, and the man-
ner of their teftimony, and efpecially as their report
was confiriried by undeniable miracles which they
wrought, rerider unbelievers without any: excufe.
Neverthelefs the credit of our Saviour's refurreftion
doth not altogether reft on human evidence : Not
only the apoflles but God alfo bare witnefs to his
being raifed up : Not to infift on the teftimony of the
Father by the prophets from the foundation of the
world, or that of the Son himfelf, from the throne in
the heavens. Rev, i. i8. which will have their weight
with them that believe, to eftablifii their faith in this
point ; it is exprefsly declared that the Holy Ghoft
alfo did witnefs with the difciples to this interefting
event, whcfe divine teftimony we are now to confider.
It ftands recorded. Acts v. 32. where the apoftle,
upon declaring that he and the reft were witnefles that
God had a6lually raifed up Jefus, and exalted him
with his right-hand, adds this remarkable claufe,
" And fo is alfo the Holy Ghoft, whom God hath
*' given to them that obey him." I ftiall briefly touch
on the divine perfon here faid to witnefs, as the apo-
ftles, to the refurre6lion of Chrift ; the view in which
he is confidered in thispaflagej on whom he is be-
ftowed ; and then fliew how, or in what manner he
teftifies of this bleficd and important event.

The Holy Ghoft, or Spirit, for they are the fame,
is no other than that glorious divine perfon who
defcended, as a dove, on our Lord at his baptifm, in
the relating of which the apoftles indifflsrently ftile him

th«

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 69
the Spirit, or the Holy Ghofl, Matt. ili. 16. compared
with Luke iii. 22. This adorable Spirit is joined with
the Father and the Son, in the name into which" chrif-
tians are baptized, under the famecharadler by which he
is defcribed in the text ; and it is remarkable that he
is fpoken of under this character near fourfcore times
in the New-Teftament. His proper deity and diilincl
perfonality are clearly fet forth in the facred writings,
and particularly in the cafe of Ananias, A6ls v. 3, 4.
to whom the apoftle faith, *' Why hath fatan filled
" thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghoft ? thou haft not
*' lied unto men, but unto God." He muft be greatly
prejudiced who would attempt to evade this plain and
ftrong proof of the true divinity, and proper perfonality
of the Holy Ghoft ; and the fentence before us evinces
the latter, for to bear witnefs is a perfonal a£l. He is
ftiled Ghoft or Spirit, not in refpedl of his fpiritual
eflence, which is common to each divine perfon, but
neither the Father nor the Son are the Spirit; there-
fore this diftinguiftiing chara6ler has regard to his per-
fonal fubfiftence ; and however fome may difapprove it,
the ancient opinion has not been fuperceeded by a
better account. The real ground of this divine cha-
ra£ter feems to be this, namely, the manner of his
eternal proceflion, which is by fpiration j and accor-
dingly in Job xxiii. 4. the Spirit of the Lord, and the
breath of the Almighty are the fame ; and as for
the epithet holy, it ftands fupported by his elFential
purity, and alfo by his being the author of hclinefs in
them that believe. This divine perfon, we are told,
*' proceedeth from the Father and the Son," which
may be applied to his manner of fubfiftence in the
E 3 ^^''t/*

^o LECTURESON

deity, as hinted already, or to his goings-forth in the
execution of his office, in which he quickens, fandli-
fies and comforts the hearts of the redeemed, and hke-
wife is a witnefs to their eftabhfliment and joy ; and
particularly as he was, and continueth to be an evi-
dence or witnefs to the refurreftion of Jefus.

The Holy Ghoft is declared to be the gift of God.
As Chrift, fo is his Spirit the gift of the Father, whofc
office and operations are needful to accomplifli the di-
vine purpofes in the falvation of finners. He was
therefore provided in the counfel of God, for he hath
chofen us through fan6lification of the Spirit. Hence
the Spirit is promifed, and hath been fent forth in all
ages, but more plentifully in thefe laft days fince the
coming of Chrift, in the variety of his gifts and the
plenty of his grace ; fo that this is eminently a dif-
penfation of the Spirit, under which the faithful have
been large partakers of his power and goodnefs, where-
by they obtained a freedom or boldnefs unknown in
general heretofore, " For ye have not received the
" Spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have re-
** ceived the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,
*' Abba, Father." Rom. viii. 15.

Now it Is further declared, that God hath given the
Holy Ghoft to them that obey him ; that is, who
obey either God the Father, or his Son Jefus Chrift,
it amounts to the fame, for in obeying cf Chrift we
obey the Father who fent him : but in gofpel-obedience
Chrift is the rnore immediate objedlj and to obey Je-
fus Chrift is cordially to truft him, Rom. x. 16.
** They have not all obeyed the gofpel, for Efaias
f? faith^ Lord, who hath believed our report?" Hence

^he

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 71
the Son is faid, Heb. v. 9. to have become '" the au-
** thor of eternal falvatlon unto all them that obey
** him," i. e. that believe him ; " for he thatbelieveth
" and is baptized, fhall be faved," Mark xvi. i \ To
obey God, or Chrift, or the gofpel, are the fame in
the language of fcripture. The expreffion ufed in this
place literally fignifies to fubmit, and conveys the
idea of a voluntary obedience: And it is well known
that a free fubmiilion to Chrift and his righteouf-
nefs is included in the faith of the chofen. The apoftle
reprefents the unbelief of the Jews by their not having
" fubmitted themfelves to the righteoufnefs of God,"
Rom. X. 3. Chrift is exalted a Prince and a Saviour ;
he is preached Lord and Chrift ; or, as Peter afterward
proclaimed him at Casfaria, A6ls x. 36. " Lord of
" all." As fuch his people receive him; they receive
Chrift Jefus the Lord, Col. ii. 6. They willingly
fubmit themfelves and furrender to him as their Lord,
to be ruled by him, who hath redeemed them with his
blood. Thus true faith in Chrift as a Saviour encrao-es
the fubjeil to him as his fovereign ; and accordingly
unbelievers are defcribed to be fuch, " who would not
*' that Chrift fhould reign over them," Luke xix. 27.
But they v/ho are made willing in the day of his power
are the voluntary fubje6ls of his kingdom. Now to
them who thus obey Chrift, the Holy Ghoft is faid
to be given of God, they are all partakers of this di-
vine Spirit, of whom they are born again and brought
to believe, being effedlualjy called through the power
of this omnipotent agent of the covenant ; and believ-
ing on the Lord Jefus Chrift, they receive the gift
of the Holy Ghoft, A£ls ii. 38. Even all that are called,
E 4 whether

72 LECTURES ON

whether Jew or Gentile, are " made to drink into one
*' fpirit," I Cor. xii. 13. Each believer hath a mea-
fure of the Spirit in his gifts and graces, according to
the will and wifdom of our heavenly Father. So then
to obey is to believe ; and thofe on whom this divine
witnefs is beflowed, are all and only them who
through grace are brought to the obedience of faith.
Thus our apoftle declares concerning the Gentiles in
general who were called, Aits xv. 8. *' That God
^' bear them witnefs, giving them the Holy Ghoft:"

But the main point is the teRimony of this glorious
perfon unto the truth, th^it the Father raifed up his
Son Jefus, and hath exalted him with his right-hand ;
for, though the fubje(51: in purfuit is the refurrecSlion of
Chrift, yet thefe cannot be feparatcd in the teftimony
of the Holy Ghoft. The witnefs of the apoftles could
reach no farther than the infallible proofs they had of
Jefus being alive after his paffion, or at farthcft that
after the moft convincing evidence that he was truly
the felf-fame perfon, and no other than the Lord who
was crucified, fome of them faw him afcend towards
heaven ; but the Holy Ghoft came down from heaven
in confequence of his a£lual feUion at the right-hand of
God, as will hereafter be {een from chap. ii. 33. So
that the witnefs of the Spirit neceflarily includes a
teftimony of the Saviour's exaltation, which neve.the-
Icfs terminates flrll: on his] refurreclion from the dead,
v/ichout which he could never have been received into
glory. The queftion is, how the Holy GhofI: became
ii witnefs of this wonderful, but certairi and interefting
f;i£l: ? And^ according to fcripturcj the Holy Ghoft

may

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 73
may be faid to witnefs as a fpirit of prophecy, Hcb.
X. 15. The Holy Shoft is ftiled a witnefs of the death
ofChriftas a fiicrificefor fin, and the efficacy thereof
to the putting it away, according to the fcope of the
place, on account of his having fpoken by the prophets
concerning the remiilion of fins : he is therefore called
a witnefs, even becaufe he foretold what implied a fatis-
fa£lion to be made for fin by the blood-ftiedding of the
Meffiah, through which alone forgivenefs could be ob-
tained ; but this h not fo diredtly to the purpofe; our
bufinefs is to confider in what way the H!oly Ghoft did
actually teflify after the afcenfion of Chrift, that he
was rifen from the dead ; and this he did both exter-
nally, and alfo in an internal manner.

/vr/?, We may confider his external evidence, which
extended to all v/herever the gofpel was preached in
the primitive times; it lay open to the view of every
fpedlator, or hearer of the word, called or uncalled,
and was given more efpecially as a fign for the con-
vidtion of unbelievers. The miraculous operations of
the Holy Ghoft were doubtlefs one kind of teftimony
he gave to the refurrecftion of Chrift. Thefe confifted
in extraordinary powers communicated to the apoftles
for the fpreading of the gofpel, as by the gift of
tongues, together with that fpirit of wifdom, utterance
and boldnefs with which thofe nrft and great minifters
were infpired ; this aftoniftied their enemies, A6ls
iv. 13. and tended to convince the world of their di-
vine raiffion, and to promote the credit of the dodlrine
they preached ; befides the miracles they wrought,
(u^k as healing the fick, cafting out devils, and con-
veying

74 LECTURESON

veying miraculous powers to others, by the laying on
of their hands in the fight of all men: fo that with
great power or ability, as the word fignifieth, gave
the apodles witnefs to the refurredion of the Lord Je-
fus, A£ls iv. 33. Add to this their amazing fuccefs>
which was not by their power or might, but by the
Spirit of the living God. Thus the Holy Ghoft in a
variety of inftances attended the apoftles in their mini-
ilrations in every place, and it might truly be faid, on
account of his wonderful operations, that great grace
was upon them all ; and this was one way in which
the Holy Spirit became a witnefs with thefe chofen dif-
ciples of the refurredion of Jefus. I fee no room to
queftion that this external evidence of the Spirit is what
the apoftlc chiefly if not folely intends in this place,
lince he is fpeaking to the high-prieft and other unbe-
lieving Jews ; befides the evidence of them who are
properly witnefTes of our Saviour's refurredlion, and of
the Holy Ghoft confidered under that character, was to
be laid before the world y and confequently muft be by
fomething external and vifible; fomething adapted to,
and level with the capacity of men as reafonable crea-
tures, and fuch as natural men can receive. Such
were the wonderful v/orks wrought by the power of
the Spirit referred to. Indeed, as hath been truly ob-
ferved, a miracle proves nothing immediately; but
that there is a caufe equal to the eifed : but fmce a
real miracle is unqueftionably the finger of God, it is a
manifeft proof of his integrity, by whofe hand it is per-
formed, and confirms his veracity in the atteftation he
makes of a fad upon his own knowledge, and confe-
quently of the fad itfelf J for it cannot with decency be

fuppofed

PRIMITIVE CHRSTIANITY. 75

fuppofed that the omnifcient and faithful Jehovah
would fet his feal to an impoftor or a lie : we may there-
fore juftly efteem the extraordinary and miraculous
works by the apoftles, and their amazing fuccefs
through the efficacious operations of the Spirit, where-
by they triumphed over the inveterate prejudices of
Jews and Gentiles in every place, as a glorious proof
of the divine Spirit with them to the world, that Jefus
was rifen again : which proof ftands recorded to the
condemnation of unbelievers ; for herein, beftdcs the
abundant and fufficient teftimony of men, they have
fet before them alfo the witnefs of God. But,

Secondly, There is another way in which the Holy
Ghoft anfwers this chara6ter, namely, by his internal
witnefs, which is peculiar to the faithful, and refults
from his work and abode in their hearts j thus it is de-
clared, I John V. 10. " He that believeth on the Son
" of God, hath the witnefs in himfelf." Nothing is
more defpifed by many, as foolifh and enthufiaftical,
than the work and witnefs of the Spirit in his faints,
on which vital religion depends. I fhould rejoice in
the conviction of any fuch ignorant fcoffer ; but my
view is principally the eftablifhment of them that be-
lieve ; it will therefore not be impertinent, and I hope
it may be ufeful, that I attempt to clear this paf-
fage from the cloud drawn over it by the falfe glolTes
and bold contradictions of fome. It is afFedting to fee
men who have employed their fuperior talents with fuc-
cefs, in ftating the external evidence of chriftianity,
as if they were ft rangers to the power of the gofpel ;
pod knowethj on every occafion bending their utmoft

force

76 LECTURESON

force agalnft the operations of the IJoly Spirit on the
heart, whereby he becomes a witnefs in the faithful !
Some deny that the apoftle here appeals to an inward
teftlmony of the Spirit, and infinuate that he fpeaks
of the extraordinary powers which believers obtained,
who could not but credit the reality of thofe powers of
which they were coiifcious. According to thefe gen-
tlemen therefore when the apoftle faith, ,*' He that
" believeth hath the witnefs in himfelf," he appeals
to the powers of the Spirit which the believer had re-
ceived, manifeft in their efFedls ; and this they would
have to be that witnefs of the Holy Ghoft whereof
Peter fpeaks: So that in reality this inwardj witnefs
depends on an external evidence, and comes to no-
thing more than a certain confcioufnefs of extraordi-
nary powers received ; which being exerted, witnefied
to the fubje(3: that Jefus was rifen from the dead.
And who cannot fee that, according to this, it is the
vifible cffcEt of this] miraculous power, and not the
power itfelf, which is truly and properly the tefti-
mony a believer receives, but can this be ftiled *' a wit-
** nefs in himfelf? Befides thefe very men allow,
yea they infift, that thefe extraordinary gifts of the
Spirit hath long ceafed in the church. Thus we are at
once fecured from any enthufiaftlc notion of an in-
ward teftimony of the Spirit common to the faithful,
and every believer is cut ofF from any expeftation of
finding this witnefs in himfelf, fo plainly aflerted by
the apoflle. It is well for the chriflian that the fcrip-
tyre cannot be broken.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 77

But a little reflection may (hew this confined inter-
pretation unjuft. The apoftle John is not diflinguifh-
ing the faithful one from another; he is confidering
mankind as children of God or children of the devil :
and with refpedt to the former, he does not fay this
or the other believer hath the witncfs in himfelf ; on
the contrary the individual pronoun Ke, determines
the fenfe to be univerfal and particular, and confe-
quently that every renewed perfon hath this teftimony
in his own brcaft. And as to the pafTage in the A6ls
we are upon, Peter fpeaks indefinitely of them that
obey the gofpel of Chrift ; nor fhould any man take
the liberty as fome prefume, to confine the text by
paraphrafing the fentence thus, ' them that obey him ;*
i. e. fay they, ' the apoftles and many others who have
* fubmitted to his government,' there being no fuch
limitation in the fcope or words of the infpired writer.
That the witnefs which the believer hath in himfelf,
aflerted in this claufe, is to be underftood of a tefti-
mony, which arifeth in the heart or confcience of
every one that is called, and not to be confined to the
miraculous powers of the Holy Ghoft, with which
fome only were endowed even In the primitive times,
is clear from the obvious defign of the apoftle. He
wrote his epiftle with a view to eftablifh the difciples
in the doftrine of Chrift, relating to his appearance in
the flefh, and that each one born of the Spirit might
know that he believed on his name ; to this end he
aflerts that '' the Son of God was manifefced to take
*' away our fins ;" and then declares the infallible
proof which he and others had of this truth, even after

his

78 L'E C T U R E S O N

his refurre(Elion from the dead. He declares, chap. I.
•* That they had heard, feen, looked upon, and handled
•' of the word of life ;" and goes on to certain criterions
of the regenerate, among which this is one, namely, *'he
" that believeth hath the witnefs in himfelf." The wit-
nefs of what ? Why doubtlefsof this, that Jefus who was
God manifeft in the flefh, having aftually made propitia-
tion by the blood of the crofs, rofe from the dead, afcend-
cd to glory, and lives with the Father to interceed for his
people. Now of this, faith the apoftie, the believer
*' hath the witnefs in himfelf j" i. e. he hath by the
work of the Spirit in his own heart an undeniable proof
that Jefus is rifen ; which exadlly correfponds with
the nature of that hope unto which the regenerate are
begotten, i Pet. i. 3. It is a lively hope grounded in
the refurreclion of Jefus Chrift from the dead, raifed
by the agency of that Spirit which the Father beftowed
in confequence of the exaltation of his Son, who died
for our fins and rofe again : So that whoever is quick-
ened by the Spirit of life in Chrift, hath a witnefs in
himfelf that Jefus, whom he trufteth, is raifed from
the dead. And is there any thing abfurd in this tefti-
mony ? Is it not clear and moft certainly true, that if
quickening grace, regeneration and faving faith are
of the Spirit, fent down from the Saviour, who fits at
the right-hand of God, as the fcriptures declare, then
every one that believes hath this witnefs in himfelf,
the Holy Ghoft, in the execution of his office, and
by thefe efficacious influences of his grace, muft be an
infallible witnefs in the called, that Jefus who fends
him Is rifen and exalted. This divine operation is truly

myfterious.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 79
myfterious, and what the world cannot receive, and it
is no caufe of wonder that natural men fhould contra-
did the things of the Spirit they are not able to dif-
cern. But admitting this work in the foul, which,
would to God he that oppofeth himfelf to the truth,
might experience, the reafon of this evidence to the
happy fubjedt, for this kind of proof is purely perfonal,
is fo obvious as fcarce to be denied ; the chriftian in-
deed hath not always a practical fenfe of this joyful
aflurance of his Saviour's refurre£tion, the ground of
his hope, which refults from the quickening of the
Spirit J this greatly depends on his frame j but he that
is the fubjecSt of a divine change by the power of the
Holy Ghoft, whofe miffion is from the exalted Re-
deemer, muft needs be poflefTed of a virtual proof in
his own experience that Jefus is alive from the dead.
How is it poflible that a man begotten to a lively hope,
by the refurre6tion of Chrift from the dead, which
belongs to the charadter of every chriftian, I fay, how
can it be that this man fhould be deftitute of a witnefs
in himfelf that Jefus is rifen ? it is therefore moft ra-
tional, and confequently without any the leaft tinc-
ture of enthufiafm, that the apoftle in the paflage re-
ferred to, is underftood of that inward teftimony which
refults from the work of the Spirit in the faithful to the
refurre<5lion of him in whom they believe ; but whe-
ther it is becoming in any one to wreft the fcripture,
in order to contradict an appeal of this nature, and to
deride the witnefs of the Holy Ghoft in his people, the
Reader will judge.

But

8o L E C T U R E S O N

'.*BuT this teftimony of the Spirit in the faints unto
their Lord's refurrecSlion is not confined to his general
work on their hearts, whereby they are quickened and
efFeilually called. It likewife appears in the fame man-
ner it does in refpeit of the divine authority of the
fcriptures, namely, by urging on their mind the wit-
nefs of the apoftles and other external evidences of the
important event, whereby they are powerfully con-
vinced and fully perfuaded that he is rifen indeed.
Till the Spirit doth thus as it were join vvitnefs with
the confcience of a man, and thereby renders effectual
the arguments or motives arifing from the evidence
given, he is not eftabliihed in this foundation of God.
]^ow as a judicious writer* obferves, on the like illumi-
nations or efficacious imprellions of the Spirit, in con-
firmation of the fcriptures, it may juftly be noted,
that the inward witnefs I aflert, or rather which is af-
ferted by the infpired apoflle, is by no means enthu-
fiafm ; for it is a difcovery or confirmation in the mind
and confcience by means and inftruments ; whereas
every one knows, that enthufiafm, in our common ac-
ceptation of the word, is mere imagination and con-
ceit, without any reafon or motive grounded in evi-
dence, and that the deluded fubjeil pours contempt on
thefe, and indeed, for the moft part on all other moral
caufes whatever. Thus without rejeilino- external
evidence as a reafon or motive to believe any h6t that

concerns

* Dr. John Edwards, a man of lingular piety and learning, whofe
■works are tjo full of ftrong reafoning and folid arguments, on every point,
to be charged with enthufiafm, without manifelt prejudice j fee him oi»-
the autiioriry, ftije and perfc-(5lion of fcripture. Vol. 1. page 48. 1693.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 8t
concerns our falvation, we may boldly declare, that
the divine faith, proper to a regenerate man, is fupcr-
natural and not mere moral fuafion, but as the
apoftle exprefles, it is in the demonftration of the Spi-
rit and with power ; or in other words, that the faith
of the chofen doth not ftand in the wifdom of men,
but in the power of God, i Cor. ii. 4, 5.

We live in a day of prevailing infidelity, wherein
fceptics abound, and fliould be furnifhed with argu-
ments to ftop the mouth of a fcornful unbeliever ;
nor was the church ever fo amply provided with means
^or, that purpofe. The bold libels of deifts have pro-
duced many learned and folid anfwers in defence of
revelation ; but Sir, I am forry the caution is needful ;
when you read fome of thefe ingenuous and able au-
thors, who have well defended the external evidence
of chriftianity, with all due refpe£t to their character,
you muft beware, left you are ftumbled in relation to
points of chriftian experience, for it is melancholy to
obferve, that a deift cannot more oppofe the authenti-
city of fcripture, than fome men who plead for it feem
averfe to the notion of an efficacious work of the Spi-
rit of God in them that are called. Thofe treatifes on
the veracity of the facred writings, which occafionally
ftrike at the operations and witnefs of the Holy Ghoit
in believers, appear to me the moft dangerous means
of flattering men who are deftitute of the life and power
of godlinefs to their ruin. But I hope the Reader is
convinced, that there is no reafon for rejedling the
notion of an appeal to the inward teftimony of the
Spirit in the claufe abovementioned ; for if the pri-
F mitive

82 LECTURES ON

mitive chrlftians, as thefe writers urge, might be faid
each to have a witnefs in himfelf of the refurre^lion of
Jefus, arifing from his being confcious of extraordinary
powers communicated to him, much more muft the
quickening and comforting influences of the Holy
Ghoft, which proceed on a convicStion of the Redeemer's
being raifed from the dead, be a teftlmony of this
glorious event in the fubjeil of his grace. In one
word, the apoftle exprefsly declares, that " he that
" believeth hath the witnefs in himfelf." And is it
not ftrange, that any who pretend to the faith of the
gofpel, ftiould prefume to aflert, that he doth not ap-
peal to an inward teflimony of the Spirit, and to make
way for the credit of this confident affertion, endeavour
to fix an odium on the notion of fuch a teftimony, by
ftiling thofe who avow it * modern enthufiafts !' But
furely this can never be taken for reafon or argument;
it only fhews that men of great ingenuity and learning
in other refpecls, may be under ftrong prejudices
againft a fupernatural work and witnefs of the Spirit
in the hearts of God's people, however clearly revealed
to be the experience, not only of modern, but alfo, of
ancient believers, even of all the faithful from the be-
ginning of chriftianity. Refie6t then, O Chriftian, on
thine own experience, and be not afhamed to own, but
gladly rejoice that thou haft from the Spirit that dwel-
leth in thee, a fure and {landing teftimony of thy Sa-
viour's refurreilion !

Thus not only the apoftles, but the Holy Ghoft
alfo witneffed the refurrection of Jefus from the dead.
He did fo by the miraculous powers with which the

apoftles

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 83

apoftles and others were endowed in the firft ages of
chriftianity J and likewife by the operation of his grace
in them that believed. The vifible efFctfts of thefe ex-
traordinary powers were a fign to the world for the
convi6lion of many, while his work and teftimony in
the hearts of them that were called pofleflVd each happy
fubjedl of his grace with a witnefs in himfelf, that God
had indeed raifed up Jefus who was crucified and flain.
And truly, fmce this work in the hearts of the redeemed,
proceeds on the certainty of Chrift's refurre£lion,
which lies at the bottom of their hope, it is fo far from
being enthufiafm, modern enthufiafm, as fome modern
advocates for revelation have been pleafed to call it,
that nothing can be more rational, for on a fuppofition
of fuch a work of the Spirit, it is impoflible it fhould be
otherwife.

How undeniable and fatisfai5lory then is the evidence
of Chrill's refurre£lion ! " If we receive the witnefs
•* of men the witnefs of God is greater," i John v. 9.
And efpecially as this witnefs of the Holy Ghoft ter-
minates in the heart of every chriftian by the work of
his grace. Then enquire, my Friend : Hath he quick-
ened and begotten thee to a lively hope by the return
of Jefus from the dead? Without this experience, a
fimple credit of the fcriptures, and this wonderful fait
they relate, will leave thee fhort of falvation : But
with this divine hope be not afraid, thy redemptior^
draweth nigh, only let thy converfation be in heaven,
whence thy Saviour is coming ; thou muft fliortly fee
death and corruption, but thy dead body like his fhall

F 2 arife.

84 LECTURESON

arife, " according to the working whereby he is able
" to fubdue all things to himfelf."

What a fearful condition muft unbelievers be in,
when Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven to take ven-
geance on them wht* fieny his refurreftion ! At his tri-
bunal feat, how will they ftand it, when all thefe cho-
fen witnefles fliall rife up in judgment againft them ;
and the Holy Ghcft alfo, whofe teftimony they have
rejefled, and it may be blafphemed ! O that thofe
who fcornfully fet themfelves againft the truth and
power of chriftianity, were awakened to conuder, that
they would hearken to the voice of the Spirit they at
prefent defpife ! " -To-day, faith the Holy Ghoft,
" even while it is called to-day, harden not your
" hearts." And againft the difobedient he himfelf will
be a Vv'itnefs to their everlafting confufion ! On the
other hand, how dcfirable are the renewed teftimonies
of the Spirit in the heart. Every fenfible operation of
the Holy Ghoft and fealing of that divine Comforter,
is a frefh witnefs in and to the believer. O that under
the powerful influences of his grace we might daily
more and more, by our faith, love and fruit, hold
forth a rifen Saviour, and manifeft to all, that indeed
we are rifen with him ! In a word, let us earneftly
plead for this Arm of the Lord with the preaching of
the gofpel, that many who are now dead in fin, being
quickened, may believe on the Son of God, that being
burled wiih Chrift in baptifm unto death, like as he
was raifed up from the dead, by the glory of the Father,
even fo they alfo may walk in newnefs of life, to the
praife of his grace.

LECTURE

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 85

LECTURE VI.

The afcenfion of Je'us. His feffion at the right-hand
of God.

rXAVING confidered the v/itnefs of the Spirit, v/ith
^ -L that of the apoftles to our Lord's refurrecSlion,
we now return to the famous firlt fermon which Peter
preached at Jerufalem. That interefting point being
manifeft, he proceeds to (hev/ how it came to pafs that
the difciples were endowed from on high in the won-
derful manner his audience had feen. This glorious
part of his difcourfe is recorded, A£ts ii. 33, 34. and
35 verfes, in the following terms, *' Therefore being
" by the right hand of God exalted, and having; re-
" ceived of the Father the promife of the Holy Gh:)fl-,
*' he hath fhed forth this which ye now fee and hear :
" For David is not afcended into the heavens j but
" he faith himfslf, The Lord faid'unto my Lord,
*' Sit thou on my right-hand, until I make thy foes thy
** footftool." Note here in general, that the apoftle
doth not barely affert, but makes it evident that Chrift
was to afcend to the throne in the heavens, in which
he is an example to preachers in every age. His call
and furniture as a minifter were both extraordinary,
yet he afiumes no dominion over the faith of his hearers,
but proves his dodrine from the oraclea of God, and
F 3 endeavour.

86 LECTURESON

endeavours to perfuade the Jews, by an appeal to the
writings of David, whom they all owned a prophet :
In like manner the minifters of" Jefus are to convince
gain-faycrs, and to feek their converfion, not by dog-
matic aflertions,' but by reafoning out of the fcrip-
tures, there being no other method adapted to affe6l
the confciences of men with the authority of God, with-
out which they cannot be faved.

But to return. In this paffage a door is opened in
heaven; and O how illuftrious and delightful the
fcene ! Behold, Chriftian, thy Saviour fits there, crown-
ed with glory and honour, to pour out blefllngs on his
people, and reward them that hate him ! The follow-
ing particulars are to be noted in this divine profpe£l:,
namely, the afcenfion of Jefus, his feflion at the right-
hand of God, the hand of the Father in placing him
there, what pafled between them on his being exalted,
and the period of his prefent fituation ; all which afford
nourifhment to the faith of God's people, and are a
ground of their joy in the Lord : Let us then briefly
attend to each in its order.

That Chrift lives exalted in the heavens, is a truth
of the utmoft importance to the faithful, for we are
faved by his life with the Father ; but this is impoffible
if he afccnded not to him ; the apoftle therefore argues
the point and proves, that he whom God hath exalted,
and confequently who is afcended, is not the Plalmifl
but Chrift. His reafoning ftands thus, ver. 34. '* For
?^ David is not afcended into the heavens j" for he had

before

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 87

before obferved, that his body remained in the flate of
the dead; but he, David, faith himfelf; " The Lord
*' faid unto my Lord, i. e. the Meiliah, Sit thou on
" my right hand." Not David therefore, but Chrift
is afcended. Can any thing be more conclufive or
juft ? The prophet lay buried in his fepulchre with the
Jev/s, and therefore could not be afcended ; but he
fpake of the Meifiah, whom God would raife up to fit
on his throne, even Jefus who is now alive from the
dead, and fits at the right hand of God, which im-
plies his afcenfion ; and accordingly Jefus is gone
into heaven.

From this reafoning of the apoftle it appears, that
the afcenfion of our Lord has refpedl to his human
nature, and is no other than his going or being carried
up in the body from earth into heaven j a local remove,
by which a change of place is inferred : fo that Jefus
no longer corporally refides in this lower world, but
is retained in the heavens, in which he is received.
This is varloufly expreffed : It is declared, he was
parted or taken up from them: At other times he is
faid to go : And again, that he went up to heaven,
for he was a6live in afcending by his own power and
right ; and at the fame time in reality, as will here-
after be ftiewn, the Father exalted him. Oi this af-
cenfion of the Mefliah the Old Teftament faints were
not unacquainted. It has been thought that the tran-
flation of Enoch, and the ^flumption of Elijah, were
fhadows of this great event ; inftances which at leaft
fhew a credibility of a bodily entrance into the hea-
F 4 venly

88 LECTURESON

venly ftate *. However Noah's ark will be admitted
a figure of Chrift, out of which the patriarch afcend-
ed, as Jefus from the grave, i Pet. iii. 20. And the
returning of Mofes's ark to Mount-Sion, and placing
it In the tabernacle, after many years dwelling in the
houfe of Ahimelech, fome confider in the fame point
of light, which feems favoured by the prophet, who
referring to that joyful feafon, cries out, " Lift up
*' your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye ever-
" lafting doors, and the King of glory {hall come in.
" Who is this King of glory ? The Lord of Hofts,"
Pfalm xxiv. 17. And further, it is manifefl from Heb.
ix. 24. that the entrance of the Jewifh high-prieft
within the veil, on the day of atonement, typified
that of our forerunner Jefus into heaven, the true holy
place. Thus there have been feveral types or emblems
of the afccafion of our Saviour into the heavens.

There are likewife many fcripture tcflimonies,
befides the paflage before us, which plainly refer to
this grand and important article of faith. Daniel faw
in a vifion ! '* The Son of man coming with the
*' clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days, and they
*' brought him near before him, and thei-e was given
*' him dominion, glory, and a kingdom," chap. vii..

* Note, Not that any natural or corruptible body can be fuppofed capable
of the heavenly glory : " Flefli and biood cannot inherit the kingdom of
" God," I Cor. XV. 50. Hence they who fliall be found alive at the
coming of Chrift, and thprefore fleep or die not, " fliall be changed in a
*' moment:" In like manner, no doubt, the bodies of thefe faints were
inftantaneoufly transformed into a fpiritual incorruptible ft?te : Nor is there
any diflkulty in conceiving this fudden and wonderful change by the Al-
jniehty, though in an atom, or the fmalleft article of time that can be
jn Rgi fjed J which the apoftlc finely ilhulrates by the " twinkling of sn eye,"

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 89
13, 14. which cannot refer to his fecond appearance.
Since then he will come, not to receive^ but to deliver
up a kingdom to the Father, i Cor. xv. 24. Yea
thefe ancient prophefies go farther than barely to point
out that the Mefliah fliould afoend ; they likewife
enter into the glorious circumftances in which he was
to go up. The Saviour did not afcend alone, and in
fijence, as when he defcended to his ftate of humilia-
tion, but in a magnificent manner, with a fhining
retinue as became him, who having by the death of
his crofs, triumphed over principalities and powers,
was entering into his glory, to fill all things * for the
completing of his mediatorial kingdom. It feems no
vain conjedure that the faints who came out of their
graves after our Lord's refurredlion went with him to
glory ; for is it reafonable to fuppofe that they return-
ed to the earth ? If not, they are doubtlefs received
into heaven, and why not with the Saviour ? But of
this we are certain, that Jefus afcended with a multi-
tude of the heavenly hoft, Pfalm Ixviii. 17. *' The
" chariots of God are twenty thoufand, even thou-
" fands, or many thoufands, of angels ; The Lord is
*' among them as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou
*' haft afcended on high." And again, Pfalm xlvii. 5.
" God is gone up with a fhout, the Lord with the
" found of a trumpet." Thus we are told, i Thefs.

iv.

* Eph. iv. 10. " To fill all things," i. e. all things needful to the per-
fc'fting his body the church ; as appears from what follows ; for in refpe£l
of the omniprefence eflential to his divine nature, he filled all things
before his afcenfion, and they who understand and confider the nature of
corporal fubftance, which cannot be infinitely extended, will rejeifl the
notion of the ubiquity of our Saviour's natural body as entirely falfe and
iibfurd.

90 LECTURESON

iv. i6. " The Lord himfelf (hall defcend from heaven
*' with a fhout, with the voice of the archangel and
*' v^Ith the trump of God;" which agrees with the
report to the difciples, AtSts i. ir. From whence it
appears, that the afcenfion of Jefus was in like manner
as hereafter his coming from heaven (hall be, namely,
local, vifible, and glorious.

To the witnefs of the prophets we have our Lord's
own predi»Slion that he fliould afcend j of which he Is
thought to give early intimation in his difcourfe with
Nicodemus, John iii. 12. but in that with his dif-
ciples on the night in which he was betrayed, he is
plain and exprefs, John xvi 2. " I go to the Father."
And again, chap. xvi. 28. " I came from the Father,
*' and am come into the world : again, I leave the
** world and go to the Father." This they well under-
ftood, as appears from the following verfe, " Lo, now
" fpeakeft thou plainly, and fpeakeft no proverb."
And in chap. xiv. 29. after repeating the fame thing,
Jefus faith, *' And now I have told you before it
'* come to pafs, that when it is come to pafs, ye
" might believe." And accordingly, on the morning
he rofe, he fays to Mary Magdalene, " Touch me not,
" for 1 am not yet afcended to my Father, but go to
*' my brethren, and fay unto them, I afcend, &c."
Had the difciples never underftood that the Lord was
to afcend, this meffage had been ftrajige and perplex-
ing; but he reminds them of what he foretold, for this
reafon among others, left they fhould flatter themfclves
that he would tarry with them henceforth^ and fet up
a kingdom on earth, now he was ri fen from the dead,

which

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 91

which they ftill fondly expe6led, and that at his de-
parture they might be fully perfuaded that he was
indeed gone to the Father, as he declared before "his
deceafe.

It has been very properly noted, that there was no
r.eceffity for the difciples to fee their Mafter rife out
of his grave, fince he was to abide many days, and to
afford them repeated and undeniable proof of his bein»
alive from the dead, but the article of his afcenfion is
very differently circumftanced. After he Vv'as taken,
up into heaven, he was no more to be feen in this
World, it was therefore requifite that they fhould be-
hold him afcend to their full fatisfadion, that they
might teftify on their own knowledge whither he was
gone, and accordingly we find them eye-witnefTes of
the fa6l in the moft perfe£l manner that can be con-
ceived.

On the credit of fcripture nothing can be more
certain or plain than that Jefus did truly and properlv
afcend, or go up into heaven bodily in the fight of his
difciples: They afford a particular account of this
important event, relating to the time, place, and man-
ner of its accomplifliment. It was forty days after
his refurrection, on Mount-Olivet, in the confines
of Bethany, near if not on the felf-fame fpot, to
which Chrift often retired, and where once under
dreadful apprehenfions of wrath, being in an agony,
he fweat drops as blood : So that from the very place
in which he was heretofore (cen in the utmoft diflrefs,
defcending into an hell of darknefs and fufferings, we

now

92 LECTURESON

now behold the Redeemer alive from the dead, with
gladnefs, afcending to heaven. How different the
fcene ! — A dying'Saviour filled with horror and anguifh,
and covered with fhame ? — A rifen Jcfus, with joy and
triumph, advancing to his glory I

But the manner in which our Lord was removed is
ftill more punctually recited. The evangelift Mark
thus relates it, " So then after the Lord had fpokea
*' unto them he was received up into heaven !" Mark
xvi. 19. And Luke in his gofpel, chap. xxiv. 50, 51.
declares, that " he led them out as far as Bethany,
" and he lift up his hands and blelled them j and it
*' came to pafs while he bleffcd them he was parted
" from them and carried up into heaven." But in
A61s i. 9, 10. he is very particular and ftriking,
" And when he had fpoken thefe things, while they
*' beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received
*' him out of their fiahr, and while thev looked fled-
*' fallly toward heaven as he went up, 5:c." This
was the manner in which Jefus was parted from
his difciples j not by didippearing at once, or vanifli-
ing out of their fight, as on fome other occafions j
No, it was not a fudden or hafty tranfport, but he
moved up before them while their eyes were fixed upon
him ; fo that they faw him, and fledfaftly looked as
he advanced to the vifible heaven, till at length they
beheld the cloud receive him.

To underfland this cloud metaphorically of angels,
as f<)me have fuggefted, fccms rather to prejudice the
account, and to weaken the apoftles evidence : who

need

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 93

need be fold that it is not the part of an hiftorian to
deal in figures? And the evangelift exprefsly declares
that a cloud received the Lord ; the fight of which was
a natural and evident proof to them that beheld it, that
he was taken up into heaven. Neither Luke himfelf,
nor any other prefent on the occafion, appear to have
the leaft apprehenfion of angels ; and if their teilimony
is at all to be regarded, no doubt they were in the
perfedt exercife of their natural fenfes, and could not
be deceived, but in reality favv what they relate ; We
may therefore conclude it was truly and properly a
cloud diftinguifhed in the vifible heavens ; a cloud pre-
pared to enclofe the body of Jefus, in which he was
conveyed to the higher regions by myriads of angels,
who, though unfeen by the difciples, we know at-
tended the vi£lorious Redeemer to his palace in glory.

It is with reafon fuppofed, tliat this cloud was at
a confiderable diilance from the earth, and it is plain,
that from the moment Chrift began to be lifted up, his
difciples had their eyes upon him ; fo that they beheld
him gradually mount in the air, higher and higher,
till he reached the bright cloud, into which, as
fometimes the natural fun, they faw him enter,
loft fight of his body, and faw him no more.
And that they were not miflaken is clear from the
teftimony of the angels, " Ye men of Galilee, why
** ftand ye gazing into heaven ? this fame Jefus which
*' is taken up from you into heaven (hall fo come in
" like manner as ye have feen him go into heaven,"
ver. II. Upon the whole it appears that the apoftles
were not under a deception, neither was it a vifion but

a real

94 LECTURESON

a real fa£l. Chrift was indeed taken up into heaven,
and they faw him go up in the manner defcribcd ;
there is therefore no colour of reafon for any hefita-
tion concerning the truth of this grand and important
affair ; and accordingly we find that the difciples fo
far from doubting, or even regretting their Lord's
being parted from them, that fully perfuaded he was
gone to the Father, they worfhipped him unfeen, and
exalted, " and returned to Jerufalem ; and how?
** with tears and lamentation ? No, but with great
" joy, praifmg and blefling God," till endowed from
on high, and then proceeded to preach him every
wliere, with boldnefs, and with amazing fuccefs.
Now, who that confiders this account, and efpecially
in connexion with the efFufion of the Spirit on the
apoftles, can a moment queftion whether that this fame
Jefus who defcended is likewife afcended to the
Father ? O my foul, turn up thine eyes with grati-
tude and joy ; let thy afFedions afcend like pillars of
fmoke to thy blefied Redeemer : Behold he is gone,
he is gone up before thee to prepare a place for thee !

From the afcenfion of Chrift we proceed to h
feflionat the right hand of God. This glorious fubje6t
hath been frequently handled ; nor have I any thing new
to offer upon it, but fhall attempt only a brief explication
of this joyful affurance the gofpel affords. The defign
of Peter is not barely to fhew that Jefus is afcended, but
alfo to reprefent his exalted ftate in the heavens ; and
this is contained in the quotation from David, verfe
34. " Sit thou on my right hand." Of this exaltation
our Lord bare witnefs before Pontius Pilate, Luke xxii.

69*

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 95
69. ** Hereafter fhall the Son of man fit on the right
** hand of the power of God." And accordingly we
are told, Mark xvi. 19. that when Jefus was received
up into heaven, he fat on the right hand of God : And
indeed the paflUges which teftifie the fame, are more
than can now be recited ; I (hall therefore only fubjoin
the remarkable witnefs of Stephen the martyr, *' Be-
" hold, faith he, I fee the heavens opened, and the
*' Son of man {landing on the right hand of God,"
A(£ls vii. 56. It cannot with decency be fuppofed that
this holy man uttered a falfhood in the view of eter-
nity, or would have prefumed to have committed his
foul into the hands of Jefus, as he inftantly did, had
he been doubtful of the truth of what he declared.

But how is Chrift at the right hand of God ? And
what is implied in this fituation? We are not, with
fome, to imagine that the Father has bodily parts:
God is a fpirit ; and the Father never was clothed with
flejfh. Here is therefore no comparifon between the
right hand and the left, as when thefe expreUions are
ufcd of corporal beings % : And that the phrafe is in

this

I From Stephen's declaration to the Sanhedrim, admitting that the
heavens were properly opened, as at the baptifm of our Lord, and that the
martyr aftually faw Jefus ftanding at th« right hand of God, it appears that
there is a vifible d'fplay of the glory of the Father in the heavenly temple,
adapted to the corporal fight of thofe, who, like the Saviour, dwell there
in a fpiritual and glorified body as Enoch, Elijah, &c. Now in refpeft
of this, Jefus m^y be truly declared, in a literal fenfe, at the right hand
of God. The objecflion to the heavens being really dividad, becaue
then it would have been a miracle if all that was prefent had not
feen it, with fubmiflion, feems of no force ; for why (hould a miracle be
thought rtrange in this age, and on fo extraordinary an occafion ? Befides, in
the cafe «f Siul, when approaching Damafcus, there wal ijideed a bright

ihining

96 LEG T U RES ON

this place purely metaphorical, is evident in that the
prophet, foon after the words quoted in our text, re-
prefents Jehovah the Father at the right hand of his
Son whom he had exalted, Pfalm ex. 5. " The Lord
*' at thy right hand fliall ftrike through kings in the
" day of his wrath." Now the Son's fitting at the
right hand of the Father, confids not with the Father's
fitting at the right hand of the Son, if the words are
literaliy taken, but in a figurative fenfe they are eafily
reconciled. The allufion here is to the cuftom of
princes, who, it is known, on certain occafions have dif-
tinguiflied their favourites by placing them at the right
hand of their throne; which anfwers to the account we
have of our Saviour's fituation in heaven : He is faid to
be at the right hand of the throne of God and of the
Majefty in the heavens, Heb. viii. i. compared with
chap. xii. 2. This however is far from implying, that
the Man Chrift Jefus is made equal, much lefs that he
is fuperior to him by whom he is exalted. Among men
this place is frequently given in token of their fupe-
rior rank; but no fuch thought can be admitted, even
of the Mefliah himfelf, in comparifon with the Father,
whofe fervant he is : nor is this to be underftood of a
local limitation, which would reduce the words to a li-
teral fenfe; the impropriety of which has already been

fhewn

fliining light his companions beheld, but they heard not diftin£lly the
voice, neither did they fee him that fpake, both which the pcrfecutor did ;
and that his fight of the Saviour was bodily, which necefiarily implies the
opening of the heavens, is clear from I Cor. xv. 8. AAs ix. 17. and chap.
xxii. 14. The heavens therefore might aiTlually be open to this holy man,
notwitkftanding it was fcen by Eone but himfelf: Ncverthelefs the phrafe
of Chrift's being at the right hand of God, in the language of prophecy,
js rather metaphorical than literal, as in the paffage quoted by Peter from
David,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 97

(hewn. It is true, that the afcenfion of Jefas in the
body implies a change of place ; in confequence of
which, his corporal prefence is locally confined in the
heavens, and will continue fo till the reftitution of
all things ; but the phrafe in the text hath no refpedt to
place, but is purely expreflive of his ftate in the heav-
enly world, denoting,

■ !♦ The honor and dignity to which he is advanced.
Some pretend, that in the Eaftern countries the left
hand is efleemed the moft honorable : But will any
imagine that Solomon placed his mother, the queen,
on his right hand to difgrace her? i Kings ii. 19.
And certain it is, that we fee Jefus, who defpifed the
fhame when fufFering for fin, '' crowned with honor
*' and glory," Heb. ii. 9. Into this he was to enter
after his fufFerings, as foretold by the prophets. Hence
in his difcourfe with the difciples when rifen from the
dead, as they were walking to Emmaus, he faith,
*' Ought not Chrift to have fufFered thefe things, and to
*' enter into his glory ?" Luke xxiv. 26. Thus dignifi-
ed he now fits at the right hand of the throne in the
heavens, receiving the honor due to his Majefiy and
merit, in the high praifes and adorations of the an<rels
and faints, who fl:and before and round about the throne
crying, " Salvation to our God which fitteth on the
" throne, and unto the Lamb," Rev. vii. o, lo.
Again,

2. The power with which our Saviour is inverted,

is another thing implied in this fentence. Thus Jefus

faith, " Ye fhall fee the Son of man fitting on the

G «* right

q8 lectureson

** right hand of power," Markxiv.62. We ha veal ready
ieen, that Daniel beheld in a vifion, dominion and a king-
dom given him by the Ancient of days, chap. vii. 14. This
powerof the Redeemer isfupreme, univerfal and unfpeak-
ably great, to the glory of his name, and the joy of his
people, as may hereafter be fc^'n. Before his afcenfion
the Lord faith, " All power is given unto me in heaven
and in (^arth,"Matt. xxviii.18. And weareto]d,Phil.ii.g.
that "[God hath highly exalted him, and given him aname
** which is above every name." " He is over all ; yea,
*' far above all heavens," Eph. iv. 10. The Father of
gloiy hath fet him at his o\\'n right hand in heavenly
places, " far above a); principality and power, and might,
" and dominion, and every name that is named, not only
" in this world, but alfo in that which is to come,"
Eph. j. 21. Thus, O Chriftian, thy Saviour is ex-
alted, "King of kings and Lord of Lords, and made
higlier than the lieavens," Heb. vii. 26. This is the
real ftate of the afcended Jefus, "who became obe-
" dient unto death, even the death of the crofs." And
further,

3. His fitting at the right hand of God may denote
the fatisfa6lion, joy and pleafure which Jefus has ia
communion with the Father. This fituation implies
nearnefs, fellowfhip and reft. If the ranfomed find
fati&fa6lion and joy in beholding their Father's face in
righteoufnefs, and when they awake in his likenefs,Pfalm
xvii. 15. how much more muft the Redeemer himfelf
be rejoiced in the throne of his glory f This the pro-
phet refers to, Pfalm xvi. 11. ** Thou wilt fhew me
*' the path of life: In thy prefence is fulnefs of joy:

" at

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 99
** at thy right hand there are pleafures for ever
« more."

Finally, The phrafe ilill further implies his con-
tinuance in this glorified ftate. Sitting is a pofture of
reft ; and Chrift will remain on his throne till he rifes
up and comes forth unto judgment, as the fcriptures
abundantly fliew, and our text in particular. So then
the feflion of Jefus at the right hand of God imports
his illullrious ftate in the heavens, as crov/ned with
glory, invefted with power, and filled with fatisfac-
tion and joy in the fruition of his Father's ^prefence,
and the honors that are paid him on the throne, in
which he fliall abide till his fecond appearance. Thus
exalted is the Man who died at Mount Calvary, and
who, being raifed from the dead, afcended from earth,
into heaven. Great is this myftery of godlinefs: Still
God manifeft in the flefli is the perfon of our ado-
rable Mediator, in whom, at the right hand of
the Father, we behold the human nature, indeed in-
finitely below the nature of Deity, and unfpeakably in*
ferior to that of the angels ; yet wonderfully dignified
in honor and power, even far above the heavens them-
feives ! Glorious reward of the cruciating forrows and
fhame endured on the crofs, when he made his foul an
offering for fin ! And how full a vindication is this of
the wifdom and juftice of God, in ordaining the flefh of
his Son to thofe bitter fufferings, in anfwer to the cavil
of unbelievers, who prefume to find fault with the
fovereign good pleafure of him who worketh all things
according to the counfel of his own will, to the praife
of his grace ?

G 2 From

100 LECTURES ON

From this fituation of our glorified Redeemer with
the Father, every pretence of his bodily prefence on earth
is entirely excluded. The notion of a corporal prefence
in the facrament, as the Catholics teach in their dodlrine
oftranfubftantiation, is not only abfurd and fhocking, but
it is in every fenfe and view abfolutely inconfiftent v/ith
the perfon ofChrift, in and by the human nature,
being feated at the right hand of God, in the heavenly
world, as the fcripture aflerts, for " the heavens muft
** receive, i. e. retain him until the times of the refti-
** tution of all things," Afls iii. 21. From whence
he is ready to be revealed ; till then, a conceit of his
bodily prefence on earth in any feafon, or under any
cirrumftances whatever, is plainly a groundlefs and
vain imagination. Neverthelefs, Believer, his promife
is fure : This local circumfcription of our Saviour's
body, interferes not with that fpiritual prefence he hath
encouraged his people to expe£t in his church, and with
his minifters to the end of the world. He is God and
man ; and as, while on earth, he was in heaven, in
refpe^t of his deity, John iii. 13. in like manner he is
now, in virtue of the fame divine nature, able to be,
notwithftanding the prefent detention of his human
nature in the world of glory, with his faints below ac-
cording to his word. Wherefore, O Chriftian, whilft
thou art looking to Jefus, the author and finiflier of
thy faith, now on the throne in the heavens, ex-
pert the vifjts of his love. " He is faithful that hath
" promifedi" and biefled are they who wait for
him.

. LECTURE

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. loi

LECTURE VII.

The Father's concern in exalting his Son, who imme-
diately receives the Spirit at his hands ; with the
noble end of his continuance on the throne. Re-
flexions.

NOTHING yields the believer more fatisfadllon
than the glorious ftate of his Redeemer in the
heavens ; and his joy is enhanced v/hen he confiders
by whom he is placed on the throne. Now it is with
this the apoftle begins his account : " Therefore being
*' by the right hand of God exalted," A^Sts ii. 33.
This he hkewife afierts in another difcourfe : " Him
'* hath God exalted with his right hand," chap. v. 31.
So then Jefus is crowned by the Father himfelf : He
is not only at the right-hand of God, but advanced
to this dignity and power with or by the right hand
of the Father ; a myftery that demands our peculiar at-
tention. We have feen in the preceding ledlure, that
the right hand of God is a phrafe metaphorically ufed
by the prophet ; and this further appears by the various
applications of it in the fubjedl before us. And here I
apprehend it denotes the exertion of his power accord-
ing to his oath. The right hand of the Lord is his
glorious power : *' Thou hafl a mighty arm, flrong
** is thy hand and high is thy right hand," Pfalm
G 3 Ixxxix,

102 LECTURES ON

Ixxxix. 13. And from Eph. i. 19, 20. it appears that
Jehovah the Father exerted the might of his power in
Chrift when he raifed him up to his throne, as he
fwore with an oath to David his fervant, ver. 30.
And this figurative fentence may alfo allude to the
well-known ancient form in fwearing, by a folemn
elevation of the right hand to heaven. Thus John
faw the angel in a vifion " ftand upon the fea and upon
*' the earth, lifting up his hand to heaven, and fwearing
" by him that liveth for ever and ever," Rev. x. 5, 6.
In like manner it is declared, " The Lord hath fworn
" by his right hand and by the arm of his ftrength,"
Ifa. Ixii. 8. Thus Jefus was railed and placed at the
right hand of God far above every name that is named.
It was the Father's own a^, in the charadler of judge,
by which the triumphant Kedeemer, having made
reconciliation for iniquity, was exalted, as agreed on
in the covenant of peace : An article df no Jfrnall
importance with them who believe. This, allow the
expreffion, is the glory of the glorified Saviour. He
afllimed not the throne in the heavens, which he fills,
but afcended and fat down at the call, and by the power
of the moft High. It is true, Chrift is thus highly
exalted as the reward of his obedience to death, Phil.
ii. 9. His dignified ftate hath a meritorious caufe in
himfelf, and is no more than the ftipulated andjuft
return for the labour and victory of his crofs, by
which he finifhed the work of redemption. Herein
our glorious King far exceeds all principalities and
powers in heaven or on earth : Who, O thou Prince
of life and Lord of glory, is like unto thee ! Who
among the fons of the mighty to be compared with

thee I

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 103
thee! Nor gods on high, nor gods below, whether
angels or men, have any prerence to this claim ; not
the moft illuftrious feraphini, whofe exalted domi-
nion in the celeftial world, is neareft o t'eDe'-.y, « an
b'oaft his dt f.-rt of the crown that he wears j but Jefus
hath an equitable right in the dignity I'.nd pewer he
holds; and the honors of his throne proclaim the merit
of his blood ! Neverthelefs, we fee he exa'ted not
himfelf, but is cloathed with majefty by Jehovah the
Father, whofe fervant he was, and in whom accord-
ing to the fettlements of infinite wifdom, in the ceco-
nomy of man's falvation, the divine right of inveftiture
remained. Hail, O Chriftian, thy King and Saviour
is" not an ufurper ; he is crowned by authority ; his
throne is eilablifhed in righteoufnefs, and it cannot
be moved ! This fpreads a joy among his fubje^ls,
under which they are ready to triumph, in the lan-
guage of the prophet, and fay, " The Lord is our
*' judge, the Lord is our law-giver, the Lord is
*' our King, he will fave us !" Ifa. xxxiii. 22.

From the authority by which our Saviour is exalt-
ed we are led to another inflance of grace. On his
appearance in the heavens, a mofl grand and intercftinp-
tranfadlion, immediately takes place between him and
the Father. This deferves our particular notice.
When we confider the mutual complacency of thefe
divine perfons each in the other, the infinite delight
of the Father in his Son as his eleft fervant, with the
fatisfaclion he had in his finifhed work on the crofs,
and efpecially if we add, how greatly the Redeemer
longed after his glory which he had with his Father,
G4 as

104 LECTURES ON

as Mediator, before the foundation of the world, we
fhall have reafon to apprehend, that the honor and joy
of their meeting in the throne, is not to be fully con-
ceived. No doubt, as hinted before, when the King
of glory entered, and was faluted by the Father, the
heavens refounded with the acclamations of their bleft
inhabitants, fhouting the honors of God and of the
Lamb. But we are here called to obferve a frefh occa-
fion of triumph and praife. No fooner is the great
Interceflbr and Head of the church placed at the right
band of God, but behold the Father delivers the
Spirit into his hands, by whom he is poured forth on
the difciples, according to the promife of the covenant,
long fince revealed, and engaged for by Jefus him-
felf befce he afcended. " Having received of the
*' Father the promife of the Holy Ghoft, he hath fhed
'* forth this which ye now fee and hear." Adorable
fcene ! See how the facred Three are united in fulfilling
their covenant-engagements for the falvation of the
church ! Here, in a meafure, is unfolded the methods
of infinite wifdom : the Father is firft in order and
operation in this myftery of grace ; from hence, as from
the fountain and head, the Son is fupplied with the
Holy Ghnft for the propagation of the gofpel and the
gathering in his ele6t. Paufe, my dear Reader, and
admire. O this wonderful condefcention and love !
How unfearchable are the judgments of God and his
ways of mercy with finners ! " Lord, what is man
*' that thou fhouldft be mindful of him, or any of the
" fons of men that thou fliouldfl thus vifit them !'■
This is no other than the good pleafure of him who
\\'ork.eth all things according to the counfel of his own

wilit

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 105
will. Adore then his fovereign grace ! One branch
of Chrifl's glory is his mediatorial fulnefs ; this includes
a difpenfation of the Spirit, as a Spirit of grace, for
the quickening thofe who are redeemed with his blood.
Hence the cholen have been called and fanftified fmce
the world began, yea, and the Holy Ghoft, who
moved and infpired the prophets of old, was the Spirit
of Chrift, I Pet. i. 11. But that which is exhibited in
the paffage before us is, the fending forth the Spirit
from on high, by whofe operations and miraculous
gifts, the laft feai was fet to the authority of Jefus, for
the convidlion of the world and the fpread of his king-
dom. Glorious fight ! Lo the captain of falvation,
of whom it was written in the volume of the book, *' I
*' delight to do thy will, O God," being made per-
fc£l through fufferings, appears in heaven the advocate
of his people ! See him advance in robes of righteouf-
nefs, to the Father, as it were with the roll of the cove-
nant in his handi ratified in his blood! Behold how he
pleads at the throne, and with authority demands the
promife of the Holy Ghoft, who immediately proceeds
from the hands of the Father into thofe of the Son,
and from him to the waiting difciples at Jerufalem !
The effufion of the Spirit was the wonder of thofe
who beheld it on earth : »But with what aftonifnment
and joy muft the heavenly hoft view the ground and
amazing proceiTion ! On this blefled occafion we may
reafcnably fuppofe, that the innumerable company of
angels, who pry into the myilery of redemption, and
rejoice in the converfion of a fmner, with the thoufands
of faints who compaffed the throne, wdre filled with
admiration, and ready to unite in that new fong, faying

with

io6 L E C T U R E S O N

with a loud voice, " Worthy is the Lamb that was
•' flain to receive power, and riches, and wifdom, and
*' ftrength, and honor, and glory, and bleffing !"

Thus Jefus fits enthroned in the heavens, having
fent forth the holy Spirit of pron^ife. But, how long
iball he continue in this glorious fituation ? Now
this is declared in ver. 35. " Until I make thy foes
** thy footftool :" Which opens to our view the defign
and period of that dignity and power with which the
Father hath inverted his Son, our blefled Redeemer.
It may be proper here to remark that the glory of
Chrift, as head and lord of the eled is eternal, nor will
theManChrirt Jefus ever again be humbled or degraded j
The Mediator Ihall reign on his throne in the ultimate
ftate of happinefs : And indeed whatever difficulties
may attend a paflage or two, relating to this divine
myftcry, tor inftance his " deliverijig up the king-
** dom to the Father," i Cor. xv. as one juitly
obferves, it is ftrange to think that Chrift fhould lay
afide his rule as foon as he has fubdued all his foes;
befides his people are aiTured of reigning with him for
ever in glory, Kom. v. 17. compared with R.ev.
xxii. 5. Agreeable to this is* his prayer to his Father,
John xvii. 24. *' I will alfo that thofe whom thou
*' haft givcii me be with me where I am, that they
*' may behold my glory." Neverthelefs the prefent
form of his government and kingdom will be altered i
the manner of which is not particularly revealed, but
from this and other fcriptures, it appears that he will
not ever continue in the fame circumftances in which
he now fits at the right hand of God ; but that when
t|ie end fpecified ia the text is anfwered, he will rife

from

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 107

from his throne and come forth to judgment, with
unfpeakable power and glory. The exaltation of Jefus
is not alone for himfelf, or merely as the reward of his
fufferings, but alfo to apply the vidory of his crofs,
to accomplifh the number of his eledt, and to bring
down his enerriies under his feet, that he may finifh
the myftery of God in the falvation and happinefs of
them that obey him. In the phrafe, " Until I make
'* thy foes thy footftool," there is a manifefl reference
to a well-known cuftom of conquerors ; an example of
which we have in the captains of Ifrael, who, at the'''
diredion of Jofhua their commander, put their feet on
the necks of the five kings they had fubdued at Gibeon.
Thus (ball the Captain of falvation tread down all his
enemies, and trample them under his feet, as the mire
of the flreet, into fliame and everlafting contempt.

But it may be ufeful to enquire, v/ho are the foes
pf our bleffed Redeemer .'' Can any one be fo ftupid
and bafe as to oppofe his glorious perfon, the grace of
whofe office, and whofe condefcention and love in
undertaking for finners, with the triumphs of his crofs,
challenge our highefc regard ? Sure it muft argue a
vile dTpofition, to hate and cppofe the Son of God,
" who is the brightnefs of his Father's glory and the
^' exprefs image of his perfon 5" or to reject that Al-
mighty Saviour, who is poiTefled of every perfeftion
as God and Mediator, and whofe nature and power
demand the obedience and love of every creature in
heaven or in earth ? An oppofitioii to one fo divinely
great, and fo immenfely good, is the height of folly and
fnadnefs, and mull proceed from a mind moft wretch-
ly depraved ; yet, alas, the enemies of Jefus abound both

io8 LECTURESON

on earth and in hell. The fpiritual enemies of Chrift,
as the fubftitute of his people, were fin, the curfe of
the law, the malice and power of fatan, this evil world,
and death and the grave ; thefe arrayed themfelves
agalnft him, when, through death, he deftroyed the
devil that had the power of death, having put away
fm by the facrifice of himfelf ; he overcame them all in
the blood of his croG, and virtually put them under
his feet ; and accnrding'y the prophet Ifaiah, chap. xiii.
reprefents the Meffiali coming from Edom, in dyed
garments from Bozrah in apparel, fpkndid and red, as a
mitrhty conqueror from the field of battle after a glo-
rious victory, ftained with the blood of his enemies.
Thus a fure foundation is laid for what follows;
when the day of his redeemed is come, then will he
tread down the people in his anger, and make them
drunk in his fury, and bring down their ftrength to
the earth ; then the laft enemy fhall be utterly de-
ftroyed, never to wound or hurt any more, but death
and hell fhall be caft into the lake of fire.

But the foes more immediately intended, feem the
wicked, who finally oppofe the authority and grace of
the Redeemer, whether men or devils. It is a hum-
bling truth, but all mankind are enemies to Chrift,
the ele6l not excepted, though they are chofen by the
Father, and the ranfomed of his Son, yet while in an
unregenerate ftate, they are enemies in their minds to
the way of God's grace in Chrift Jefus to finners ; of
wnich S^ul is a remarkable inftance, who, though a
chofen veflel of mercy, was before his converfion a
deftroyer o( the faith he afterwards preached. And

truly

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 109

truly the oppofition of a vain world to the pure gofpel,
is more owing to the natural averfion of the carnal
mind than feems generally apprehended j and fome
who are called, bewail the pride and obftinacy with
which in the time of their ignorance, they oppofed it j
but, being enlightened, and made willing by the
power of God, they, freely fubmitted themfelves to
Jefus as their Lord, and obtained mercy and life at
his hands. In like manner all real penitents, even
though they have formerly blafphemed the Son of man,
{hall be fpared and received, when they who perfift in
oppofuig him fhall not efcape his juft indignation, but
be miferably abafed under his feet; but the righteous
(hall be exalted in his favor.

And if on earth, much more in hell, are to be
found inveterate, though impotent foes of the glorious
and omnipotent Saviour. It has been fuggefted, that
the fall of angels was owing to the envy of fatan againft
the throne of God's Son, to which he impioufly afpired.
Hence that apoftate fiend, with all the principalities
who joined under him in the fatal rebellion, were hurl-
ed down to hell by that divine Prince, at whofe glory
they prefumed to ftrike. This may be thought a bold
conjecture, beyond the line of revelation, and not to
be indulged : But we may foberly conclude, that no-
thing (hort of an infolent tranfgreflion againft the Ma-
jefty of heaven could be an occafion of fo fearful a
doom : And we are certain that pride was the con-
demnation of the devil and his angels ; but how this
curfed root of moral evil took place in the celeftial an-
gels, fo highly exalted in the creation, is a myftery ;

ito' LECTURES ON.

v/e know they were originally glorious and blefTed, but
that now thefe once illuftrious and happy fpirits are
moft vile and miferable, infomuch that they are held
under chains of darknefs unto a future judgment, by
which they fhall be configned to the torments of ever-
lafting fire. But it is vain to imagine the way in
which thefe apoftate angels were defedled ; be that as
it may, we learn from the tremendous fa£l, that no
creature is or can be impeccable, and alfo that fin jQiall
not go unpunifhed. But what is intimated is, an
oppofition to the Son of God, in the charader and
work of Mediator : Under which confideration hell
is full of his foes. The malice and oppofition of fatan,
and the infernal hoft that are with him, are obvious ;
nor is it ftrange, fince the Son of God was manifefted
to deftroy the works of the devil, and the whole
bufinefs of Chrift is to overthrow his kingdom of
darknefs; this feed of the woman is to break the
ferpent's head, in bringing many fons to glory,
whofe de{lru£lion he had conceived. Thus faith the
fcriptures, " I will put enmity between thee and the
" woman, and between thy fe'fed and her feed ; it
«' {hall bruife thy head, and thou fhalt bruife his heel,"
Gen. iii. 15. There is therefore an eternal enmity be-
tween Chrifl: and the devil, an irreconcileable hatred ;
and whence arifeth perpetual unwearied and violent
attempts, againfi: the authority and kingdom of Jefus;
and no doubt thefe are Chrift's foes, whom the Father
will fubdue and bring under him ; but the prophet
feems to have more immediately in view, thofe his
enemies, the children of men, whether of high or low
degree, who obftinately perfift unto a final rejedion of

his

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, in

his authority and grace. However all the powers ia
earth or hell, that fet themfelves againft the Re-
deemer, (hall be brought down under his feet. This
indeed is gradually performed, for judgment v/ill not
be finifhed till his people are gathered : 2 Pet. iii. 7.
** The Lord is not flack concerning his promife, -as
*' fome men count flacknefs, but is long-fuffering to
** US-ward ; not willing that any fhould perifh, but
*' that all fliould come to repentance." But no fooner
are the purpofes of grace anfwered by this divine pa-
tience, but all things fnall be put under Jefus ; inclu-
ding the moil haughty and powerful who now exalt
themfelves againft him ; then fnall come to pafs that
faying, " Aflc of me, and I will give thee the hea-
" then for thy inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of
*' the earth for thy poffeflion." Not to f^ive by the
efficacy of his gofpel, to which the paiTage is often applied
but to deftroy, by the arm of his vengeance, all the
difobedient who oppofe him ; as appears from the
terms of the prophecy itfelf, Pfalm ii. 9. " Thou
" fhalt break them with a rod of iron, thou (halt dafti '
*' them in pieces like a potters vefTel !" See alfo Rev,
ii. 27.

Review the profpedl, dear Reader; lo, an afcend-
ed Jefus fitting at the right hand of God, crowned
with glory and power by Jehovah the Father hlmfelf,
from whom we behold him receive the Holy Ghoft,
and pour him forth upon his difciples, whofe miracu-
lous gifts were feen at Jerufalem, in teftimony of his
exalted ftate, in which he will abide until all^ who
oppofe him are under his feet j then fliall the Son deli-
ver

112 LECTURES ON

ver up the kingdom to the Father, having put down
all rule and authority, and prefent his church fauklefs
before the prefence of his glory with joy. Thus fhall
iflue the prefent adminiftration of his mediatorial work
on earth, and he fhall commence the vifible head of
the glorified creation in the heavenly world, and con-
tinue the medium of communication between God
and his people, who will be happy in their union and
feliovvriiip with him for ever !

And is Chrift thus exalted ? What then will become
of thofe who reject him ! It is impoffible to conceive the
diftrefs and confufion that muft attend them who are
made his footftool, when he takes vengeance. O the
contempt and anguilh of infidels, who finally reject
or obftinately rcfufe the Redeemer and his gofpel.
Their fhame and mifery will certainly be in proportion
to his glory and power as a Saviour and judge. It is
the wrath of the Lamb ; wrath infinite as his love, his
fufFerings and his merit ! flrange and intolerable !
who can defcribe or endure itj when the Lord fhall
defcend from heaven, and the trumpet fhall found,
** Our God fhall come, faith the prophet, a fire fhall
*' devour before him, and it fhall be very tempefluous
" round about him ; he fhall call to the heaven above,
*' and to the earth, that he may judge his people;
** and the heavens (hall declare his righteoufnefs, for
** God is judge himfelf." Hear then, O unbeliever,
canfl thou fland before his indignation? canft thou
abide the flercenefs of his anger; when his fury is
poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down
by him ? art thou trampling under foot the blood of

the

PRIxMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 113

the Son of God, or afraid or a(hamed to truft and con-
fefs him now before men ? How wilt thou endure to be
dragged forth in the prefence of God and his angels,
and trodden down among the wicked in the day of his
wrath ? No rocks or mountains fhall be able to cover
thee. O it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of
the living God for defpite of his grace !

But I fpcak to him that believes, and unto whom
Jefus is precious. And is it not matter of unfpeakable
joy, as an excellent v/riter remarks, to one that loves
Chtifl:, * that he is now exalted, glorified, and en-
' throned in an everlafling and immoveable kingdom?'
View, O Chrifcian, thy afccnded and glorified Sa-
viour I The fcene is opened in fcripture for thine eyes to
behold. Contemplate the dignity and power of him
that endured the crofs and defpifed the {liame for thy
fins. In vain the difciples continued on Mount Olivet,
gazing with their natural eyes up to the vifible heavens,
through which their Lord was taken out of their fight,
and placed on the right hand of God 3 and for this they
were juftly reproved: But it is the wifdom, duty and
privilege ,of the chriftian to ufe the eyes of his fpiritual
underftanding, and through faith behold him that is
invifible, crowned with glory and honor, the Fore-
runner, Advocate, Prieft and King of his people.

The advantages that arife from a becoming attention
to thefe things are many and great. The exaltation of
Chrift is to the glory of the Father. If we are duly
afFefted with this divine profpeil, it will excite our
praifes to him, whofe infinite power, faithfulnefs and
H love.

114 LECTURES ON

love, are illuftrioufly difplayed in raifmg up his Son
Jcfus Chrift. It will likewife pofTefs us with reverence
and efteem for the Saviour himfelf, and make us bow
with adoration, as in heaven they caft down their
crowns, before his prefence. This alfo refle£ts a
glory on the Chriftian profeifion. What an honor to
be a difciple of Jefus ! Shall any refufe to own him be-
fore men, who is thus highly exalted with God ? Muft
not the man who claims a relation to fo dignified an
head, have reafon to glory in his crofs, and with Mofes
efteem even the reproaches of Chrift, yea and rejoice if
he is counted worthy to fufFer for his fake ? Blufh then,
O Reader, if confcious that through fear of the
fcornful, or of any other trial, thou art neglefbing his
orders, and avoiding the open confeflion to his name
required in the gofpel ! See Jefus crowned on the
throne in his heavenly kingdom ! Behold the thoufands
of thoufands that minifter unto him, and the ten thou-
fand thoufands that ftand before him. And canft thou
be aftiamed of him and his words in the face of his ene-
mies, who are foon to be trodden under his feet ?

Again, fhould not this confirm and enliven our
hope in a dark and threatening feafon ? God raifed up
and glorified his Son, that our faith and hope might be
in himfelf, i Fct. i. : i. Since Jefus fits at the right
hand of the Father, until his foes are his footftool, fear
not, O Believer, he is able to fave thee ! And however
the enemies cf Chrift and his gofpel may feem to
prevail, and be ready to infult, their triumph
is Ihort, thy exalted Redeemer is daily advancing
sigainft them. It is indeed a cloudy day when the de-

lufions

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 115

iufions of Mahomet, or heathen idolatry, and grofs
fuperftition, fpread over (o confiderable a part of the
earth; and efpecialy if we add the abominations of
Popery, the infolence of Deifts, and the abounding difor-
ders, and many unhappy divifions where the name of
chriftianity is known : but in thefe fad circumftances
we have this to comfort us, that the adverfaries of
Zion are doomed to deftrudion. The Lord reigns, and
they who oppofe him muft repent or be ruined,
Thefe veffels of wrath are permitted a while, but
the day of vengeance is at hand, when all the enemies
of Jefus fhall be covered with fhame and perilh for
ever.

■ l^iNALLY, Beloved, is the Saviour raifed to this
dignity in the heavens ? With what freedom ftiould his
people come to the throne of grace for every bleffing,
and particularly for the Holy Spirit of promife he hath
received of the Father ? Remember that he is thus exalt-
ed in public charadter, and in the name of his faints
and that his blefTed ftate, is the earned and example of
thine, who art virtually raifed and fet together with thy
glorified Head : Therefore be of good courage in purfu-
ing the vidory given thee. " He is faithful that has
*' promifed," faying, " To him that overcometh will I
** grant to fit with me in my throne, even as I alfo
*' overcame and am fet down with my Father in his
** throne," Rev. iii. 21.

The End of the Firjl Booh

Ha PRIMITIVE

[ ii6 ]

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY.
BOOK II.

BEING

Some thoughts on the apoftle's improvement and
application of his difcourfe to the Jews on the
day of Pentecoft.

LECTURE VIII.

Containing the apoftle's addrefs to his audience in gene-
ral. His pundtual defcription of the Saviour. The
charge of his murder on the Jews repeated. An
earnefl exhortation to confider him as the Lord's
Chrift; and the convictions which naturally refult
from fuch a perfuafion.

PETER having largely proved, by undeniable
teftimony and reafoning out of the fcriptures, the
afcenfion and glory of Jefus, clofes his excellent fer-
mon v/ith a lively application which Hands on record,
and runs in thefe terms, " Therefore let all the houfe
*' of Ifrael know afluredly, that God hath made that
*' fame Jefus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and
*' Chrift," Aas ii. 36.

The

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 117

The words are plainly an inference by v/ay of re.
flection, in which this great preacher manifeftly calls
upon his audience, without exception, to conuder
what he had been faying, and to apply the fame for
their conviilion, that they might no longer reje6l the
counfel of God againft themfelves, but believe and be
faved. Thus the apofilc winds up his difcourfe. And
this is the end and method of preaching, owned of
God, for the converfion of fmners, A glorious inftance
of which is before us. It appears from ver. 14, that the
apoftle flood up and delivered himfelf in an earneft and
audible manner becoming the occafion ; and there is rea-
fon to fuppofe that his fervency rather increafed than de-
clined. No doubt, in proclaiming thefe words^ he lift up
his voice like a trumpet, and with great boldnefs and zeal
ftretched forth his hands and prefled home the confide-
ration of the Lhings he had fpoken, on the hearts and
confciences of his hearers. The particulars to be
noted in this facred paragraph are, the objects addrefTed,
the truth which the apoftle advances, and his earneft
exhortation to lay it to heart. I ftiall confider each in
its order; point out the convi£lions that muft arife
from a cordial perfuafion of what is aflerted, and then
clofe with a word or two by way of improvement.
And,

F'lrJ}^ The proclamation is to the houfe of Ifrael,

i. e. the people of the Jews, fo denominated from their

anceftor Jacob, firnamed Ifrael j the Lord's people,

whom he brought out of Egypt, a chofea feed from

H 3 the

iig LECTURES ON

the loins of Abraham, by Ifaac and Jacob, with whom
God eftablifhed his covenant. This people, whofe
number was great, are ftiled the houfe of Ifrael,
Jacob or Ifrael being the ! immediate parent of the
twelve patriarchs from whom the multitude fprang ; who
at length profpered into a kingdom, a peculiar trea-
fure unto the Lord. Many and gr?at were their
privileges; and for a feafon their renown went
forth among the heathen for beauty. Unto them be-
longed the oracles of God ; and with them were the
ordinances of the fan<Stuary, in the midft of whom
Jehovah dwelt, while they obeyed his voice and kept
his covenant. But, alas, being a flifF-necked and per-
verfe generation, they foon and frequently corrupted
themfelves to their ruin. And at this time they were
in a moft deplorable condition j for being left of God,
svhofe wrath was impending, they became vain in their
imagination, and were in a manner univerfally blinded ;
but ftill there was among them a remnant, ac-
cording to the election of grace, Rom. xi. 5. And
God had not caft away his people whom he foreknev/ :
Neverthelefs we find that Peter's addrefs is to all this
houfe of Ifrael , This affords an example of preaching
to the end of the world. If a minifter's idea of the
Father's ele<3:ion ftraitens him in his report of the
gofpe], fp that he cannot moft earneftly befeech
every hearer of the word, with an ardent defire
aftey his faying acquaintance with Chrift, he feems
ynder fome unhappy miftake about this glorious doc-
trine of grace. Secret things belong unto God ; and
^her§ is nothing revealed concerning hig counfel, which

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 119

is ajuft exception to our addrelTes and prayers, yea and
our warmeft pleadings with each individual, that
he receive not the grace of God in vain. Not the
unknown eleSi^ but known finners, are the immediate ob-
jects of a gofpel-miniftry, in refpeit of its general
report. It is true, the great end of this commiflion
from heaven is the gathering the chofen and redeemed
of the Lord : And this will be the view of him that is
employed. Conftraiued by the love of Chrift, his mini-
fters are animated to patience and diligence, and, with
the apoftle, " can endure all things for the eledl's fake,
" that they may obtain the falvation which is in him^
" with eternal glory," 2 Tim. ii. 10. Neverthelefs, the
Lord knoweth them that are his. And a fervant of
Jefus hath not, nor can he have any rational or war-
rantable ground for refpedl of perfons in his miniftry,
but is to preach the word indefinitely j and labour,
if by any means, every one may repent and receive re-
miffion of fins, and by fubmitting himfelf to the Lord,
obtain life eternal. This is the example of Peter.
Indeed he was the apoftle of the circumcifion, and
fent to the loft ftieep of the houfe of Ifrael, and there-
fore applies himfelf direflly to the Jews, among whom
he knew there was a chofen feed ; yet his exhortation is
univerfaly extended : " Let all|the houfe of Ifrael know."
Nor have we any reafon to doubt but that his heart's de-
fire,like that of Paul for Ifrael was, (without exception)
that they might be fa ved. Thatman who doth not fincerely
defire, and earneftly endeavour after the final happinefs
of all who attend him, and accordingly direct his dif-
CQurfe to the heart and confcience of every hearer, feems
H 4 under

120 L E C T U R E S O N

under a prejudice, and comes fliort of the fample given

of thole who preached the word from the beginning.

Secondly f The truth the apofde remonflrates to thefe
unbelievers for fubftance is this, namely, that Jefus
was the Chrift, the Son of God, and the King of
Ifrael j or, as he himfelf on a certain occafion confeiFed,
faying, *' Thou art Chrifl the Son of the living
" God," John vi. 69. He declares and urgeth it upon
'them, that "God hath made that fame Jefus whom
" ye have crucified, both Lord and Chrift." Note,

I. His punflual defcrlpticn of the Mefliah, "That
*' fame Jefus." It is of great importance to know the
perfon of the Saviour, not indeed in a natural v/ay or
after the fleih, as the Jews knew him when they cruci-
fied and ^,Q\Y him, or as the apoflles difcerned him alive
from the dead, and thereby becan e qualified, as we have
feen, to witnefs his refurreclion. Henctk^rth Chrift
is no more known after this manner ; but a fpiritual
knowledge of his perfcn is needful to a cordial depen-
dence upon him. A man may trufl; him that is v.nfeen^
but no man can depend on an objev5l unknown: And
accordingly we {\\\^ that an underftanding in the per-
fon of ChriiL is given to them that believe : " He hath
*' given us an underPianding in him that is true,"
John V. 20. The apoftle's dchgn is not only to con-
vince the Jews of their guilt, but likewife to fhew
them, that in this fame Jefus, and in no other, falvation
is found, and this with a view to their converfion. In like
planner every true believer knows who the Lord's Chrift

is;

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN ITY. 121
is ; he hath a true underftanding in the perfon of his
Redeemer j nor will any faith fupport its fubje6l in an
hour of temptation, and efpecially in the views of eter-
nity, but that which is accompanied with a certain
knowledge of him in whom his confidence is placed ;
But the chriftian is abundantly fatlsfied in this, and there-
fore can rejoice, as the apoftle, when his departure is at
hand, and fay, " I know whom I have believed, and
*' I am perfuaded that he Is able to keep that which 1
** have committed unto him againft that day," 2 Tim.
i. 12. The faithful are not alike in the degrees of their
knowledge, but each believer hath a true acquaintance
with him whom he truds j he is fo far enlightened as
to know and be perfuaded that his Saviour is the Son
of the living God. If the experience of the faints in
this point of knowledge Is fubflantially the fame,
which cannot with reafon be doubted, then according
to the pafiage in John before mentioned, they all know
that the Son of God is ccme, I. e. was manifcited in the
flefh, and that this his Son Jefus Chrill Is the true God
and eternal life. This knowledge Includes a true Idea of
theconflitutionof his wonderful perfon, as God-man; for
though an ordinary chriflian, at leaft fomefuch, may not
be clearly led Into every circumftance relating to the
ineffable union of thefe infinitely diflant natures in the
perfon of the Mffliah, or be capable of difcourfino-
with judgment on this fublime fubje6V, yet the faith of
God's people Is fo grounded in the perfon of their Re-
deemer, that it cannot exiil without a true acquain-
tance therewith. His deity and humanity are therefore
known to believers, the leaft of whom is perfuaded that
Jefus is Immanuel, " God with us ;" and he is like-
wife

122 LECTURES ON

wife confident of this, that his Saviour is that fame
Jefus who fufFered without the gates of Jerufalem,
even the felf-fame perfon who was crucified at Mount
Calvary. This is what Peter points out in the ftrong-
eft manner to his hearers, that he, whom God hath
made both Lord and Chrift, is that fame Jefus, even
that felf-fame individual perfon whom they had flain on
the crofs, and no other. And this knowledge is con»
tained in the faith of the chofen. But,

2. Observe with what freedom he repeats his charge
on thefe- Jerufalem finners ; *' Whom ye have cruci-
*' fied." This indeed may be confidered as a part of
the defcription given of the Lord's Chrift ; but I ap-
prehend that the apoftle had a further view. He feems
to be exceedingly earneft after their repentance ; and
therefore to awaken them, takes the opportunity of
rehearfing their crime, that being deeply convinced
of their horrid and inexpreflible guilt, they might on
due encouragement be prepared to look on him whom
they had pierced, and mourn. This gofpel-minifter
longed after the converfion of his hearers, and would
fain have them fee their wretched condition, and the
eternal mifery before them, that they might flee to
Jefus, and efcape wrath to come. And in this he
purfued the counfel of God with refpeft to many that
heard him, as appears by the fequel, to the joy and
furprize of this faithful fervant of the Lord, who, it
is highly prooable, little expedled the glorious harveft
he reaped in the end ; but of that in its place. Sinners
are for the moft part hardened in unbelief, and have
weed to be told again and again of their evil ; and

affedionate

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 123

affe6lionate minifters, who watch for their fouls> will
repeat their remonftrances with a view to convince
them J they will cry aloud, and fpare not to fhew unto
them their tranfgrefiions and their fins, that if God
peradventure fhould awaken them to a fenfe of their
folly and danger, and give them repentance unto the
acknowledgement of the truth, they may recover them-
felves and be plucked as brands from the fire. Thus
Peter having fet forth the glory and power of the exalt-
ed Saviour, fixes the attention of the Jews on him,
whom they had crucified, as the Lord's Chrift, fhew-
ing that he was no other than that felf-fame perfon
whom they had defpifed and wickedly murdered.
This their blood-guiltinefs he repeats, and as it were
rings in their ears, that, being duly and deeply
alFe£led with their ruined ftate, they might repent
and be faved. We may juftly admire the wifdom,
faithfulnefs and compaflion of this great man of God.
How worthy the imitation of all unto whom is com-
mitted the gofpel of peace, and the care of immortal
fouls ! O that fuch preachers abounded ! Once more,

3. We are to note the pofitive manner in which
the apoftle declares the authority of Jefus. He aflerts
it with the utmofi: boldnefs and confidence. This is
no conjecture, however probable, but a certain unde-
niable fadl. He, that fame Jefus whom ye have cru-
cified, is made, and made by God, both Lord and
Chrift. To be made is to be created or conftituted hf
authority. So was Jefus to the office of Mediator,
wnto which thefe charadters belong. He was made
\>y the Father from whom he received his authority ;

124 L E C T U R E S O N

it was he called and created him in the eternal counfel
of peace. Hence Il'a. xlii. i. *' Behold my fervant
•' whom I uphold, mine ele6l in whom my foul de-
*' lighteth," And again, " I was fet up from ever-
*' lafting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was."
Prov. viii. 23. And accordingly our Lord, John xvii, 5,
fpeaks of a glory v/hich he had with the Father before
the world was. So then Jefus was ordained and fet
up in the high office of Mediator, not upon his incar-
nation, but from the beginning, even from everlafting
was he made, by a fpecial conftitution according to
the infinite wifdom of God, that he might accomplifh
th? purpofe of his grace in bringing many fons to
glory; and wiih this {lands connected his appointment
to a kingdom, unto which the Father flood engaged
to exalt him when he had finiflied his work upon
earth. Thus was he created to this dignity and power
in the covenant of redemption befc^re the foundation
of the world. But to be made fignifieth more than to
be appointed, ordained or conftituted : it may intend
alfo his being manifeft or openly invefted with autho-
rity; and from the fcope of the place, we are led to
confider it here in this fenfe. The apoflle plainly de-
figns that God had ai^iually and evidently invefted
Jefus with the majefly and power which belonged to
the MejTiah, as prophefied of old, and that now he
was undoubtedly and vifibiy both Loid and Chrift.
It remains to confider.

Thirdly, The apoftle's folemn andearneft exhortation
to receive the truth in their heart. " Let all the houfe
<* of Ifrael know afTuredly." To know afTuredly is

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 125

to be perfuaded without hefitation : And by this phrafe,
Peter doth not fo much report the truth as ftir up the
Jews to embrace it. When tlie princes of the earth
fend forth their heralds with a * be it known unto all

* men,' every man is called upon, not barely to hear
or credit the report, but alfo and chiefly to confider
and obey it; it is an authoritative fentence demanding
the aflent, perfuafion and conformity of their fubje(3:s:
In like manner, this gofpel-minifter, having proved
that Jefus was the Chrift and Lord of all, in his name
calls with authority on thefe men of Ifrael to a furc
belief and full perfuafion of what he had declared him
to be, and a fubmiflion to him as fuch. q. d. * O }'e
'" men of Judea, and all ye that dv/ell at Jerufalem,

* harden not your hearts, do not perverfely rejefl this

* word of falvation. Lo, that fame Jefus whom ye

* crucified, God hath raifed up, whereof we are all

* witneffes, and fo is the Holy Ghoft, in this which
' ye now fee and hear. He is therefore doubtlefs exalt-

* ed. No longer queftion his power in heaven and
« earth, but aflure yourfelves that this fame Jefus is
« indeed both Lord and ChriH.'

This practical knowledge and credit, demanded by
the apoftle on the evidence given, is of the operation
of God. It is not indeed truly and properly or at leaft
not the whole of faving faith, by which the fubjefl:
as a loft finner, encouraged by the promife of free
and rich grace, being affifled by the Spirit, trufts his
foul in the hands of the almighty Redeemer, and relieth
upon him for life; yet furely this perfuafion cometh
©f him that calleth the faints, and is owing to a divine

agency

126 L E C T U R E S O N

agency. When the gofpel comes not in word only
but in power, and in the Holy Ghoft, then it comes,
faith the apoftle, in much afTurance, and ifTues in
converfion, i ThelT. i. 5. The native blindnefs and
perverfe unbelief, under which the natural man is
held, will not permit him to entertain this full perfua-
fion of the authority of the glorified Jefus : and with
refpe<a: to the Jews, who had been guilty of his blood,
they were highly prejudiced, and under the ftrongeft
temptations, to difown him whofe vengeance they had
reafon to dread, if invefted with power; fo that all the
force of the apoftle's reafoning muft have been infuffi-
cient without the intervention of his divine arm, who
can open the heart at his pleafure; and accordingly
we find that, though many believed through grace,
yet it feems the far greater part of his numerous au-
dience remained unperfuadeable and obeyed not the
truth. Many are convinced from external evidence,
that the fcriptures are true ; they are morally perfuaded
of their veracity, and credit what they relate, and
confequently believe in this fenfe, that Jefus of Naza-
reth who was crucified, revived, afcended to glory,
and fits at the right hand of God ; but, alas, what is
their knowledge ! It is all fuperficial and heartlefs ;
they dread not his wrath, nordefire his falvation; they
are not afFe£led with the gofpel-report, " He that be-
** lieveth ftiall be faved, and he that believeth not
*' ftiall be damned." A general notion of being faved
by Chrift, without any regard to an experience of
fincere repentance and faith, tends only to prove the
fubje£t under a fingular and dangerous hardnefs j but
where a full and cordial perfuafion ©f the power of

Jefus,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 127
Jefus, as the Lord's Chrift, to fave his people and to
deftroy his enemies takes place, the fubje£l will feel a
painful concern about his own eternal welfare, and be
ready to cry out, as in the inftance before us. What
mufti do? or "What /hall I do to be faved ?" And
this will appear when we confider, as propofed, the
convictions that muft arife from fuch a perfuafion.
And,

I. A perfuafion of this will convince the fubje£l that
Chrift is a Saviour indeed. On the birth of Jefus, you
know, the angel declared to the fhepherds, faying,
*' Unto you is born in the city of David, this day, 2
*'" Saviour, which is Chrift the Lord," Luke ii. 11,
To the fame purpofe faith Paul, *' Of this man's, i. e,
" David's feed, hath God, according to his promife,
" raifed unto Ifrael a Saviour, Jefus," A6ls xiii. 23.
Thus if God hath truly made this fame Jefus both
Lord and Chrift, he is furely a Saviour mighty and
great: His power, dignity, and all-fufficiency are not
to be queftioned. It is for want of believing from the
heart this divine authority of Jefus, that any diftruft or
defpife him. If a man is poffefled of this knowledge of
faith, that God hath indeed invefted Jefus Chrift with
all power in heaven and earth, he muft be convinced
that he is able to anfwer his charaCler. And under
this convi«5tion, he would certainly either fear his in-
dignation or truft in his name. Where this conviflion
takes place, there can be no difpute, no, not a mo-
ment's hefitation, but that Jefus is able to fave them
that come to God by him, and that all others, who obey

not

128 LE C T U R E S O N

not the gofpelj fhall be accounted his enemies and made
his footftool. Again,

2. This perfuafion will alfo convince a man that
Jefus is the only Saviour. There cannot be two of
this fupreme dignity. If this fame Jefus is Lord and
Chrift, there can be no other. Some modern Jews, being
prefTed with the evidence of the fufferings and death of
Jefus of Nazareth, as exactly and fully anfwering the
prophefies concerning the MelTiah, in order to uphold
their vain expe61ation of one yet to come, have in-
vented to themfelves a norion of their being two of
that charader, one to fufier, another to reign, or to
fave and deliver them. This vain conceit, as one
juftly ftiles it, fhews their, perverfe unbelief, and how
miferably blinded and hardened they are ! O when
fhall the veil be taken away ! but nothing can be more
falfe and abfurd, being deftitute of reafon and contrary
to fcripture : " There is but one Mediator between
" God and man, the man Chrift Jefus," i Tim. ii. 5.
And whoever confiders that office, and the manner in
which it is executed, will find that there can be only
one of this diftinguifhing charafier. He only who
being made perfect through fufferings, became the
author of eternal falvation, lives at the right hand of
God, to deliver his people and bring them to glory. In
the nature of the thing there can be but one whom
God hath exalted to this dignity : He therefore who
afiuredly knoweth that Jefus is that perfon who fuftains
this power by divine authority, muft be convinced of
what Peter declares, A£ls iv. 11. namely, "that fal-
" vation is in no other, neither is there any name

under

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 129

*' under heaven given among men whereby we muft be
*^ faved." It follows,

3. That from this knowledge in the heart, there
will arife a convi6lion that every man muft either
perifh under the adminiftration of Jefus, or be faved by
his blood. He that is afTured in his mind, that God hath
made Jefus both Lord and Chrift, and that confequently
he is the all-fufficient and only Savioyr and judo;e, be-
ing confcious of his own guilt, cannot fail of feeing, that
without a fubmiflion to and intereft in him, he fhall cer-
tainly perifti. Hence this knowledge will prove efFe61ual
torender the fubjedl anxious about his eternal ftate, fo
as to become an earneft enquirer after obtaining this
falvation, being fenfible of his danger, anddiftrefled in
his foul while in a ftate of uncertainty. Thus the word
coming with power unto many of thefe Jerufalem-
finners, they were immediately convinced of their
mifery and danger; and being pricked in the heart,
with the utmoft eagernefs and anguifti of fpirit, they
fay unto Peter, and to the reft of the apoftles, " Men
•' and brethren^ What fhall we do ?"

LECTURE

I30 LECTURES ON

LECTURE IX.

Being notes and refle^iions on Peter's proclama-
tion and addrefs in the clofe of his fermon to the
Jews.

IN the foregoing letSlure we confidered the winding
up of the apoftle''s difcourfe at Jerufalem ; It con-
(ifts in a remonftance, by way of refle(3:ion, in which
he excites his audience, the Jews, to confider the refult
of what he had proved concerning Jefus of Nazareth
whom they had crucified ; and calleth upon them, in a
moft folemn and earneft manner, to " know afluredly"
that God had made that fame Jefus both Lord and Chriftj,
A perfuafion of this, we have feen, muft needs con-
vince the fubje<5i: that Chrift is a Saviour indeed^ and
the only Saviour of finners j and confequently that he is
undone without an intereft in him. Such was the
cfFedt of Peter's exhortation, by the blefling of God,
on many of his hearers. Now this being the firft fer-
mon publicly preached in the name of the Lord
after his afcenfion, it is doubtlefs the moft primitive
pattern of preaching ; we are therefore naturally led
to turn our thoughts on thofe points which more
immediately concern that divine inftitution j in refe-
rence to which the following particulars deferve our
attention.

I, That

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 131

I. That the conftitution and authority of Jefus, in
the character of Mcffiah, is a principal fubjea of the
gofpel-miniftry. The divine authority of Jefus is of
the utmoft importance ; without a full fatisfaclion here-
in no man can truft him: The leaft hefitation in this
point leaves the fubjea: incapable of embracing a cruci-
iied Redeemer J for he that is in good earneft about his
falvation, will never confide in one whofe authority is
doubtful. Our Saviour declares, concerning his difci-
pies, faying to his Father, " I have given them the
" words which thou gaveft me, and they have received
*' them, and have known furely that I came out from
*' thee, and they have believed that thou didft fend
" me," John xvii. 8. A full afilirance of his divine
miilion was the ground of their confidence in him : In
like manner he that receives the word of the gofpel into
his heart, and comes to Chrift for life, comes to him
under a full perfuafion that God hath invefled this
fame Jefus, whom he trufts, with the power of a Sa-
viour ; without this there can be no faith, it being need-
ful to awaken in the mind a due concern about an
intereft in Chrift, and to engage a finner's dependence
upon him : the apoftle therefore, with great propriety,
urges this point on the Jews, to convince them of their
danger, and of the pov/er of Jefus to fave, that they
might not, through unbelief, perifh in their fins. This
example fhould be followed by the minifters of the o-of-
pel ; they are to be much employed in opening thofe
fcriptures that relate to the Father's appointment of his
Son to the office he bears, that their hearers, knowing
that Jefus is the Chrift, and that he is exalted by the
I 2 right

132 LECTURES ON

right hand of God, to fave or to deftroy, may fee the
the infinite importance of an intereft in him, and be
erxouraged to truft him. In this way faith comes by
hearing, through the power of the Holy Ghoft, by
pofleiTing the fubje£^, with an evidence to his confcience
that Jefus is indeed the Lord's Chrift, and able to fave
to the utermoft them who come unto God by him : In
want of which convi6iion, fome hearers of the word,
with their heads full of orthodox nouons, feem carelefs,
and are little ccncerned about repentance unto life;
but where this knowledge reacheth the heart, a man
will not content himfelf fhort of being fare in this only
and almighty Lord and Saviour of finners. This being
the ilate of the cafe, moft certainly it is a capital branch
of a preacher's bufmefs, to lay open the counfel of God
in the conftitution of his Son.

Again, we may note, that it becomes the mini-
flers of Chrift to exhort and excite them that hear,
unto a believing application of the things that are
fpoken. Peter, you fee, having proved from fcripture
the dignlry and power of the afcended Redeemer,
clofes his fermon in a warm and lively addrefs to the
Jews ; wtiereby he labours to convince them of the
glory of Chrift as Lord of all, and as the anointed of
God, that being duly afFeded with his authority and
grace, they might believe on him unto life everlafting.
If this may be deemed an example, it is not unbecom-
ing the minifteis of the word to go farther than a
bare, however judicious report of the things which
belong to the gofpel of Chrift, and proceed to open
the counfel of God, and to excite their audience to

confider

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 133

confider the reality and importance of what they have
heard, that being fully perfuaded, they may believe
and be faved. The fcriptures abound with the like
famples of preaching; and indeed, fo duli are man-
kind, that the warmeft addrefles to the heart and con»
fcience are needful as a means of awakening perfons to
apply the word to themfelves : and accordingly we find
this account from the great apoftle of the Gentiles,
** Now then, fays he, we are ambaffadors for Chrift,
*' as though God did befeech you by us ; we pray
" you in Chrift's flead, be ye reconciled to God,"
2 Cor. V. 20. Nothing I think can be more evident,
than that thefe firft and great preachers did not leave
the people in a cold and lifelefs manner, or without
■ attempting to afFedt their hearts with what they de-
livered.

I am fenfible, that while fome have little regard to
the judgment of their hearers, and make the paflions a
firft and principal objedl of addrefs, fome others have
condemned all endeavours to touch the afFe6lions, and
would confine the preacher to a naked expofition, or
bare report of the truth, with its evidence from fcrip-
turej applications are reprefented as favouring of the
creatures ability, yea and as intruding on the work of
the Spirit, whofe office, fay they, is to apply his own
grace. To obviate this prejudice, I fhall endeavour
briefly to (hew the propriety of addreffing the con-
fciences of men, according to this original pattern,
and its confiftency with the fpiritual impotence of fallen
man, and confequently with the abfolute need of a di-
vine agency, in order to his faving advantage,

I 3 T«

134

LECTURES ON

To ftir up the hearers of the word by way of re-
flexion, and to ufe every fober means of perfuafion,
whereby, under the blefling of God, their hearts may
be affe£ted with the truth, to the profit of their fouls j
is not only fuited to the nature of man, but alfo exa£tly
agrees with the method of our Lord and hisapoftles;
and if, as hath been complained, any are unguarded^
and feemingly inconfiftent with ajuft idea of the truthj
in attempting to copy the example, can this be a fuffi-
cient excufe for laying afide or rejetfling the natural
and ancient means of edification ? nor is the agency of
the Spirit, in an effeftual application of the gofpel, a
cogent objeilion to the preacher's addrefling the con-
fcience of his hearer ; unlefs it be admitted againft ex-
pounding of the fcriptures to enlighten his under-^
irandino^ ; for except a man is taught of God, he is in-
capable of difcerning the things of his Spirit: So that
f)n this pretence, all kind ©f preaching may be cenfured
as ufelcfs, and indeed every means of knowledge and
convidtion refufed, fince there is no branch of the mi-
nfftry^ the fuccefs of which doth not abfolutely depend
on the power of the Holy Ghoft : But moral endea-
vours to inform the judgment, and to touch the hearts
of a chrillian audience, are equally juft, agreeable to
the tefiimony of God, and perfectly confident with
the office of the Spirit, who alone cap efFedtually teach
the children of men.

Vap.ious are the talents of preachers, and alfo the
occafions and circumftances which may occur in the
courfe of their miniftry, Thefe, with their difpofition

under

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 155

under the guidance of the Spirit, who directs the hearts
of his fervants at his pleaiure, hath a prevailing influ-
ence in the method they take in difcourfing on the
kingdon^ of God ; nor do I more than recommend the
iuftance before us as, what I apprehend, a genuine
ftandard of preaching ; I hope this may be allowed, and
efpecially fmce it pleafed the Lord to honor the pattern
with fo great and wonderful fuccefs ,

The example is clear. Peter preaching to the
Jews, proves from the fcripture, that he whom they
had crucified, and who was raifed from the dead, Vi^as
indeed the Meffiah foretold by the prophets; and hav-
ing fo done, though his audience confided of the
mod: hardened and guilty perfons, who, in all appear-
ance, were held under the power of fin and unbelief,
he winds up h's difccurfe in an affeiSiionate addrefs to
this obftinate and perilling multitude, calling on all,
and every one to reflect on the things he had fpokent
In this clofing application he evidently points out a
plain truth, which refults from the confideration of
what he had alledged, namely, that this fame Jefus was
manifeftly both Lojd and Chrift, and earneftly be-
feeches them to receive it. In like manner our Lord
himfelf, and the difciples he fent in the courfe of hrs
life, laboured to convince thofe who attended their
miniftry. It appears from the facred hiftory, that
they went forth expounding the fcriptures, to open the
underftanding and rectify the judgment of their
hearers; and from thence proceeded to infer, exhort
and excite them, that, through grace, the dodrines
they taught, being mixed with faith, might be duly
I 4 applied

136 LECTURES ON

applied and reduced to experience and practice. This
method alfo runs through the whole apoftolic mini-
ftration ; and though, as obferved, there will be a
great variety in the manner of preachers, I cannot but
think that way which confifts with this general plan
moft agreeable to the defign of a gofpel-miniftry,
which is to irradiate the underftanding, and likewife
to affedi the heart, both which are needful. To aim
at moving the pallions, without informing the judg-
ment, or a full perfuafion of the truth ; and on the
other hand to reft in a bare report of the doftrines
revealed in the bible, in a ne2^1e£l: of perfonal applica-
tion and addrefling the confciences of men, that they
may be fuitably impreffed with the things that are
fpoken, feem equally wrong; the one has a tendency
to flatter perfons with an hope grounded in their own
imaginations rather than the teftimony of God, which
is vain ; and the other to fill them with a conceit of
themfelves, on account of their notions of the gofpel,
without any regard to the fruits of that faith which is
of the operation of God : In each cafe the fubjedt de-
ceives himfelf J and therefore whatever tends to che-
rifh either, fliould be avoided as unfriendly to the inte-
reft of real religion. In a word, from the ftate of the
natural man, and from univerf^l experience, it is clear,
that the moft judicious explanations or fervent addreffes,
which the ableft preacher on earth can deliver, are in-
fufficient of themfelves to enlighten or enlarge the mind
of a hearer. And with me it is no lefs certain, that
from the beginning, the minifters of Chrift, by reafon-
ing out of the fcriptures, and by a particular and ear-
ned

MITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 137

neft application to their audience, fought to convince
them and bring them to the obedience of faith. Once
more,

3. This inftance proves that gofpel-minifters fhould,
under no pretence whatever decline their utmoft en-
deavours to convert any perfon or people, however
notorious their infidelity and wickednefs. It may be
ufeful to confider this point, left by any means our
own carnal reafon and foolifh miftakes give the enemy
advantage, through a negle6l of the fouls committed to
cur charge in a private or public capacity. If fingular
hardnefs, infidelity and guilt, rendered the fhameful
fubjefts unmeet for the attempts of a gofpel-minifter,
Peter had never taken fuch pains to awaken and con-
vince thefe blood-guilty fmners. Men, who, in con-
tempt of all the miraculous and undeniable teftimony
from heaven, in favour of the holy Jefus, notwith-
ftanding the light and convI£lIon they had received
concerning his being a man approved of God, yet for
envy in malice betrayed and murdered him ; men that
were hardened in their infidelity, and had ,no remorfe
for this great wickednefs, but contiimed to refift the
Holy Ghoft, infomuch, as that many of them had
been mocking at his extraordinary gifts ; I fay, the
apoftle would not have laboured to convince thefe
feemlngly abandoned tranlgreflbrs, if the vileft of men
were to be left in defpair. When the defcendents of
thofe who fear God, caft away the cords of a religious
education, or when fuch, in .vhom convictions have
been raifed, quench the light they have received , and
become openly licentious and wicked, having turned

their

J38 L E C T U R E S O N

their backs on the ways of God, or it may be fet their
months and face s againft heaven, their confciences fecm
to be fi.-arcd, and their condition is truly deplorable and
dano-erous, we may well tremble for them, left, being
given up of God, they finally rejedl his counfel to
their ruin I Neverthelefs their cafe is not defperate,
jicither are even fuch to be excluded from the means of
falvation. ^

Christ came to favc firlners ; nor is any finner be-
yond the reach of hio arm. The miniftration of his
word therefore waits the pleafure and power of God
without refpe£^ of perfons. A defpifed gofpel indeed
hath been taken away, and the candleftick removed
out of his place. Hence a famine of hearing the word
of the Lord, and the people perifh for lack of know-
ledge, which is awful to confider; but where the
kingdom of heaven is continued, no degree of infide-
lity or wickednefs fl:iould difcourage or prevent the mi-
nifters of Jefus from ftrivlng after the converfion of
men. No nation under heaven was ever more cor-
rupt and guilty than the Jews at tliis time, and efpe-
cially the inhabitants of their capital city; and yet we
find the difciples went forth, as the Lord had com-
manded, and preached repentance and remiiTion of fins
in his name, beginning at Jerufalem, as in the in-
flance before us. And foall it ever be thought that
any man's wickednefs can render him unmeet for the
miniflry of the gofpel ?

It is wrong then to fay of this or the other perfon,
be is fo hardened in unbelief, and a wretch fo abandon-
ed

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 139

cd to his lufts, that it is in vain to reafon with him on
fin, or righteoufnefs, or judgment to come, or to de-
clare unto him the power and glory of Jefus. This
favours of ignorance, felf-fufficiency, and a diftruft of
that power which alone can fubdue the tranfgrefTor : Is
the divine arm fhortcned that it cannot fave ? Shall man
determine the counfel of God, or fet bounds to his
grace ? When under any temptation we think or fpeak
thus, do we noc forget the fuccefs which attended
the preaching of the gofpel, even among thofe who
murdered the Saviour, that the vefiels of mercy zre
unknown to us, and that the converfion of a finner is
by the power of God, accompanying the perfuafion of
the preacher ?

In fhort, the miniftraticn of the gofpel proceeds on
thofe principles which warrant and oblige, yea, and
encourage thofe who are employed therein to preach
to, and plead with the greateft tranfgreffors, and moft:
perverfe unbelievers, if peradventure God will grant
them repentance to the acknov/ledgement of the truth.
The vileft finner, or the moft obfcinate infidel is within
the reach of omnipotent grace : The Lord's people
fliall be willing in the day cf his power^ and his fer-
vants fhall find their labour fhall not be in vain in
him. But if any are permitted to harden thcmfeives to
their defl:ru6lion, faithful minifiers are unto God a
fweet favour of Chrift in them that are faved and in
them that perifh. To the one they are *' a favour of
" death unto death, and to the other a favour of life
" unto life. And who is fufficient for thefe things ?'*
2 Cor. ii. 15, 16.

Thu8

140 LECTURESON

Thus then, by the manner in which Peter fmiflsed
his famous and ruccefsful difcouric to the Jews, we
Jearn that the conftitution and authority of Jefus, in
the character of the Mefiiah> is a princjp^a fubje^l of
a gofpel-miniftryj that it belongs to that miniftraiion
carnelliy to exhort and flir up all that hear, unto a
believing application of the things that are fpoken.
And further, that the minifters of Chrift are not to
withhold their endeavour after the converfion of the
moft notorious tranfgrefTors.

And now, my d<!ar Reader, permit me, after this
iioble example, to exhort and befeech thee. Art thou
carelefs and unconcerned about the falvation publifhed
in the gofpel ? Know thou that this fame Jefus whom
we preach, and who was crucified without the gates
of Jerufalem, is alive from the dead, and is made of
God both Lord and Chrift. O that thine heart was
polFeffed of this affurance, and no longer capable of a
moments eafe without an intereft in this only and
almighty Saviour ! Satan Waits to fuggeft thofe imae;i-
nations which may prevent the important convidtion ;
and when it takes place, thy own carnal reafon, .and
the feeds of infidelity, which grow in thy flefh, will
if poffible extinguifli it. But there is not the leaft
ground to hefitate that the Father hath indeed raifed
up his Son Jefus, and fet him at his own right hand,
until his Uxs are his footftool. The efFufion of the
Spuit, the fprtad of the gofpel, the fearful deftrudlion
of the city and temple at Jerufalem, and the prefent
^ifpcrfed ftat€ of the Jews, are ifjconteftible proofs that

Jefus

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 141

Jefu3 is exalted ; and as fure as he ever exlftied on
earth, and is paffed into heaven, fo certain it is that 'he
is the only Saviour, authorized of God to judge the
quick and the dead at his appearance and icir^gdom.
How miferable then muft thou be, if in the end thou
art found among them who obey not the gofpel t k
availed not thcfe Jews to be of the houfe of Ifrael,
neither will it ftand thee in ftead to be a nominal
chriftian,' if thou art not a true worfhipper ofChri'fl:
as thy Lord and Saviour. Deceive not thyfelf; the
wrath of the Lamb will furely come down on all un-
believers and tear them to pieces. There is none t^
deliver. Thou wilt therefore find it a certain and
€t-ernal truth ; it is the fum of the gbfpeL, Mark
xvi. 16. " He that believeth and is baptized fhall be
" faved, but he that believeth not fliail be damned."

But haft thou, Beloved, feen the Lord's Chrift ?
and is he the object of thy trufl: ? How precious this
truth ! With reverence and joy behold this fame
Jefus who died for thy fins, and who defpifed the
fname of the crofs, now openly inverted and highly
exalted univerfal Lord, thy Lord, and thy God ! Fear
not, though "in many temptations, thy King is able to
fave thee ; he lives to defend thee in life, to preferve
•thee in death, and to bring thee fafe to his heavenly
kingdom. And is he thy Lord ? Then worftiip thou
him. Nothing can more loudly demand thy profciTed
fubje^lion to gofpel-appointments. Haft thou never
yet publicly devoted thyfelf to Jefus and confefled to
his name ? How canft thou believe him made of the
i^'atber Lord and Chrift, and withhold thy obedience,

142 LECTURES ON

or omit what he hath commanded ? Doth thy con-
fcience accufe thee of this ? Blulh and repent, think
how ungrateful and prefumptuous it is to negledl the
orders of thy Redeemer who is enthroned in the
heavens, and before whom thou muft fhortly appear !
Alfo hear what the Father faith, " Yet have I fet my
" King on my holy hill of Zion," Pfalm ii. 6. And
attend to the honor he pays him, " Thy throne, O
" God, is for ever and ever; a fceptre of righteouf-
*' nefs is the fceptre of thy kingdom!" Heb. i. 8.
And wilt thou not bow in the name of this Jefus ?
or wilt thou refufe to own his authority in the fight of
the world ? Surely it becomes thee my Friend, to adore
and ferve thy dignified Saviour, " who is over all
*' God bleffed for ever. Amen."
#

Tilje End of the Second Book,

PRIMITIVE

[ H3 1

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY,
BOOK IIL

IN WHICH

The wonderful fuccefs of tke apoflle's firll
fermon at Jerufalem, is particularly confidered
and improved.

LECTURE X.

Shewing the ftate of their hearts who fell under con-
virion. By what means they were awakened ; and
the method they took, for relief,

ISAIAH complains, in reference -to the Jews,
faying, " Who hath believed our report ?" Yet it
was not in vain that the word of the Lord was preached
at Jerufalem. Peter had no fooner finifhed his difcourfe,
but, !o, many of his hearers appeared deeply affected,
jnfomuch that they cry out in the midft: of the afiembly.
Their acclamation was not like the found of enthuftafts,
who, under a falfe impreffion, have been fornetimes
found to fcream and tofs in a wild and frantic manner:
No } but being awakened to a juft fenfe of their mifery,
they make a fober, though an earned and anxious en-
quiry fuited to their deplorable condition. The ac-
count

144 LECTURESON,

count is as follows, and is recorded, A(fts ii. 37.
*' Now when they had heard this, they were pricked
*' in their heart, and faid unto Peter, and to the reft
*' of the apoftles, Men and brethren, what fliall we
« dor"

In this hiftorical paflage an amazing fcene is prefent-
cd J thoufands of finners awakened in an inftant, alike
fmitten, as the Ifraelites in the wildernefs ; every one
wounded, lifting up their voice, as one man, in the
prefence of a multitude who attended the apoilles.
How aftonifhed the audience, to behold and to hear
fo many perfons, in the utmoft diftrefs, befeeching his
minifters whom, but a few weeks before, they had
crucified as an impoftor ! Here then is another external
evidence to the men of Judea, proving the divine
miflion and glorious ftate of Jefus, in whofe name the
difciples appeared. An extraordinary event this, at-
tended with peculiar circumftances : But the eJfFe<5bs of
God's grace are fubftantially the fame in every fubje6l of
his power. One convinced fmner may be more and
longer terrified under a fenfe of his guilt than another;
but no real penitent is altogether a ftranger to the dif-
trefs which filled the hearts of thefe Jews ; he is not
without a tafte of this forrow : And every convert has
been compelled, as it were, to the fame enquiry : in
anfwer to which, he has by fome means been led to the
Saviour, and found reft for his foul. May no one,
employed in reading thefe papers, be finally unacquaint-
ed with that fpiritual trouble which is needful to

bring

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 145

bring him to Chrift, and to prepare him for a jo}'ful
[ reception of the gofpel !

It may be ufeful to confider the painful ftate of thefe
awakened tranfgreflbrs j by what means they were con-
vinced and became thus diftrefTed ; and the method they
took for relief: particulars which lead to the experience
and practice of thofe in whom the word is the power of
God to falvation.

Their condition was truly deplorable: " They
" w/ire pricked in the heart." A fore cafe indeed, and
grievous beyond all expreflion ! The heart taken fpiri-
tually, and it cannot here be underftood in a natural
fenfe, is often comprehenfive of all the powers and
faculties of the foul, as when it is faid, "Truft In the
" Lord with all thine heart." And again, " With the
" heart man believeth unto righteoufnefs." But in this
pafTage, as in many other places, it feems confined to
the confcience. Thus it is written, 2 Sam. xxiv. 10. that
** David'sheart, i.e. hisconfciencefmotehimwhenhehad
" numbered the people," as appears from his confefHon :
** He faid unto the Lord, I have fmned greatly in that
** I have done." And the word is thus taken,
I John iii. 21. " If our hearts condemn us not, i. e.
" if we have the teftimony of a good confcience, we
*« have boldnefs, &c." In like manner fays Job,
chap. xvii. 6. " My heart fiiall not reproach me as
" long as I live." Confcience in the foul of man is a
kind of vice -judge ; and, except in an obdurate ftate, it is
ever accufmg or excufing the fubjedt, Rom. ii. 15. It
may lie dormant a feafon, but will furely awake, and
K with

J46 L E C T U R E S O N

with a terrible voice bear witnefs againft the tranf-
grefibr. Thus, in the inftance before us^ Peter having
charged upon the Jews the murder of Chrifl, through
a divine power it entered the confcience of many,
who were touched to the quick, infomuch, that while
he reaibned with them out of the fcriptures, his words
became as drawn fv/ords, and pierced through their
fouls. Thus the word of God, however unafFeded
men hardened in unbelief may be, when it comes with
the energy of the Holy Ghoft, " is quick and power-
" ful, (harper than any two-edged fword,, piercing
«« even to the dividing afunder foul and fpirit," Heb.
IV. 12. So thefe Jerufalem-finners found it, whofe
wounds are mofl emphatically exprefled by a word
no where elfe ufed in all the New - Teftament,
KJ}srjy.-:c-a.ii, it fignifies to vex, rend, or pun£lually
wound, as if a man was pierced to the centre of his
heart with an arrow or fpear ; yea fome illuflrate the
term, by fuppofing the fharp points of many poifoned
daggers or fcorpion-ftrings all at once faftened in the
heart, in the moft cruel manner that can be devifed.
Thus forely and punctually wounded were thefe finful
men : and this flriking expreflion imports the follow-
ing articles :

I. That their convictions were deep and eiFe(5iuaI.
It was no fuperficial or tranfitory impreflion, neither
were they merely cut to the heart, as the Pharifees
wcie under another fcrmon by the fame apoflle, chap.
v. 33. or like thofe at the reproof of Stephen the mar-
tyr, chap. vii. 54. in both which pla(5i?s, ^nTr(toflo, a
-very different wor^l is u^ed, in which there is an allu-

flQfl

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 147
iion to a favv that tears and hacks rather than pierces,
and fitly reprefents thofe convidions, which, how-
ever painful while they continue, leave the fub-.
je£l under the power of fin, and rather irritate than
mortify the flefh. There is a material difference
between being cut io^ and pricked in the heart j the
one fets the fubjedl a raging, whereas the other en-
gages him to repentance. And accordingly we find,
that thofe affected in the former way, fought revenge
on the apoftles who reproved them ; they took counfel
to flay them, gnafhed with their teeth, and even
ftoned righteous Stephen : On the contrary, in the in-
ftance before us, we fee that thefe men, felf-condemn-
ed, and perfuaded of the authority of Jefus, with
the higheft efteem of his minifiers, unanimoufly addrefs
them as the fervants of God to fhew them the way of
falvation. They were deeply and painfully convinced,
but they were not offended, as fome, with their teach-
ers : No J they appear humble and contrite; fenfiblq
of their own vilenefs, they were ready to perlfh under a
fearful expedlation of the wrath of the Lamb they had
flain : and if they had any indignation it was againft
themfelves, and not againft thofe that were the infl:ru-
ments of poffeffing them with a fenfe of their guilt.
This was their cafe : they were pricked in the heart—?
the arrows of the Almighty ftuck in them — the words
of the preacher, by the power of God, entered deep
and faftened in their confcience — under which they
cry out for diredlion how they Ihall efcape. No
wonder that,

K 2 a. Their,

148 ^ L E C T U R E S O N

2. Their pains were exquifjte. Anguifli arofefrom
thefe deep and powerful conviiSHons. This, we have
feen, is a principal idea of the word. No language
can fully defcribe the torments of being wounded in the
manner implied in this term. The acute fenfations
that arife from being pierced in the vitals, or moft ner-
vous parts of the body, are not to be told. How in-
tolerable then are the pains of a wounded confcience,
a heart fpiritually and throughly wounded, when every
faculty of the foul is tortured, under a fenfe of guilt,
accorrpanied with a fearful apprehenfion of approach-
. ing vengeance! Yet this is not all : for, '

3. It further conveys this idea alfo, that their wound
was deadly. It was not only deep and cruciating, but
no lefs than mortal, and left to its natural courfe muft
have been fatal. This, however dreadful, is clearly
laid up in the phrafe. It is well known, that an en-
trance into the natural heart, is at leafl certain, and
for the moft part prefent death to the body. Hence the
foldier who pierced the body of our Saviour, while it
hung on the crofs, confirmed his deceafe. For the
natural body may feem to be dead, when, in reality,
it is alive, the vital principle being only retired out of
fight } but it is impofTible that a man fhould furvive a
wound that is truly and properly in his heart.

But our fubjeft is fpiritual. He that is pricked in

^he heart, as thefe men of Judea, dies immediately,

i. e. a fentence of condemnation and death enters his

confciencei and being felf-convi^led, under a fenfe of

his

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 149

his guilt and pollution, all hones of being juftified in
and from himfeJf are vanifhed away. Thus faith Paul,
" When the commandment came fin re\riYed and 1
" died; and the commandment which was ordained
« unto life, I found to be unto death," Rom. vii. 9.
A human body, into the heart of which a dagger has
been thruft, i« not more certainly dead, in a natural,
than the man whofe confcience hath been pierced with a
due convidion of fin is in a fpiritual fenfe. Thus, dead
in himfelf, he may be truly reprefented as having received
a mortal wound, fincethe terrors of death are fallen upon
him; and unlefs relieved, through faith in the blood
of Chrift, and by the remiffion of his fins, he would
certainly die in defpair and perifti for ever. In a word,'
- convinced finners are not unlike the terrified Egyptians,
when they haftened the Ifraelites out of the land, fay-
ing, *'We be all dead men," Exod. xii. 33. But
blefled be the Lord, " he is nigh unto them who are of
*' a broken heart, and faveth fuch as be of a contrite
" fpirit, he healeth and bindeth up all their wounds,
*' according to the riches of his grace," Pfalm xxxiv. 18.
xlvii. 3. compared. ,

But what pierced the heart of thefe mourning tranf-
greflbrs ? Their guilt, even the guilt of all their fins
in general, as appears from the apoftle's reply : Firft
feized with a tormenting fenfe of their horrid and
ao-o-ravated evil in the murder of Chrift, whom they
now were convinced was exalted to glory j then fol-
lowed a fenfe of their vilenefs by nature, and their
wianifold tranfgreflions, from the puniftiment of which
K 3 they

150 LECTURES ON

they faw no way of efcape, fince they had fhed the
blood of the only Saviour ; their fears therefore ran
high, and they were under a dreadful apprehcnfion of
the vengeance of heaven. This was their wretched
condition; and thus they were ready to perifh. To
which mufl be added, that this was in fome degree the
cafe of each individual: it was not fympathetick but
radical ; that is, one did not cry out for another, but
each for himfelfj they might be fome more and fome
Jefs diftrefTed, but every one was cordially, deeply,
painfully, and mortally wounded.

But how came they thus forely diftrefTed ? It was
by the preaching of Peter: "When they heard this."
The v/hole of the apoftle's difcourfe had a tendency t&
awaken them ; and it is reafonable to fupoofe, that
they were much moved under his preaching ; but our
tranflators, by fupplying the particle this, feem to ap-
prehend, that the clofmg addrefs was what mofl affect-
ed thefe men, and particularly when they heard that
this fame Jefus, whom they had crucified, was ad-
vanced to the throne in the heavens. Yet I apprehend it
is to be referred to the fcrmon in general. But was the
hearing intended that of the outward ear only? Cer-
tainly No; this indeed was included. They doubtlefs
heard in a natural fcnfe. But if this was all, how
comes it then that the atidience in geiieraj, in like
manner, were not afFcdled ? Peter, we have ken^ lifted
up his voice, and though the aflembly v.'as large, there
is re.ifon to conclude that everyone heard him diflinilly.
If natural hearing had been fufEcient, not a foul of

the

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 151

the thoufands prefent would have remained infenfible :
but thofe who cry' out in the text, though many inf
number, are manifeftly diftinguifhed from the reft of the .
multitude, which proves it was not the cafe univerfally.

It was in this affembly, as in moft congregations
where the gofpel is publifhed with fuccefsj fome hear
the word, under the preaching of which others, who fet
with them, are convinced and converted j yet, alas,
they themfelves feel no remorfe, but remain hardened,
as if they had never fmned, or ftood in no need of a
Saviour ! Thus, when Paul preached at Rome, " fome
" believed the things that were fpoken, and fome be-
" lieved them not," A£iS xxviii. 24. Truly, bare
hearing, however diftin6t and exact, or long continued,
is altogether infufficient to produce this effect. No
preaching whatever is capable of poffefiing the hearer,
who is left in his native blindnefs, with a due fenfe of
fin, fpiritual forrow, or earneft concern to be faved.
In vain are the weapons of our warfare employed
againft the power of fm in an unregenerate man, un-
lefs the omnipotent arm of Jehovah is exerted, and the
fmner is changed 3 the ignorance, unbelief, pride and
enmity of his carnal mind, renders it invulnerable,
like Job's leviathan : Thefe fcales, under which he
is {hut up, feals him clofej nothing (hort of a divine
power can penetrate his flefli and quicken his foul j he
is proof againft any argument, how ftrong and con-
vincing foever: The comparifon is but toojuiV, * his
' heart is as firm as a ftone, yea as hard as a piece of
K 4 * a nether*

152 LECTURES ON

' a nether mill-ftone; daits are counted as flubblc, and
* he laugheth at thefhaking of the fpear.'

But the Spirit of the Lord had wrought e(Fe<ftually
in thefe Jerufalem-finners, and prepared their minds
for the reception of his word ; he had taken away the
heart of ftone and given an heart of flefh. Hence fhey
heard with underftanding, faith and attention, as in
Lydia, v/hofe heart the Lord opened, A6ls xvi. 14.
Convidlions prevailed, and they felt what they heard ;
and being fully perfuaded, they were not difobedient,
but believing, afllired themfelves that God had made
Jefus of Nazareth both Lord and Chrift: ^et their
faith did not rife to an appropriating view of the Sa-
viour; from this they were prevented by a fearful ap-
prehenfion, natural in their circumftances, of being
excluded from an intereft in his undertaking and death,
whofe blood they had wickedly {ht&; A thought
which throv/s light on the fenfe of their queftion, and
leads to the method they took for relief. They did not
as fome, give up all hope, or rejedl the counfel of
God againft themfelves. Convictions, which leave
the fubjecSt under the power of fm and unbelief, either
excite their natural averfion to the wifdom of God, or
iffue in defpair. Such is the fatal tendency of legal
conviifiion on the difobedient. Very different the
fpirit and condu6t of thefe mourning fmners. Unde^r a
deep fenfe of their guilt and a full perfuafion of the
authority of Jefus, they are indeed in the utmoft con-
fternaticn and anguifh of foul, and even ready to
perifti, yet have fome diftant hope. They could not
difcern how they could be faved by him they had mur-
K 4 dered ^

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 153

■dercdi neverthelefs they apply to his minifters la a
manner that proves a deep humiliation of foul, and an
earneft defire, if pofuble, to obtain the falvation of
God ; yea and fonie expedlation, at leaft a peradven-
ture, that his fervants could diredl them. They hear-
tily believed that Jefus was the Chrift ; and their open
and earneft application to the apoftles, who preache<i
in his name, in the prefenee of all who crouded the
temple, was an acknowledgement of him as far as their
condition could poflibly admit. Hopeful penitents in-
deed I to Peter and to the reft of the apoftles, thefe
awakened and wounded tranfgrefibrs betake themfelves
for advice in their dangerous ftate ; and to whom
fhould they go, but to them whofe preaching had been
a means of convincing them of the glory and authority
of Jefus, as the only Lord and true Meffiah, thoiigh
that very convidion, under their prefent circumftances,
fubjedcd them to the moft painful diilrefs ? It is wif-
dom, in this fenfe, to turn unto him that hath torn us
for an healing, it being often the pleafure of the Al-
mighty to bind up with the fame hand by which be
hath fmitten. Thus direded by the Spirit of wifdom,
thefe diftrefTed finners apply to the apoftles for relief,
and that with the higheft refpedl ; " Men and bre-
*' thren." Unbelievers are prone to defpife the mini-
fters of the gofpel, but they who ftand in need of fal-
vation greatly reverence and efteem them. Thus the
jailor fied to Paul and Silas, though his prifoners,
faying, " Sirs, what muft I do to be faved ?" Ads
xvi. 30. An enquiry for fubftarxe, the fame with that
which is made by thefe awakened Jews of Peter and
^hofe that were with him ; " What fhall we do ?'*

154 LECTURES ON

This qucflion fuppofes a (enfe of their guilt, and
implies a confeffion of the Time, with a painful appre-
henfion of impending wrath and deftruftion : It like-
wife intimates a perfuafion of the apoftle's authority
and fkiil in the methods of falvation, and alfo fome
hope of their compaflion and roadincfs to direcft them
in this fearful dilemma: *' WJiat fliall we dor" I am
fenfible that there is a pronencfs in man, under legal
convidion, to feek after righrcoufnefs by his own
works, hence it is remarked by fome, on this claufe,
that awakened finners are generally at firfl upon a
covenant of works j but, with fubmifiion, I apprehend
the purport of the queftion, under the circumftances
of thefe convi<3:s, convey quite another idea. Tlxe
difFerence between the perfons in the text, and that
of the jailor is obvious : His confcience was awakened
by an alarming providence, Vv'hich filled him with
guilty fears, and the terrors of wrath v/ere upon him.
He might indeed have fome general notion that Paul
and Silas were fervants of God, and no doubt he
thou'^ht they could inftrudt him ; but there is reafon
to conclude, that he was an uttrr Granger to the
fcripturcs, and to Chiift as the Saviour of finners;
hence the word of the gofpel was fpoken to him and
his houfe. But thefe men of Judea knew the prophets ;
and their conviaion took place under the preaching of
Peter, and arofe from a perfuafion that Jefus whgm
they had fiain was the Chrill:. The queftion w^ith
them, was not who was the Saviour, nor how finners
are to be favcd by him ? It feems chiefly, if not alto-
gether to tur!i on this point, namely, whether there
vas any hope for them, feeing they had crucified him

wha

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 155

who alone had power to {:ive, q. d. * O Men and

* Brethren, we are now perfuaded that Jefus of Naza-

* reth is truly the MeiTiah, what then fhall we do ?

* Our tranrgrelfions are innumerable, and our iniquity

* great ! We are vile and Tinful beyond all exprefllon,
'and are verily guilty in (bedding the blood of that

* holy One, whom God approved among us. Is there

* any hope for us in this fame Jefus God hath made
' both Lord and Chrlft ? What fhall we do ? We
' that have crucified the only Saviour ? How fliall we

* efcape his righteous vengeance r Is it pofTible for us

* to be faved by him we have murdered ? Alas, for

* us, blood-guilty tranfgrefibrs I O tell us,, we befeech
' you. Sirs, tell us what we fhall do!' Thus they
were forely perplexed but not in defpair, though in-
deed very near it, for being convirced of fin, ofrigh-
teoufnefs, and of judgment to come, and of the au-
thority of that Jefus they flew, to fave and to deftroy,
they could not fee how it was pofEble they fliould be
faved : It was truly a very dark cafe, and extremely
dangerous, infcmuch, that if any awakened felf-con-
demned finncr had reafon to defpair, thofe men moil
certainly had : but, adored be the riches of fovereiga
mercy, repentance and remiffion of fins was preached
in his name, and even began with fuccefs at Jeru-
falem. It appears in the following account, that
many, who were more or lefa concerned in killing the
Prince of life, were faved through faith in the blood
they had fhed. Aftonifhing grace! O the confufiori
^hat will f-i^e thofe, who perifii under the report of the
gofpel, when finners, who crucified the Son of God,
{hall appear to inherit life €verlafting ! The fearful

impenitefit

156 LECTURES ON

impenitent will have no juft ground of complaintj
or be able to plead, in judgment to come, that there
was not fufficient encouragement for his hope of being
faved on repentance. Thefe examples of rich and fu-
perabounding grace will then redound to the honor o(
God, and the unbeliever fhall be covered with fhame.
Art thou dcfpairing, dear Reader, becaufe of thine
aggravated guilt? think on the mercy thefe tranf-
greflbrs obtained, whofe fins were as fcarlet and crim--
fon, but were waflied in his blood whom they cruci-
fied. Look unto Jefus and be faved ; thou fhalt not
be confounded, but iland with his faints before hin>
at his comins:.

LECTURE XI.

An improvement on the cafe of thofe who were con-
vinced by the preaching of Peter, on the day of
Pentecoft.

^JT AVING taken a view of their forrowful cafe
^ _L who were awakened under Peter's difcourfe,
and the method they purfued for relief, it may be ufe-
ful to make feme remarks on this firft .Inftance of fuc-
cefs by the gofpel publiilied in the name of a rifen Sa-
viour. Thefe, with propei reflections, will compofe
the enfuing leClure.

And the firft thing deferving our notice is this,
n^elyj that from the beginning fainers have been

convinced

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 157
convinced and awakened to a concern about falvation
by Chrift, under the hearing of the word.

The fovereignty of God may be difplayed, in open-
ing the heart, without the intervention of a preach-
er; nor is it becoming to fuppofe that the Lord hath
limited himfelf in the difpenfations of his grace ; Other
means are fubordinate to this appointment of heaven
for theconverfionof men, fometimes, as with the jailor,
ftriking providences have been fubfervient to the purpofe
of God in the call of his chofen ; alfo prayer, reading,
and the fpiritual difcourfe of the faints; and above all,
., the holy, loving and fruitful lives of profeilbrs, havecon-
duced to the convincing of others : thefe, I fay, are
ofteii the means of promoting the faith, infomuch
that many date their firfc av/akenings from one or
more of them ; neverthelefs, the principal ftated, and
ordinary method in which the Almighty turneth fmners
to himfelf, is the word preached, as in the inftancc
before us. Peter expounded the prophecies, reafoned
out of the fcriptures, and applied to the confcience of
his hearers with earneft addrefs ; by this means many
were pricked in the l^eart, and moved to enquire,
what they mufi: do ? the confequence of which, as
hereafter appears, was that, on due encouragement,
they embraced the gofpel, obtained remiflion, and
were faved. In this way we are to attempt the con-
verfion of men to the end of the world ; " for it pleaf-
" eth God, by the fooliflmefs of preaching, to fave
" them that believe." The preaching of the crofs
may be efteemed foolifti by an ignorant ind periihing
world, but to thcHi that are faved it is the wifdom and

power

I58 LECTURES ON

power of God: Thus faith conies by hearing, Rom.
X. 17. Hence, beautiful are the feet of them who
publifli the gofpcl of peace ! This being the cafe, we
are not to wonder that Satan fliould, by every means
in his power, fet at nought, or difcourage the miniftry
of the word, which he fometimes, when permitted,
attempts, by pcrfecutions and fiery trials, to terrify
and difhearten men from the fervice ; but at other
times, by feducing men into error, diforder, and li-
centioufnefs, under the prevalency of which, thei^e
may be much preaching, and at the fame time but
little preaching of Chrift ; while thofe few, whofe
miniftry and converfation anfwer to the word of the
Lord, are under fore difcouragements, yea and the
very office itfeif in a manner defpifed. Whether there
are no appearances tending this way in the preferit
time, is left to the confiderate Reader; but this is cer-
tain, that the enemy will attempt to difgrace and turn
afide men from that fort of preaching, of which we
have an example in Peter; the old ferpent well
knows, that reafoning from the authority of God,
unto the confciences of men, or argum.ents from fcrip-
ture, are proofs againft him, and fatal to his intereft,
being an appointed and effedual means, through the
energy of the Spirit, for pulling down his ftrong holds,
and refcuing poor captive finners from his kingdom of
darknefs. And is gofpel-preaching the ordinary means
of falvation ? How melancholy their cafe, who, under
any temptation, withdraw themfelves from, or negled
the hearing of the word ! Such are in the utmoft
danger oi ruin ! Nothing is impoffible with God j bat

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 159

we have no promife or other gi"ound of hope, that he
will follow after that man who fcrfakes the means of
grace. Art thou tempted, my Friend, to turn away
thine ear from the found of the gofpel? Beware, thou
haft no reafon to expcit that the Lord will prevent
thee; and if thou an. left in thine impenitence and
hardnefs, thou fhalt die in thy lins, and perifli for
ever ; but this God forbid !

Another thing deferving our notice, is the pun-
gency of guilt in the confcience. We have feen how
cruciating the pains endured by thofe awakened tranf-
grefibrs. Thus every one truly convinced, is more or
.lefs pricked in the heart. Thefe wounds by convic-
tion are deeper, and of longer continuance in fome
than in others ; but no quickened finner is an utter ftran-
ger to the torment of guilt, and fome are grievoufly
wounded indeed : fuch are ready to crv out, as ia
Job, chap. vi. 4. " TJie arrows of the Almighty arc
" within me : the poifon thereof drinketh up my fpi-
*' rit, the terrors of God do fet themfelvcs in array againii
** me." It may be ufeful to remember, that con-
victions are fometimes like (harp arrows oi' the
mighty, with coals of juniper, piercing and burning
the fpirit, till it is in a manner confumed with death.
Thus David gives his experience, Pfalm xxxxii. 3, 4*
*' When I kept filence," i. e. from confefling my fins,
" my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day
*' long ; for day and night thy hand was heavy upon
" me," i. e. preffing him fore with the weight of
hjs iniquities, which now went over him as an heavy
l^urthen, too heavy for him. Pfalm xxxviii. 2, 4.

■«• Thus

i6o LECTURESGN

Thus the wrath of God was like fire in his confcience,
and as it were burnt him up, for he adds, " my moif-
* ture is turned into the drought of fummer." Heman
is another inflance of this, he who crieth out, " while
*' I fufFer thy terrors I am diftraded," and again,
" thy fierce wrath goeth over me, and thy terrors have
*' cut me ofF," Pfalm Ixxxviii. 15, 16. And how
painful a cafe muft that heinous backflider be in ? who
with deep humiliation for his vilenefj, thus befeeches
the God of all grace : *' Make me to hetr joy and
** gladncfs, that the bones which thou haft broken
'* may rejoice," Pfalm li. 8. One broken bone, often
'gives the patient inexpreflible pain : how exquifite
then muft the forrows of that heart be, wliich isjuft-
ly compared to many broken bones, or rather to a
body the multitude of whofe bones are broken to
pieces, which feems.the allufion of the Pfalmift ?
Take heed, Sirs, of fin, and abftain from the appearance
of evil ; for you fee what dreadful havock it makes
in the foul, when the wrath of God is let into the con-
fcience. Thefe indeed are extraordinary inftances,
but he that is duly afFefled with the evil of fin, muft
be fenfible of the curfe of the law, in proportion to
which the terrors of the Almighty are upon him, and
the wound is grievous ; many are foon healed by the
application of gofpel-grace, but fome continue long
under an afflldting fenfe of their defert as finners,
without any comfortable view of their intereft in
Jefus the only Redeemer, which is truly deplorable ;
blefled be God their cafe is not defperate, he that
wounds alfo can heal, and a fountain is opened in

the

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. i$f

the gofpel to him who is ready to perifh : but the pains
which arife from the fling of death in the cnnfcience,
are fcmetimes fcarce to be born ; and he that lies under
them, being as yet without an appropriating view of
the Saviour, is an obje£l of great compaflion, for his
forrows are not to be told.

We may further remark, that the moment a man's
confcience is fmitten with guilt, he is anxious for
relief. Slight impreflions may be foon taken olF, by
the prefumptuous and carnal reafonings of the flefhly
mind, and the difturbed finner may be able by fome
means to ftifle convidlion within himfelf ; but thofe
fenfations of fm, which are not effedlual to make
the fubje£i: cry out to God or man, or to both,
fcarce deferve the name of convi6lions, at leaft, they
are very fuperficial, and come ftiort of thofe that
arife from a full difcovery of the law of death in the
confcience j under which a man muft die in himfelf,
be felf-condemned, and as it were flee from himfelf to
another for relief. Hence awakened fouls are enqui-
ring fouls. If thy convidlons, dear Reader, have not
obliged thee to cry for direflion and help, thou
art yet unacquainted with thy danger, and incapable
of feeling the joy of falvation in Chrift,

In one word, if the condu£l of thefe Jerufalem-fia-
ners was becoming or worthy the imitation of others
under the like circumftances, it is natural and pro-
per for them that are pierced with conviftion, to
open their cafe unto others. Indeed, if I may be al-
lowed the expreffion, God is our only Father-confef-

L for.

i6« LECTURESON

for, and by his Spirit alone can the heavy-laden
finner be led unto Chrifl, and find reft for his foul.
Neverthelefs, the L )rd operates by means and inftru-
ments, and many are held under terror, and expofed
to the temptations offatan for want of revealing their
caf'-. And there is fuch a thing as fuffering in confe-
quence of hiJing our guilty fears from m^n, as vi^ell as
from God. O affliiSled Sinner, conceal not thy trou-
bl! Art thou diftrefled about thy fpiritual eftate? Or
duft thou labour under fearful apprehenfions of wrath
for thy fins, and knoweft not what thou fhalt do to
be favedi* Come, follow this early example, an exam-
ple which fo well fucceeded — apply to lome chriftian
friend or minifter of the gofpel — be not afraid or afha-
med to unbofom thyfelf to thofe who fear God — and
efpecially feek diredtion of them by whom he hath
awakened thee. This frequentl) proves a means of
fpeedy relief; an inftance of which is before thee. To
thefe obfervations it may be ufeful to add a refle(5tion
or two.

And firft, Beloved, review the wonderful fcene!
How aftonifling the grace and power of God !
It was rich grace indeed tl at the gofpel {hould be
preached, and mercy lay hold on Jerufalem-fmners ; that
God fhould extend his kindnefs to men who had pre-
funied thus wickedly to crucify the Son of his love f
Yet fuch was his abounding grace! And no lefs mar-
vellous that power by which the hearts of fo many
obftlnate rebels were changed, and in an inftant re-
duced from the utmoft blindnefs and infidelity unto a
fenfc of their Jpiritual condition, a belief in the Mef-

fiah.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 163

flah, and an unfeigned concern about their falvation
from wrath to come. _ O the omnipotent arm of the
Lord! When that is revealed, the report is believed;
and when he worketh, who ftiall let it ? Well faith the
prophet, " Thy people fhall be willing in the day of
'* thy power.''

And what muft be the torments of hell ? If fin in
the confcience is fo painful, and the heart of a con-
vinced tranfgreflbr is expofed to fuch horror and an-
guifh under the apprehenfions of wrath, how mife-
rable muft they be who are drinking this cup of the
damned ! Is a wounded conlcience fo tormenting in
this world, where the gofpel is preached, and a mind,
pierced with convidlion, liable to be fo deeply afFe6ted,
as to ba juftly the compared with an heart wounded by
poifoned daggers or fcorpion-ftings, how dreadful the
avenging hand of the Almighty in a ftate of judicial
fuffering ! Far be it. Lord, that any perufing thefe
papers, fhould hereafter be numbered with thofe
wretched fpirits, who are too fadly convinced by what
they now feel of their eternal mifery, to flatter them-
felves that they fhall ever efcape ! Thus, in the parable
of Lazarus, the rich man lifts up his defpairing eyes,
from the bottomlefs pit, without hope or defire of
being delivered from thence : He pleads for the warn-
ing of others, after being denied the leaft drop of wa-
ter to cool his own tongue, but not a word of his
releafe from this place of torment : No ; alas, fuch
know that they are referved in everlafting chains un-
der darknefs unto the judgment of the great day !
Fearful ftate, where hope never comes, where juftice
L 2 reigns

i64 LECTURESON

reigns without mercy, and whert no finner has a ra-
tional ground to enquire, " What muft I do to be
" faved r

From this inftance we may alfo infer the hideous
cries of unbelievers when Chrift the judge fhall appear.
If a perfuafion that Jefus is exalted and made Lord of
all, occafioned thofe who crucified him to cry out as
perfons undone, how will they wail and lament who
finally reject him, when they fee him revealed from
heaven to take vengeance on thofe who obey not the
gofpel ! " Behold, faith John, Rev. i. 7. he cometh
*' with clouds, and every eje fliall fee him, and they
'* alfo which pierced him j and all kindreds of the
*' earth fliall wail becaufe of him." Then fhall the
finally impenitent, who have ftifled their convidlions,
and defpifed or negledled the falvation of God, fee
and know that Jefus is the judge who is able to de-
ftroy ; they fhall then cry to the mountains and locks,
faying, '* Fall on us, and hide us from the face of
" him that fitteth on the throne, and from the wrath
" of the Lamb," alas but in vain ! Now the hearts
of unbelievers are ftout, they refufe to fubmit j and
many of them fet their mouths againft the dignity and
grace of the glorious Redeemer ; they deny the won-
derful conftitution of his perfon, blafpheme his deity,
trample under foot his blood of atonement, and would
laugh his difciples to fcorn; but their tongues will
then be otherwile employed, when they behold him
cotring to judgment; then will they, too late, be
convinced, and cry out of their mifery and ruin, in
the awful manner defcribed by the prophet, " Who

" among

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, 165
*' among us fhall dwell with the devo'-'rin^ fire ? Who,
*' amongft us {hall dwell with everlafting hun^In^s ?"
Ifa. xxxiii. 14. Alas I aLis! who indeed ! And what
fhall they do? The queftion is vain: They are un-
done J nothing can be done to prevent their immediate
and everlafting deftruftion ; the trumpet of the gofpel
will not then found: No, but the trump of God as
at Sinai, with thundering and lightenings, will fum-
mons the workers of iniquity to his awful tribunal;
from whence being openly condemned, they fhall be
turned into hell, with that tremendous fentence, " De-
** part from me, ye curfed, into everlafting fire prepared
*' for the devil and his angels. Then fhall they call
*' upon him whom they have defpifed, but he will not
" anfwer j they fhall feek him early, but fhall not find
*' him," Prov. i. 28. Thus, when trouble and anguifh
feize the difobedient, they will cry and call, but alas
the Judge, whom they have defpifed as a Saviour,
*' will laugh at their calamity and mock at their fear,"
ver, 26. If the Reader is flighting this Jefus, let him
beware left deftru^lion come upon him as a whirlwind,
there will furely be none to deliver.

But is any man afHi6led and ready to perifh ? How
great is the mercy to have the word of falvation near to
that foul ! What muft have become of thefe men had
there been none to inftru£t them ? But happy for them,
that in their diftrefs they knew where to flee, and had
thofe at hand whom the Lord had appointed to fhew
unto men the way of falvation. Their bones were
broken, and their hearts grievoufly fmitten, but a
fkiiful phyfician is near to bind up and comfort. The
L 3 impenitent

i66 LECTURESON

impenitent and carelefs make light of the gofpel, and
account it no favor to dwell where the faithful fervants
of Jefus abide; but the man who is -anxious about
being faved, will rejoice that the word of the Lord and
his minifters are nigh : this often proves a means of
fpeedy relief, as in the cafe of thefe Jews. However,
fmce the pains of a wounced confcience are exquifite,
and are not to be healed, but through faith in the
blood of Chrift, the advantage of being under a gof-
pel-miniftry, when in fpiritual diftrefs,' is obvious.
Nothing is more precious to thofe who enquire after
life, than the word of the Lord, or more amiable in
their eyes than the feet of thofe who publifh his name.
Then prize your happy fituation, who dwell in the
midft of the churches of Chrift, and conftantly fit
under the found of his gofpel, that you receive not
this grace in vain. But again,

Were fo many converted through a divine blefling
on the preaching of the apoftles? Who can forbear
though it be with reludtance, the melanchtjly re-
fle£lion, I mean the afFeding difference between the
primitive times and thofe in which we live? How in-
fenfible are the generality of hearers ? What reafon to
be grieved at the prevailing hardnefs and unbelief of
the multitude ? Where are any now crying out, under
a fenfe of their guilt, what fhall we do ? Do not men
for the moft part, hear as if they had no need of a Sa-
viour, or as if preaching was a form, and minifters at
beft appointed to entertain with a fong ? Now, inftead
of many being pierced under one fermon, as in Peter's
aflfembly, are not many difcourfes delivered, and, in

appearance

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 167

appearance not a fingle heart moved ? ' Lo-d, where

* is thine arm ? are thy bowels reftraincJ ? hear out
« groans, who labour [in thy vineyard, and long a''ter
'* the falvationof thy chofen ? It is thy work, O Lord of

* hofts thou Icnoweft them that are thy peouJe ; thrcueh

* thy power, make the gofpel efFedual to fdve them ? O
' letnot thy faithful minifters be afhamsd ! Sharpen di ne

* arrows in the hearts of thine enemies, that being
» pierced through the foul, they may look untojefus and
' be healed !'

And now, my dear Reader, art thou altoo-ether
unacquainted with the evil of fm and a confcience
fmitten v/ith guilt ? haft thou never faid, at leaft in thine
heart, what muft I do ? Permit me as one who feeks thy
felicity : Whence is it that thou art fecure and whole,
while others are broken and wounded ? Why fo indif-
ferent about falvation, when many, ready to perifh,
are with anxiety and zeal crying out for direflion how
they fhall efcape ? Haft thou no caufe of diftrefs on
account of thy fin ? Art thou exempted from the
wrath of God, or not equally expofed to his juft in-
dignation in common with other tranfgrefTors ? Aad
canft thou be eafy ? O thy aftonifhing hardnefs 1
would to God that this heart of ftone was removed I
Soon, very foon will thy confcience open and witnefs
againft thee; and how wilt thou endure the curfe of
the law which thou haft broken ? It will make thee as
a fiery oven when judgment takes place ; unlefs found
in Chrift it will burn to the loweft hell. Indeed, as
obferved, the cafe of the Jews was peculiar, and for
the moft part, the anguifh of an awakened finner is in
L 4 pre portion

i68 LECTURESON

proportion to his guilt. So that the diftrefs of true
penitents differ much in point of degree; nor is the
evidence of a faving change to be meafured by the
pangs of the fubjedl : It is pofllble, yea it feems evi-
dent from experience, that one who falls fhort of
the obedience of faith, may endure (harper and longer
convictions than, in fome inftances, attend the con-
verfion of another. Neverthelefs, every one will fooner
or later be ftinged with the evil of fin ; and though
the convinced are not alike grieved, the man who
taftes not the bitternefs of death, is incapable of apply-
ing to the Saviour for life.

In a word, may the faithful, for Chrlft's fake, and
in love to precious fouls> ftrive in their prayers for the
power of the Spirit : Under his divine agency the ftout-
hearted are reduced to obedience ! O that this hand of
the Lord, being with us, as in the primitive times,
numbers believed and turned unto him ! And if any
man is pierced with a fenfe of his abounding iniquity,
let him know that with the Father is mercy, and with
him there is plenteous redemption; for thefe men of
Ifrael, who even crucified his Son, on a convidtion of
their folly and danger, cried not in vain, as the fol-
Ipwing lecture will fhew.

^.ECTURi;

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 169

LECTURE XII.

The nature of evangelical repentance. What it is to
be baptized in the name of Jefus for the remiiEon of
fins ; and in what refpeft the Holy Ghoft is given
to them that believe.

WE are now come to the counfel of God by his
infpired minifter unto the enquiring Jews,
wherein the riches of his grace is opened for the relief
of a fenfible linner. The Lord refpedleth not any
man's perfon ; It is therefore a ftanding direction to
every one, who, in like manner, is convinced of his
evil and danger, and would efcape the vengeance of
heaven. This feafonable reply is recited in A£ls ii. 38.
and runs in thefe words : " Then Peter faid unto them,
" Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the
" name of Jefus Chrift, for the remifiion of fins, and
" ye fliall receive the gift of the Holy Ghoft.'* A
kind and falutary anfwer, in which we are to mark
the apoftle's diredtion, and the motive on which he
would engage thefe mourning tranfgreffors to obe-
dience.

His dire6lion is twofold ; to repent, and to be bap-
tized. The common notion of repentance is forrow
fpr fm: and there is reafon to apprehend that fome de-
ceive

170 LECTURES ON

ceive themfelves by refting in a fuperficial tranfitory
conviction ; which, however grievous, falls fhort of
the genuine forrow of a contrite heart, which alone
js acceptable to God. No doubt repentance includes
a convidion, yea a painful convidion of fm i and it
muft be allowed, that, confcious of guilt, a man is
afhamed and afflicted. But, properly fpeaking, repen-
tance is a change, the fubje£t of which, is not only
filled with a fenfe of his error, and grieved for his
folly, but alfo is bent againft the evil that hath enflav-
ed him, refolved to flee from it and amend. So that
according to the nature and degree of real repentance,
a reformation enfues. The confcience of fome aban-
doned tro-T.fgreffors, or hypocrites, may be incapable
of feeling, as the flefti of a man when feared with a hot
iron> I Tim. iv. 2. Yet few are totally ignorant of
lemorfe, fmners for the moft part have at tiriies an
afflicting fenfe of their guilt ; yea, and in fome in-
ftances very fharp convidtions may pierce the heart,
and produce ftrong cries and tears, refolutions and
promifes of amendment ; at the fame time, as it af-
terwards appears, the man is unacquainted with godly
forrow, and repentance unto life.

Evangelical repentance is the gift of God by
Jcfus Chrift : It flows from a principle of divine life in
the foul of him that is born of the Spirit ; of which the
convinced finner alone is a capable fubjeil. In the
e;:ercife of this grace a man beholds the evil of fin, is
affected with its turpitude, and abhors it ; and, being
deeply fenfible of his own vilenefs, abafeth himfelf
before God with an open confeflion, in profpe6t of

pardoning

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 171

pardoning mercy. This repentance admits of no al-
lowed I'm, and is ever accompanied wi'.h a purfuit
after holinefs, and a converfation becoming the gofpel.'
One infallible criterion of genuine repentance is faith, ■
i. e. adivcly confidered j for though repentance and
faith may be diftinguifhed, they are radically the fame,
being the exercife of^^p renewed foul under the influence
of divine grace, with a view to fa'vation. Faith, in
its prime ad, is truly exprefied by an excellent wri-
ter *, to be the flight of a penitent fmner to Chrifl: for
falvation. Certainly the repentance defcribed, which
is of a fpiritual and faving nature, is not without faith,
whereby the fabjedt hath a difcernment of fpiritual
things : And the firft efFe6l of being thus truly peni-
tent, in the views of that free remilHon preached in
the name of Jefus, is obedience to the gofpel. A fin-
cere penitent lays hold of the promife, and flees for
refuge to Chrift. Thus repentance, under the call of
the gofpel, is compleated by the obedience of faith.
The penitent man comes to Jefus confefling his guilt
and pollution ; he heartily renounces all merit in him-
felf, and believing the promife, refls on the Redeemer
as the only and omnipotent Saviour. So then, to re-
pent, to be converted, and to believe in the Lord
Jefus Chrifl:, are fynonymous phrafes, at leafl: the
repentance Peter intends, and vi^hich is the fubjedl of
a gofpel-miniftry, ifiTues in nothing fhort of truft in
Chrifl-, or a turning to him as the ftrong-hold and
hope of them who are ready to perifli : And according-
ly we find, Mark i. 15. the difciples were fent forth
to preach, faying, " Repent ye and believe the gof-

" pel."
* Owen on juftlficatlon, page 95,

172 LECTURES ON

•' pel.** It is repentance from infidelity and rebellion
againft God, as he is revealed in his word, which Is
accompanied with faith and holy obedience, according
to the ufe of the expreflion in Luke xvi. 30. where
the rich man is fpeaking to Abraham concerning his
furviving brethren, who like himfelf lived in infidelity
and fin, faying, " But if one went unto them from
** the dead, they will repent;" i. e. of their unbelief,
as appears from the fcope of the place. In like man-
ner evangelical repentance is nothing fhort of believing
and turning to the Lord.

This idea of repentance in the text is confirmed by
the circumftances of the objects addrefled : they were
deeply conviriced of their guilt, and in the utmoft
diftrefs. A true penit-ent indeed hath an habitual fenfe
of the evil and bitternefs of fin ; it is exceeding finful
in his eyes, and dreadful in its efFe£ls under the curfe
of a broken law, and ftill more heinous in the light of
the gofpel 3 but where is the propriety of exhorting
perfons to mourn over fin, whofe hearts were already
overwhelmed under a fenfe of their great iniquity, and
with the fears of vengeance to come ? Nor can repen-
tance here fignify a change of mind or opinion con-
cerning Jefus, and in confequence an alteration in
their conduct, fo as no longer to oppofe him as an im-
pofter, under which pretence they had taken away his
life, fince a convi£lion of his divine authority was a
principal occafion of their diftrefs and confufion j nor
doth the apoftle ofter a word more in vindication of his
charader, or to prove him the Mefliah. In fhort,
thefe men ftood in no need of being called upon to be

forry

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 173

forry for fin, or to be perfuaded that Jefus was the
Chrift; they were deeply wounded under a fenfe of
their tranfgreflions and fully convinced of his miflion
from heaven, but this they needed, namely, a per-
fonal application to, and reliance upon him as the
Lord's Chrift, without which no man's forrow for fin,
or opinion of Jefus will fave him; and for this thefe
felf-condemned finners were prepared on due encou-
ragement, as appears in the iflue : but, at prefent
being ignorant of the extent and riches of his grace,
they feem fearful of being excluded the hope of the
gofpel, and at their wits-end ; and accordingly the
apoftle fends them to Jefus for pardon and life, with
a joyful aflTurance of mercy, and he urges it upon
them as needful to an efcape from the wrath they de-
ferved. This fenfe of repentance in the text corref-
ponds not only with the circumftances of the perfons
addrefled, but likewife with the motives ufed by the
apoftle, and the direction he gives them ; for no re-
pentance fhort of faith in Chrift, ftands conneded with
remiflion of fins, or entitles the fubjedt to baptifm;
and, though there is reafon to apprehend that, in the
primitive times, feme were partakers of the Holy
Ghoft, in his extraordinary gifts, who neverthelefs
were deftitute of faving faith, yet a profeftion of this
faith was requifite to a vifible claim in the promife,
*' Thefe figns ftiall follow them that believe," Mark
xvi. 17. Nor did John, the forerunner of our Lord,
in the courfe of his miniftry, admit any to baptifm for
the remiflion of fins, without a confeflion of their belief
in him that ftiould come after him, whom he declared
would baptize his difciples with the Holy Ghoft,

Matt.

174 LEGTURESON

Matt. iii. II. compared with A6ls xlx. 4. And that a
divine faith or holy truft in Chrift is contained in that
repentance unto which the apoftles exhorted their
hearers, is evident from other paffages of fcripture.
Thus, Peter fays, " Pepent ye therefore and be con-
*' verted, that your fms may be blotted out." A<£ls
iii. 9. And again, chap. viii. 37. When the eunuch
propofed himfelf to Philip for baptifm, he replies, "If
*' thou believeft with all thine heart, thou mayeft."
And further, chap. xvi. 30, 31. on the jailor's ap-
plication to Paul and Silas under the like diftrefs, fay-
ing, " WTiat fhall I do to be faved ?" their anfwer is
the fame, " Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift." Upon
the whole, it appears that nothing lefs than a cordial
faith is required in baptifm with hope of remiflion,
and that therefore this faith is included in that repen-
tance the apoftle intends j in the exercife of which the
Jews are directed to be baptized in the name of Jefus.

I Have been thus particular in fettling what I appre-
hend the juft idea of the expreffion repent, as it throws
a light on many exhortations in the New-Teftament,
and is more efpecially needful to a right underltanding
and improvement of the pafTage before us. Peter is
plainly dire£ting thefe awakened tranfgreflbrs, who
were anxious to know what they fhould do, notwith-
ftanding their aggravated guilt, to believe on Jefus
and fubmit themfelves to him, and publicly own their
dependance upon him as Lord and Chrift. To repent,
therefore, muft carry in it faith in the Redeemer ; and
this exhortation feparate from the encouragements
exprefsly fubjoined, was adapted to relieve thefe dif-

treflcd

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 175

trefled fouls from the tormenting fears of being abfo-
lutely excluded from the grace of God in his Son ;
and is a noble inftance of the fkill and faithfulnefs of
the preacher, and alfo (hews that the minifters of Chrift
are warranted to encourage every fenfible fmner.

Nor is it fuppofed in this exhortation, thus under-
ftood, that thefe Jews, or any other under the like
circumftances, are able in and of themfelves to believe
in Jefus ; this diredlion and encouragement is given to
them only who are called, ver. 39. " to as many as
" the Lord our God fhall call." By this the apoftle
fufficiently guards againft any undue afcription of power
in the creature, and leads our thoughts to the energy of
the Spirit, in quickening grace, as needful unto faving
repentance or faith. An heart or ability fo to repent is
undoubtedly the free gift of God, difpenfed from the
King of grace, wrought in the fubje6l by the power
of the Holy Ghoft, under whofe divine agency alone
this and every other fpiritual a£i is exerted ; all which
is clearly fhewn in different parts of the facred wri-
tings} thus it is declared, " God hath exalted Jefus
*' to give repentance and remiffion of fins," A£ls v. 31.
And again, " Then hath God alfo granted to the
" Gentiles repentance unto life," chap. xi. 18. " And
" we know that it is God which worketh, in his
" called ones, both to will and to do of his good plea-
" fure," Phil. ii. 13. Hence they repent and believe:
It is therefore no other than cavil, in oppofition to the
exprefs counfel of God, to argue from fuch-like ex-
hortations to the power of man without fpecial grace
to repent and turn unto the Lord. Moft certainly

"no

176 LECTURES ON

*' no man can come to Chrift, except the Father
•* which fent him draw him," John vi. 44. Yet awa-
kened fmners are to be dire£led and exhorted to repent,
and to fubmit themfelves to Jefus for the remiflion of
fms ; and the moral ends of fuch exhortations are ob-
vious to any unprejudiced perfon ; they are to convince
men of the neceflity there is for repentance unto life,
and a means, in the hand of the Spirit, to lead, en-
courage, and animate perifhing fmners to believe and
be faved. And this anfwer may fuffice to fhew the
perverfenefs of them who will reprefent this method,
in a gofpel-miniftry, as inconfiftent with the impotency
of man, or the goodnefs of God, fmce it is evident
that thefe exhortations are adapted to excite con-
vinced tranfgreflbrs to repentance and faith, and the
Almighty is pleafed to render them efFecSlual thereunto
in the hearts of his chofen : therefore no man need
fcruple to follow the example before us, in the courfe
of his miniftry, when fmners enquire, what fhall we
do ? But freely and earneftly recommend them, even
every one, to repent and believe on the Lord Jefus
Chrift i nor ftiould any be offended at this, fmce it
is manifeftly rational, all things confidered, and a
means owned of God for the falvation of men.

To repentance the apoftle enjoins fubmiffion to
baptifm ; " And, fays he, be baptized every one
" of you in the name of Jefus Chrift for the re-
*' miflion of fms." I fhall not enlarge on the form
of this divine inftitution, which I am forry to fay,
like fome other appointments of the Redeemer,
is more known than pradifedj but the defign I am

upon

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANtTY. 177

upon, and the exhortation of Peter, will not permit me
to be totally filent on an article eflential to primitive
worfhip. Nothing is more my averfion than the fcorn
and anger, which is but too often feen in debating this
point. It may be pleafmg to the fleih, but this is not
by manifeftation of the truth, commending ourfelves
to every man's confcience in the fight of God ; ^ it is
unfeemly and vain. I vi^ould therefore in meeknefs and
fobriety, with a cordial efteem for thofe brethren who
aie otherwife minded, ufe a becoming freedom on the
fubjed, on which it may be difficult to offer any thing
which has not for fubftance been urged, or at leaft
hinted already by others.

Jt is notorious that a change in the modeof th's o-of-
pel-ordinance, from dipping to fprinkling, hath obLamed ;
and in thefe and forre oiher parts of the world, called
chriftian, become a! .Tiofl: gentral^ ncverthclefs they are
plainly quite different, and cannot be made one and the
fame, or fpoken of as fuch withuut a violation of lan-
guage and fenfe. Sprinkling was a rite of purif cation un-
der the law, but manifeftly and ever di{lin£l from that of
bathing or immerfion, which was alfo appointed, Numb.
xix.13,19. compared. To confound thefe different modes,
or to ufe the one inflead of the other, feems highly un-
reafonable, and not to be juftifiedj and indeed, with
becoming refpedt to thofe who can ufe this liberty, I
take leave to fay, that, in my opinion, to csW fprinkling
baptifm^ is truly no better. To baptize, is to wafh the
fubje<3: by bathing or dippings and not to wet a part only
by ajperfion or fprinkling. Nor let the reader think that
•ur practice of dipping is confined to a few, becaufe it

M is

178 LECTURES ON

is by many iiegleiled or defpifed in this ifland, and fome
other countries j not to infift on the thoufands who
confcientioufly adhere to this mode in our own native
country, and efpecially in our American colonies. Dr.
Wall, a zealous and learned writ r in favor of infant-
baptifm, obferves, Part II. page 309. ift edit. ' All
' chriftians in the world, who never owned the pope's

* ufurped power, do and ever did dip their infants in the
' ordinary ufe.' And he adds, ' If we take the divifion
' of the world from the three main parts of it, all the

* chriftians in Afia, all in Africa, and al^out one third
' part of Europe, underftand by baptifm hhmerfion^ and
' fo prailice.' Every attempt to deftroy or remove this
native and genuine idea of baptifm is vain j and I may
venture to fay, that it will never be in the power of
man to fhew that baptizing is not dipping, or that this
was not the mode in which the apoftles and firft mini-
fters performed this chiiftian ordinance. Baptifm is
ftiled the counfel of God ; a religious rite fet up with
divine authority, firft by John the forerunner of our
Lord, whofe miffion from heaven was clear. Hence
Wi.en Chrift put the queftion to the elders concerning
his baptifm, they feared to fay it was of men. The
Jews were ftartled when they faw him baptize and de-
mand his authority, " Why baptizeft thou, if thou be not
*' Chrift nor Elias?" John i. 15. jFrom whence I am con-
vinced, the notion fome propagate concerning the Jew-
ifti cuftom to baptize profelytes is without any founda-
tion. And it fecms unworthy our divine Law-giver,
to fuppofe that a main inftitution of his kingdom is
borrowed from a fuperftitious cuftom of the Jews, which
muft be the c«ife if it really was in pradice, feeing it is

plain

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 179

plain that Mofes never enjoined it, but it feemed a new
thing to the Jews. However, hut this harbinger of the
Meffiah baptized by in-.merrion is evident by the name
he acquired from his prachce, viz, Jvhn the iia, uft or
Dipper. Baptizing ' nd ("ipp'ng is !o clearly t .e lame,
that it would have beta impertinent, efpecially m a
country where it was dailv in ufe, to have attempted
a defcription of the manner in which it wr^s penormed ;
and had no prejudice taken place in favor of d (O'trary
practice, the circumftances related of our LorJ's bap-
tifm would fw.ffice to f^^^lisfy every ferious enquirer. We
are told, that " when he was baptized he went up
" ftraightway out of the water." Dr. Whitby, and
other eminent authors, who plead for the baptizing of
infants, notice the j uft obfervation of the Greek church
on the palTage, which is this, namely, * that he, who
' afcended out of the water, muft firft defcend down
' into it.' And it is remarkable that the infpired apoftle
Kfes the fam.e argument in reference to the afcenfion of
Chrift, which prefuppofes his refurre<Stion from the
dead, fhadowed forth in baptifm by immerfion, Eph.
iv. 9. " Now that he," i. e. Chrift, " afcended, what
*' is it but that he alfo defcended firft into the lower
*' parts of the earth ?" i. e. died and was buried; and
the inference is too natural not to be difcerned by the
plaineft capacity : But, adds the Doilor, ' Baptifm,

* therefore, is not to be performed by fprinkling, but

* by wafhing the body ;' and ftill further, fays he,

* Indeed it can only be ignorance of the Jewifh rites in

* baptifm, that this is queftioned.' His teftimony I
hope will not be altogether difregarded.

Ma Oa

i8o LECTURES ON

On a fiippofition that the apoftks, who wrote th«
New-l'tft.iment, ufed the terms of the feptaagint,
which is generally allowed, and (eems clearly the cafe,
it is fubmt ed to the learned of the pasdobaptifts them-
felves, '* Whether it was pofuble for them to fix on two
words in all that Greek tranflation that can rnore
piecifely determine this particular manner of walh-
ing the body by immerfion diftindl from all other pu-
rifications, than ihofe they have a£lually chofen, viz.
BaTrlnTw t> ^"<i ^w«^ >' ^"^ the i?.me mode of baptifm
is confirmed by every inftance, and particularly the
place chofen for the adminiftration of this divine ordi-
nance; nor doth any other rr.anner of wafhing agree
with the manifeft reference we have therein unto the
burial and refurrediion of our Saviour, and to that of
the fubjecls being raifed frcm the death of fm to walk
in newnefs of life, fo clearly pointed out in Rom. vi.

and

• Letters to a Right Rev. Author, &c. Part I. Letter IV. page 29.

•f- Dr. Gale hath abundantly (hewn fnm the critics and alfo from the
Grecian poets and historians, that Bw^il^u always fignifies to dip, which
every one who is capable may coniult with advantage ; befides, as that
learned writer juft y obferves, if the expreflion was otherwife ever fo
ambiguous, yet, as it relates to bapiii'm, the dottrinc a d pradtice of John
and the apoflles fufiiciently determine the fenlt unto dipping. Gale on
baptil'm, Letters III, IV and V. And fiom the fame letters it appears
that Mr, Wall himfelf, who is the hiftorian they refer 10, intimates that
the clergy would gladly levive the anc ent practice, and defired, according
to the direction of the rubric, to baptize by dipping all that are willing to
receive it in that manner, and are able to bear it j and I prefume, that
notwithftanding the continuance of fprinkling in the national church,
with fcarct any exception for half a century more, muft rather have in-
Creafed the popular prejudice in favor ot the pradlice, theie arc ftili not a
few of that communioa who are fufficiently convinced to wifh a return t#
the good old waj.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. i8i

and Col. ii. This alfo correfponds with every allufion ,
in fcripture to baptifm, and the general conceflion or
teftimony of the moR: reputable advocates for bapiizlng
of infants, fince the pra6tice exiftcd, which is in favor
of dipping. Among thefe, which are a multitude, the
known wi(h of the above learned author, in his note
on Rom. vi. 4. is much to the purpofe, ' Immerfion,

* fays he, was religioufly obferved by all chriftians for

* thirteen centuries.' And he laments the change of it
into fprinkling without any allowance from the author
of this inftitution, or any licence from any council of
the church; of which the reader will fee more at large
in confulting his paraphrafe. And truly the cuftom of
afperfion, however prevailing at prefent, is compara-
tively modern in England, and is even now only per-
mitted by the governors of the national church, as ap-
pears in their liturgy. Some fpeak of the fuppofed danger
of dipping in thefe cold climates, and think this may be
a very good reafon for changing the form of baptifm to
fprinkling, but experience proves the fafety of dipping,
and this mode is ftill ufed in countries many degrees
colder than ours ; witnefs the Ruflias, and even Muf-
covia itfelf, in fome parts of which it is extremely fe-
vere ; nor hath it in any inftance appeared injurious to
dip the body, even of infants the moft tender, in water.
But admitting there feems a danger in dipping a weakly
conftitution, or in a very cold feafon, fhall we not truft
the Lord in the way of our duty? Shall we reafon
from thence in oppofition to the wifdom of God, un-
to a negledl of his fovereign and gracious appoint-
ment ? Or will this juftify a change in the mode
of a divine ordinance? It is a truth that hath been

M 3 frequently

i82 LECTURESON

frequently urged, that ' on a mere pofitive inftitution
' we cannot argue as in matters of natural or mora,!
' duty.' It therefore becomes us to obey with humi-
lity and reverence, and confcientioufly adhere in our
practice to every circumftance prefcribcd in the word.
This method of reafoning therefore is not to be defend-
ed, nor fhould any prefume to acSt thereupon contrary
to the exprefs will of the Lord whom we ferve. Upon
the whole, it is truly aftonifning, and an afieding in-
ftance of human weaknefs, that in a country where the
cuflom univerfally prevailed fo many centuries, and
where the pradlife ftill flands exprefly directed in the
public inftrument of the national church, that this form
of baptifm fhould be counted ftrange, novel or indecent.
Is it not ftrange, that, under thefe circumftances, a
people who cannot but perform this appointment of the
Saviour by dipping, fhould, for that reafpn only, be
derided or cenfured ? Alas, how fickle mankind ! To
what amazing prejudices are we expofed ! That the
pencra! and ordinary way was to baptize by immerfion
or dipping the fu'^jeiSl * into the water, is fo plain and

* clear, faith Dr. Wall *, by an infinite number of
' pail'ages, that one cannot but pity the weak endea-

* vours of luch psedobaptifls who would maintain the
' negative.' And 1 am ptrfuaded that mofl:, v/ho do
not think it abfolutely neceflary to the eflence of bap-
tifm, and therefore remain in the popular way, will, on
ferious reflection, with that learned writer, difown and
fliew a diflike of the profane feoffs vi'hich feme people
o-ivc to theEnglifh aiuipsedobaptif^s merely for their ufc
of dipping; and certain 1 am, that if any are otherwife

mindedj

* Vol. II. 3d edit. p. 351.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 183
minded, their zeal againft this ancient mod^ of bap-
tizing is not duly tempered with knowledge and cha«"
rity.

Now this baptifm is to be performed in the name of
Jefus Chrift. The commiflion of our Lord to his dif-
ciples is plain and exprefs. Matt, xxviii. 19. " Go ye,
*' therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the
*' name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
*' Holy Ghoft." Nor are thefe words of Peter, *' in
*' the name of Jefus," to be otherwife taken than con-
fifts with this order of the Saviour. No doubt this f »rm
is facred in the ordinance of baptifm ; for fo, as hinted
already, is every article prefcribed in a pofitive infl.tu-
tion, which entirely depends on the fovereign will of
the law-giver. It has been fuggefted, that the Jews,
being already believers in the Father and the Holy
Ghoft, had need only of being baptized in the name
of Jefus J but there is not the leaft intimation in fcrip-
ture of this difference in the baptizing of Jews from
that of the Gentiles, nor is the name of either divine
Perfon to be omitted in the adminiftration of this ordi-
nance, feeing that would come fhort of the exprefs di-
re(5lion of our Lord. Neverthelefs chriftian baptifm
may well be defcribed in the name of Jefus, as here and
elfewhere, chap. viii. 16. x, 48. xix. 5. Since the
authority of Jefus is the ground of proceeding, and the
iubje<5l not only confefles his faith in, and adores Jeho-
vah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, the Three that bear
record in heaven, but likewife in an efpecial manner
confeiFeth Chrift as his king, and fubmits to him as the
Son of God and Lord of all. Baptifm is an a6l of
M 4 foler.in

i84 L E C T U R E S O N

folemn worfhip and perfonal devotion to the Redeemer,
in which the parties own his authority, and Surrender
unto the Lord as his God. Hence it is ftiled " calHng
*' on the name of the Lord," A£ts xxii. i6. A phrafe
which indeed includes prayer after the example of Jcfus
himfelf, of whom we read, Luke iii. 21. " that being
*' baptized and praying, the heaven was opened." But
it likewife extends to the whole obedience of faith,
Rom. X. 13, 14. where the apoftle refers to the fame
prophefy quoted in Peter's difcourfe, ver. 21. " And
*' whofoeverfiiall call upon the name of the Lord, (hall
*' be faved." He that fubmits to this ordinance with
underftanding, is baptized in the name of Jefus, call-
ing upc n his name in the prayer of faith, and actually
owns and fubmits to the authority, of Chrift, who will
fave him.

It is added, " for the remiffion of fins ;" which
{hews what troubled the heart of thefe awakened tranf-
grefibrs ; it was guilt, their fins were fet in order before
them, a fenfe of which pierced them. But will water-
baptifm cleanfe us from fin ? No, no more than the
tears of the penitent. Nothing is the meritorious caufe
of pardon but the atonem- nt of the Saviour : His blood
alone, applied to the wounded confcience, can heal it.
Thus Peter declares, " Through his name, whofoever
*' believeth in him, fhall receive remiflion of fins, "
A61s X. 43. And again it is written, " Whom God
** hath fet forth a propitiation, through faith in his
** blood, to declare his righ:eoufnefs in the remifTion of
*' fins," Rom. iii. 25. And further, " In whom we
5' haye redemption through his blood, the forgivenefs

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 185

*
** of fins, according to the riches of his grace," Eph.

i. 7. Thus the fcriptures abundantly (hew, that not •
baptifm but the blood of Jefus, in whofe nihie we are
baptized, is that which cleanfeth from fin. This man-
ner of freaking, " be baptized for the remiflion of
*' fins," IS by way of encouragement and dire6lion to
thefe afHi£led enquiring fouls, and fliews that there was
remiilion even for them, and that they fhould fubmit
to baptifm in the exercife of faith on Chrift, who, by
the facrifice of himfelf, obtained eternal redemption,
and whofe fufferings, death and refurre<5lion, are fha-
dowed forth in the appointed form of this gofpel-infti-
tution. In a word, the exhortation is univerfal and
without any exception, '* every one of you j" to fhew
that not one perfon, among the thoufands who were
pricked in the heart, and who flood in need of pardon,
was excluded from the hope of God's mercy In Chrift;
and that likewife not a Tingle believer, who laid hold of
this mercy, was excluded from a profeffed fubje£lion
to the gofpel, or public acknowledgment of his divine
authority, and devotion to his will in the fight of man-
kind.

To this obedience of faith the apoftle annexeth a
prcmife, *' And ye fhall receive the gift of the Holy
*' Ghoft ;" not in his quickening or regenerating in-
fluences, whereby the fubje6l is truly convinced of fin,
and engaged to believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift. A
participation of his grace, in this refpe6l, is previoufly
required to baptifm. Thus, as before, Philip faith to
the eunuch, " If thou believeft with all thine heart,
*' thou mayeft." This promife may be underftood in

a fenfe

i86^ LECTURES ON

a fenfe peculiar to the primitive times, or accommo-
dated to the hope of every baptized believer in ail ages
and places to the end of the world. It may refer to the
extraordinary gifts which the Holy Ghoft diflributed
among the apoftles, who had alfo, by him, a power of
conveying the fame to others, by which the gofpel was
then confirmed among the difciples ; many of whom
were enabled to Ipeak with tongues, and to perform
great things in teftiraony of the refurredtion of Jefus,
and for the edification of his church, A£ts xix Many,
I fay, for we are not to fuppofe that every one who
was baptized was thus miraculoufly endowed, but only
fome, as c rcumftances required. Thus Cornelius and
others received the Holy Ghoft at Cefarea, A6ls x. 47.
In this view it is an afTurance or their being confirmed
by further inftances of his wonderful operations which
came to pafs, when, as we are told, " Many wonders
*' and iigns were done by the apoftles," Ails i. 43.
and likewife that many of themfelves ihould partake
of bis extraordinary gifts for the fpread of the gofpel.
Hence we read, chap. viii. 4. that a perfecution being
raifed at Jerufalem, by which the diiciples in general
were difperfed, " they that were fcattered abroad went
'* every where preaching the word." So that the wife
was taken in his own craftinefs, and the malice of
fatan overruled to the increafe of the kingdom of God,
which that enemy fought to deftroy. Neverthelefs, if
believers now have any intereft in this promife, it is
not to be confined to thefe extraordinary gifts. The
promife is given to every one : And 1 cannot help
thinking that Peter includes, if not chiefly intends,
thofe operations of the Holy Ghoft, whereby the faith-

fia

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 187

ful are more aburadantly enlightened, fanftified and
confirmed, even that Vv'orking of the Holy Spirit, by"
which the chriflian is fealed to the day of redemption,
and made meet for communion with God and his glo-
rious inheritance, compare 2 Cor. v. 5. Eph, i. 13, 18.
and chap. iv. 30. Certain it is that the Comforter,
as a Spirit of adoption and a witnefling Spirit, is more
or lefs given to them that obey the gofpel, and that, in
waiting on the Lord in his appointments, believers may
expe£l to be eftablifhed with grace, and to increafe in
the knowledge of him unto a meetnefs for glory.

Thus Peter excites thefe awakened tranfgreflbrs to
evangelical reper.tance, which includes faith in the
Lord Jefus Chrift, and to witnefs the fame by being
openly baptized in his name, in a certain profpeft of
full remiflion of fmsj yea though they had wickedly
flain the Redeemer, he aflures them notwithftanding,
that on confeffion they fhould be fealed with the Holy
Spirit of promife. Joyful tidings, which, through a
divine energy, became life from the dead, and healed
the wounds that had otherwife proved mortal. When
they heard this, they gladly received the word, and de-
layed not to yield themfelves to the Lord. In like
manner the gofptl is fent to bind up every broken
heart, and to comfort every finner who mourns. And
therefore, dear Reader, if thine heart is wounded re-
ceive the confolation, for a reconciled God is no re-
fpeiter ©f perfons.

LECTURE

i88 LECTURES ON

LECTURE XIII.

The promife on which Peter raifes the expectation of
the awakened Jews, upon their obeying the gofpel,
briefly and fairly examined. With notes and re-
fledlions on the whole of their reply to their anxious
queftion.

THE apoflle having encouraged the men of Judea,
finful as they were, with a certain profpedl of
remiifion on repentance, and having afTerted that, on
being baptized in the name of Jefus, they fhould re-
<;elve the Holy Ghoft, proceeds to the ground of this
blefled affarance. And his argument is this : *' For
*' the promife is unto you and to your children, and
*' to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord
*' our God (hall call." The promife is remiffion of
iins, and the gift of the Holy Ghoft unto them who
repent and are baptized in the name of the Lord ; and
the paflTage would be eafily underftood, -had there been
no difpute among chriftians concerning the fubje(£l of
baptifm. But fmce fome who plead for the baptizing
of infants, have prefied this text into their fervice, it
is needful to clear up the fenfe, and to confider whether
it affords any foundation for that pradlice, which I
(hall attempt with candor in a very few words. In
general, the promife is limited to them that are called.
The word rendered children is not frequently, if at all,
ufed for infants ; and a right to baptifm, as hinted al-
ready, is not the thing promifed.

One

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. ,89

One might have thought that the laft claufe In this
verfe would have efFedually fecured it from being ap-,
plied in favor of infant-baptifm, fmce while it extends
its comfort to all that are called, it limits the obje6is of
the promife to them. Now this call muft be either the
external call in the miniftry of the word, or that which
is internal and efficacious unto repentance and fath.
If we underfj-and of it the former, what infants are ca-
pable of that ? Can babes and fucklings, in a natural
fenfe, hear and underftand the word of the gofpel ? Or
are the minifters of Chrift fent to preach unto them?
No fober advocate for their being baptized will anfwer
in the affirmative. An unprejudiced Reader will there-
fore eafily admit, that the call here intended is that
which is effeiSlual unto repentance, a teftimony of
which is given in baptifm. This call is of God by
Jefus, and wrought through the power of the Holy
Ghoft in the hearts of the regenerate, and confcquently
peculiar to them who are born of the Spirit. Far be
it to infmuate, that infants are incapable of the fanc-
tifying operations of the Spirit, but how or when the
almighty King of grace worketh in any fuch, accord-
ing to the counfel of his will, is a fecret to us; but
we are fpeaking of what is revealed, and the rule of
our duty in the admmiftration of a divine ordinance,
and we may, and muft with freedom aflert, that infants
neither are nor can be the vifible fubjedls of this divine
work, but the promife, whether of the Holy Ghoft,
or the remiffion or fms, or of falvation, verfe 21. which
feems rather intended, is certainly limited to thofe who
are called of God, and to their children as fuch ; and

accordingly

190 LECTURES ON

accordingly the learned Dr. Whitby himfelf, whore
regard for infant-baptifm is not to be queilioned, ex-
prefly and juftly declares, that thefe words will not
prove a right of iafants to this gofpel-inilituiion. See
his annotations on the place.

But that none fhould be mifled, or carried away
by the found of the word children in this pafTage, it
may be proper to note, that it is not -cra^lt , whereby
young children or infants, when diftinguilbtd from
men and women, are exprcfTed ; for inflance, that
which is ufed in defcribuig thofe who were miraculoully
fed, Matt. xiv. 31. and chap. xy. 38. from which the
term psedobaptifl is derived j but the word is texcoj,
quite another word, and which fignifieth poflerity rather
than little children or infants. This is fo obvious,
that Dr. Hammond *, another zealous advocate for
infant-baptifm, hath thefe remarkable words on the
place : ' If any hath made ufe of that very uncludent
' argument (fo he fliles it) " the promife-is made to

• you and your children," I have nothing to fay in
< defence of them j I think the word children there is

* really the pofterity of the Jews.' So then, in the
opinion of this learned paedobaptift, no good argument
can be drawn from this palTage to the right of the
infant-feed of believers unto chriftian baptifm j and in*
deed it is IVrange that wife and good men fliould
infmuate the notion, much more that they ftiould,
in any degree refl the validity of infant-baptifm on an
expreflion that is well known to have no refpedl to the
infantile Itate. Befides, the promife as hinted, has no

relation

* Refol, 6, 34. Edit, izvao, p. 256,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 191
relation to baptifm. Peter exhorts believers to be bap-
tized, as incumbent on as many as the Lord fhall call,
upon which they are entitled to claim the pron^fe, and
encouraged to look for its accomplifliment in the'r own
experience, to their fatisfadtion and joy ; of which, by
the way, infants are incapable ; nor can the baptizing
of infants be inferred with any colour of reafon from
this declaration of the apoftle.

The propriety of Peter's exprefllng himfelf in this
manner will appear, if we confider that the Jews were
" the children of the prophets, and of the covenant
*' God made with their fathers, faying to Abraham,
" And in thy feed fhall all the kindreds of the earth ;^e
*' blefled," A6tsiii.25. To them belonged the promifes,
Rom. ix. 4. It was their peculiar honor and advantage
to have the promife of the Melliah, and of the blefUngs
of life and grace, which come on the called through
faith in his blood. Hence the gofpel was firft preached
to them : " Unto you firft, God having raifcd up his
*' Son Jefus, fent him to blefs you, in turning away
** every one of you from his iniquities," A6ts iu. 26.
And in chap. xiii. 47. we read it was neceflary that the
word of God fhould firft be fpoken to them. Indeed
the promifes afcertained the pardon of no one while
in a ftate of unbelief; nor was an Ifraelite, who firft
enjoyed the means of grace, better entitled to claim
remiffion on repentance than the Gentiles who were
originally void ot the privilege ; but it is eafy to .fee
the propriety and force of the apoftle's argument with
thejfe awakened Jews, who were now convinced that

fal ration

192 LECTURES ON

falvation was in no other than in that fame Jefus whom
they had crucified. The promifc being unto them and
to their children *, even to as many as the Lord their
God fliall call, muft needs encourage their hope as
partakers of this calling, notwithftantiing their aggra-
vated guilt, fince it fhewed there was mercy even for
them, nor could they defpair under fuch a perfuafion.
How feafonable and juft was this reafoning of the apo-
ftle with the people who had not only murdered the
Prince of life, but had likewife imprecated his blood on
themfelves and on their children, and thereby, as far
as in their power, bound their blood-guikinefs on their
lateft pofterity I O the tormenting diftrefs that muft
attend a convidion of having deftroyed both themfelves
and their children. Dreadful will be the cafe of parents
who fhall hereafter, as fome through a neglect of their
fouls or their ill example, be found acceflary to the
damnation of their offspring. Thefe Jerufalem-finners
were verily guilty in binding their pofterity under a
curfe for their own wickednefs, and no doubt it lay
with weight on their confcience, and they were terrified
with the apprehenfion of having excluded themfelves
from the meicy of God by flaying his Son, and alfo by
expofing their feed to his wrath. No, as if Peter fhould
fay, though you have been thus guilty, guilty of the
blood of the Lord, and guilty in curfing your poftcrity9
and deferve everlafling deflruftion, yet God, who fore-
faw all your wickednefs and knows the extent of his
own grace, hath diredled his promife to you; he
has prom4fed remiflion of fins on repentance to you and
to your children, even to as many as he fhall effectually

call,
* Matt, xxvii. 25. ra rUvx, the fame expreflion ufcd in the promife.

PRIMIT'IVE CHRISTIANITY. 193
call, being convinced of your evil, fear not to flee unto
this fame Jefus, whom you have crucified ; neither ye,
nor your children, not one of you are excluded from
the report of falvaticn in the Redeemer. Therefore, O
ye men of Judea, truft in the Lord and be faved !
** Repent and be baptized every one of you, for the
" remiffion of fins, &c." Thus Peter, fkilful in the
word of righteoufnefs, heals and animates the afflided
Jews, who lay bleeding under a fenfe of their guilt
and ready to perifh, with an affurance of obtaining
mercy, according to the promife made to them, and to
their pofterity, agreeable to the golpel-report, which
declares that " whofoever fhall call on the name of
*' the Lord, fhall be faved." And the following things
are manifeft from the whole of this reply to thefe en-
quiring finners,

I. That a perfonal and cordial repentance is of in-
finite moment. Repent every one of you. No man
fhall receive remiffion of fins, or be faved from wrath
to come, without that repentance unto life which leads
the fubje<ft into a reliance on Jefus, and is accompanied
with a fubmiffion to him as the Lord's. Chrift and an
all-fufHcient Saviour. It is of univerfal concern, to
repent in the fenfe of this pafTage ; and every one who
is pricked in the heart and enquires, what he fhall do ?
muft be exhorted fo to repent. Dear Reader, it
is not thy hearing the word, nor any convictions of
fin, under which thou art troubled ; nor is it barely a
perfuafion that Jefus is the Chrifl, that will fufiice thee.
'* God hath fet him forth a propitiation, through faith
** in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs in the re-
N '• mi/Soa

J94 L E C T U R E S O N

*' miffion of fins," Rom. iij. 25. This faith thou muft
have. He only that believeth in Jefus, fnall obtaia
pardon and life at his hands. The fcriptures afford no
ideas of remiflion and juftification, exclufive of a per<-
fonal faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift. The promife is
to him that believeth, and they only, " which be of
*' faith, are blciTed with faithful Abraham," Gal. iii. 9,
Many are the opinions and diftindions which even
great and good men have advanced in the world, acr
cording to their different conceptions of the methods of
grace, which are hard to reconcile ; but they muft all
be reduced to this certain truth, moft clearly revealed in
the gofpel, namely, that without repentance there is no
remiffion. And, what lefs can be the concern of a wife
and faithful preacher refpe£ling each of his hearers^
than that he fhould obtain mercy thus to. repent and
be faved ? But,

IT. Note the indifpenfible duty of every believer
to be baptized. This evident truth is contradicted in
the practice of thofe who wjll not be perfuaded tq
fubmit themfelves to the Lord in this divine ordinance.
Art thou of this number, my Friend ? Serioufly con-
fider ! Repentance and baptifm in the name of Jefus,
are infeparably connected in the charaiSler of him to
whom an affurance of falvation is given in the gofpel.
*' He that believeth apd is baptized, fliall be faved,"
Mark xvi. 16, This is the fubftance of preaching
from the beginning; and thefe God, who knoweth all
things, hath joined together in the proclamations
pf his grice, and it becomes us to unite therri
\n practice. The man that would boldly claim re-

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 195

miflion of fins and the gift of the Spirit, is no more ex-,
cufed from baptifm than from repentance ; not that the
one or the other is in any fenfe or degree the merito-
rious caufe of pardon, or of the beftowment of fpiritual
blellings, but they are both exprefly and abfolutely in-
cluded in the defcriptlon of him that is an heir of the
promife. And doth not this deferve thy moft ferious
attention ? A perfon may doubt his own real character,
and fear he is not a believer in Chrift, in proportion to
which his comfort is lofl:, and he is prevented from
chearful obedience ; or he may think that what his pa-
rents did with him when an infant, is fufHcient to an-
Iwer the demand of the gofpel on them who would
hope to be faved, and on this perfuafion be eafy in his
confcience, yea and be even bold in his profeflion ; but
what man can modeftly fay or foberly think, in a perufal
. of the promife, that he ftands aflured of pardon and
life, while he negledls or refufeth to fubmit to the au-
thority of Jefus, by being baptized in his name ? It is
truly aftonifhing, that any one who confcientioufly
holds a good hope, through grace, of being juftified in
the Lord, can a moment delay his conformity to this
plain appointment, and thereby exclude himfelf from a
vifible claim in the promife of life, through his blood !
Far be it to urge on difciples any opinion or dodlrine
of men, however pioufly defigned, but the counfel of
God is not to be fhunned; nor could I count myfelf
pure from the blood of all men, if I fpared to infift on
this great command of my Mafter. It is true ordinances
are no faviours ; but, my Friend, if thou art tempted to
jndifFerency about them, remember they are facred, and
likewifc binding on all Chrift's difciples, and that fal-
N 2 vatioa

196 LECTURESON

vatlofi is to be obtained in a way of gofpel-obedience.
Take heed to thyfelf. Indeed a man may conform to
this external appointment of the Saviour, and never-
thelefs, like Simon the forcerer, remain in the gaul of
bitternefs and bonds of iniquity ; therefore truft not to
any profeflion whatever, but at the fame time confider
that no man can fufficiently prove his repentance or
fubjedlion of heart to the Redeemer, who refuses to be
baptized in his name. In one word, baptifm is a plain,
eafy and exprefs inftitution of our Lord, in the negleft
of which no man can yield a compleat evidence of his
faith in Chrift; neither will any works, however ufeful
;ind excellent in their kind, without this work of righ-
teoufnefs (for fo our Lord ftiles it) prove that we are
his difciples indeed. " Repent and be baptized every
*' one of you," is the language of heaven to the end of
the world, wherever the gofpel is preached : And a fkil-
ful and faithful minifter, however this ordinance may
be negle£led or defpifcd in his day, will not be fatisfied
without putting every one of his hearers not only on
trufting in Jefus, but likewife on being baptized in his
name, as he tenders the glory of Chrifl and his own
future joy. But again,

III. It is further to be noted, that in the mlfjiftra-
tion of the gofpel, there is a free and open proclacnation
of pardon hi the name of Chrift to every penitent fin-
ner. This known and joyful truth is confirmed by the
inftance before us. Here is no exception or difference.
The moft: guilty of thofe Jerufaleni-tranfgreflbrs is af-
fured of remillion on his repentance ; which may fervc
to prevent the malicious and cruel defign of the enemy

PRIMITIVE CHP^ISTIANITY. 197

in his attempt to difhearten a foul deeply fenfible of
abounding iniquity. Multitudes defpif^ or negledt di-
vine grace, from light apprehenfions of guilt. The
power of fatan in the minds of the unregenerate lies
much in a fubtil extenuation of fm ; the enemy puts a
falfe glofs on the evil thereof in thought, word and
deed ; thus covers its bafencfs and eafily obtains on
apoftate man, through the deceitfulnefs of his flefh ;
infomuch that, being hardened, he continues unafFeded
with the glory and importance of falvation by Chrift.
But v/hen this flattering peace or fecurity is broke up,
by powerful convi£tions from the Spirit, the old ferpent
turns the tables upon him ; he takes occafion from his
knk of guilt to difcourage his hope in the mercy of
God, and to drive him Into defpair: Now he transforms
himfclf into an angel of light; he magnifies the divine
juftice and holinefs, and the righteoufnefs of the law,
which is broken, and its rigor as a covenant of works,
that men under convi6tion may apprehend their tranf-
greffions have exceeded the extent of God's mercy in
Chrift. The afflicted, felf-condemned fmner too readily-
Jiftens to thefe infinuations, and thereby often becomes
reduced to the utmoft extremity. But if any man
is under a temptation of this fort, be it known unto
him, that the devil is a liar. Thefe fuggeftions direflly
contradict the counfels of heaven, which declare that
*' where fm hath abounded, grace doth much more
*' abound," Rom. v. 20. There are none fo aban-
doned and vile in their ftate of ignorance and unbelief,
but, feeing themfelves loft and undone, they are invited
to Jefus for life. God is faithful ; and the merit of
Chrift is fufficient to illuftrate his righteoufnefs in the
N 3 pardon

LECTURES ON

pardon of fin. '* Ho every one that thirfleth, come
" ye to the waters," Ifa. Iv. i. And again, ver. 8.
*' Let i.he wicked forfake his way and return unio the
*' Lord, and he will have mercy upon him j and to
*' our God, for he will abundantly pardon." And,
is not this correfpondent with Peter's encouragement to
the Jews on repentance ? The Infidelity, prophanenefs,
Injuftice and cruelty, which attended their murder of
the Son of God, and their treatment of the holy Jefus
as an impofler and blafphemer, in oppofition to the
moll: ftriking and miraculous evidence from heaven of
his being the MefTiah, was a crime the aggravations of
which are not to be exprefled j yet we fee that among
the thoufands charged with this guilt, who were con-
vinced of their wickednefs, and flood in need of a Sa-
viour, every one is directed to fubmit unto him they
had crucified, with a promife of fuccefs. What a pat-
tern is here of the long-fufFerance of God, and the
riches of his grace ! Say not, O mourning tranfgreflbr,
my fins, which are gone over my head, are too many
and great to be forgiven ! This is the language of
curfed unbelief, and the devil j it makes God a liar in
the proclamations of his grace, and is a virtual denial of
this amazing inftance of fovereign mercy, by which it
appears that the diyine purpofe in Chrift is equal, yea
exceeds the moft accumulated guilt of him that xe-
pents. Therefore under whatever fpecious fhew the
enemy would infinuate defpair, rejeft the temptation
as contrary to the truth of God and his Son. It is ut-
terly inexcufable to defpair of mercy after thefe decla-
rations and examples of full and free pardon. Unbe-
lief in them tg whom the gofpel is fent, is horrid and

fatal ',

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 199

fatal ; it admits of no excufe, but juftly expofes the ,
impenitent fubje£t to the forefl: condemnation. And
further,

IV. The premifes fhew that no real penitent is to
be refufed the ordinances of the gofpel, however bad
his former convefation may have been. Some plead
for open communion, and make light of baptifm
itfelf. If any man appears to them pious, though he
is not conformed to that divine inftitution, they em-
brace him, and cenfure their brethren who cannot dif-
penfe with an ordinance of Chrift under any confidera-
tion whatever, while they applaud themfelves as per-
fons of a truly catholic fpirit ; but in fa6l, a right to
chriftian communion is not entirely grounded in the
piety of the fubje£l, but requires an open confeflion of
Jefus, and devotion to him in baptifm. A man, being
called, will hereafter fit down with the faints in the
kingdom in heaven, who, yet remaining unbaptized,
hath no place in the church on earth. The Lord
knows them that are his, and accepts them ; but he
has commanded his difciples to be baptized in his
name. And, is it the perfe6lion of charity to prefume
againft his exprefs will and pleafure ? But then, on the
the other hand, no man, who proves his repentance, is
to be denied baptifm, or being baptized, the privilege of
the faithful, merely becaufe he was a notorious
tranfgreflbr before converfion. The men of Judea,
though guilty of the blood of Jefus himfelf, on con-
vidlion, were directed to baptifm; and we find them
afterward admitted to the fellowfhip of the church.
Alfo at Corinth, perfons who had formerly lived in a
N 4 moft

ICO LECTURES ON

moft ftiameful manner, being fandlified by grace, are
numbered with the faints in that city, i Cor. vi. g.
Yea 2nd fome, who once in ignorance, like the apoftle
of the Gentiles, would have deftroyed the faith, after
they were called became (hining inftances of holinefs
and zeal, to the praife of the grace they received. I
hope none will abufe this mercy to their ruin ; and far
be it hence to infmuate that churches are not to be
careful whom they receive. A profligate fmner, or
one who hath openly oppofed the truth, if a genuine
penitent, will of himfelf afford every poflible evidence
of his converfion ; the fruits of which are to be waited
for. And a man may be juftly fufpe£ted, who would
intrude himfelf on others, who are not fatisfied of his
repentance. But to ftand ofF> or to refufe the right
hand of fellowfliip, to one that is truly and vifibly hum-
bled for his fins, and who gives proper evidence of his
faith in the Redeemer, becaufe of his former evil con-
verfation, left it (hould offend or bring a difgrace on
religion, as fome apprehend, or indeed on any other
pretence, however piaufible, favors of ignorance and
pharifaical pride. This at beft is no other than carnal
reafon, and contrary to the counfel of God. Chrift
Jefus came into the world to fave fmners, and they
who would rejedl fuch when penitent, forget that they
themfelves were once the fervants of fm, they run
counter to the manifeft defign of the miflion and incar-
nation of the Son of God, and the example of all fcrip-
ture-hiftory. But to proceed,

V. Upon the fame principle, no repenting finner
fhould be afraid or afhamed to confefs the Lord Jefus

Chrift,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 201
Chrift, becaufe of his paft rebellion and w.'ckednefs.
It is probable that Saul, while he lay at Damafcus,
feared to own his converfion by putting on Chrid, be-
caufe he had blafphcmed his name and perfecuted his
people in the time of his ignorance. We know that
this was his obje<5lion againft going to Jerufalem :
" Lord, faith he, they know that I imprifoned, and
*' beat in every fynagogue them that believed on thee ;
*' and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen v/as flied,
" I was ftanding by, confenting unto his death, and
*' kept the raiment of them that flew him,"A6cs xxii, 19.
Certain it is that a view of his fmfulnefs occafioned his
delay, as appears from the exhortation of Ananias:
*' And now why tarried thou ? arife and be baptized,
*' and wafh away thy fins, calling on the name of the
*' Lord," ver. 16. So then a view of his aggravated
guilt hindered him awhile, from a public acknowledg-
ment of the Saviour in baptifm. For the like reafon
many decline a confeflion of Chrill. They have been
guilty of fuch and fuch heinous tranfgreflions in life,
and therefore they are afhamed or afraid of making a
profeflion of their faith, but without a caufe; for
as no man is to be refufed by others, fo neither fliould
any man himfelf delay baptifm on account of his noto-
rious bad life in time paft. If not only Saul the blaf-
phemer and perfecutor, but alfo every convinced Jew,
even though he had been actually concerned in cruci-
fying Chrift, is direfled and encouraged, on repentance,
to be baptized in his name, what colour of reafon
can there be for a penitent to decline an open con-
feffion of the Lord, or to abftain from the privileges
of the gofpel, becaufe of his vilenefs before conver-
fion ?

202 LECTURESON

fion ? And is this thy temptation, dear Reader ? Bring
forth the fruits of repentance, and fear not to glorify
thy Redeemer by a public devotion to his name. He
that plucked thee as a brand from the fire, and took
away thy filthy garments, hath beftowed this mercy
upon thee, that thou mayeft appear a monument of his
grace in the fight of the world to his praife. Be of
good courage : why tarrieft thou ? arife and be baptized
without further delay. Once more.

Note VI. It is fufficient encouragement to awakened
Jlnners, that unto them the word of falvation is fent.
This is the argument, and the only argument of the
apoftle with the Jews, to encourage their hope of re-
miffion and the gift of the Spirit, on their being bap-
tized. O it is an unfpeakable mercy and joy to a con-
vinced tranfgreflbr who is ready to perifti, when he
finds the word of the gofpel directed to him, that he is
fo far from being excluded from the promife of life,
that Jefus invites him ! This is the firft ground of
hope to the awakened finner. Hence he is induced to
flee, under all his guilt and unworthinefs, unto him that
is able and willing to fave him ; and with the higheft
reafon, for furely a true penitent may fafely venture on
the faithfulnefs and power of God to glorify his righ-
teoufnefs in the pardon, fanftification and eternal fal-
vation of his foul, according to his word. And indeed
the only folid foundation of hope is the teftimony of
God. '* I wait for the Lord, and in his word do
*' I hope," Pfalm cxxx. 5. That hope which is not
grounded in the divine word, will never prove an an-
chor of the foul in an hour of temptation. But the

perilhing

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 203

perifliing finner laying hold of the proclamations of
grace in Chrift Jefus, as dire6led to him, will not
fail, through the affiftance of the Spirit, to hope in
the Redeemer, and none ever truftcd in him and were
afhamed.

These are the truths which clearly refuk frcm Pe-
ter's reply to the earneft queftion of the Jews, wh'> ap-
plied in diftrcfs under a conviction of their fins, rj^ime-
ly, the infinite importance of being found among thofe
who repent and believe, and their indifpenfible duty to
be baptized in the name of Jefus. It likewife proves that
a free and full pardon is opened in the miniftration of the
gofpel to every one that repents, and tnat no real peni-
tent is to be refufed the ordinances of Chrift merely on
account of his former had conduit j neither fliould he
for this realon fhun a profeffion of his name. And
finally it appears that the confideration of the divine
promife of life in Jefus being diredfed unto him, is a
fufficient ground of encouragement to the awakened
fmner, who is ready to pcrifh, to truft in the Lord,
and be baptized in his name, in a certain expectation
of being faved through. grace.

This is the fum of the gofpel. And thus our Sa-
viour taught his difciples, that *' it behoved Chrift to
" fufFer, and to rile from the dead the third day, and
" that repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be
" preached in his name among all nations, beginning
*' at Jerufalem," Luke xxiv. 46. The report of this
grace, in rhe form of an exhortation, was from the he-
ginning addrefled to every enquiring hearer of the

word.

204 LECTURES ON

word. Thus Jefus hlmfelf " came into Galilee preach-
*' ing the gofpel of the kingdom of God, — faying,
" R.epent ye and believe the gofpel," Mark i. 15, 16.
And unto the Jews in their blindnefs he falih, " Ex-
*' cept ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perifh," Luke-
xiii. 3. And again, " If ye believe not that I am he,
" yp {hall die in your fins," John viii. 24. This in-
deed includes a credit of him as the AiefTiah, but car-
ries in it more, even that repentance which ftands con-
nefted with remiflion of fins, as appears from the terms
of the threatning in cafe of impenitence. Nor is it
becoming or fafe, to leflen the importance of the repen-
tance and faith univerfally enjoined in the miniftration
of the gofpel, on any pretence whatever. And as Chrift
himfelf, fo did his apoftles preach the gofpel to every
one wherever they went. This account Paul gives of
his miniftry in his appeal to the elders of Ephefus,
Adls XX. 21. teftifying, ^iap,«p%po/^£>':^ ; not fimply pub-
liftiing the do(5trine, nor barely fhewing the neceffity of
'* repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord
*' Jefus Chrift." The word fignifies to call upon or
charge the obje£l addrefi'ed ; and thus it is ufed by the
apoftle to Timothy, 2 epiftle iv. i. "I charge thee
*^ therefore before God, &c." This Paul did both to
Jews and Greeks, not only (hewing them that repen-
tance was needful to the remiffion of fins, but ftirring
them up to repent; which agrees with what he declares
to Agrippa in the court of Cefaria, chap. xxvi. ,20.
namely, that he *' ihewed firft to them at Damafcus,
*' and at Jerufalem, and throughout all the coafts of
** Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they fhould
*' repent and turn to God, and do works meet for re-

" pentance."

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 205

'* pentance." In like manner, in the inftance before
us, Peter's exhortation indeed was occafioned by the
enquiry of perfons convinced of their need of a Saviour ;
and no one without fucji conviilicn can pofiibly truft
in the Lord Jefus Chrift; yet the apoftle's addrefs ex-
tends to the whole of his audience, and his argument
comprehends every Jew to-whom the promife belonged,
even all the houfe of Ifrael, and every one in particular,
prefent or abfent, under the like convidlion, is exhorted
and encouraged by thefe words of Peter, to repent and
be baptized in the name of Jefus for the remiflion of
fms. It is the office of the Spirit to convince men of
Hn J neither will any turn to the Lord, who are not
ready to perifh, and faith itfelf is the gift of God ;
hence they only in whom a divine power is exerted,
will obey this external call in the gofpel ; yet every
one is called, and ought to be intreated and charged to
repent and believe, that is, as a perifliing fmner to flee
unto Jefus, who is the only and all-fufficient Saviour,
according to ancient prophecy, Ifa. xlv. 22. " Look
*' unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be faved."
Thus to the end of the world the gofpel is preached to
every creature, that the Lord working efFedtually in
the hearts of his chofen, may grant them repentance
nnto life, and bring them to the obedience of faith.

And nov/, my dear Reader, what doft thou think of
thefe things, or thyfelf ? Haft thou long fat under (he
report of the gofpel unconcerned and impenitent ? how
hard is thine heart, and how great is thy danger ! thou
^rt yet in thy unSj fenfual in thy ftate, and void of

the

2o6 LECTURESON

the Spirit; and if deith overtakes thee in this fad con-
dition, thou art forever undone ! Confider, I befeech
thee J the Judge is at (he door, and this night thy foul
may be required at thine hands. The foul out of
Chrift muft perifli ; in which dreadful cafe thy blood
will be upon thee, the weight of which v/ill fmk thee
in the bottomlefs gulph of perdition ! O then repent
and fiee unto Jcfus ; there is no other name under
heaven whereby thou canft be faved. Precious and
wonderful are the bkllings of pardon and fan6lification
fet forth in the gofpcl : To be a partaker of thefe is of
the utmoft confcqucnce to every man; yet alas, how
lightly efteemed, how greatly neglected and defpifed !
Whence is it that the Icaft profpecl of temporal riches
and pleafure, or earthly enjoyments, things compari-
tively trifling and vain, immediately ftrike thy atten-
tion ; while alas, the unfearchable riches of Chrift,
rcminion of hns, and the Holy Ghoft, (gifts of infinite
value in themfelves, and of no lefs importance) are To
obvioufly and fhamefully flighted ? The moment the
things of this world are reported in the ear, and pro-
pofed to a man, he feels in himfelf a dcfire, perhaps an
unlawful defirc, of the obje£l; and in proportion to the
confidence he hath of obtaining it, he is prone to an
excefs of joy ; whereas the report of thefe fpiritual
blelhngs, necelTary to the fruition of God, are heard by
moft v/ithout any emmotion of heart, or even the le^ft
concern about a pcrfonal intercil in them,

Strange and lamentable this ! yet perfe6tly natural
to a mind that is bliiidcd by the god of this world, and

hardened

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 207

hardened through the deceitfulnefs of fin. The con-
fcience of an unregenerate man is not duly if at all af-
fe<Sed with his native guilt and pollution, or the righ-
jteoufnefs of God, or judgment to come. Hence the
grace of the gofpel cannot raife his attention or engage
his purfuit. If this is thy cafe, may the Lord open
thine eyes, and grant thee a fight of thy real condition.
But if thou art now faying in thine heart, under a
deep fenfe of thine iniquity, What fhall I do ? To
thee this word of falvation is fent. It is the word
of the Lord which abideth for ever, and the voice
of God to every one by the miniftration of his gof-
pel; " Repent and be baptized in the name of Jefus
^* Chrift, for the remiflion of fins." And, as God ig
true, " he that believeth and is baptized, fhall be
" faved."

To conclude. Remiffion of fins, and emiffion of the
Holy Ghoft, are the two capital bleffings of the gofpel.
To procure thefc the Son of God was manifeft in the
ilefh, and became obedient to the death of the crofs.
Thy Saviour, O Chriftian, fufFered and died a facrifice
for fin, that juftice being fatisfied by his complete
atonement, the divine holinefs might be vindicated in
befiiowing grace on the chofen. Hence, as we have
feen, the Redeemer having finifhed his work, afcended
to the Father ; and upon receiving the promife of the
Spirit, he fhed him forth on the difciples, that repen-
tance and remiffion of fins might be preached in his
name, for the converfion and joy of the redeemed
:imong men. And, art thou a partaker of this heavenly

callinp; ?

20g LECTURES ON

calling ? give diligence to prove it > *' be of good chear,
" thy Tins are forgiven thee." But remember that
*' to whom much is forgiven, the fame loveth much."
Abound then in thefe fruits of Icvo, that tliy faith may
appear, and grace may be magnified in thine eternal
falvation.

LECTURE XIV.

The converted Jews teftify their reception of the gof-
pel, in being baptized and joining the church. Notes
on their vlfible obedience to the faith.

THE further we advance, the more we have reafon
to admire ! It was truly aftonifhing that remif-
fion of fms fliould be preached in the name of Jefus
to them who had been guilty of his blood, and that any
of them, in diftrefs, fliould apply to his apoftles for ad-
vice; but ftill more extraordinary is the real converfion
of a multitude, who had defied every kind of external
evidence to his charadter as the Mefliah, and even glo-
ried in having procured his execution. To behold
thoufands of thefe murderers of the Lord take up the
erofs in an open confeffion of his name, whom they had
lately put to death as an impofter, may juftly ftrike us
with wonder ; yet this was, through the power of God,
the efFeit of Peter's difcourfe j for we read, A£ts ii. 41.
*^ Then they that gladly received the word were bap-
*^ ti^ed 3 and the fame day there were ^dded unto them

*' abou^

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 209

** about three thoufand fouls." Thus the omnipotent
arm of fovcreign grace is ever vidorious, and it came
to pzL ^as the prophet foretold, " Thy people fh?ill be
" willing in tlie day of thy pcv/er." The particulars
of this remarkable account being opened, will lead us
to feveral points efiential to the experience and du'y
of them who are efieilually called.

First, We are tdJ that t'.ey r^c.hcd his word,
i. e. believed ihe-gofpel he preached. In believing
there is a reception of the word and of Chriil revealed
in it. And accordingly in John i. j2. they who re-
ceived him, are t'ie fame with thole who believed on
his name ; which agrees with what our Lord fays in his
addrefs to the Father concerning his difciplcs : ** I
*' have given them rhy words, and they have received
*' them," John xvii. 8.

Unbelievers rejc£i: the word of falvation, and like
many at Antioch, A6tb xiii. 46. put it from them, and
thereby judge themlelves unworthy of everlafting life.
But thefe men, being awakened and convinced, be-
lieved the report, and accounting it a faithful faying
and worthy of all acceptation, embraced and applied it.
They were helped, through grace, to " receive the
^' engrafted word, which is able to fave our fouls."
And that to receive the word in the fenfe of this place,
carries in it nothing lefs than the obedience of faith, or
z receiving Chnft Jefus the Lord, appears from the
event.

Note again. The manner in which they embraced
the gofpel of Chrift, namely, with pkafure. " Then

O *' they

210 L E C T U R E S O N

*' they that gladly received his word." They received
it with all readinefs of mind. As Zaccheus, when call-
ed by the Saviour from the fycamore-tree, " he mad«
** hafte and came dov/n and received him joyfully," Lukq
xix. 6. Thus the people of Galilee, who waited for Je-
fus when he returned from the country of the Gadarenes,
gladly received him again : So when the word is mixed
with faith, it is attended with joy in the Holy Ghoft,
I ThefT. vi. i. Some joy of heart hath been felt by
that man who knows the found of the gofpel, which
is joyful tidings to the perifhing fmner. Thy
frame, chriftian Reader, may at prefent be forrowful j
but once, when firft the promife of remiflion was re-
ceived, it gladdened thine heart. And this was the
experience of David : *' Thy teftimonies have I taken
*' as my heritage for ever, for they are the rejoicing
*' of my heart," Pfalm cxix. iii. And again: "I
** rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great fpoil,"
ver. 162. which agrees with Matt. xiii. 44. " The
" kingdom of heaven is like unto a treafure hid in a
** field ; the which when a man hath found he hideth,
" and for joy thereof goeth and felleth all that he hath,
" and buyeth that field." Such is the efiedl of the gofpel,
Vv'hen it is the power of God unto the falvation of a,
man that believes j he gladly receives it,

IS'ow they who indeed thus obey from the heart this
form of dodtrine, are naturally willing to tefrify the
faxne in every a6|: of external obedience j and accord-
ingly thefe Jews yvere immediately baptized, and thereby
openly and readily acknowledged Chrift Jefus the Lorcj.
Baptifm is one part of the counfel of God, v>'hich the

apoftlq

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 2ir

apoftle had declared. The minifters of Chrift are to
teach not barely repentance, but the baptifm of repen-
tance for the remiffion of fins, i. e. it becomes them
to diredl all who repent, to be baptized on a confefTion
of their guilt and their faith in the Mefiiah. In this
manner John baptift began in the wildernefs, " bap-
*.' tizing with the baptifni of repentance, faying to the
*•• people, that they fnould believe on him that fliouM
" come after him, that is, on Chrifl Jefus," Adis
xix. 4. And after the Lord "was rifcn, he fent forth
his apoftles, faying, " Go ye into all the world, and
*' preach the gofpel to every creature. He that be-
" lieveth and is baptized, fliall bs faved," Mark xvi.
15, 16. This agrees with the hiilory of the eunuch,
in "which it appears that Philip had, in his difcourfe
treated on the do6lrine of baptifm, on a profeflion of
faith. Hence he takes the firft opportunity to propofe
himfelf, and this is the reply of his fpiritual guide :
" If thou believeft with all thine heart, thou mayeft,"
A6ls viii, 36, 37. Thus they who receive the word
are to call on the name of the Lord ; *' for with the
*■' heart man believeth unto righteoufnefs, and with the
*' mouth confeffion is made unto falvation," Rom.
X. 10. And this evidence thefe Jerufalem-converts gave
of their having received the gofpel they had heard ; they
furrendered to Jefus, and owned themfelves his difci-
ples ; " for as many of you as have been baptized into
« Chrift, have put on Chrift," Gal. iii. 27.

From their baptifm the apoftle proceeds to their
union with the church ; " there were added unto
\\ them," i, e. to the church, as appears from vsr 47.

O 2 He

412 LECTURES ON

He that is baptized in the name of Jefus, is become his
vifible fubjeft, and is formally meet for the communion
of faints in his houfe ; he is as it were now openly in
the kingdom of God's dear Son, and a difciple of the
Redeemer ; but no man commences a member of a
chriftian church, in which alone the feat of govern-
ment and gofpel-crder is found, purely by his being
baptized. Indeed every one thus prepared, whofe cha-
rafter anfwers to his holy profefiion, and who is capa-
ble of the duties and ends of this fpiritual communion,
is to be received ; but there is no necefTary connexion
between a man's baptifm and his relation to any parti-
cular church. He that is baptized is both entitled and
obliged to chriflian 'communion, but in order to this,
an union is needful ; the manner of which is dear from
2 Cor. viii. 5. " They firft gave their own felves unto
*' the Lord, and unto us by the will of Gou." To the
fame purpofe is Rom. xv. 7. " Wherefore receive ye
" one another, as Chrift alfo received us, to the glory
*' of God." So then the formal bond of church-
fellowfliip is mutual confent. No baptized perfon, who in
the judgment of charity is a believer, is on any account
to be refufed ; neither his poverty, nor the weak-
nefs of his faith, nor his being a babe in fpiritual
underftanding, nor any other circumftance whatever,
may hinder the acceptance of him who hath learned
Chrift ; and, being baptized in his name, has a compe-
tent knovv'ledge of the nature" and defign of chriftian
pommunioii : This is manifeft from John i. 12. men-
tioned already. " But to as many as received him,
*' to them gave he power (or privilege) to become the
•* fons of God," What lefs can be intended by this

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 213

power than a right to fhare with the difcip'es in every
privilege of the gofpel ? Therefore as many as believe
on his name are entitled thereto. But ftill the confent
of the parties is required to cpnftitute a perfon a mem-
ber of a particular chriftian fociety ; he muft propofe,
and they mull accept, in the name of the Lord. While
therefore we avoid the pride of Diftrophes, and by no
means rejcd a brother in Chrift, or caPc him out of the
chuich ; on the other hand, let us take heed that under
a notion of charity we do not countenance diforder."
No man can be conftrained againft his own will unto
this relation in any gofpel-church ; and a pretence of
right to intrude into the fociety of the faithful without
a full f?.tisfa£lion as to a meetnefs for communion, is
againft the didlates of reafon and fcripture, and parti-
cularly the example of Saul, that eminent inftance of
fovereign and omnipotent grace : After his calling and
baptifm he was not joined to the difciples till they, be-
ing perfuaded of his converfion and character, gave him
the right hand of fellowfhip. And if this was required
in the primitive timesj and among the apoftles, who
were to feparate and go into difi'erent parts of the world
for the fpread of the gofpel, much more ought believers,
who are to continue together in the order of Chrift, to
be fatisfied in them whom they lay into their bofom.
So then you fee that there muft be a joining by mutual
confent, in order to the communion of faints in a chri-
ftian church-ftate. And in this manner, no doubt,
thefe Jews, when baptized, were added to the church.

The apoftle having noted their admiffion, goes on
to mention their number > not indeed precifely, but a

O 3 few

214 LECTURES ON

few more or Ici's ; about three thoufand fouls. A very
large ga.hering indeed ! Now came to pafs what our
Lord told Peter and John, when he called them from
their nets. Matt, iv. 19. " Follow me, and I will make
" you fifhers of men." The miraculous drau'^ht at
the fea of Tiberias, which the difciples could fcarce
drag to fhor?, was but a fhadow of this, taken up by
the net of the gofpel. The fields were now white, and
the reaper foon rejoiced with his (heaves ! What an
harvefl of fouls was here colleiled into the kingdom of
heaven ! May we not juftly admire, and efpecially
when we confidcr that all thefe were gathered and join-
ed to the Lord the fame day ? This is a marvellous
circumftance, but it was the Lord's doing ; and who
fliail limit the power of God ? It is eafy with Jeho-
vah to cf nvert any number, in whatever fpace, at his
pleafure. Lt a day or in a hour, yea in a moment,
the victorious arm of his grace can fubdue the heart of
a firmer, and even turn the difobedient in thoufands to
the wifdom pf the juft ! Had the change depended on
the preacher, this extraordinary account might have
been quefiioned ; but fiiicc the work is divine, if any
man doubt, the anfwer is ready.; it is the fame as in
the cafe of the refurre61ion. Why fliould it be thought
a thing incredible with you that God fhould quicken
{o great a number of fouls in a day ? Is any thing too
hard for the Almighty ? Cannot he at his will, in an
inllant, reduce a multitude of unbelievers to the obe-
dience of the faith ? Surely with God all things arc
po/Hble. Some, indeed, have queried whether fo many
^erfons could be baptized in a day; though it appears
not improbable to them who confider the number of baths

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 215

at Jerufalem, and that the apoftles had hands more
than fafEcisnt to accomplifli this work from eleven in
the morning, by which time it is reafonable to fuppofe
Peter had finifhsd his feirmon. But whatever difficulty
is made about the baptizing thefe perfons, there can be
no room to hefitate concerning the power of God to
convert them within the time abovementioned.

Once more, obferve ; this account Is univerfal and
particular : They all "and every one gladly received the
word ; none but thofe v/ho received the word were
baptized ; and no one baptized in the name of Jefus ort
this teftimony was refufed a place in the church, but
was freely admitted. Such is the order of the gofpel ;
nor can it be fhewn from the New-Tefcament that any
perfon was admitted to baptifm who received not the
word of the Lord, or that an unbaptized perfon was at
any time joined to the church. This is the fum of
the account. A number of fmners at Jerufalem, to the
amount of about three thoufand, hearing from Peter
the good tidings of remiffion of fins, were enabled to
believe j arid in teftimony of their cordial acceptance of
the gofpel, openly conFefTed Jefus Chrift, and being in
his name baptized, they were immediately added to the
church by mutual confent. Here it may be ufeful to
paufe and refledl.

In this glorious event we have a wonderful difplay
of the fovereignty, power, grace and faithfulnefs, of
God. Here is diftinguiftiing mercy, they and not
others. Thoufands were converted ; but there is rea-
fon to conclude that many more thoufands, who heard

O 4 the

2i6 LECTURES ON

the farre fermon remained in unbelief. Again, how
adorable the power of God in the fuddcn converfion of
fo many ftubborn unbvhevers, who hsd ?.6ted aoajnft
the mod ftriking teftimonies of the Father to his well-
beloved Son ; and to call home and pardon thefc daring
and bloody tranfgrefibrs, who had murdered the Prince
of life and crucified the Lord of glory ! This was alfo rich
nrrace irdced. Nor can we too much admire the faith-
fulnefs of God in thus accomplifliing the promiffs he
had j.iven to his church. Now it came to pafs that in
ev^n-tide it was light. How did he mukiply the na-
tion and increafe their joy ! Their joy before him was
truly accoiding to the joy of harveft; and they tri-
umphed in Chrift a:> men rejoice when they divide the
fpoil, Ifa. ix. 3. Alas, how different is the face of
things now ! Now a minifter of the gofpel can truly
mourn with the prophet, Micah vii. i. and lament,
faying, " Woe is me, for I am as when they have ga-
*' thered the fummer fruits, as the grape-gleanings of
*' the vintage I" Here and there an inftance, for the
Lord hath not utterly forfaken us. And if any judg-
ment is to be formed by the example of thejfe converts,
how few gladly receive the word ! Few inflced, com-
paratively fpeaking, arc baptized and ajiided to the
church ! In this refpect theie is buriittle even of the
form of godlinefs arnong us. The generality of hearers
feem to have no inclination to obey. O that they had
hcarVb to turn their fc;et unto the tefiimonies of the
Lord, and would glorify Chrift in a profelFed fub-
jediion to his gofpel ! But in vain do minifters now
wifh and pray ; in vain are ftrong arguments and ear-
neft intrcaties with many who would be thought chri-

ftians ;

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 217

ftians -y they regard not the order of th» gofpe], as if
chriftianity could be promoted without a church-ftate,
or there was neither authority, wifdom or grace, in the
appointments of the Lord ! Ncverthelefs God is able
and faithful to revve vts again. Let us not dtfpond
and fay, our bones are dried, our hope is loft ! 1 he
divine power and grace, manifeiled in the coiiverfioii
of this multitude, fliould encourage us to hope and
wait for the pouring out of the Spirit from on hi^h;
then fhall our v/ildernefs become as a fruitful field.
Many will then embrace the word with joy, and be-
come obedient to the faith, to the glory of God, and
the increafe of his vifible kingdom.

But for the dirediicn and cncourao-ement of thofe
who are doubtful of their ftate, or negligent of their
duty to Chrift, I fliall attempt a more particular im-
provement of this original example, which manifeltly
prefents us with the following truths, namely,

I. That a faving reception of the word is accom-
panied with joy.

,11. It becomes every one, who hath obtained mercy
to believe and embrace tiie goipel, to be immediately
baptized in the name of Jefus. And,

III. He that gladly receives the word, and is bap-
tized into Chrift, is obliged and entitled to the com-
munion of faints, and ihould accordingly be joined
to the church. *

2i8 L E C T tJ R E S O ^

We have feen that thfe example of thefe convert^
agrees with many other inftances on record, which
abundantly fhew that a reception of the word is at-
tended with joy, and prove the firft proportion ; and
indeed, in the nature of the thing, it cannot be other-
wife. The tidings of peace, pardon, liberty, falvation^
and vidory, mud convey joy to the fubjetSl; but alJ
thefe are included in the vo.ke of a reconciled God to
perifliing fmnerb by the gofpel of his Son. The man
who is unacquainted with the evil of fin, and his own
fad condition under its power and curfe, may take up
with a notion of evangelical truth, and be a ftranger
to the gladnefs felt by thefe converts; but he that has
been laid under adeep conviction of his mifery and guilt,
and, like the men of Judea, pricked in the heart, un-*
der a fenfe of his heinous iniquity, cannot fail of re-
joicing in the knowledge of falvation by the remiflion
of fins. Gan a proclamation of liberty to the captive,
pardon to the condemned, and glory to them who are
covered with fhame as children of wrath, be received
without joy? it is utterly impoffible. They who are ready
to perifli cannot but rejoice in a profpeCt of deliverance,
in proportion to the danger apprehended, and the cer-
tainty and compleatnefs of the falvation revealed. In
one word j it is gofpel that is received, and eflentially
a joyful found, and therefore it rauft in fome degree
rejoice thofe who embrace it.

And as to the other obfervations, they are no lefs
confirmed by the teftimony of fcripture. It is implied
in the general report of the gofpel, '« He that believ-

« eth

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 219

" eth and is baptized fliall be faved." And the commif-
fion of our Lord to teach and baptize, proves the obliga-
tion of baptifm on them that are taught. And it is plain
from the exhortation of Ananias to Saul when he lin-
gered, Adts xxii. 16. that no enlightened perfon, under
any pretence, fhould delay his fubmiffion to Chrift, or be
refufed his facred appointments. And, however fome
may excufe themfelves, and are not to be perfuaded
unto this obedience, it appears from the readinefs of
thefe men at Jerufalem, and the jailor and his houfe
on the like occafion, and efpecially when joined to that
of the eunuch, A6ls viii. 36. I fay, it appears but
natural to thofe who receive the word gladly by a cor-
dial faith, to be forward in prefenting themfelves as
the fubje6ls of baptifm. Nothing can be more evi-
dent than that he who receiveth the engrafted word
fhould immediately conform to this divine inftitution.
And that it becomes a baptized believer to be joined to
the church the firft opportunity, is not to be doubted,
fmce he is baptized in order to this communion of
faints, and the obfervance of whatever the Lord hath
commanded ; fo that a man who, after he has fub-
mitted to this ordinance, neglects the facred fellow-
Ihip, defeats one end of his baptifm, and comes fhort
of his engagements in that folemn devotion of hjmfelf
to the Lord, as well as to the uniform pra6lice of the
primitive chriftians.

Since therefore it cannot be modeftly qiieftioned
that it is the exprefs will of God, and agreeable to
the condu6l of fuch who were enlightened from the
beginning, that they who embrace the gofpel fhould

without

220 Lectureson

without delay be baptized and added to the church,
it may be prefumed that few will controvert thefc
points, but at the fame time, as obferved, the far
greater number of hearers obey not the truth, among
which we may hope there are many to whom the word
of the Lord is precious ; fuch perfons are for the moft
part fearful of their m.eetnefs for thefe holy appoint-
ments. When one and another is afked why, upon a
good hope through grace, he remains without practi-
cal and vifible fubjedtion to Chrift, whom he efteems
as his Lord ? The common reply is, I fear I am not
fufEciently qualified ; I am unworthy, and not duly
prepared for thefe inftitutions. And here, it muft be
owned, that men fhould take heed that they do not
precipitate into any form of religion. A formal pro-
feffion, without the life and power of godlinefs,
avails not the hypocrite ; nor will a blind devo-
tion, however exatt and externally regular, fave any
man ; yet under this pretence, fhall any true chriftian
omit the appointments of his Redeemer ? And fmcc
we have before us a criterion of real chriftianity,
kand confequently of an undeniable fitnefs for gofpel-
ordinances, I beg the fcrupulous believer to credit me
awhile till I have an opportunity of purfuing the in-
terefting point in another lecture or two ; in his atten-
dance on which, I truft, by the blefling of God, his
doubts may be removed to his full fatisfadion.

LECTURE

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 221

LECTURE XV.

What is included in a faving reception of the word^
and the manner in which it is embraced.

FROM the ftriking example of the firfl converts
at Jerufalem, and Other like inftancts, it appears
that the word is embraced with joy, and that every
one who receives ir, fhould be imaiediately baptizrid,
and joined to the church. Points which are fcarcely
debated. Neverthelefs, how rarely are the waters of
the baptiftery ufed ; and how few, in connparifon, ap-
pear before the Lord with the facrifice of praiie, and
fit at his table ! Now this muft be owing, either to
a negledi: ot' the gofpel, or to fome ground lefs fcruple
in them that embrace it, whereby they are prevented
from conforming to this holy pro'^cilion. But the
inftance of the Jews, who were baptized at the direc-
tion of Peter, is a fufficient reply to the ferious en-
quirer; It reduces the point to this fingle queftion,
namely, Have I in like manner received the vvord ?
If confcience anfvvers in the affirmative, every jufr ob-
jefiLion is removed, and the fiibjedl muft find relief
from his fears, and a warrant to appear under that
form of godlinefs which becomes the dilcrples of Jefus.
With a view, therefore, to aflift thofe who are doubt-
ful, and to animate the fincere penitent unta
a chearful obedience, I Ihall particularly conf.der the
pharadter and experience of thofe who were baptized

and

222 L E C T U R E S O N

and joined to the Lord at Jerufalem, and fliew the
obligation of them who have obtained the like mercy
to copy this original pattern.

The principal and interefting branch of my fubjecSl
is the defcription of thofe who willingly offered them-f
felves, and were added to the church. He that finds
himfelf anfwer to this, will readily follow their ex-
ample, and cfpecially when he confiders the obligations
upon him, which are hereafter to be named. Now
thefe primitive difciples are reprefented as having glad-
ly received his word. To a full difplay of which it
may be ufeful to fliew, what is included in a faving
reception of the truth, how or in what manner a per-
fon gladly receives it, the fource of that joy which
they feel. And, as a further illuftratiop of the point,
I {hall mention the genuine fymptoms oi this bleffed
experience. Now a cordial reception of the gofpe^
carries in it,

I. An underflanding in Chrift, and the things
which belong to his kingdom. *' He that receiveth
" the feed into good o-round, is he that heareth the
*' word and underftandeth it," Matt. xiii. 23. Such
is the profitable hearer, who embraces the gofpel in his
heart. This was the experience of the faithful of old.
Hence faith David, " The entrance of thy word giv-
" eth light, it giveth underflanding to the fimple,"
Pfalm cxix. 130. And in verfe 25, he prayeth, fay-
ing, " Give me underflanding that I may know thy
*' teftimonies." Some are greatly offended that man
in his natural flate is reprefented void of underfland-r

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 223

^•no-. Yet thus faith the fcrlpture, which cannot be
broken, Rom. i. 31. *' Vv-ithout underftanding." And
again, chap. iii. 11. " There is none that underftand-
*' eth. " To the fame purpofe is Ephef. iv. 18.
** Their underftanding is darkened." Yea faith the
prophet, Pfalm Ixxx. 5. " They know not, neither
*' will they undeiftand." A natural man may know
all language, and be a profound critic in the letter of
fcripture : He may alfo attain to an accurate know-
ledge of every docStrine therein revealed ; neverthelefs,
darknefs hath blinded his eyes, he is fpiritually blind ;
for with all his natural advantages, he cannot difcern
ordiftinguilh the glory and ^importance of the gofpel;
he hath ears but heareth not ; and is in the fame fi-
ti^atjion w^ith the Jews, to whom our Lord thus de-
clares, John viii. 43. *' Why do ye not underftand
*' my fpeech ? even becaufe ye cannot hear my word."
Thus the mind of the unregenerate hearer labours
under infuperable prejudices, infomuch that he is in-
capable, without a change, of beholding the glory of
the Lord, and the wifdom of God in his gofpel. To
v/hich impotence, in refpedl of divine knowledge, the
apofcle is as plain as words can exprefs it. " The
*' natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
" of God, they are foolifhnefs unto him ; neither can
•' he know them, becaufe they are fpiritually difcern-
*' ed," I Cor. ii. 14. This is the fad ftate of ihi
carnal man ; he heareth the word oi the kingdom,
but our Lord expiefsly declares, he underilandeth it
not. So that in whatever fenfe unp'ofitabie hearers
may be faid to receive che word, or to have it fowa
p. their hearts, they are certainly deditute of a capa-
city

224 LECTURESON

ci'y of difcerning the things of the Spirit. But this
is the criterion of him who receiveth he v.oid to Hfe
cverlafting, that he underftandeth itj and by ihis he llands
difiinguiflied from all other hearers. He huih v„hat is
ftiled. Col. i. 9. a fpiritual underftanding, which is
effential unto a faving reception of the gofpel, and is
the efFe£t of divine illumination. Hence the prayer of
the apoftle, 2 Tim. xii. '], *' And the Lord give thee
'* underftandina; in all things." In one word, God
hath given to him that is calUd, an underftanding to
" know him that is true." Without this gift o\ God,
no man can receive the word in the joyful manner
thefe converts did.

Again, faith is eflential to this blefled experience.
Concerning thofe who perifhed under the former dif-
pehfation we read, Heb. iv. 2. that " the word
" preached did not profit them, not being mixed with
'' faith in them that hca'd it." The allufion is to a
mingling two or more things until they incorporate.
In like manner, when the word is mixed with faith,
it is not only received into the underftanding, but ex-
tends to all the powers of the foul, fo that the heart
is confojmed and united therewith. Thus runs the
margin of many copies, " becaufe they were not
*' united by faith." A fimple idea of the truth, how-
ever clear and diftin6t, yea and though attended with
the higheft credit of its veracity. Is not fufficient.
The heart inuft be deeply imprefled, and as it were
trantfcrmicd into the do6trine of Chiift. Indeed this
fuppofes an enlightened underflantling, and a perfuaiion
of the exiftence and glory of the things which are re-
vealed

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 225

Vealed, without which it is impoflible to receive them
into the heart. But a profitable reception of the word,
by faith, implies more than a bare underftanding,
which in itfelf cannot produce a fufficient alteration
in the fubje6l. The whole heart is concerned in this
divine exercife, as appears from Rom. vi. 17. *' Ye
*' have obeyed from the heart that form of doilrine
** which was delivered unto you ;" or as k is read,
** unto which you was delivered." Where much the
fame idea is conveyed by an allufion to metal caft m
a mould, which receives the impreflion of its type,
and comes out with its likenefs : So is the heart tranf-
formed when the word is united by faith ; yea and ftill
more, it as it were incorporates with it, fo that the
things of the gofpel hath an exiftence in the fub-
je6l, as the great Dr. Owen obferves on Heb. xi. i.
. " It is the fubftance of things hoped for." Faith,
mixing with a preached gofpel, gives a kind of fub-
fiftence of what is promifed in the heart of the be-
liever J it is alfo, faith the apoftle, " the evidence
" of things not feen." The fubje£l hath the witnefs
in himfelf, and a fubftantial evidence of the truth
in his own experience. So then the word thus re-
ceived, under the influence of divine grace, becomes
united with, and transforms the fubjedi: in a manner
not unlike that of natural food, which by incorpo-
rating with the body, is a means to fuftain and in-
vigorate animal life. It is true, this divine operation
is wonderful, the modus of which is not to be ex-
plained ; but this is no jufl objedion, fince the
like muft be owned of the manner in which' the
food of the body unites and fuftains it. The learned

P may

226 L E C T U R E S O N

may defcribe or dilate on digeftion, fecretion, repara-
tion, nutrition, &c. with more or lefs certainty ; yet
after all it is allowed that nature is a myftery in re-
fpe6l of her adual incorporation of food as it were
into herfelf, but ^that the body is fuftained in this
manner, will fcarce be denied. And the fame idea
is conveyed by the word being mixed v/ith faith in the
heart, as likewife when the gofpel is compared to food,
and Chrift to the bread of life, and alfo when faith
in him is reprefe-nted under the notion of eating his
flefh and drinking his blood. Spiritual and natural
eating are indeed efTentially different, and to compare
the former in every circumftance with the latter would
be abfurd ; but if In any particular they agree, it
is in this, that each invigorate the life to which it
is adapted, by being received into and incorporating
with the fubjecSl ; and this feems the purport of that
remarkable palTage, 2 Pet. i. 4. where, fpeaking of
the exceeding great and precious promifes which are
given us by the gofpel, he faith, " that by thefe ye
*' might be partakers "of the divine nature." Thefe
promifes, embraced with faith, became a means,
under the agency of the Spirit, of transforming the
foul into the divine image. Hence holinefs, humility,
and the love of God, appear in the fubjeit, to the
praife of his grace who hath called him,

It follows, that the afFedions are included in re-
ceiving the word, as obfervcd ; it reaches the heart.
* Faith (fays an excellent divine) fets love to work
' upon the objedls propofed to be believed.' And
the apoftle gives this criterion of the chriftian faith,

that

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 227

that it worketh by love, Gal. v. 6. It th refore
touches the inward fprings of the foul, and draws
out the afFedions towards God and Chrift, and the
things of the Spirit. This is the faith wh c!i, be-
ing mixed with the word, renders it efffectual to
promoting the divine life in the foul. Thus all the
powers of the mind are engaged, and the believer
receives the love of the truth that he might be fav-
ed, 2 Their, ii. 10. And, indeed, love to the truth
and to Chrift is infeparable, from a tafte of his grace.
There is no receiving the word with a due fenfe of its
glory and importance, and mixing it with faith, which
implies fome degree of hope in the bleffings revealed,
without a fincere, unlverfal and fuperlative afFe6lion,
which every one more or lefs feels on embracing the
gofpel J fo that the religion of a real chriftian is rooted
and grounded in love from the beginning.

And further, this includes a fincere and univerfal
obedience. Hence believers are defcribed as obedient
to the faith, A6ls vi. 7. And Peter, i epif. i. 21.
thus exhorts the difciples : " Seeing you have purified
" your fouls in obeying the truth, thro' the Spirit, fee
" that ye love one another, &c." On the other hand,
they who reject: the counfel of God are pj^onounced
difobedient, and are complained of as not obeying the
gofpel. In receiving the word there is not only n
fubmiffion to the righteoufnefs of God, but the per-
fon refigns himfelf unto Jefus as his Lord, and be-
comes a willing fubjeft of his kingdom. Thus in
Col. ii. 6. it is ftiled, receiving Chrift Jefus the Lord,
i. e. to be difpofed and governed by him in all things.

P 2 ' He

228 LECTURES ON

He that cordially embraces the gofpcl furrenders him-
felf unto Jefus, and the language of his heart is with
Saul, who, when converted, cries out, " Lord, what
*' wilt thou have me to do?" And I need only fay,
that in the natural courfe of things this devotion of
foul to the Redeemer will iffue in external obedience.
Thus when the word is the power of God to falvation,
it is received into the underftanding, mixed with
faith, engages the heart of the fubjecSt, and is attended
with an unfeigned obedience to Chrift.

Now he that has obtained mercy thus to believe
the word of the gofpel, will appear, on refledlion, to
have received it in the following manner :

First, with a full perfuafion of its true and pror
per divinity : " For our gofpel came not unto you
" in word only> but alfo in power, and in the Ho-
*' ly Ghofl", and in much affurance," i TheiT. i. 5,
j. e. of its divine original and authority ; " becaufe
'* ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us,
" ye received it not as the word of men, but as it
" is in truth the word of God," chap. xi. 13.. And
this they did not barely from any external evidence
whatever, but from an inward experience of its power,
for the apoRle adds^ " which e{ie6l:ually workcth in
" you that believe." The word comes with a divine
authority into the heart, and commends itfelf to the
confcicnce. Hence though the preaching of the crofs
is to them that perifli foolifhnefs, yet " unto them
" that are called it is the wifdom of God and the
" power of God." They receive the word as from

the

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 229

the Lord, and every do£lrine is embraced in his name ;
,7; ,;ts being thus apprehended, is the very ground
:. .Mw-" laith, affection and obedience, which ftand,
iioL in the wifdom of men, but in the power of God,
It is this div'ine voice they hear, and this alone con-
quers the foul and compels the heart to obedience.
So that the believer has an eye to the ''upreme au-
thority of God ; and in receiving his word he fubmits
to and relies upon him as the all-perfe£t Jehovah and
Sovereign of his creatures, who has a ri^hi to demand
his obedience, and whofe faithtulnefs never can fail.
In a word ; this reception of the gofpel we are fpeak-
ing of, carries in it that abfolute dependence, and that
unrefcrved fubje6lion, which is due to God only, and
therefore muft be grounded on his authority ; for it
would be unlawful to yield in this manner to any
mere creature. But again.

The word thus received is alfo embraced inftantane-
oufly. " The kingdom of heaven (faith our Lord)
*' is like unto a merchant-man feeking goodly pearls,
** who when he had found one pearl of -great price,
" he, went and fold all that he had, and bought it,"
Matt. xiii. 45, 46. The truth of God is not like
the opinion of man, to be deliberated upon and cau-
tioufly received j what comes with a divine authority
to the confcience, admits no debate. No fooner
doth the entrance of the word enlighten the mind
and poffefs it with the knowledge of the glory of God
in the perfon of Chrift, but the heart is fubdued and
©beys. And the reafon is plain j for if a man could
^oubt a moment whether or not he fhall obey divine
P 3 truth.

230 L E C T U R E S O N

truth, he would prove himfelf perverfe, and in a fiate
of rebellion againft God.

And further. The word is embraced in an eager and
refolute manner, with the utmoft willingnefs* of heart.
Such is the nature and importance of the gofpel, that
it cannot be duly received with indifference- A re-
ception of the word in the fenfe we are upon, as
hinted before, terminates in faith, and includes that
coming to Chrift or receiving of him, which is the
fame with believing on his name. The truth is re-
ceived by thofe who are ready to perifh, and to fuch
it muft be as life from the dead. The frame of the
penitent finner towards the word, when he layeth
hold of the promife and fleeth to Chrift for life, will
in fome degree anfwer to the importance of that con-
cern he has in it, which is no lefs than that of being
delivered from wrath to come, and the obtaining
of life everlafting. This good news is as cold waters
to a thirfty foul ; and he muft be thirfty that drinks it.
Nor are the invitations of the gofpel given to any other.
So then the word is received with a longing heart,
and wit-h a holy refolution to renounce every thing
for the fake of Chrift and the righteoufnefs of God in
liim.

M0R.E0VER, the gofpel is received with unfeigned
contrition of foul. Indeed when it enters the heart
it relieves from the forro'A^s of a guilty confcience ;
it heals the fubjedt of thofe wounds which the terrors
of the Almighty have made under legal convidtion,

and

* scJlj.il/Ui libentcr, the word rendered gladly in the text,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 231

and fills him with peace through faith in the blood of
the Saviour, but at the fame time it opens the fluices
of evangelical repentance. Remiflion is received with
the profounceft humility; for the fubjedl being melted
under a fenfe of divine love, is deeply afFe<3;ed with
his own unworthinefs, and mourns with felf-abafe-
ment for the evil of his many tranfgrellions , v/hich
are freely forgiven him. Hence alfo he is filled with
admiration at the rich grace of God bellowed on
him.

In a word, it is plain, from the inftance in hand,
that an acceptance of the gofpel is attended with joy.
Thefe Jerufalem-finners gladly received the word.
In like manner do all who embrace it, which, as
hinted, agrees with the nature of the gofpel-report,
it being efientially good tidings of joy. Nor is evan-
gelical forrow, which belongs to a broken and con-
trite heart, at all inconfiftent with this. The mercy
of God, conveyed through the blood of his Son, is
adapted to both ; for furely the man, who hath re-
ceived remiflion of fins, may well blufti and mourn on
account of his vilenefs, and his having offended that
Lord who hath pardoned him, and at the fame time
fincerely and gladly rejoice in the grace he has re-
reived.

In this manner enlightened finners mix the word
with faith, and obey the truth from the heart. They
receive it as the word of God, in an inftant, without
hefitation, and with ardor and refolution, as moft
defirable in itfelf and important to them. They hke-
P 4 wife

232 LECTURESGN

wife embrace it with a contrite frame, under a d^p
fenfe of their own unworthinefs and the aboundiHg
grace, which they alfo admire ; and further, it is at-
tended with gladnefs, as it was with the Jews. Ar-
ticles, which, I am perfuaded, will find a teftimony
in the confcience of him, who has been called out
of darknefs into marvellous light. It is certain that
the experience of the faithful differ much in degree;
fome are not fo deeply fenfible as others may have
been ; and I would be far from infifting on any thing
not quite efTcntial, and thereby ftumble the weak ;
but it appears to me that thefe are genuine criterions.
And 1 cannot but think that the leaft of all faints will
difcern, on refleilion, that the authority of God is at
the foundation of his faith j that however long he may
have been doubtful and held back, through ignorance
and fear, from refting his foul on Chrift, the moment he
faw his fulnefs and the mercy of God held forth unto
him, he yielded to the fceptre of his love; and that
in fo doing he humbled himfelf as unworthy the
blefling, and admired the grace of his pardon j, and,
in a word, that at this feafon he felt fome degree of
joy in believing. I appeal to the experienced Reader,
and heartily wifh thefe hints may prove an occafion
of his eftablifhment, that he may rejoice with them,
in whom the word of the Lord abideth a feed of life
cverlafting ! ' ' '

LECTURE

PRIMITIVE CHRTSTTANITY. 233

LECTURE XVI.

The fource and fymptoms of the pleafure which at-
tends a cordial acceptance of the gofpel. The duty
of thofe who embrace it to an immediate external
obedience. And the joy of true faith compared with
that which may be found with an hypocrite.

THE laft lefture clofed with obferving that a
faving reception of the gofpel is attended with
joy. We now proceed to the fpring of this facred
afFeftion peculiar to them that are called ; which, to-
gether with the attending fymptoms, the obligation on
the fubje6t to incorporate himfelf among the vifible
difciples of Jefus, and a word for the relief of en-
quiring fouls, will finifh our defign on the increafe of
the church by the firft fermon preached after our Lord's
refurreftion. This enquiry is the more needful, fince
it appears from the parable of the fower. Matt, xiii,
that there is a joy felt by fome who are void of fpiri-
tual underftanding, and who have no root in them-
felves, and therefore, however induced to a formal pto-
feflion, under which, for a feafon, they may boaft;
they are at length offended, and perifn. Every con-
fiderate perfon would deprecate being deceived in a
matter of fo great importance. And it may be, my
Reader is wifhing to know that his joy is fubftantial
and good. May this attempt to affift his enquiry be

fucceeded,

234 LECTURES ON

fucceeded, and prove a happy means of our mutual
fatisfatStion and comfort ! But let it be remembered
that it is not eflential to the character of a believer,
that he has been enabled to diftinguifh th;' bottom
of his heart, or that he fhould vew things in his
own experience in the p.-ecife order laid down in
the following obfervations. It is fufficient, dear
dear Friend, that thou findeft in thyfclf the fubftance
of what is defcribed. This premifed, I go on to the
enquiry propofed.

And here I cannot but apprehend, that the grand
and original fource of this divine joy is the glory of
God, as it fhines forth in Chrift. This apptars juft,
both from fcripture and experience. That which is firfl:
prefented to the mind, by the light of the gofpel, to
engage a man to the obedience of faith, may I think
be properly confidered as the leading fpring of his joy
in the Lord ; and what is this but '' the glory of God
** in the face of his Son Jefus Chrift ? " 2 Cor. iv. 6.
In the fame profpedl a believer perfeveres. " We all
*' with open face, as in a glafs, behold the glory of
" the Lord, &c." chap. iii. 18. The enlightened
Cnner has a direct and true fight of the moral excel-
lency and beauty of the gofpel. It is a reconciled
God, whofe righteoufnefs is declared in the remiflion
of fins, that fixes the heart and fills it with gladnefs.
He that has been troubled for fin as an offence againft
God, finds his reft, on a view of the harmony of all
divine attributes in his redemption ; and it affords him
unfpeakable fatisfadlion and delight, to behold the Al-
Hiighty a juft God and a Saviour, and that pardon and

life

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 235

life everlafting are fet forth in a confonance with the ma-
jefty and glory of God and his government. Now t is joy
is more or lefs felt antecedent to and irrefpecStive of his
own intereft in this grace. So that the joy of a
chriftlan is rooted in the love of God, whofe glory is
feen in his recovery from ruin. The word is received
under a full perfuafion of its conformity to the d;vine
wifdom and righteoufnefs ; and though the joy of the
awakened finner is not without fome hope of perfonal
intereft in the Redeemer, or at leaft of obtaining this
falvation, yet the glory of the Lord, and the divine
excellency of the things of the Spirit, is the firft and
immediate fource of his gladnefs. Thus the joy of
faith arifeth from its objedl. It is God in Chrift,
who is the image of the Father, and in whom mercy
and truth, and righteoufnefs and peace, unite and mu-
tually embrace, that yields him delight. And accord-
ingly the joy of believers hath always centered in
God. Hence David fliles him, Pfalm xliii. 4. my
exceeding joy ; or, as it may be read, the joy of my
gladnefs. He that is juftihed by faith " rejoices in
" the Lord, and his foul is joyful in his God," Ifa.
Ixi. 10. And in Rom. v. 11. the apoftle, fpeaking of
the general experience of the faints, faith, " We alfo
*' joy in God through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by
*' whom we have now received the atonement." The
center of joy is its fource. Joy naturally terminates
in that out of which it originally arofe. Now the joy
of the chriftian is in God reconciled by the death of
his Son ; the firft fpring of which was a profpedt of
peace by the blood of his crofs. A chriftian may not
be able to diftinguifh this order of his affe(Sions in a

life

236 LECTURESON

life of faith; but, on examination, he will find in
proper ion to his light, that it takes its firfl r,T?
from a view of the glory of God in the pe'! >' of
Chrift, and the dilplay there is in the goCpe', of the
divine perfedlions in the deliverance and falvation of
fmners.

The next fource of gladnefs in receiving the word '
is the hope of the fubje6l for himCeif. The called are
begotten to a lively hope of perfonal intereft in the
falvation revealed; for the illuminations of the Spirit
correfpond with the word of the gofpel, in which"
every fenfible finner is invited with an aflurance of
mercy, as in the inftance before us, ver. 38. Appro-
priation is effential to faith, infomach that however
weak in Its degree, there is no a£l of believing, pro-'
perly fpeaking, from the firfl: motions of the quickened
fmner towards the Saviour without it. Believing is
trufting; but there can be no trufting without hope.
In receiving the word by faith, there is included an
application to Chrift, and of the peace he hath made; '
and confequently the fubjedl applies to himfelf the
grace and glory which are the purchafe of his blood.
And accordingly, from [the beginning, the gofpel is
treafured up or hid in the heart. He that receiveth
the word of the kingdom receiveth it for himfelf, and
layeth it up as his property, riches and life. Hence
fprings his joy; this God is his God; this Jefus is
his Saviour; and that he hath a right to claim in the
promife of grace. At leaft without fome degree of
hope there can be no joy ; but gladnefs attends a re-
ceiving of the word, in proportion to the intereft

and

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 237

and advantage the called apprehend themfelves to
have in the glorious gofpel of Chrift; and unfpeak- •
able is his advantage ; for, " of him are ye in Chrift
*' Jefus, who of God is made unto us wifdom, and righ-
*' teoufnefs, and fandification and redemption," i Cor.
i. 30. In this profpe6l, may not the believer well ex-
ult, and, like the eunuch who was converted by the
preaching of Philip, having put on Chrift, proceed in
his way rejoicing ?

Another fpring of this facred afFeiSion in the be-
liever, is the happy difference which he finds and feels
in himfelf. A ftranger intermeddles not with this joy ;
nor is it in the power of a carnal mind to conceive the
blefled alteration which a received gofpel makes in the
foul. While a fmner lies under convi£tion of guilt,
felf-condemned and ready to perlfh, his troubles arc
great, he is filled with darknefs, and diftrefs j and
in fome inftances the tormenting fears of wrath have
been exquifitely great, like thofe Jerufalem-finners,
whofe hearts, we have feen, were pierced as with dag-
gers or fwords. Their cafe indeed was fomewhat pe-
culiar ; but the evil "of fin in the confcience will ever
break the peace of the foul ; and for the moft part,
the terrors of a broken law, and the apprehenfions of
ruin, for a feafon greatly difturb the awakened tranf-
grefTor. And with refpecl to thofe who are feeking
relief for their fouls ftiort of Chrift and his righteouf-
npfs, their minds are ftill diftatisfied : If they flatter
themfelves awhile, fome frefti excurfion of fin, or de-
fe^ in duty, plunges them into the ditch, and they
^fe again in diftrefs. But when God fhincs into the

foul.

238 LECTURES ON

foul, and gives the light of his glory in Chriflr, O
the liberty, peace and courage, that poflefTes the mind !
This binds up the heart, comforts the mourner, and
fets the captive free. Now, juflified by faith, the fm-
ner hath peace with God. He is follaced with divine
love; and, being thus healed and reftored, finds that
reft, which a faithful Saviour has promifed to all who
are weary and heavy laden, on coming to him, and
feels himfelf chearful.

Finally. A certain profpecSt of glory enhances
the joy of the faithful. The falvation in Chrift, which
a believer apprehends, includes a glory to come, in
the fruition of which he fiiall be happy for ever.
Hence we are faid to be " called unto eternal glory,"
and *' begotten by the refurre£tion of Chrift from the
" dead, unto a lively hope of an inheritance incor-
*' ruptible, undefiled, and which fadeth not away."
Chriftians in this are conformed to their head, the
Meffiah, who in prophecy fays, " Therefore my heart
*' is glad and my glory rejoiceth," Pfalm xvi. 9. And,
whence this joy of the Redeemer? He adds, " ThOu
'* wilt fhew me the path of life." In like manner the
believer is infpired. A view of his glory with Chrift
fills him with gladnefs. Nor is this at all inconfiftent with
the believer's joy firft arifing from a fight of the glory of
God, and terminating in the Lord, fince that glory in
the hope of which he rejoices lies in his being with
God, to behold his face in righteoufnefs, to be filled
with his love, and to celebrate his praife. Such was the
expectation of the MeJHah himfelf, in the paflage laft

mentioned ;

PRIxMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 239

mentioned : " In thy prefence is fulnefs of joy, and
*' at thy right hand are pleafures for evermore."

These are the fprings of gladnefs in the heart of
him who receives the word, or believes in the Lord
Jefus Chrift. It takes its rife from a view of the
glory of God in him, the beauty of which attracts
the beholder ; for, however ftrange or difagreeable the
gofpel may be to a natural man, nothing is more glo-
rious in itfelf,* or more fuited to the tafte and defire
of him that is fpiritual. He rejoices in the divine
wifdom, holinefs and righteoufnefs, which fhine in his
juftification, through faith 'in the Redeemer. Thus
the gofpel is firft received as it is in itfelf, glorious and
excellent. And though this Is not without hope of
an intereft in the falvation revealed, yet a difcovery
of the divine glory in this provifion of grace firft ftrikeg
the mind of him that is called, whofe pleafure increafes
on a view of his perfonal advantage, which together
with the fweet alteration the peace of God makes in
his heart, lately troubled with fin, and the profpe<5l of
life everlafting fills him with joy. Now all thefe are
more or lefs experienced by the faithful. No wonder,
then, that the word is gladly received. Can the man
be otherwife than glad, who beholds the glory of God
difplayed in the falvation of his foul ? Or fhall he
who is relieved from the forrows of a wounded con-
fcience, and the terrors of divine wrath, being cleanfed
with the blood of Chrift, who is now formed in him
the hope of glory, fail of rejoicing ? Certainly no.
May this joy in the falvation of God, my dear
^Friend, be the ftrength of our heart, that, perfevering

240 LECTURES ON

in the fruits of holinefs, we may attain to perfe6tion in
the world to come !

Now whoever has found this joy arife in his heart,
to him the word of the gofpel is precious ; he efteems
it as excellent in itfelf, and as the means of his own
falvation. It is therefore more than his neceflary food.
Job xxiii. 12. more to be defired than gold, yea than
much fine gold ; fweeter alfo than honey or the honey-
comb, Pfalm xlx. 10. Hence young converts give
themfelves to reading and meditation, and delight in
the company of thofe who are ready to difcourfe on
fpiritual fubjeds. They alfo take every opportunity of
hearing, to be deprived of w^hich would be as a famine
to their fouls. This delight in the law of God is
frequently feen to abate, yea and, it may be, that very
foon, which is juftly lamented ; and they who have
forgot the love of their efpoufals, do well to look back
to the kindnefs of their youth, and remember how they
firft received and heard, and hold faft and repent, Rer.
iii. 3. But if any man defpifes the word of the Lord,
or thinks its miniftration needlefs for him, under a
conceit of what he hath already attained, he is proud,
knowing nothing, and hath need to beware that he de-
ceives not himfelf among thofe who receive not the love
of the truth ; for where that abides in the heart, the
preaching of the gofpel is highly efteemed, and the
preachers in confequence, which is another fymptom
of gladly receiving the word, as it is written, *' How
** beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gof-
*' pel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things !"
Rom. X. 15. Faithful minifters of Chrift are hated

and

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 241

and defpifed by the enemies of the truth ; but it is the
property of thofe who beHeve to efteem them. And
however they are treated by fome who pretend to this
faith, it is certain that they are highly acceptable to
them in whom it prevails. And this is perfeilly
natural, fmce befides the pleafure and advantage
they themfelves find in hearing, it is a genuine, and
indeed one of the firfl: and mofl fenfible fymptoms of
embracing the gofpel, to wifli it might be the power of
God to the falvation of others. The fame difpoHtion
is feen in every one in whom God has fhined, which
difcovered itfelf in the woman of Samaria ; having
found Chrift, and been enabled to truft him, he would
rejoice at his being revealed to all with whom he is
connecSled, that they might alfo believe. In a word, un-
der the influence of this divine joy, believers are bold to
confefs the Lord Jefus, and to declare their experience of
his love. This joy is as the light of the morning, which
difperfeth-the clouds ; the fears which overfhadow and
intimidate the mind through ignorance, unbelief and
carnal reafon, vanifh before it, and a freedom and
courage poflelTes the fubjecl, who no longer will confult
fiefh and blood, but refolves to obferve every gofpel-in-
ftitution. Thus no fooner did thefe difciples embrace
the gofpel, but they openly and joyfully joined to the
Lord, though it called for the immediate and certain
expence of all that they had, and was even at the
hazard of their lives.

This leads to the reafons for an immediate and
chearful compliance with the appointments of the Re-
deemer. Obedience to Chrift is of infinite importance.
Q^ There

242 LECTURESON

There is falvation in no other ; nor any other way
of being faved by Jefus but through faith in him.
We hope that many who are not in a profefled fubjec-
tion to his gofpel, yet believe on his name. But how
uncomely in a chriftian not to be conformed to the
undoubted will of his Lord ? Indeed this is fo againft the
natural tendency of faith, and the genuine influence of
divine love, in the remiffion of fins, that one would be
apt to conclude that the fubje6l: could not allow himfelf,
on any confideration whatever, to fall fhort of the
leaft command of his Saviour; yet, alas, we have
reafon to lament, that, in all appearance, many who
have tafted that the Lord is gracious, through one un-
happy occafion and another, prefume to live in the
omiffion of what is enjoined them ! And, Reader, art
thou in this way ? Allow me to prefs thee; examine
thyfelf, and obey thy Redeemer in all things ; remem-
ber what Peter declares, *' This fame Jelus God hath
*' made both Lord and Chrift." It is not the forgetful
hearer of the word, but the doer of the work : *' This
*' man, fays the apoftle, {hall be blefle j in his deed."
Faith without fruit will as furely deceive thee as an
heartlefs obedience : A general flight of that open confef-
f:on of Chrifl: before men, among thofe who fit under the
word, may render thee indifferent about it ; but it will
be found a thing of the greateft importance when the
Son of man fnall confefs his faithful difciples before the
angels of God. And it fhould further be noted, that a
perfonal fubjedtion to Jefus is, by the tefl:imony of God,
cflTential to the chara6ter of him that may hope for the
falvation revealed in the gofpel.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 243

It is a glorious truth, that the gofpel is the " power •
** of God unto falvation to every one that believeth :"
But then we are to remember that chriftian baptifm,
and a conformity to the order of the gofpel, belongs to
the obedience of faith, which indeed comprehends more,
but not lefs, than a regard to every external a£l of homage
to the Saviour. From this, and many other confidera-
tions*, the folly of negleiling divine appointments is ma-
nifeft. An attempt to convince men of this may now
feem abortive and vain ; but certainly he who in the
end is found to. have defpifed, or fhuned the Redeemer's
commands, will have no reafpn to glory at his appear-
ance and kingdom. The man whofe confcience tells
him that he has wilfully omitted and lived in a negleft
of any known inftitution of Jefus, will find his hearc
fail him at the approach of his judge ; but he that abides
in Chrift may have ^confidence, for he ftiall not be
afliamed before him at his coming.

As a further inducement to be found in the way of

obedience, I intreat the Reader, who trufts in the Lord
Jefus Chrift, will allow me to urge the following par-
ticulars upon him :

I. Thou art certainly qualified for this gofpel-fer-
vlce. Is the queftion whether thy years, condition in
life, or attainm^ent in knowledge, faith and love, come
up to what is required in the difciples of Chrift? The
anfwer is at hand : " If thou believeft with all thine
" heart, thou mayeft," A6ts viii. 37. A meetnefs for

Q_ 2 thefe

* Folly of negledting divine inftitutions, publlflied 175S.

244 L E C T U R E S O N

thefe holy appointments depends not on any particular
age or worldly circumftances, no nor on fingular advances
in a ftate of grace. All that they require, is a new
heart, and manifeft repentance and faith, without
which no man can be faved. And if thou art qualified
through grace, muft not thy confcience condemn thee
for omitting thy Redeemer's commands ?

2. It is abfolutely required at thy hands. *' Re-
'* pent and be baptized," is the voice of Chrift in his
gofpel to the end of the world. No man that trufts
in the Lord is on any accoulit e;ccepted from an obli-
gation to confefs him. All and every one, who looks
to Jefus for life, is enjoined in his word to be bap-
tized in his name, and wilt thou withftand the united
demand of his authority and love ?

Moreover, the example of the faithful call for
thine obedience. It was the univerfal practice of tha
primitive difciples. Of the multitude converted in the
apoftles time, not one appears to delay this profeflion,
Saul only excepted, and he ftandsjuftly reproved. It
becomes thee to imitate their zeal. We are to follow
them in the path of duty as well as of fuffering. And
indeed no kind of fufPerings endured otherwife than
under this profcfTion, hath a direil tendency to glorify
Chrift, or to prove our faith in him. But, we have
feen that when the gofpel firfl prevailed, converts were
manifeft by their immediate recourfe to the minifters
of Chrift, they willingly offered themfelves for bap-
tifm, and to be joined with the church, and did not,
as many now do, linger and halt year after year, as

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 245

if a profeffion of Jefus was a matter of indifFerency or
prefump6ion, but they made hafte and delayed not, and
and in all appearance thought a day loft not fpent
under Chri.ft, and this they did in the midft of temp-
tations and fiery trials. Now, if it became them thus,
at the hazard of every thing dear in this world, to put
on Chrift, fhall any in the prefent day, who in the
general, run no fuch danger to the flefh, with decency
negledl it ? But, alas, the fcepticifm and lukewarm-
nefs that abounds, more effectually and fatally quenches
our zeal for the ordinances of the Lord, than the
fevereft perfecutions for confcience fake. This the
experience of all ages hath too plainly verified j which
fhews the perverfenefs of our natural fpirits, and may
juftly fill us with blufhing, while we blefs God for the
external peace and liberty we enjoy. But again,

4. It is thy honor and advantage to be under this
holy profeffion. However defpifed by the world, can
any thing be more truly praife- worthy than to be a dif-
ciple of Jefus ? If relative honor in any chara<Sler is in
proportion to the dignity of him with whom we are
connedled, as moft certainly it is, who can vie with
the chriftian, or what more honorable than his pro-
feffion ? To be a real and vifible difciple of the Son
of God J and a follower of the Lamb, who is exalted
in the midft of the throne in the heavens, far above all,
muft be an honor indeed, infinitely furpaffing the moft
noble alliance or connexion on earth. It is for want
of difcerning the glory of Cnrift, that any are back-
ward to give the moft evident proof of their fubje6lion
to his authority. A due fenfe of this in the heart will

Q. 3 make

246 LECTURES ON

make a man count it an honor to be vile in the eyes of
the world for his name's fake. No man need be
afhamed of the gofpel of Chrift who is not a fhame to
it, but adorns the doctrine of his Saviour. And fur-
ther,

5. To be baptized into Chrift is as it were to have
his Father's name written in our foreheads. Rev. xiv. i.
for we are all the children of God by faith in Chrift
Jefus, the honor of which is not to be exprefled. Nor
is it lefs an advantage to be walking in Chrift. This
right or privilege is profitable to him that believes, and
therefore to be highly efteemed. If we may credit the
fcripture of truth, and the declared experience of the
faithful, there is a leward in walking blamelefs in the
ordinances of the Lord ; it is fo in point of knowledg-e,
protection, comfort and joy, in communion with God
and his people; all which muft be exceeding precious
to him that is fpiritual. And are not thefe motives
fufficient to engage thy chearful fubmiffion to Jefus ?
If any thing further is needful to convince thee, con-
fidcr,

6. On the contrary, the many difadvantages that
attend a non-conformity to the evident and undeniable
appointments of the Redeemer. In this ftate, as hint-
ed already, the fubjcdl can yield no fufficient proof of
his faith. A man may believe j but no man can fhew
that he believes in a ne^le£t of the Saviour's inftitutions,
which are grounded in his authority, and a teft of the
foul's obedience unto him. By this omiffion alfo a
perfon falls fhort of the charader of him unto whom

the

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 247

the promife of falvation is given, which, one would
think, fhould ahrm the man who defires to be fay-
ed. And further, he that lives out of this order ex-
cludes himfelf from other precious promifes, and is not
in the ordinary way of communion with God, and
confequently it affedls his peace, holinefs, joy and love,
all which are greatly promoted in this divine fellowfhip.
In a word, he is much expofed in an hour of temp-
tation. One fpecious excufe which feme make for
fliunning a chriftian profefilon is this, that they are
afraid they fliall prove a diftionor unto it. But,
rot to infift on the power of Chrift to keep his faithful
difciples from falling, which is hereby overlooked, the
obje6tion 'fuppofes that a perfon is obliged by this holy
order to walk with greater circumfpedion than him
who is not under the fame; but, is this an argument
with one that fears God to juftify a negleft of his
precepts ? Shall the man who follows after holinefs,
deprive himfelf of this facred guard by refufing to
comply with the plain inftitutions of his Lord ? Or,
fliall he not readily come under every poffible obliga-
tion againft fin ? Reafons for a believer being bapr
tized and added to the church might eafily be multi-
plied, but thefe may fufHce : He is qualified; it is
required at his hands : This was the univerfal prac-
tice of thofe who were called from the beginning ;
and the honor and advantage of walking under this
profeflion is great and unfpeakable. On the other
hand, no lefs are the di fad vantages of not being con-
formed to this order. If thefe prevail not with the
Reader to to be found in this duty, what hope can f
have of fuccecding ? I muft leave him to the mercies
0,4 of'

248 LECTURESON

of the Lord, whofe people fhall be willmg in the day

of his power.

But perhaps the Reader is doubting his ftate,
and ready to fay : True ; I cannot but own that
the word of the Lord has come with fome power
into my heart. My afFe£tions have fometimes been
raifed, and I have felt a joy in hearing the gofpel;
but, alas, I am ftill fo carnal 2nd fenfual, and find
fo little of the love of God in my foul, that I fear
my tranfitory delight is no other than may be found
with an hypocrite. This may alfo be the fear of one
who has already made a profefTion, in confequenc^
of which he is fometimes filled with diftrefs.

To relieve the enquiring foul, I fhall clofe thjs
ledlure with a criterion or two, by which we may
diftin2;u!fh between the joy of the hypocrite, and that
of a true believer.

And from what has been faid, it appears that the?
hypocriie's joy is in himfelf ; whereas we have feen,
that the firit fpring of joy in him that receiveth the
word is in God. The joy of the hypocrite primarily
arifeth from a confident and high conceit' of his good
ftatc, without any reafon froqi fcripture, but purely
from his own imagination. He is unacquainted with
forrow for fin, and pot duly affeded with the v/ifdom
and ri-lueoufncfs of God in our redemption by the
blood of his Son. Ke is taken up in felf-adm.iration,
and continually boafting of his great experience, and
how religious he is. Not fo the man in whom the

word

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 249

word is efFecSual unto the obedience of faith. The
love of God is at the bottom of that man's profeflion,"
which is in proportion to the abundance of grace he
has received in the remiflion of fins. And as the
nature of fin is more his averfion, than the punifh-
ment thereof} fo, as hath been ftiewn, he delights
firft and chiefly in the glory of God, the excellency
of Chriil: and his gofpel, while he rejoices in the
faving advantage he obtains from this provifion of
infinite wifdom and love. Again,

Hence the joy of a falfe profeflbr is attended with
felf-exaltation, and renders him light and prefump-
tuous ; he is proud of his attainments j and while he
thinks that he ftands, the man whofs foot is ready to
flip, is as a lamp defpifed in his fight j thus he is
haughty, carelefs of his own conduft, cenforious of
others. On the contrary, the chriftian's joy, which
proceeds from a view of the righteoufnefs of God in
the pardon of his fins ; the evil and bitternefs of
which he hath felt in his confcience, is attended with
humility, reverence, and an holy concern for the ho-
nor of God, His joy is mingled in his heart with
evangelical forrow. He is low in his own eyes ; has
compaflion for them that are out of the way, is fober
in his account of himfelf, and in this ftate of fin and
temptation rejoiceth with trembling.

And further, in the midft of all his vain glory
the hypocrite is barren. " But (faith our Lord) he
^' that receiveth feed into the good ground, is he that
f heareth the word and underftandeth it, which alfo

" beareth

250 LECTURESON

<' beareth fruit," Matt. xiii. 23. He that rejoiceth
in his own attainment is an empty vine, and brings
forth fruit unto himfelf. But the chriftian's joy,
which fprings from the love of God, naturally yieldeth
fruit unto him, as it is written, '* But now being
*' made free from fm, and become the fervants of
*' God, ye have your fruit unto holinefs, and the end
*' everlafting life," Rom. vi. 22. which leads to ano-
ther criterion, and the laft I fhall mention, which is
this:

The joy of the hypocrite is tranfitory, whereas
that of the chriftian abides. I mean in refpedl of its
principle and habit in the foul, for his frame is liable
to change. Nothing is more uncertain and fleeting than
his joy who has no root in himfelf. The man, whofe
profeffion is not grounded in the love of God, will
furely be offended. But he that has received the gof-
pel into his heart by faith, though in heavinefs for
a feafon through manifold temptations, has an un-
failing fource of joy in the immutable counfel and fa-
vor of the Almighty, and may always rejoice in the
Lord. In a view of the glory and importance of the
divine word, and his own intereft in the bleffings of
grace, he fiiall not be moved, but will hold out to the
end and be faved. " The water (fays our Lord)
*' that I fiiall give him, fhall be in him a well of
*' water fpringing up into eternal life," John vi. 14.
This is the joy of faith j it centers in God ; it makes
a man humble and fruitful ; and it abides in the
foul. But carnal rejoicing, though occafioned by the
word, ariftth from fome other confideration than di-

vina

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 251

vine grace and righteoufnefs, and terminates in felf;
it pufFs up the fubje(5l, who is unfruitful, and will "
fail in an hour of trial. Dear Reader, examine
thyfelfj "for who is wife and he fhall underfland
" thefe things ? prudent, and he fhall know them ?
** For the ways of the Lord are right, and the jufl
** fhall walk in them, but the tranfgreflbrs fhall
** fall therein." Having this teftimony that thy joy
is in the Lord, fear not, though now thou mayefl
have forrow, thine heart fhall rejoice, and thy joy
po man taketh from thee ; for " light is fown for the
.*? righteous, and gladnefs for the jupright in heart.'*

PRIMITIVE

[ 252 J

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY.
BOOK ly.

BEING

An Hiftory of the Church in her infant State.

— ' ... ^

LECTURE XVII.

The conftancy and faithfulnefs of the firft difciples
in their communion together, under a profeffion of
chriftianity. -

OF all hiftories that of the fcripture juftly claims
the pre-eminence. Its undoubted veracity, with
the importance of its various and w^onderful events,
and efpecially when joined to the noble and gracious
defign of its glorious Author, which is to promote
the honor of God, and the falvation and happinefs of
man, challenge our higheft regard *.

SCRIP-

* Properly fpeaking, the Author of fcripture is God, and particularly
the Holy Ghoft, by whofe infpiratjcai the prophefies were fpoken, and un-
der whofe infallible direftion both the hiftory and prophecy of thofe facred
writings were penned, and committed to the church. This, no doubt,
is the prevailing fcntiment, notwithflanding it is fo much the cuftom
to give this charaftcr to the apoftles and others, who were the emanuenfis
of the divine Spirit, or writers rather than authors of the books and
eplftlcs to which their names are affixed.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 253

Scripture may te confidered as an univerfal hiflo-
ry of the world, and the church, but efpecially of the
latter, in which the dodrines, precepts and ordinances
of God, and the prailice of men are faithfully recited.
Thus the Old-Teftament is the beft hiftory of the
world from its creation, including the fall of man,
the counfel of God relating to the recovery of his
chofen by the feed of the woman ; alfo the methods
of divine providence in raifmg and preferving a godly
feed, amidft the corruption and defolations of man-
kind, till the Mefliah came. It is therefore likewife
a hiftory of the church, which is carried on in the
New-Teftament, beginning, in the four evangelifts,
with the incarnation of the Son of God, whofe life,
miniftry, fufferings, death, and refurredion from the
dead, are concifely, but fully fet forth, and with this
view, " that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift:
*' the Son of God, and that believing ye might have
*' life through his name," John xx. 31.

The fame defign is purfued in the remaining part
of the fcripture to the end. Now of this divine nar-
ration no part is of greater importance to the church
than the Ails of the Apoftles, which contain an au-
thentic account of the rife and progrefs of chriftianity
in the world; fo that thefe writings, with the addi-
tion of the epiftles, and the book of Revelation, which
clofes the facred canon, alone afford a genuine and
compleat hiftory of the purity in dodlrine, worfhip
and difcipline, which prevailed among the firft chri-
flians , who are the faireft example of fecial religion.

This

J54 LECTURESON .

This then Is the true ecclefiaftical hiflory, to
which all others wrote after the days of the apoftles
muft be fubordinate, and an acquaintance with which
is to be efteemed one branch of a chriftian's attain-
ment, as a conformity unto it is a part of his cha-
radler. And it were heartily to be wifhed, that every
one, who profefleth himfelf a follower of the Lamb,
made it his diligent ftudy. In all probability we
(hould then be more united in faith and worfhip, and
animated to a more holy, fpiritual and orderly temper
and condudl, and alfo love one another more than at
prefent in all appearance we do. I fhall therefore
count it a mercy if this little fketch Ihoul i be an oc-
cafion of promoting the knowledge of To ufeful a part
of divine revelation, or a means of reviving the true
fpirit of primitive godlinefs.

The paragraph on which I have planned my defign
is contained in the laft fix verfes of the fecond of the
A£ts, which run in the following words :

" And they continued ftedfaftly in the apoftles
" dodtrine and fellowfhip, and in breaking of bread,
" and in prayers. And fear came upon every foul,
" and many wonders and figns were done by the
" apoftles. And all that believed were together, and
" had all things common. And fold their pofleflions
*' and goods, and parted them to all men, as every
" man had need. And they continuing daily with
" one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from

" houfe

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 255

" houfe to houfe, did eat their meet with gladnefs
** and finglenefs of heart, praifing God, and having
** favor wath all the people. And the Lord added
** to the church daily fuch as fhould be faved."

Here then is a concife hiftory of the primitive
church in her pure infant ftate, before her members
were fcattered by perfecution, or thofe errors, divi-
fions and apoftafies took place, which hath fmce dif-
graced and defiled her. Indeed (lie was not yet ar-
rived to maturity, in refpedl of that order the infinite
wifdom of her Lord foon after faw fit to eftabllfh for
her edification. At prefent the apoftles fupplied the
part of bifliops and deacons, officers who are, fince
become needful to a perfe£l church-ftate. We view
her as a lovely child, in her firft appearance in the
world. There are alfo fome circumllances peculiar
to her then prefent condition, a pretended conformity
to which would be ridiculous or worfe, yet fhe is the
original pattern of piety and love. Thefe are the
lively features of a neat gofpel-church, walking in the
fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy
Ghoft ; and however fome may plead for another
manner, the fame fpirit and behaviour will be found
when and where genuine chriftianity prevails, for re-
ligion is fubftantially the fame in all ages and places
to the end of the w^orld.

The account divides itfelf naturally into three ge-
neral branches.

I. The

256 L E C T U R E S O N

I. The conftancy and falthfulnefs of the primitive
difciples in communion together, , under a profelTion
of the gofpel.

II. Their manner of life. And,

III. Their daily increafe.

The enfuing part of the le£lure will contain a
review of the firft of thefe articles. We are told that
they continued Jledfajlly ; and the particular inftances
are given in which they perfevered with fo great re-
folution and zeal.

It is faid that they continued. Some nominal
chiiftians, like feed fown in ftony ground, hear the
word, and receive it with a kind of joy ; but, having
no root in themfelves, their religion is foon at an
end. Indeed, fluftied with a conceit of their know-
ledge, they prefume they belong to the kingdom of
God, and haftily fpring up in a promifmg blade of
external obedience, in which they are zealous awhile,
but alas they abide not ; their goodnefs is as the
morning-cloud, and as the early dew it paffeth away ;
thus tranfvent is their form of chriftianity. Here and
there one who fets out with a {hew, foon ftumble and
recover, or falling, rife up again j but from the pa-
rable of the fower, and from general experience, it
appears that few are reftored, whofe fhining profeflion
jprefently iflues in a fhameful departure from God.

For

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 257

For the moft part they feem given up to the delufions
of fatan, and being hardened through the deceitful nefs"
of fin, become final apoftates ; fo tnat however in
fome inftances fuch may have grace to repent, for
their cafe is not defperate, we have reafon to trem-
ble for them who quickly throw ofF the name of
Chrift, and return to their fins, as iii the higheft dan-
ger of ruin. Not fo thefe difciples; they continued
in the ways of ihe Lord, and proved the fmcerity of
their love. Again,

They continued Jiedjajlly. If feme foon apo^a-
tize, many more, who begin with a flaming zeal, are
quickly lukewarm, loofe and diforderly, under the
profefTion they hold. Hence they become inactive and
barren; and, in their fpirit and behaviour, fall flnrt
of the charader they bear. A man may prefenily take
up the name of a chriftian, with whom it may not
be eafy to drop it, in a country the inhabitants
of which are confidercd as chriftians, except thofe
who exprefly and openly deny the very name, as
Turks, Jews and Deifls, to which boldnefs but fev/
comparatively attain. It is difficult to throw off the
garb of religion ; and rarely fcen that he who hath
put himfelf under a form of chriftianity, and join-
ed to any particular church, is fond of yielding up
his character, though alas he may be far from aiming
at a converfation becoming the gofpel of Chrift, but
in many refpe£ls behave unworthy his heavenly call-
ing, infomuch that it may be fcarcely tollcrable for
him to be continued in the communion of faints. But
the difciples at Jerufalem not only made a profeflion,
R but

258 LECTURESON

but conUnued Pedfnfily there'n : 'a-poc-y.upitfaHe; one word
in the original, and very emphatical, which carries in
it an inv'nc'ble conftancy, alluding to hunter^ who
ceafe not to f(.llow till they have got their piirfuit: it
fignifies not barely perfcvcranc:, bat to perfevcre with
ftrength, fo as to increafe in their attendance, zeal and
courage in the ways of the Lord. Thus, inllead of
declining and becoming lukewarm, thefe primitive
chriftians waxed bolder and ftronger, and exerted
theml'clves ftill more and more : for the expreflion
here ufcd, regards not only the time, but alfo the
temper, with which they adhered to their profeflion,
and points out their importuni y and defire in this per-
feverance : So the word is ufed, Rom. xii. 12. continuing
injlant in prayer; where if refpefts not barely the time
of praying, but likewife and chiefly, tht fervent manner
in which it becomes us to wreftle with God. Thus
thefe d.fciples continued ; they applied themfelve*
with carneftnefs to every branch and duty of their
proleffion, and held fail the fame without waver-
ing ; being patient, watchful and adlive, they prefled
forward, and made daily advances towards a perfection
in the things which pertained to the kingdom of God.
How noble the examp'e ! and what a reflexion on
them who are unfruitful and fickle, and who, being
led away with the wicked, fall from their own ftedfaft-
nefs I But blefled and honorable are thofe who cleave
to the Lord with purpofe of heart.

The particulars in which thefe chriftians perfevered
in fo Liudable a manner are recited as follows ;

First,

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN-ITY. 259

First, In the apojiles do^rine, i. e. the docElrines
they taught, which were truly the doctrines of
Chrift, and not of the apoftles invention. The gofpel
is not the word of man, but of God. The apoftles
were ojily minifters of Chrift, and fpake the wholfom
words of Jefiis their Lord, nevtrrhe'efs it is Ri'eJ the
apoftlcb do6trine ; as Paul, who aflumed nothing to
himfelf, but was ever deeply afreded vvith his unwor-
thyncfs to preach it, calls it his gnfpcl, becnufe the
miniftration thereof was committed to him : And it
may alfo be ftiled their do6trine In opposition to the falfe
notions fpread abroad by fomc w.,o perverted the grfpel
ofChrift. Dodlrine here is no otiier than the faith
once delivered to the faints, under which all the pre-
cious truths of the gloriou.': goi'pel are included; in
general it was Jefus and the refurretSlion ; a new and
ftrange do£trine to the world, yet it was no other
than Mofes and the prophets did fay fhould come.
Ads xvii. 19. and chap. xxvi. 22. compared. The
fubftance of this gofpel was publiihed of old, though,
not being mixed with faith in many that heard, it did
not profit or fave them, and they periflied in their fins ;
which awful account is to warn us that we receive not
the grace of God in vain. Since the coming of Chrift",
this grace has been more fully manifefted by his own
preaching, and that of his infpired apoflles, whofe
dodlrine included every thing revealed concerning the
eternal purpofe of the Father, and the covenant of re-
demption, wherein is laid out the methods of divine
wifdom and love in the falvation of the chofen, throuprh
faith in Chrifl Jefus : So that the apoflles dodrine takes
R 2 in

-260 C E C T U R E S O N

in whatever relates to the Redeemer's perfon, media-
tor'al character, facrifice, righteoufneis, grace, and
obedience of faith, which includes the office of the
Spirit, and in a word the whole counfel of God. Ma-
ny errors were foon introduced, as hinted already,
by which not a few were deceived and corrupted i but
the apoftles adhered to the truth, and united in their
report without variation. Their dodrine was fimple
and pure ; it was not divers, as among the falfe teachers,
not yea and nay, but uniform, confident and one;
which may be another reafon for its being thus Itiled :
They one and all preached the fame gofpel in every
place. Now it is declared that the primitive chriftians
continued ftedfaftly in this apoftolic doctrine : And this"
denotes in the firft place, their open and bold profeffion
of the fame. When lound do6b"ine falls into difgrace,
and becomes oppofed and defpifed, many are unwilling
to own it, and are tempted to hide their convidlion of
its reality and importance; but thefe difciples were not
afhamed of the gofpel of Chrift, it had been the power
of God to their falvation ; they therefore held faft this
profeffion of their faith without wavering, and perfeve-
red in their witnefs to the truth. Again, it may intend
their diligence in hearing this dodrine, which indeed
ftands connected with the former. Hearing the word
is not only the means of increafmg in fpiritual know-
ledge, but al'o one manner of teftifying a regard for
the gofpel : So that the man who negleits it, not only
betrays a conceit of himfelf, but hereby, in fome
meafure, drops his profeffion. Not fo thofe difciples,
they continued with conftancy under the preaching of
the word, as became them who would attain to all

riches

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 261

richer of the full aflurance of underftanding, to the ac-
knowledgment of the myftery of God, and of the Fa-
ther, and of Chrift, that they might be built up and
eftablifhed in the faith, as they had been taught i by
which example they condemn all thofe who are in-
different about hearing the word of the Lord, and are
not ftudious to grow in grace and in the knowledge of.
Chrift: If fuch have the love of God in them, they
are not likely to beftedfaft or fruitful in their proreiTion,
but rather to be carried about with every wind of falfe
doctrine, and vain imagination of them who lay in
wait to deceive; fuch are in very great danger of falling,
and have need to beware. Thus they continued fted-
faftly, i. e. fwerved not from their profciTion of the
truth, or attendance on the miniftration of it, but
confefled and purfued after a further eftablifliment in
the dodrlne they had been taught by the apoftles, not
giving place to the herefies that abounded in oppofition
to the gofpel of Chrilt-, or abating in their zeal for its
honor and fuccefs.

From this article I would note one thing by the
way, that demands our attention, which is this, namely,
that it is part of the chriftian charader to maintain a
confcientious regard, and ftriftly adhere to found doc-
trine. They who would leffen the concern of the.
faithful about purity in dodtrine, depart from the ori-
ginal pattern, and flrike at the foundation of real
chriftianity. To be found in faith in this fenfe, is of
the utmoft importance j for truth is the ftandard of ex-
perience, and the fole rule of pra6lice ; and without
knowledge neither the heart nor the life can be good ;
R 3 it

262 LECTURES ON

it is the true grace of God or true dotSrine of the
gofpel, wherein believers ftand, and become fruitful,
I Pet. V. 12. And accordingly it is written, Col. i". 6.
that the gofpel which came unto the Coloffians, as
it did in all the world, bringing forth fruit, as, faith
he, " it doth alfo in you, fmce the day ye heard 6f
*' it, and knew the grace of God in truth," i. e. the
true grace of God or doftrine of Chrift, in the ex-
perience and power of them through faith. Errors in
<Jo£lrine lead to errors in practice. Hence, though a
mere fpeculative knowledge of the gofpel has no fay-
ing or abiding efFeft, yet it is needful to guard againft
any corruption from the fimplicity that is in Chrift;
and therefore Paul and Barnabas, Ails xiii. 43. fpeak-
ing unto the people at Antioch, " perfuaded them to
*' continue in the grace of God," i. e. the word of
God, which they had been preaching unto them. It
is therefore becoming the chriftian character to buy the
truth and fell it not, but, after the example of thefe
difciples , to be ftedfaft in the do£lrine _of the
Lord preached by his apoftle, and on no consideration
whatever, in any degree, depart from them. But to
return.

Another inftance in which thefe primitive fhri-
ftiaiis perfevered, is felioivfiip. By fellowfhip we
fometimes underftand an union v/ith the iaints, or
place in their fociety, which was our fubjedt in a
preceeding lecture ; and I confefs that the fame word
is ufed in Gal. ii. 9. for the right hand of fellowfhip,
given by Cephas and others to Paul and Barnabas,
in token of their hearty acknowledgment of them

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIA^NITY. 263

in the character of fellow-communican's. We have
alfo fhewn that it is the duty of every believer to be
found in the communion of faints, which fome ne-
gle<ft, who, while they boaft in their knowledge of
doftrines, have not learned to obferve this nohle di-
vine inftitution. But we have already feen t'.efe dif-r
ciples added to the church. They were joined to^ie-
ther in the Lord previous to this ; (o that their con-
tinuing ftedfaftly in this fellowlhip muft re!^r to fome
particular branch of duty therein, diftincl from other
articles mentioned ; and 1 apprehend it more efpecially
regards their forwardnefs to communicate*. In the
fociety or fellowfliip of the church there is a com-
munication of all goodnefs from one to another, ac-
cording

Koivuvix, an obligation to this free and faithful communication of all
•iir talents perfonal and relative, which may conduce to the advantage of
the body and its members, refults from the nature of that covenant chri-
flians are under in a church ftate, which hath refpeft not only to the
Lord as our common head, and to all his appointments and ofScers in his
houfe ; but it alfo has a mutual refpeft to every one in communion, for
in this confederation the difciples clave together, fo as to be no longer
their own, but the property one of another. The fcriptures are plain,
2 Cor. viii. 5. " They gave themfelves to us by the will of God,"
Again, Rom. xv. 7. " Receive ye one another." And further, i Pet,
V. 5. " Yea all of you be fubjeft one to another." See alfo Col. iv.
9 — 12. I Cor. xii. la — 27. Rom. xii. {. Col. ii. 19. and Eph. 20, 21.
So then in church-covenant, by the wili of God, his people give them-
felves each to the other, and are as it were the property one of the other.
A felfifh felf-willed fpirit is direflly againft the principles of this facred
union in the Lord. And if chriftians united with underftanding, accord-
ing to the gofpel of Chrift, and were faithful to their folcmn engagements,
they would abound, to their power, in all liberality and good orfcr, which
would turn to their mutual comfort and edification. But there is reafon to
fear that many prefeflbrs are ignorant of the foundation of this holv com-
paft by divine appointment, asd therefore without remorfe walk after their
•wn imagination.

264 LECTURESON

cording to the ability which God giveth, in things
natural and fpiritual. With refpetSl to outward good
things, we fhall find in this infant church an univcrfal
community of their fubftance for the benefit of the
whole J a circumftance peculiar to the then ftate of
chriftianity in the world, as I fhall endeavour to (hew
in its place. If this is at all referrtd to here, it may
intend their continuing from time to time, as addi-
tions were made of new convert's, or any others who
might have property come into their hands, to throw
it into the common ftock, as at t'le beginning. How
ever a free contribution of temporal good, for the
fupport of the miniftry, fupply of the poor, and other
recefiary expences for maintaining the. worfliip of
God in the communion of his faints, is an efiential
branch of chriftian fellowUiip in the prefent ftate of
the church, and will be fo to the end of the world,
unto which, exhortations abound in the New-Tefta-
ment, which fome regard nor, being fadly deficient in
their duty to the L^rd and his people. But many are
of another and a better fpirit, or the vifible intcreft
of Chrift would fink in the world, which, blefied be
God, who has the hearts of men in his hands, fhall
never come to pafs. But this is not to be reftrained
to liberality, it extends to other inftances of brotherly
love, and takes in fpiritual communications, fuch as
admonitions, advice, yej and vifiting the fick, or
thofe who are in diftrefs; for however thoughtlefs,
or little exercifed, fome may be in the laft mentioned
office of love, to the grief of their affli6lcd brethren,
it is a confiderable branch of practical godlinefs and
chriftian communion, and they who negledt it do well

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 265

to confider what the apoftle James declares, chap.
i. ulto. *' Pure religion and undefiled before God and "
*' the Father is this, to vifit the fatherlefs and the widow
** in their affliction." In (hort, when it is faid they
continued ftcdfaflly in fellowihip, it carries in it their
conftancy and diligence in every a£l of endeared
friendfhip, and mutual and earneft endeavour by love
to ferve one another, as they had opportunity, and as
occafion required. Thus thefe primitive chriftians
abounded in every focial virtue, each one ftriving
to his utmoft for the comfort and edification of the
church, and- the members in particular; fo that their
religion did not reft in purity of doctrine, but, like
thofe who have an experience of its power, and the
Icve of God in their hearts, they were fruitful in
every good word and work.

The next article, by which their continuing fted-
faftly under their profeiTion is fpecified, is that of
breaking of bread. A phrafe which, however fome-
times ufed for common and natural meals, as I ap-
prehend in verfe 46, yet here, I think, it plainly in-
tends that fpiritual repaft, or divine ordinance in the
church, the Lord's-fupper. On this table of tiie
Lord, are placed by his dire«5tion, bread and wine,
which are appointed figns or figures of his body ar<i
blood, the conftituent parts of that flefh in which he
fufFered, when he became a facrifice for the fins df
his people. One end of this fupper being a com-
memoration of our Saviour's paflion on the crofs, as
fpecified by himfelf, when he inftituted the fame/, and
.accordingly it is faid, that " in eating this bread, and

• " in

266 LECTURES ON

•' in drinking this cup, ye do fliew forth the Lord>
" death till he come," i Cor. xi. 26. But there is
another fign of ufe iji this ordinance. We are taught
chap. X. 17. of the fame epiftle, which is this, name-
ly, that hereby we teftify our union with Chrift, and
with one another in him: " For (faith the apoftic)
«' we being many are one Bread *, and one body j

" for

* Dr. Dodderidge notes that many ynluatle manufcripts read, " and of
" one cup." And we find in the preceeding verfe, and indeed in all
ether places in fcripture, vhe cup in the fupper is mentioned in the hngu-
lar niimbei-, which anfvvers to the idea our Saviour himfelf gives us of his
bloody luffcrings, reprefcnted by the cup in the facrament. When in an
agony in the garden he I'upplicates his Father, he fays not, Let thefe cups,
as of mar»/, but as of one. Let tbh cup pafs from me. But, in refpeft of
the bread, it is exprcfly faid to be one, i. e. as expofitors generally agree,
one loaf. It is well known thnt the order of the words are as follows :
ViiTi *K acT^ tv c-uiJ.ot. o\ tJot^Xoi eo-jiaei/] " Becaufe the bread is o»e,
" we, being many, are one body." Which Dr. Whitby paraphrafes
thus : ' The loaf or bread is -one ; and we all partalie of one loaf, and
' therefore are one body,* This he improves againft the pra£tice of the
Church of Rome, who diflributes to her communicants feverally an un-
broken wafer; fo that, as the Doftor obfcrves, they neither are partakers
of one bread or loaf, or of bread broken, as faith he, it was the cuftom
both of Jews and chriftians to do, i, e. the one at the paflbver, and the
other at the fupper. But then, why do proteftants break feveral loaves,
the pieces of which are received by the members of the fame church ?
If they partake of bread broken, is it of one bread ? The bread and one
Irejdare fynonymous phrafes, and fignify one lump or loaf. And Dr. Gill
lias given us from Dr. Lightfoot a very pertinent paflage of a writer of
note, whence it appears that the Jews thought it needful, in order to an
iiffociation of this kind, that the bread whereof the members partake
Ihouid be originally in one loaf; and en the like principle do chriftians
commune at the table of tjieir Lord. I am fenfible that many have the
following glofs on this paiTjge, namely, " As bread confifts of many
" grains of corn, which being grousd and kneeded together make up
*< one lojf, fo bcHcvers being many are one body of which Chrift is the
" head." Thus they fpc k, as if the apoftle alluded to the compofition
•f a loaf ef corn bread j but 1 humbly apprehend this is not his defign.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 267

<* for we are all partakers of that one bread." This
idea of the facrament feems now little regarded ; but,,
allowing the paflage refers to the flipper, which will
fcarce be denied, is not this as truly the counfel of
God as the other ? The firft and principle defign of
this holy ordinance, is to exhibit the natural body of
Jefus in a figure, and to manifeft his fufferings and
death, yet we are not to exclude from our view the
defign alfo of reprefenting the myjlical body of Chrift,
and our profeflion of a union in him, by partaking
together of one and the fame bread, which is broken
and divided in the communion of the faithful. This
idea of the fupper is adapted to holinefs, love, and
that practical union, if I may fo exprefs it, a great
deficiency in which is too juftly lamented in the pre-
fent time. I mention it now on occafion of this peri-

phrafe

He is arguing, not from the comp fition of a loaf, but from the original
unity of thofe pieces in one lump, which are diftributed to the fcveraj
communicants in this gofpcl-feaft. And, in my opinion, it is not fuffi-
cient to fay, that the members of a church, all partake of bread, whicii
is of the fame nature or kind. Nothing lefs will come up to the argu-
ment of the apoftle than this, that the bread whereof chriftians partake in
that divine ordinance, is at firft or before it is broken, in one mafs or
lump. And I think we cannot be too exa£l in the manifeft clrcum-
fiances of a pofitive inftitutlon of our Lord Jefus Chrift. And I hope there
needs no other apology for detaining the Reader v.'ith this long note, which
J conclude with the following lines of that celebrated poetical expofjicrj
the late Dr. Watts :

* We are but fevVal parts

* Of the fame broken bread ;

* One body hath its fev'ral limbs,

* But Jefus is the Head.

Watts's hymns, book 3. hymn 2. See alfi? the fcveral learned authors on
the place abovcmentioned, and likewifc Dr. Hammond, and the continua-
tors of Mr, Henry, Arc,

268 LECTURES ON

phrafe of the eucharift breaking bread, which manifeftly
correfponds with the defcription of the maniier in
which this ordinance is adminiftred, one branch of
which lies in breaking a fingle loaf or lump of bread ;
for the abovementioned paflagc would be diverted
of all its propriety and argument, if the ancient
cuftom was not to have one lump only divided among
the communicants, there being no other tolerable fenfe
in which thofe who partake in this ordinance may be
faid to participate of one brtad, but that of the feveral
pieces of which each receive one, being originally
united in one lump and fo prefer ted on the table, and
broken afuncJcr, as the Lord hath (hewn us. And this
is the foundation of the apoftle's reafoning from the
communion, unto th6 union of them who partake m
it, as members of one body in Chrift. If a ftranger
was to form his notion of the manner in the facra-
ment from this place, he might juftly be furprized,
on bcinf' a fpeciator at this ordinance in the ufual
method, to fee a number of loaves divided on the oc-
cafion, and at a lofs to reconcile it with the idea con-
veyed by the apoftle in the paflage referred to. How
far this may deferve confideration, I leave to the Rea-
der ; but if it be lawful to conform in our practice
to the reafoning of a pafTage, which manifeltly re-
fers to this inftitution, why iliould we not ? and
efpecially as it may eafily be done. But to pafs this;
breaking of bread bcins; thus a conftituent branch in
the adminidration of the fupper, no wonder it is men-
tioned under this phrafe ; and that in fpeaking of the
difciples aflembling to eat it, it is faid they came to-
gether to break bread, as in Ails xx. 7, |i. And

again.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 269
again, i Cor. x. 16. faith the apoftle, " the bread
*< which we break."

Now it is declared of thefe chriftians, that they
continued ftedfaflly in breaking of bread ; they did
not, as fome, decline this branch of their holy pro-
feflion, but were conftant and univerfal in a frequent
attendance on the Lord at his table. In this precious
inftitution of the Saviour the fum of the gofpel is
colleded, and fometimes the fweeteft communion is
found ; it exhibi-s a crucified Jefus, and is moft wifely
adapted to promote the life and power of godlinefs,
and to fatisfy and rejoice the believer, who is looking
for the bleffed hope of his glorious appearance; and
fad is the fymptom of a growing negleft of this holy
ordinance among nominal chriftians I But thefe firfl
difciples were zealous, and frequent in their attendance
upon it ; how frequent is not recited ; fome have
thought daily, or at leaft in every meeting, but the
account we have of their coming together to break
« bread feems rather to fuppofe they had other meet-
incrs of a religious kind, in which that ordinance
was not adm.iniftered ; however this is certam from
1 Cor. xi. 26. that they often eat this bread, and
drank this cup. And from other accounts it feems
to have been at leaft: every firft day of the week ; to
which agrees the pafiage in Jchn before mentioned,
and alfo the pradfice of the church for centuries after
the age of the apoftles ; for writers, both chriftian
and heathen, fpeak of the biftiop giving the eucharifl:
on Sunday, when they were aftembled to praife Chrifi:
and bind themfelves by a facrament, as the heathens

obferved j

270 L E C T U R E S O N

obferved ; but the learned and impartial author of the
conftitution and dilcipline of the primitive church,
page 19, obferve?, * that in thefe days they comrau-
* nicated at leaft three times a week, viz. Wed-
' nefdays, Fridays, and Lord's-days.' It was cele-
brated in the evening at Troas, on the firft day of the
week, v.'hen Paul preached till midnight ; and from
the above-named writer, page 103, it appears, this
fupper was adminiftred at the conclufion of their fo-
lemn fervices, i. e. after they had read, fung, preach-
ed and prayed, which folemnities were held either
morning; or evening, as beft fuited in the times of
perfecution. However this eucharift was given not
yearly, or once in a quarter, which by no means an-
Iwers to the frequency hinted in fcripture j no, nor
did thefe zealous difciples content themfelves with a
monthly commemoration of their Saviour's paflion,
which feems much too often for many nominal chri-
ftians in this day; for, being full of love to Jefua
Chrift, and to each other, as members of the fame
body in him, they afiembled every week or of.ener,
to join in this communion. They gloried in tha
crofs, and delighted in their union in Chrift ; and, as
pcrfons longing after the prefence and honor of their .
JLord, and their mutual refreftiment and joy, they
continued univerfally to come up together in his name,
to eat at his table ; thus they glorified their Saviour,
«nd encouraged one another ! An example worthy
the imitation of all who profefs chriftianity.

It remains to confider the laft inftance in which
jthefe difciples perfevcred. The apoftle adds, and in

prayers.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 171

prayers. All pr.iyer becomes the charader of a
chrifti.m, but here is intended particularly the prayers
ot the chujch. The houfe of the Lord is an houfe
of prayer J and the fecial worfhip of his people lies
much in their uni.ed and carneft fupplications at the
throne of grace. Prayers attend every folemnity, but
many are ihc O'Xafions of the chuich in this change-
able and militant ftate for folemn feafons of prayer;
and, indeed, in the beft of times there is need of thefe
opportunities in which the faints may *' build up one
** another on their moft holy faith, praying in the Holy
** Ghoft." Now the primitive chriftians applied thcm-
felves earneftly to this part of their duty in the houfe
of God ; they were conftant, early and zealous at the
appointed feafons of prayer; and not like fome who
are excufing themfelves on every occafion. On per-
fons firft fetting out in the ways of the Lord, it is
generally feen that they are difpofcd to thefe meetings,
and read)- to come where prayer is wont to be made ;
but it often appears that fuch are foon drawn afide,
and decline their attendance. It may lilcewile be
obferved that when prayer -meetings are newly fet .
up, people flock for awhile j but, as if they came
out of mere curiofity, in a very little time, many ne-
gte£l or for fake them. Nor fliould we be furprized
that the carnally-minded are not to be held to thi«
fpiritual exercife ; for the fiefh cannot bear the circum-
fpe£tion, felf-denial, and holinefs, needful to a con-
tinuing inftant in prayer ; but, hearken, ye nominal
chriftians, who defpife thefe appointments in the com-
munities to which you belong ! can you read this ac-
^ *unt without blulhing ? See how the love of Chrift

conilrained

2^^ LECTURES ON

conftralned thefe difciples ! They continued ftedfaftly
in prayers, being univerfally forward to fill their af-
fembiies ; and, are you confcious of negledting the
prayers of the church in which you have a place, and
of a difinclination to join them ? How dwells this love
in your heart !

Thus (lands divided a chrlftian profeffion under
four diflindl branches, do61:rine, fellowfhip, i. e. fecial
and mutual communications, breaking of bread in the
fupper of the Lord, and ftated or occafional aflemblies
for prayer : In each particular the primitive chriftians,
infpired with zeal for the glory of Jefus, and love to
one another, were conftant and a£tive, purfuing every
duty of their calling and communion in Chrifb, with
zn increafmg boldnefs and ardor; an illuftrious fpeci-
men of that faith by which alone a man is juftified,
receives remiflion of fms, and is entitled to a claim
among the children of God. It is a faith which work-
eth by love, and will certainly influence the fubjefk
to a fleady and fruitful behaviour as becomes the
gofpel.

That many come fhort of this noble example, it
is necdlefs to prove; but we may juftly lament the
little appearance there is of a general aim at the like
perfedlion in obedience and love. The manner of
living among the difciples at firft in Jerufalem, to be
confidered hereafter, will further explain, illuftrate and
confirm the articles we have now been upon, and na-
turally induce to fome remarks which would otherwifc
be pertinent here, I Ihall therefore, referving them

for

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 273
a more fuitable place, clofe this leflure with a re-
fle<5tion, or rather an excitation to refledt, and la-
bour after a conformity to this primitive fpirit and
condudt.

Permit me, my dear chriftian Reader, to put you
in remembrance, and to ftir up your zeal. How
different this behaviour of the primitive difciples to
that which appears among us at this day ! Jnftead of
continuing ftedfaftly, what numbers, through love of
the world, or diftruft of the power and faithfulncfs
of God, warp and foon turn afide ! Look round
and confider, who are they tiat continue and increafe
in a becoming boldnefs for the truth — that delight in
the fellowfhip of the faints, freely communicarinw of
their talents, natural and fpiritual, for the edification
of the church — that are frequent at the table of the
Lord — and that are zealous in promoting afiemblies
for prayer? Bleffed be God, there are fome ; but,
muft it not be owned that among nominal chriftians,
the generality content themfelves with bare hearing,
and that in a manner uncertain and carelefs ? But,
among thofe who have feparated themfelves to the
ordinances of Chrifb, and are joined to his church,
what lukewarmnefs, floth and inftability is fecn ! How
carnal, worldly and felfifli I Do not earthly cares, af-
fections, and pleafures, openly engrofs the time and
attention of many, to a general negle6l of the duties
and privileges which belong to a chriftian proreiTicu ?
In a word, how few are the inftances in which men
io withftand the^ temptations they are under, and
ollow after righteoufnels, as to come up in any to!e-

S lable

274 LECTURES ON

rable degree to this ftandard of pure and vital chri*
ftianity ! Witnefs the manner in which, by accounts,
the folemn appointn^ents of the churches are in com-
mon regarded, or rather in all appearance defpifed, to
the increafe of licentioufnefs, and the grief of all
who are heartily concerned for the faith and order of
the gofpel ! O that we confidered the dignity and ho-
linefs of the calling we prolefs, and lived up to our
obligations and hope, and to the light we have receiv-
ed ! Then fhould we vie with, yea, and in fome re-
fpe£l:s, exceed thefe worthy believers ; but, alas they
condemn us ! They thus cleaved to the Lord with an
holy fortitude, amidfl: perfecutions and fiery trials j
but as for us, though we pretend to the fame divine
chara6ler, and call ourfelves the difciples or followers
of a Captain, who overcame the world, and was made
perfecl through fuffcrings ; yet alas, how vain are the
trifles that amufe us from his precious appointments !
What flight afflicStions, and little fclf-denial, will in-
timidate and flumble us; and, to fay no more, what
fiiameful excufes are made by many profeffors for their
no lefs fliamcful habitual negleil of their ftation in
the houfc of Goil ! I hope this is fpoken to him that
can by no means allow himfelf in a lukewarm and
fruitlefs profeffion : But, if any can read this account
of the primitive chriftians, and be carelefs and difor-
dcrly ; if he can, through floth, love of pleafure, or
from any other caufe whatever, neglect the ordinances
of the Lord, pour contempt on the folemn appoint-
ments of his church, and refufe to join in her prayers,
he betrays an obduracy and' perverfnefs, yea and that
want of love to Chrifl and his ways, which lays hitn

undey

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 275

mider a juft fufpicion of being the fervant of fin; at the
thoughts of which who would not tremble?

No one can doubt, but that the deportment of thefe
firft difclples is written for our imitation ; let us then
not be flothful, but followers of them, who thus after
having axlorned their chriftian character, through faith
and patience inherit the promifes. Remember it be-
comes us to hold faft our profeffion in every branch :
To be found in the do6lrines of grace, to be filled
with the fruits of focial virtue in our fellowfhip with
the faints, to be frequent in a commemoration of the
Lord at his table, and to continue inftant in the pray-
ers of his people, are things of the utmoft importance
to the glory of God, the advantage of thofe with whom
we are in communion, and the joy of them that watch
for our fouls, whofe faithful account moft nearly con-
cerns us. By a ftedfaft adherence to thefe things, the
world will know that we are the difciples of Jefus,
and we may expect an increafe in knowledge and
faith, and to enjoy communion with God. Our bold-
nefs, both now and hereafter, depends much on our
thus abiding in Chrift, Pfalm cxix. 6. i John ii. 28.
Unlefs we thus cleave to the Lord, we fliall not be
able to face the enemy with courage, nor can we ufe
freedom in prayer ; for how (liall a man look up to
Jefus, who is a prieft on his throne, when he is con-
fcious of negleding his precepts ? It is likewife of
importance in our lateft moments, if they are at-
tended with reflection. What comfort can there be
in a review of an unftable and fruitlefs profeffion ? Di-
yine forgivenefs may fupport the heart under this for-
'"'*- S 2 rowful

276 LECTURES ON

rowful profpe£l; but in proportion to a juftfenfeof
this grace, the penitent will be filled with fhame, and
bitterly mourn his ungrateful backflidings : Whereas
he that ftands fail hath this rejoicing, the teftimony of
a good confcience, and many fweet promi fes to en-
courage him, particularly that capital one: ** Be thou
*' faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of
*' life." Nor fhould it be omitted that the real cha-
ra6ler of the righteous muft hereafter be manifefted
and confirmed, by the inftances of their love to Chrift
and his people, and how that will appear in their con-
du£l who are flothful and carelefs, fuch do well to
confider ; therefore " abide in Chrift, that, when he
*' fhall appear, ye may have confidence, and not be
*' afhamed before him at his coming."

In one word; nothing fliort of this will poflefs
mankind with a reverence of the Lord and his church,
or induce renewed teftimonies of the power and grace
of God, whereby it may be known that he is in the midft
of a people to blefs them. When perfons united under
a profefTion of the gofpel are lukewarm, diforderly and
licentious, they are left of God, whofe Spirit ii griev-
ed, and become contemptible; but if they keep up to
the temper and conduit of thefc firft dlfciples, and
walk in love ; as fear came on every foul around this
chriftian church, fo it will be in a meafure with them ;
for a church fo walking together may be truly admired
in the language of Solomon's Song, chap. vi. lO. with
which I conclude, " Who is fhe that looketh forth as
" the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the fun, and
*' terrible as an army with banners ? "

lecture;

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 277

LECTURE XVIII.

The manner in which thefe primitive difciples lived
together in the church at Jerufalem.

IN this conclfe hiftory of the primitive church, we
have already feen the conftant and earneft pur-
fuit of her members in every branch of their profeffion.
Impartiahty and zeal are genuine fymptoms of real
piety, in which they abounded, and became an ex-
ample' to the faithful in every age. We now pafs to
the fecond general divifion of the account, which con-
tains their manner of living, comprehending their
pleafant fituatiwn, how their tiir-e was employed, the
fpirit or temper which prevailed among them, and
the influence ii had on thofe who b?held them. The
whole prefents us with a beaudful fcene of brotherly
love, and delight in the ways of the Lord !

As to their fituation, we are told, ver. 4^. that
*' all that believed were together." Etti to avTo, i. e.
literally in the fame ; this may be vari -ufly applied;
they were in the fame judgment, ^nd the fame in point
of experience and worfhip, they had one Lord, one
faith, and one baptifm ; but this is included in ver. 42,
already explained. They were alfo united in their
affe(9tions one towards another , minding the fame
S 3 thing,

278 LECTURES ON

thing, and, being knit together in love, as one man,
they ftrove for the faith of the gofpel, following the .
things which make for peace and mutual edification.
Satan had not yet excited thofe finful pa.Tions, too
often feen among chriftians, whereof come evil fur-
mifings, contentions and divifions, to the difturbancs
of their peace, and the diigrace of their heavenly call-
ing. The malicious and fubtle adverfary indeed foon
found means to ftir up a vain-glorious difpofition, and
occafion fchifms among them, witnefs at Corinth ;
one was of Paul and another of Apollos, infomuch
that in 2 epift. xli. 20. the apoftle faith, ** I fear, left
'' when I come I fhall not find you fuch as I would—
" left there be debates, envyings, wrath, flrife, &c."
But at prefent and for awhile this church at Jerufalem
was free from thefe corruptions and diforders, and the
difciples, as new-born babes, defired the fincere milk
of the word, and were perfectly united in an harmo-
nious purfuit after the glory of Chrift and each other's
comfort, having no party-views, or different aims in
their communion together, but were of one accord
and of one mind. Thus, Ads iv. 32, we are told,
that " the multitude of them that believed, were of
" one heart and of one foul."

This may alfo refer to the frequent meetings they
held, which perfectly agrees with the account of their
practice ; " they were daily in the temple, and from
*' houfe to houfe," of which more hereafter. ]n this
view it fhews that they did not forfake the afTembling
of them (elves together, as the manner of fome is, but

aflbciaied

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 279

aflbciated with conflancy and delight, fo that they
were in a manner always in company.

Again, they were together in one church-ftate.
The learned Dr. Lightfoot underftands it of their
keeping together in feveral companies or congre_a-
tions, according to their languages, nations, and other
connexions, &c. But I humbly apprehend, that if
feparate congregations were needful for thefe or any
other reafons, as here among Proteftants of different
nations, for inftance, the Dutch, the French, &c. yet
it is evident they were but one church, even he fame
unto which the converts were added j nor do we read
of any other in this famous city. On the contrary,
we arc told, chap. v. 11. that " great fear came upon
" all the church," on account of Ananias and Sap-
phira. And ftill further, chap. viii. i. it is faid, that
after the death of Stephen the martyr, " there was a
*' great perfecution againft the church which was at
** Jerufaltm." Still but one church at Jerufalem ;
and therefore, I fay, if the difciples did on any occa-
fion, or for any purpofes, at times meet together in
feparate congregations, as obferved, they were all in
the fame individual church -ftate, there being no other
then fubfifting ;. nor was the order or offices needful
to form and organize particular churches, as after-
wards, fettled by the authority of Chrift, through the
hands of his apoftles ; and indeed it doth not appear
that there ever was in the age of the apoftles more
than one church, at Jerufalem, or in any other city
•r place whatever.

S 4 An'»

28o LECTURESON

■ And here it may be ufeful to paufe, and reflecSt on,
the wide difFcrcnce there is between the condu61: of
chriftians in refpedl of church-communion in this day,
and that of thofe in the primitive times j then they
continued together in every place, in one body, and
that univerfally, fo far as we learn, at leaft this was
the cafe, while they had gifts fufficient, and were
capable of doing it; but now alas, almoft on every
occafion profeiTors divide, infomuch that there is fcarce
a little town where perfons of the fame efTential faith
and order, arc not divided into what they call feparate
church-ftates, each of which are fcarce able to per-
form the duties efTential to their own well-being. It
is nei her my inclination nor province to cenfure any
foci'='ty whatever ; but, may I not decently move for a
ferious confideration, whether it is agreeable to the
fpirit of chriftianity, or for the intereft and glory of
the church thus to divide on every occafion ?

Particular congregations of believers incorpo-
rated in the order of the goipel arc cel^tainly of divine
ihftitution, and needful for the exercife of difcipline,
ind Other relative duties in the communion of faints
on earth j accordingly there were many fuch focieties
in the apofcolic age in the fame country. Thus we
read of the churches in Afia, Macedonia, Galatia, and
Judea ; but when the difciples in Jerufalem, Corinth,
Philrppi, &c. are mentioned, it is always in the fm-
gul.ar number, to fhew they continued together in one
bhdy in Chrift. It is true in thofe days there were
extraordinary gifts and helps ; and if four, five or fix

thoufand

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 281

thoufand believers inhabit a city or populous place, a
minifter of common abilities will fcarce be able to dif-
charge the paftoral office among them, nor would the
people be capable of knowing, loving, and performing
their part to one another as members of a particular
church ought to do. If therefore the number of chri-
ftians united in judgment is too many for the ordinary
ends of communicn, it is fit to fcparate with mutual
confentj neverchelefs it is moft for the honor of the
gofpel, and fafeft when the faithful, who dwell in one
place, can commune together in cne churchy and when
this cannot be attained, through fome difFerence in
point of docStrine or order, or by reafon of the multi-
tude of profeffors, great care (hould be taken to preferve
unity of afFeil;on and harmony, and to avoid every
mean and low pradlice, whereby fome have defpifed,
or at leaft fliown but too great forward nefs to dif-
courageand lefTen neighbouring churches andminifters,
for if there is not brotherly love, a cordial friendfhip,
and focial converfe maintained between gofpel-minifters
and churches, who thus as it were refide together, it is
a fad reproach to our holy profeffion, and fatan will
furejy get an advantage. When therefore a carnal,
private, felfifli fpirit prevails among minifters, and the
members of feparate congregations are not encouraged
to correfpond with one another in the fight of the
world, in any place whatever, it is very unhappy
and threatening. This was the opinion of the great
Dr. Owen, in the preface to his Efhcol, he fays, 'It
' is convenient that all believers in one place fhould
' join themfelves in one congregation, unlefs, through
' their being too numerous, they are by common con-

* fent

282 LECTURES ON

' fent diftinguifhed into more ; which order cannot be
' difturbed without danger, ftrife, emulation, and
* breach of love.' I apprehend there may be other
reafons, of diftin£l congregations in one place, be-
fides that of numbers. But the danger from caufelefs
reparation, as noted above, is too plainly verified, and
fhould induce him that fecks peace to unite, as far as
he can, in fellowfhip with thofe of another particular
communion. And the primitive difciples thus keeping
together, notwithftanding their vaft increafe, moft cer-
tainly condemn thofe divifions and fubdivifions on every
different opinion, which is fo frequently feen in a day of
lukewarmnefs and declenfion ; whereby, in fome places,
the vifible church is crumbled into pieces, to the grief of
good men. In a word, the divifion of any chriflian
congregation, who can join together in the ordinances
of the gofpel, under whatever fpecious pretence, may
gratify the lufts of men^ but has no tendency to
promote the truth of God, and is not to be encouraged
by any who wifh well to Zion.

But to return. This phrafe of the difciples being
together, is by fome underftood of their aflbciating in
one place. It appears from Acts iv. 31. that even
after a further increafe of the church they met in one
place, which was miraculoufly fhaken while they were
aflerabled. Hence it was an ancient defcription of a
particular church, that it is a * fociety of chriftians*
' meeting together in one place, under their proper

* pallors, for the performance of religious worfhip, and

* the exercife of chriftian difcipline:' which is, by the

way,

• Si\guiry into the conftitution of the primitive ch«rcb, p. 7.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 283

way, utterly againft the popular notion of a national
church in any form whatever j but, as hinted already,
I apprehend that we have in this claufe their manner of
life J they were together in a civil as well as in a religi-
ous fenfe ; a fociety that communed together in natural,
no lefs than in fpiritual things : We fhall prefently fee
that they had all things common, and lived on one
ftock. This continued awhile. Thus we read, chap,
iv. 34. that *' as many as were poffeflbrs of lands or
** houfes, fold them and brought the price of the things
** that were fold, and laid them down at the apoftles
•' feet." Some have t'iought it incredible that any
fingle houfe fhould accommodate fo many thoufands,
particularly with lodging; for as to an apartment in
one of the towers of the temple, as fome have fugo-efled,
Jofephus indeed aflerts, that they made up an hundred
beds. What is that to the number of difciples ? Be-
fides, is there any reafon to imagine that the defpifed
and perfecuted chriftians ftiould have leave to dwell
there ? Nor is it at all needful to fuppofe that they
dwelt in one houfe ; perfons maybe in one family, and
yet have apartments at fome diftance from each other ;
and it is certain, the firft chiiflians lived in different
habitations, for we are told, ver. 46. that they **^ broke
" bread from houfe to houfe :" neverthelefs they were
plainly one fociety, fupplied out of the fame capital ftock,
which was raifed from the free-will furrender of the fub-
ftance belonging to them who joined the church as de-
fcribed ; the depofiting and difpofition of which, are
recited ia the fifth and fixth chapter of the Ads. And
here I cannot but vindicate the charader of thefe noble
chriftian* from the unworthy conceptions of fome.

2^4 LECTURES ON

It has been infinuated *, that one reafon of the dif-
cLplcs freely parting with their fubftance was this,
namely, * that being refolved to cleave to the apoftles,
' and apprehending the approach of the de{lru£i:ion of
' Jerufalem, when they knew they muft flee and leave
' all to the enemy, they therefore were willing to part
' with their eftates for the benefit of the church/
This I think is a groundlefs conjedlure, and rather un-
generous : If It was certain that the Romans were
inftantly coming, and would feizc on the country of
the Jews, it would have been natural, in them that
believed it, to have parted with their eftates; and
fmce the multitude gave no heed to the prediction of
our Lord, there would doubtlefs have been many to
purchafe, for under thefe circumftances they mufl: be
fuppofed to have bought at a very low price; but
the deftru6lion of Jerufalem was near forty years
diftant, and there is no reafon for imputing the con-
du£l of the primitive difciples to any fuch motive;
their manifeft zeal for the gofpel, and love to each other,
was more than a fufficient inducement to part with their
houfes and lands for the relief of their brethren; they
therefore not only fold them, but (except in the cafe
of Ananias and Sapphira) they every one delivered
up the whole of their produce to the apoftles ; and this
they did not without caufe, for it appears, that after
all the generofity of thofe who had pofleflions among
them, in a time of perfecution they foon flood in need of
the contribution of others. Upon the whole, I fay it

feems

♦ Dr. Whitby's" annotation on Afts ii. 45. and E>r. Dodderidge's note
on the fame place.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 285

feems unworthy the charadter of thefe noble followers
of the Lamb, to fuppofe that a confideration fo low
and carnal fh uld in any degree move them to their
feafonable and rich liberality.

Some afFe6l to imitate the primitive chriftians, by
attempting to live in the manner they did ; and it is
probable that the above fiiggeftion was with a view to
prevent this vain-glorious pretence ; but we are not to.
have recourfe to conjedtures that detradl from the
faithful in their becoming zeal on an extraordinary
occafion, to obviate the defigns of crafty men, who
under a fpecious fhew of religion, decoy the fimple out
of their property and freedom, againft reafon and fcrip-
ture. It is plain from the facred hiftory that this
manner of communion was owing to the peculiar cir-
cumftances the difciples were in at prefent^ and, as
has been frequently and juftly obferved, that it was
never intended to be a precedent in a fettled ftate of
chriftianity, fmce it appears from the current of the
epiftles, that members of churches are fpoken of as
rich and poor, and many exhortations are given which
Gould have no place, if it was the duty or excellency
of chriftians in fociety, to have all things common, as
they had at this time in Jerufalem. The inftitutions
of the gofpel are not advanced on the ruins of mO"
rality. ' Chrift's gofpel (fay the continuators of Mr*
' Pool's annotations) does not deftroy the law; and

* the eighth commandment is fiill in force, which it
' could not be if there was no property, or meum and

* tuum now.' And indeed, however fome may boall
in this notion, or practice of fecial religion, it has a

natural

186 LECTURES ON

natural tendency to deftroy the foundations of order
and government, both in the world and in the church,
and accordingly to be fhunned and rejeded, as a de-
lufion and unworthy the gofpel of Chrift.

This was the fituation and manner of the difciples
in the infant ftate of the church, all that believed were to-
gether^ i. e. they were fupplied out of one common ftock,
which arofe from the fubflance of thofe who had pof-
feflions, which they fold ; a condu£l by no means
fuited to the manifeft duties of believers in an ordinary
church-ftate, all pretence to which is abfurd and un-
fcriptural, if not downright immoral. Neverthelefs it
was a wife and noble inftance of charity in the primitive
church, by which every covetous or ftraight-handed per-
fon, who affumes the name of a chriftian, ftands con-
demned to the end of the world. And however difagree-
able to fome the obfervation may be, this example of
love proves that, in a right ftaie of things, the difciples
of Jefus, conftrained by his grace, will be as much as
polBble together, in order to a mutual and free com-
munication of their talents for the fupport of his king-
dom and the good of each other i and confequently
that a narrow and felfifli fpirit, and a roving difpoii-
tion, will never anfwer the end of chriftian com-
munion.

LECTUIIE

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 287

LECTURE XIX.

How the difciples at Jerufalem were employed, with
pradlical notes on their condudl.

WE are now to confider in what manner the
primitive chriftians filled up their time in the
fituation we left them. Idle profefTors might find an
occafion, and there is reafon to fear that fome would
abufe a communion circumftanced as that at Jerufa-
lem, in favor of the flefh, but great was the grace he-
flowed on thefe difciples ; they feem one and all to
be infpired from heaven to a diligent proof of their
calling and election of God, in purfuit of which they
divided their time between religious exercifes and thofe
which are civil.

The immediate defign of their union was religion,
«nd to ferve God through Jefus Chrift j according-
ly it is firft related, that " they continued daily with
*' one accord in the temple." They were now of the
true circumcifion, who worfliipped God in the Spirit,
and knew that in every place where his people were
gathered in his name, his prefence and blelfing were
infured ; neverthelefs the temple, as an houfe of pray-
er, was not yet totally abolifhed j they therefore for-
foolc not the public aflembly, but daily reforted unto
it at the appointed feafon. Thus we read, chap. iii.
Jihat at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour, or

three

288 LECTURES ON

three of the clock in the afternoon, the time of the
daily facrifice, and the hour when Jefus the Lamb of
God expired on the crofs, Peter and John went into
the temple. Some nominal chriftians would think it
a burden to be called upon an hour in a week, or per-
haps in a month for focial prayer, except on the fab-
bath ; but it was the daily practice of thefe primitive
chriflians to attend in the temple, befides many private
meetings among themfelvcs. What a wearinefs would
this be to fome profcfibrs ! Indeed prayers may be fol-
lowed feveral times in a day, in a vain and fuper-
ftitious manner, yet there is no fuperftition in the dai-
ly prayers of the church ; nor are they inconfiftent with
other duties in life, if things were rightly managed,
perfons in common might find time to wait upon God,
without being ranked among the idle who negleil their
civil occupation, or to provide for their families ; nei-
ther are the prayers which in many places of worfhip
are now day after day for ihe mofl part literally and
properly read to empty pews, within the bare walls
of our churches ; thefe, I fay, are not the relics of
popery, as fome may imagine, but the contempt
thrown upon them a melancholy fymptom of our fad
declenfion from that piety, and delight in focial pray-
er, which fmce the reformation once prevailed in the
land I Indeed we are not held to fet hours under the
prefent difpenfation, but it is a gofpel-precept to pray
without ceafmg; and it furely then becomes us to be
frequently, if not daily, uniting in our prayers to the
Lord, for which feafons muft be appointed, a neglecSl
of which difcovers want of inclination to this divine
fcrvice j and the truth is that fome, being eager in a

purfuit

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 289

puiTuit after the bufinefs and pleafures of life, their
manner will not admit of a regular and conflant at-
tendance in the church, or the family ; and it is to
be feared that there are but too many prayerlefs peo-
ple among us of every denomination, againft whom,
if they repent not, Papifts, yea and Mahometans,
who perform their devotion five times a day, and efteem
prayer* the pillar of heaven and key of paradife, will
rife up in judgment.

But again j as thefe difciples were daily in the
temple, it is likewife declared they were fo in " break-
** ing bread from houfe to houfe." This is explained
in the next claufe, by its being faid, " they eat their
*' meat ;" a phrafe no where applied to that fpiritual
repaft, the fupper of our Lord, and therefore muft
refer to their natural meals. Some underftand it of
friendly entertainments, which they apprehend was
made at each others houfes ; but, if as many of them
as had houfes or lands, made fale of the fame and fur-
rendered the purchafe, as defcribed, I pray, who could
provide thefe feafts for their friends ? Hofpitality is
one fruit of brotherly love ; but it ftems inconfiftent
with the ftate of this fociety, in which all things
were common, to fuppofe that they treated one ano-
ther in this manner. I am, therefore, of opinion
that this breaking of bread from houfe to houfe, was
no other than their commons, prepared in different
apartments or houfes, in which provifion was made
by agreement, as fuited their flate, and the pur-
pofes of their communion together, which may eafily
be conceived in a body fo compacted as thefe chri-

T flians

* Sales's preliminary difcourfe to the koran, p. 142.

290 LECTURESON

ftians. Thus they went on from day to day, joining
in the worfhip of God in his temple or in church-
afTemblies, anJ liicewife at home, for they had houfes
to eat and to drink in, where they partook of the
bounti-s of providence together.

Now this focial communion, in refpedt both of
natural and religious enjoyments, v/as maintained and
carried on in a fpirit and temper every way fuited to
their holy profeflion. In the firft place, we are told
they did it with gladnefs. A fad countenance is no
prcper fymptom of unfeigned piety; and I fee no rea-'
fon why this fhould not include a natural chearful-
nefs, which will be felt in proportion to bodily health,
and a juft fenfe of the divine bounty. " Go thy
*' way, (fays the wife man) eat thy bread with joy,
*' and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for God
*' now accepteth thy works," Ecclef. xviii. 7. Who
fo fit to take a fober and moderate joy in the crea-
ture as the chriftian, whofe God is his portion ? In
this fenfe, the man whofe fins are forgiven him, may
be of good cheer ; but no doubt a fpiritual joy is
principally intended. 'AfaPiAjao-st ; the fame word in
Jude ver. 24. is rendered exceeding joy, and fignifies
not meerly a gladnefs of heart, but a vifible exultation,
and fuppofes external fymptoms, fo that it may refer
to their fpiritual difcourfe, faying, as the difciples after
the Lord was departed, " Did not our heart burn
*' within us while he talked with us by the way, and
<' while he opened to us the fcriptures ? " Luke
xxiv. 32. Thus might they enquire of each other,
and communicate of their experience, and, being filled

vvitiii

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 291

with joy, fing praifes together ; for, however ftran^e
it may now feem, there is reafon to conclude that
the primitive chriftians rarely parted at any time vv^iih-
out prayer and Tinging. However religion is in a
flourifhing ftate, when from the houfe of pra)er the
faithful come rejoiced in the loving- kindnefs of the
Lord, and fatit-fied in the riches of his grace, they fit
down together at thL* table of providence in their own
houfes with a fingular chearfulnefs , while feeding
their bodies their fouls are feafted in a remembrance of
his favor. Thus their joy is double, of which {Gran-
gers to real piety can form no adequate idea.

Again, with fmgknefs of heart. The term, aips^oTrJIt
.here rendered Jingknefs is ufed no where elfe; it fig-
nifies plain, upnght and honefl, and moft emphati-
cally exprefles the utmoft fimplicity. It is the tefti-
mony of God, who fearchfth the reins, and a glorious
part of the character of thefe difciples, that they con-
tinued together without any finifler, private or felfifii
view, being free from carnal motives in their felloW-
fliip ; no crafty defigns, or mean underhand doings,
were praiticed among them. here might be hypo-
crites, but in general they aflbciated with a pure
heart, and unfeigned love of the brethren, and their
condu(5l was frank and open, like thofe who had a fingle
eye to the glory of God, and their mutual honor and
comfort. This flands in a natural connexion with the
trhearfulnefs that fpread through their company ; '* for
*' (faith the apoftle) our rejoicing is this, the tefti-
" mony of our confcience, that in fimplicity and
" godly fincerity, not with flefhly wifdom, but by
T 2 '* the

292 LECTURESON

** the grace of Gtd we have had our converfation in
*' the world, and more abundantly to you wards,"
2 Cor. i. 12. Thus upright and fincere were thejfe
primitive chrift.ans, without oftentation or covetouf-
nefs. O that the like teftimony could be born to the
fpirit and condud^ of all who bear the name of chri-
flianity, and are in communion with the faithful !
But, alas, fome are of a contrary difpofition, and but
too plainly difcover on every occafion their private
views. Flence ftrife and vain -glory, animofities and
divifions, whereby the church is fometimes torn and
defaced, and fore difcouragements are laid on the hearts
of them that truly love God.

Once more ; It is further declared that the difci-
plcs went on in thefe afibciations praiftng God, As
obferved, the term rendered gladnefs carries in it a joy
exprefled by fome bodily exercife, fuch as leaping,
dancing and fingino;, 5cc. Now here we learn the
nature of that joy which poficfled the hearts of thefe
chriftians, and how it appeared ; not by the ranting
noife of fenfualifls, who fmg and roar like madmen
and fools ; their joy, like themfelves, is carnal and
impious, blazing with a noife, and tranfitory as the
crackling of thorns uader a pot; nor was it like that
of thefe degenerate and ihameful Ifraelites complained
of in Ifa. V. I2. " The harp, the viol, the tabret
" and pipe, and wine are In their feafls : but they
"' regard not the work of the Lord, neither confider
" the operation of his hands." Not fo at the table
of the faithful at Jerulalcm, their rejoicing was holy
and fpiritual, and terminated in the honor of their

heavenly

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 293

heavenly Father, whofe abounding mercies, temporal
and eternal, infpired them with gratitude. To God
they lift up their voices together, with adoration
and praife, to celebrate his love. Now they might
praife God in their meetings at thefe repafts of a na-
tural kind, as well as in thofe more immediately ap-
pointed for religious fervice in feveral ways; by their
application for a blefllng, with thanks, for the food
of the body; which however fome make light of, or
fcruple, is due to our bountiful Father, and a means
of fan£lifying the creatures we receive, i Tim. iv. 5.
an example of which we have in our Lord, who, when
he fed the people with the meat that periflaeth, firft
gave thanks unto God, John vi. 11. which is alfo no-
ticed by the evangelift Matthew. And thus faith the
apoftle, " He that eateth to the Lord, giveth God
" thanks," Rom. xiv. 6. In fhort, it is unworthy the
knowledge of God, and much more of the gofpel of
Chrift, to fit down to our food, and ] ife up, without
giving thanks. But to return, the difciples praifed
God in their difcourfe; their Mafter had fhewn them
to improve their meals by entering on fubje(R:s that
are fpiritual and divine, Luke vii. 40. xiv, 7. and
on other occafions. Chriftians lofe much by oniitt-
ing this manner of edification. Hence the tongue
of thofe who talk much and do nothing, are noto-
rioufly proud, licentious or diforderly in their con-
dudt, condemn them ; it may be juft to caution againft
an affeded loquacity on religious fubjeds, v/hich
is odious and vain ; but this appears not to me a
prevailing evil in the prefent generation; the table-
talk of moil chriftian families, as far as I can

T 3 learn,

294 LECTURES ON

learn, rarely turns on any fubjecl that {hould give the
leaft difgufl- to thofe who are ftrangers to the power of
religion ; at leaft in general, we feem little to be charg-
ed with this kind of imprudence, but are much more
polite, or rather flow in our difcourfej yet it is certain
that when perfons are affeited with the love of God,
and a fenfe of divine things, they are very much dif-
pofed to mention them. And if, as our Lord ob.-»
ferves, Matt. xiii. 34. " out of the abundance
*' of the heart the mouth fpeaketh, " of which,
no man can doubt, is it not reafonable then to ex-
petfl that believers, on returning from the enjoyment
of God in his fanftuary to their ovv'n houfes, for the
refrefhment of nature, fliould remind one another, and
praife God together for the fpiritual benefits they have
received ? Was this the pratflice, we might hope
to fee more fpiritual ity among us ; our children, fer-
vants and friends, who Hand round about us, might
be edifi:d thereby, and he ready to blefs us in the
name of the Lord. And further, God may be praifed
by his people even at their ov/n tables, at lead before
they feparate from thefe entertainrnents, in pfalms,
hymns and fpiritual fongs, in which manner we are
direcSled to teach and admonifli cne another. Col.
i'.i. 16. and, v/Iiy not in our own houfs:-, or family-
aiiemblies ? Is the Tinging an hymn confined to the
fandrur.iy, or forbid elfewhere ? Should not every
chriiti::n fan~.i'y be as a little church? and may not
thofe who love God take any fit opportunity to iiir up
each other and to join in his praife ? And fnall the
ignorant and malicious reproaches of worldly men,
who are not afliamed of their empty, if not filthy and

impious

PRIiMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 295

impious ballads, intimidate chriftians from the enter-
tainment and profit of united fongs to the honor of
God, and their bleffed Redeemer?

This then is noted of thefe primitive chriftians ;
they were not only joyful and upright, but chearful
and grateful, praifing God. They might decently
praife the food which they eat, as delicious and good
in rts kind ; this is proper and ufeful in its place ; but,
doth it not rather look fenfual to confine our difcourfe
to this fubjed? However they pralfed God, i, e. their
converfation in general turned not on felf-applaufe, or
any thing trifling and carnal ; but in all their meet-
in<ys, both in the church and at home, they com-
muned on things adapted to edify the foul, and to
quicken one another in glorifying their Saviour. How
different are they whofe converfation is full of flan-
der and backbiting, filthy difcourfe or vain jell-
ing, which is very oifenfive and finful ! I hope the
Reader is far from indulging a pradice fo (hameful ;
fuch table-talk is hateful and fcandalous j but, have
we not too much reafon to blufli on rcfleiStion ?
How little proceeds from our mouth in ordinary con-
verfe which is good, to the ufe of edifying, that it
may minifter grace to the hearers ]

It remains to obferve, the influence this manner of
life had upon the world about them. And it appears
that this harmony, afFediion and faithfulnefs among
themfelves, which it is reafonable to fuppofe was at-
tended with an affable and courteous behaviour to
others, the genuj.ne fruit of vital religion, gave the

T 4 difciples

296 LECTURES ON

difciples an high reputation, for we are told, they had
" favor with all the people." Some underftand this of
the favor (hewn by the difciples to all people, i. e. fay they,
their charity was not confined to themfelves, but ex-
tended to others who were not of their own community.
And it muft be owned, that we are taught to do good
unto all, but efpeciallv to the houfhold of faith, which
catholic fpirit is fuited to the genius of the gofpel, yet
this interpretation feems drained. Thefe chriftians in-
deed were kind and condefcending to every one, but
they had little opportunity of helping others, being
themfelves, as a fociety, often in need, as hinted before,
notv/ithftanding the generofity of thofe who had pro-
perty among them, which we have reafon to think
were comparative'y few ; it is therefore mofl natural
to apply the pafllige to the refpeiEl fhewn them
by the people in general. This ami^ible fpirit and con-
duct gained the good-will of the multitude, however
reproached and vilified by fome malicious unbelievers,
who' envied their union and fuccefs, and afterwards
raifcd bitter perfccution againfl: them. Neverthclefs,
at prefent, their {ledf. ftnefs in cleaving together in the
Lord, and their holy converfation in other refpeCls,
manifefted their excellency to the confciences of thofe
who beheld them, who could not but admire, as in
future periods it is recorded they did, infomuch that
it was common for the heathens to fay of the chriftians,
with aftonifhment. Behold, how they love one ano-
ther ! Thus thefe difciples, hke Jefus himfelf, being
made wife, increafed in favor with God and man.
The Lord was vifibly with them, by the figns and
V/onders that were done by the apoflles, fo that " fear

** can>e

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 297

*' came upon every foul," and their lovely deportment
rendered them in a manner univerfaliy grateful. In
this way fhould all who are feparated by a profefied
fubje£tion to the gofpel adorn it, and by a favor of its
divine influence in the whole of their condudt, gain
the efteem of mankind ; for a loofe and light beha-
viour in perfons who pretend to the high calling of
God, is Ihameful, and ufually brings them into con-
tempt : So true is it, " that they who honor God
" fhall be honored, but they Vs^ho defpifc him fhall be
*' lightly efteemed," i Sam. ii. 30. Thus it is fre-
quently feen that a m.an whofe coiverfation is un-
comely under a religious charadler, is defpifcd even
by the world ; and he alone may expect to have efteem
who ails up to his pro.feflion ; it is the holy, juft
and friendly behaviour of a people united in the fel-
lowfhip of the gofpel that convinces mankind of their
fmcerity, and is likely to induce that refpedl, which
may, under a bleffing, promote the faith of cur Lord
Jefus Chrifl in the world.

Such, I apprehend, was the manner of the firft dif-
ciples at Jerufalem ; they cleaved to the Lord and one
another with purpofe of heart, and were together^ as
we faw in the preceeding lecture, not only in point of
afFe£lion and judgment, and in one church-ftate, but
they lived together as one family ; though on account
of their number they were divided into feparate apart-
ments or houfes, yet the) had all things common, be-
ing each as they lacked fupplied from one ftock or
fund, raifed in the manner defcribed. And now it
appears that in this extraordinary fituation their time

was

2^8 LECTURES ON

was employed in daily afTembling themfelves m the
temple for divine fervice, from whence they returned
to partake together of the bounties of providence,
breaking bread from houfe to houfe; with an holy
chearfulnefs and unfeigned fimplicity, they mingled
their common meals for the refrefliment of nature
with thofe communications of a fpiritual kind, where-
by they were mutually excited to join in praifmg the
Lord; thus they lived a life of devotion to God and
mutual affection, which procured an unlverfal efteem.
O happy and honorable fociety ! How plcafant and
blefled the communion, when the difciples thus walked
together in the fear of the Lord, with integrity and'
brotherly love ! Thefe were halcyon days, when there
was nothing to diflurb the public tranquility, or dif-
quiet the hearts of the faithful, but all fair and
ferene, to the glory of God and the joy of his
people ! But, alas, how tranfitory this beauty and
gladnefs in Zion ! It was not to laft ; the faints
muft be tried ; and fatan, who is the prince of the power
of the air, foon obtained permiffion to blow up a tem-
peft, and threaten the ark of the Lord. In a fhort
time, as he hath ever fmce more or Icfs, did the ene-
my, by a variety of cruel perfccutions, foul apofta-
fics -dud. damnable hercfies, tear and mangle the vifiblc
body of Chrift, if pofnble to dcftroy it; but we know
the church ftands fecure; the gates of hell fhall not
prevail againfc her, to her ruin, or even fo as to pre-
vent ksr pcrfe£lion in the end, yet this primitive glory
of the church is in a meafure gone oft' tor awhile, and
her members have not that futisfa6iion and joy in her

commu-

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 299

communion the difciples had, when in the iimplicity
of her infant ftate.

But now, my dear Reader, it may be proper to
obferve, that you are not to expert, or even wifh for
a communion fo circumftanced, in every refpeit, as
that in which the difciples were united before the gof-
pel was fpread, and chnltian churches eftabliflied. It
is plain, as obier.ed, that a community of goods, and
Jiving together as thefe chriftians did, is now contrary
to the word of God, and inconhftent with the duties
of our holy profeffion, in the church and in the worid ;
fo that, as I have fhcwn, every pretence of forming
ourfclves in this manner, under a notion of comino-
near to the original pattern of chriftianity, is unfcrip-
tural and vain ; neverthelefs, the union, aftcdlion, fim-
plicity, and manners, of the firfl difciples, 10 far as
they confift with the plan laid down in tlie New-
Teftament, are certainly much to be defired, yea and
to be hoped for in waiting on the Lord ; at leaft, keep-
ing himfelf in the love of God, each one may expedl
a conformity in fome good meafure to this amiable
flandard, and the fpirit of religion being invariably the
fame, 1 (hall clofe the lecture wiih a few brief remarks
by way of refle£tion.

And firft we may note, that it is the inclination
and the intereft of the difciples of Jefus, as much as
may be, to afibciate together. It is in the nature of
intelligent creatures to be focial ; fo that they who,
being called, have cafl in their lot, as heirs together of
the grace of life, fliould naturally cleave to each

Other

300 LECTURESON

other in the Lord. The believer can truly appeal to
his God and declare, in the words of the Pfalmift,
" I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of
** them that keep thy precepts," Pfalm cxix. 63. His
heart's defire is to the fellowfhip of the faints, the ex-
cellent of the earth, in whom is all his delight; and
while brotherly love continues, the faithful are mani-
feftly glad of each others company, infomuch that
whatever appearance there may be of indifFerency to
this among nominal chriftians, in a (late of lukcwarm-
nefs and fonowful divifions, it is certain that this holy
and happy inclination or defire keeps pace with the
life and power of godlinefs ; a decay from this, which
is the fame with a defeilion from the love of God, Is a
principal fource of that dangerous, and for the moft
part fatal drawing-back, the forfaking the aflembling
of ourfelvcs together. Frequent aflemblies are abfolutely
needful to fupport a church-ftate, and the building
ourfelves on our moft holy faith, without which a peo-
ple cannot keep themfelves in the love of God, as di-
rected Jude ver. 20, 21. Nor can believers in a focial
or private capacity, expe£l: to flourifli without them,
but in keeping together on every cccafion they knit
faftcr in love, and become endeared to one another in
confequence of reciprocal acSls of kindnefs and friend-
fhip. It therefore is of great advantage to the intereft
of religion, w^hen they who fear the Lord are feeking
every fit opportunity to convcrfe together : And this
will be the cafe when perfons are in good earneft,
feeking firft the kingdom of God and the things
which are Chrifl's. I'hey may be providentially in-
terrupted from afTcciating j but, being conilrained by

divine

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 301

divine love, they are no fooner at liberty, but, like
Peter and John, when let go from their confinement by
the Jews, they joyfully return to their own company,
which is no other than their brethren in Chrift.

Again ; this example proves that they who aflb-
ciate in the fear of God, are difpofed, and will ftudy to
improve their meetings together to their fpiritual ad-
vantage. In the temple or aflemblies of the church,
this is dire6lly and profelTedly in view ; but I princi-
pally refer to chriftians when met in their own houfes,
or occafionally from time to time in any other place ;
particularly their vifits one among another, in which
they have an hofpitable intercourfe, and chearfully
partake of the bounties of Providence as relations
or friends ; fuch opportunities may be employed to
the purpofes of religion, without infringing on a
becoming regard to things of the world. I am
far from cenfuring difcourfe on fubjedls which re-
late to civil and natural life, which is fometimes
becoming and ufeful ; but then, fliould they fpend
their whole time on temporal things ? Is there no
opportunity on fuch occafions to communicate fome-
thing for the foul, and which relates to eternity ? And,
is it not decent and profitable for them who are
heirs of falvation, if poffible, to make every feafon.
fubfervient to their meetnefs for glory ? We have feen
that there is the higheft reafon to conclude that the
firft difciples, at their common meals, refrefhed one
another with fpiritual things. And it is certain, with
this expedlation Paul defired to have an interview with
the chriftians at Rome : " For I long to fee you, (faith

" he)

302 LECTURES ON

' he) that I may impart fome ipiritiial gift unto you,
*' to the end that ye may be eftablifiied ; that is, that .
" I might be comforted togethfr with you, by the
*' mutual faiih both of you and me," Rom. i. ii, 12.
In which place, I apprehend, the', apoftle doth not
fo much intend his imparting extraordinary gifts, or
what he might communicate in the exercife of his
office, as their conferences in relation to fairh and
experience, fince their communications v/ere mutual,
at leaft I think there is no reafon to queflion that
thefe are included ; and it would tend much to a
revival of a fpirit of religion among us, if it was the
ftudy of chriftians to accommodate their vifits in this
manner to the promoting of their fpiritual intereft.
But permit, my dear Reader, a word of advice. la
order to carry on this pious defign two things are need-
ful : Firft, that thefe friendly entertainments at home
are fo contrived as not to interfere with the appointed^
feafons of the fan61:uary. Is it becoming a chriftian to
fay, I have a friend on a vifit, and therefore cannot
come up to the houfe of the Lord ? This is fometimes
the cafe, through companions who fear not his name,
or it may be through careleflhefs, which arc both to
be avoided by him who would profit in religion. No
appointment for focial entertainment in thy own
habitation, fhould ordinarily take place againft ftated
and known feafons fet apart for alTembling in the
church. This may be thought by fome rather too
ftri6l ; but a man, who thirfts after God, will (o or-
der his affairs, and when he can, deny himfelf at home
rather than be deprived of an opportunity in the houfe
of the Lord. And then it is further necelTary to ob-
tain

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 303

tain this advantage, that our civil and friend'y ea-
tertainments be mingled with exercifes of a fpintuai
kind, which confift with thofe meetings, fuch as
praying together, and ic me ferlous and heavenly dif--
courfe ; fureiy this might give life and joy to a com-
pany of believers, when reo;al!ng themfelves in mode-
ration with the good things of life, without abating a
defirable relifh in their natural enjoyments. Certaia
I am that this is the way to be filled with each others,
company, as it is exprefled in Rom. xv. 24. Whereas,,
through a total negledl of thefe things, we often empty
one another in cur vifits, and come together, not for
the better, but for the worfe, at leaft in refpecl of the
foul.

■ It may further be noted, that one fruit of that faith
which worlceth by love is an hofpitable and liberal
fpirit. The primitive chriftians are a noble e»<ampla
of the power of the gofpel in this rcfpeiSl ; it enlarged
their hearts to be generous in parting with their fub-
ftance for the common good, without any referve to
themfelves j this, indeed, in ordinary circumftances, is.
not required, but the love of God will certainly purify
a man from covetoufnefs, and promote in him a boun-
tiful difpofition. Thus, no fooner was the heart of
Lydia opened, but the doors of her houfe were open to
receive the minifters and difciples of Jefus, Ada.
xvi. 15. The apoftle James afferts, that faith with-
out works is dead, and likewife fhews that works of
mercy and love are eflential to that which is faving :
nor can any thing be more contrary to the real fpirit
•f. chriftianity than a raorofe, narrow and felfiih tem-
per.

304 L E C T U R E S O N

pcr. That man who is not willing to Caew kindnefs,
and do good to every one, but efpecially to his bre-
thren in the Lord, as directed in the gofpel of Chrift,
fhould look to himfclf. If we do not as it were wafti
the faints feet, and minifter to their neceflities accord-
ing to our ability, yea and alfo delight iw fhewing all
manner of refpedl to the people of God, we want
an efl'ential evidence of grace in the heart. Let no
tin profit:.' ble proftllor flatter h'mfelf, for pure religion
is love ; not in word and in tongue, but in deed and
in truth.

■ Moreover it appears that the fruits of faith are
abiding. Thefe chriftians continued in their harmony and
]bve J they were not, as fome, unftable as water ; nei-
ther is true religion a fickle or tranfitory thing, nor is
it partial. He that fears God, is habitually conftant
and univerfal in obeying the truth ; and this will ap-'
pear in his behaviour under a profeflion of the gofpel.
To which maybe added, that the believer finds un-
speakable delight in the ways of the Lord j they are
ways of pleafantnefs, and paths of peace to his foul.
Strangers conceive not the gladnefs and joy that attend
the faints who walk together in love, in the order of
Chrift. Their communion is fweet, who can fay,
'* Have fellowfhip with us ; truly our fellowfliip is
"^ with the Father, and with his Son Jefus Chrift.

Finally, we fee that the vifible and clofe union of
chriftians, and their mutual offices of kindnefs, is a
flriking evidence to all around them of their real reli-
gion. By this faith is ken, and the world is convinced.'

Whereas

PTIIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 305

Whereas fhort of this teftimony, the greatefl attain-
ment in knowledge and gifts, or the higheft profeifion
of zeal for the truths and ordinances of ihe gof-
pel, is vain; it fails of proving a man under the do-
minion of grace. He is nothing who hath not th^s
char'.tv, in the exercife of which the dodlrin? of God
our Saviour is adorned; but, in this prailice of pieiy
and goodnefs, the ca'ling and eledion of the chriliian
appears. Thus faith the 1 ord, *' By this fhal] all men
" know that ye are my difciples, thar ye love one ano-
" thcr," John xiii. 35. May the Spirit of love and
of a found mind be poured out from on high on all
that call on the name of the Lord, that, being thus
found in the faith, th^y may abound in every fruit
of righteoufnefs, to the conviiSlion of gainfayers, and
to the praife of the glory of him that hath called them
out of darknefs into his marvellous light I

L E C T U R E XX.

The daily increafc of the primitive church.

AMONG all the extraordinary and entertaining
things related of the faints at Jerufalem, it is
none of the leaft that the Lord was with them. He
crowned his gofpel with continual fuccefs, and the
number of difciples multiplied greatly ; for we are
told, that " the Lord added to the church da.ly fuch
' V "as

3o6 L E C T U R E S O N

" as fliould be faved." It was their glory and hap-
pinefs to be in perfect harmony and love, and in favor
with man, but ftill more fo to enjoy the vifible pre-
fence and bleffing of Jehovah ; the beauty of the Lord
their God was upon them, and he eftabliflied the work
of their hands. In this pleafing account the followino-
particulars are included, namely, the denomination
under which the difciples are mentioned, their daily
increafe, by whom thefe additions were made, and the
peculiar defcription of thofe who were joined. A re-
view of thefe articles, with brief notes upon them, and
ibme rcilcftions, will be the fubjedl of this lecture, and
finifh our defign on this ufeful part of facred ecclefiafti-
cal hillory.

The EiTglifii term churchy under which the faithful
here fir ft ftand dcfcribrd, an expreflion often repeated
in the New-Teftament, is derived from two words,
which may be rendered, ' the houfe or habitation of
the Lord.' Thus the temple at Jerufalem is frequent-
ly filled ; and a like phrafc is ufed of the fplritual tem-
ple, " the houfc of God," i Tim. iii. 15. over whom
nov Chrid, who is the true God, prefides fole law-
giver and king, as it is written, Heb. iii. 6. ** But
" Chrift as a fon over his own houfe, whofe houfe are
" we." But {iy.y.Ma-ia.) the word ufed here, and in all
other places where church intends a fociety of believers
in order, is of another import, and fignifies to be called
out; fo that theifimple and native idea of a church, is a
company of called perfons alTembled together, which
cxaiflly correfponds with the true notion of a chriftian

* KTPIOY OIKOS, which form the word kirk.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 307

or gofpel-church, which is no other than a company
of faiiitb), who, oeing called by grace, acc.jrding to the
divine purpofe, are built tOL,ether, by a fprcial CQ-
venant, and alTociating themfelves in one time and
p'ace, for a mutual enjoyment of the appointments of
their Lord and Redeemer.

Custom has rendered it tolerable ; but, however
early or common the word has been app led to a houfe
or place of aflembly, as frequently to this day, it is
neverthelefs very improper; and though it might at
firft be innocently introduced, and is now ufed by
many, who are far from intending any thing unwor-
thy the fpirituality of gofpel-worihip, this liberty has
been abufed ; iniiead of an ordinary houfe or apart-
ment, as at firft, ftately piles have been raifed, framed
and adorned in a peculiar manner, under the name of
a church, by which the vulgar have been captivated
to a fuperftitious veneration for material buildin2;s ; it
is therefore to be wifhed, that this undue application
of the word was renounced. Though fome refpedtable
perfons have been otherwife minded, 1 take leave to
fay, that I apprehend the meeting-place of the faithful
for divine fervice is no where in fcripture certainly
called a church. The paflage in i Cor. xi. 18. is thus
interpreted by fome, " v/hen ye come together in the
" church," i. e. fay they, into the place of meeting,
which is thought to be confirmed by what follows,
ver. 20. *' when ye come together therefore into one
*' place. " But, with fubmiflion, coming into the
church is eafily underftood, and may fignify no other
than a/Tembiing together in a church-meeting j and

U 2 though

3o8 LECTURESON

though it is true that fuch meetings muft be held in a
particular place, yet the original words do not deter-
minate it topical, but rather refer to the unity of the
perfons who met, than to the place in which they
aflembled ; they are the very words* ufed in Adts ii. 44.
already confidered in leiSture XVIII. Alfo in chap,
iii. I. And again, in the ivth chapter and 26th verfe.
Now it cannot in either of thefe pafl'ages defign a
place or houfe of meeting. And as to the church the
diforderly Corinthians are fufpedted of defpifing, men-
tioned ver. 22. it can by no means be applied to a ma-
terial building, unlefs we fuppofe it con(eCrated by di-
vine authority, and therefore holy as the Jewifh fanc-
tuary of old ; but however fome may plead for it, no
fcripture-v/arrant has yet, and, I prefume, never will
be produced for this relative fan^Stity in material build-
ings under the gofpcl-d:rpenfation. The church of
God, whom thefe wanton profeflbrs are fuppofed to
contemn, and thofe whom they put to fhame, by the
indecent and uncharitable pra6lice reproved, appear to
me to be one and the fame; they are defcribed as
*' having or pofTefTing nothing," i. e. the poor, who
may well be ftilcd the church, fmce they were a part,
yea and it is reafcnable to fuppofe the major part of
ihe church i for, " hath not God chofen the poor
*' of this world, rich in faith and heirs of the king-
'' d^tn ? "

THii exprefilon is ufed of different forts of aflem-
blies; for inftance, the town-clerk of Ephefus fo ftiles
the muititude of crafts-men who gathered againft the

apoftle,

at -, / \ \ n\

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 309

apollle, at the motion or call of Demetrius the filver-
fmlth, A<Sls xix. 41. And in verfe 39, of that chap-
ter, the fame word is ufcd for an orderly court of juf-
tice, in which he tells the feditious, their caufe, if they
Tiad anyjuft complaiiit, might le legally determined ;
other applications of the term may be produced, but
for the rnoft part, as here, it refers to the church of
God; fometimes to the invifible and catholic church,
which comprehends the whole eleition of grace, who are
orfhall be faved, and may be confideredas called in the
divine purpofe. This is the church which is the body
of Chrift, over whom he is given to be head, the fiJl-
nefs of him that filleth all in all, Ej)h. i. 22, 23. even
that church whom Chriil loved, and gave himfelf for,
and ranfomed with his blood, out of every kindred,
tongue and nation, whofe nam.es are written in heaven,
and who, being completely gathered, fhall at laft ap-
pear in one general and glorious aflembly, and together
poflefs the kingdom prepared for them fioni the foun-
dation of the world.

Some number the pafTage before us with thofe that
fpeak of the church in this general fenfe j but it is
plainly hiftorical, and refers to the faints in order at
Jerufalem. It is frequently taken for the vifible church
on earth univerfally, or, as the fathers exprefied it,
' the church difperfed through the world to the ends
* of the earth *.' Thus we read, Adts xii. i. that
Herod, that bloody man, vexed certain of the church.
And again. Gal. i. 13. fays Paul, *' I perfecutcd the
** church," i. e. the difciples of Jefus, wherever he

U 3 fwUfid

• Enquiry into the primitive church, p, 3.

310 LECTURES ON

found them, A£ls ix. 2. So then it is taken for all
that call on the name of the Lord in every place,
1 Cor. i. 2. But the word is mo.e frequently applied
to a particular community, as in tue inftance before
us. 'Ihe difciples were now a body corporate, afiem-
bling themfelves for chriftlan worlhip and difcipline,
under the immediate direction of the apoftles ; the firft
chriftian church exifting, and v/iiich, though not yet
compleatly organized, (extraordinary circumftances ex-
cepted) which the ferious enquirer may eafily diftin-
guifh, is the original pattern of fellowfhip in the gof-
pel. Thus as the difciples were firit called chriitians
at Antioch, fo in a focial capacity they were firft iHleda
church at Jerulalem. Henceforward, bemg thus united,
and walking together in every place, they were called a
church. Of thefe churches, we have feen, there were
many in the time of the apoftles. And accordingly
we read of the churches of Judca, Galatia, Maccdo-
donia, and Afia, and likewife of all the churches of
the faints. Thefe churches were originally ot the fame
faith and order ; they each held the lame dodirme, and
the ordinances were the fame in every community,
1 Cor. vii. 17. and they maintained a relpecttul and af-
fectionate correfpondence with each other, by melic-n-
gers, letters of commendation and advice, with every
office of love in their power, as circuuiitances required j
thinf^s too little rctrarded in a (late ot lukewaimnefs
and diyificn, being always difcouraged by covetous and
diforJerly perfons, who fer\e their own belly, and not
the Lord Jelus Chrift, but in which the firlt dilciples
abounded, as the fcnptures declare; neverthelels each
congregation or incorporated focicty of chriftians was

inde-

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 311

independent, in which alfo the feat of government,
and a fufficient means of perfonal edification was
found, under their proper paftors and guides, in the
exercife of whofe different fundtions the ordinances
were duly adminiflred. This is the denomination
which the aflbciated difciples came under from the be-
ginning, the church ; and this Is the proper character
of chrirtians joined in the order of the gofpel, they are a
church, or an afiembly, called out and gathered from
the world ; not that the members of this facred fociety
can always be together in one place, but the propriety
of this appellation is evident in that, as in all bodies
corporate, their appearance and operations depend on
ftated and frequent aflembling themfelves together,
which was the daily praftice of the faints at Jerufalem ;
and the forfaking of which, in every age and place, i$
the firft ftep, and an high-way to ap(.R.icy ar.d ruin,
both of communities and particular perfons.

We are now to confider the increafe of this church
at Jerufalem. There were continual additions unto it :
" added to the church daily." A church is a change-
-able body, compofed of individuals who are mutabie.
Many are the viciffitudes in providence, by which the
members of a particular gofpel-church are removed,
and at beft the perfons who compofe them, like the
priefts of old, continue not by reafon of death ; befides,
they are liable to be corrupted, in confequence of
which it is too often feen, they make (hipwreck of
faith, or behave fo unworthy their profeffion, that it
is needful to put them away, or to purge them out as
old leaven, for the prefe'rvation of the body, the honor

U 4 of

3ia. L E C T U R E S O N u/ I « ^

of religion, and the convi£lion and fafety of the delin-
quent himfelf. On thefc, and on other accounts,
churches are often diminilhed, and for want of addi-
tions brought very low, yea and in fome inftances en-
tiiely diflblve ; but the church at Jcrufakm was in a
thriving and prrfperous condition, the word of God
grew exceedingly, and multitudes gladly received if,
and joyfu'ly fubmitted themfelves to the name of Jefus.
They can^e da !y to the apoftles, and were baptized
and added to tlie Lord. Indeed difciples were not
multiplied evety day equal to the number of the firft
gathering, in which the incrcafe of one day was three
thoufand, yet the go.'pcl had fiee couife into the hearts
of many, ar.d biaught them to the obedience of faith,
infoiTiuch that every time the difciples met, at leaft in
general, there were fome inftances of the power of
God in a vifible fubjedtion of Tinners to the Saviour, as
their loveieitzn and kin;2:.

But, who made thefe additions? The hiftorian de-
clares, " it was the Lord." It is the Lord's doing,
and to him it ought to be afciibcd. ]\'liniiiers are in-
ftrunients for the corividlion and perfuafion of men, ,
that they m;iy believe and be favtd j they preach the
word of faiih, and it pleafeth God by the fooliftjnefs
of, preaching to i'dvc them that believe; but faith is the
gift of God. " Who i,s Paul, and who is Appllos,
*' but minifters by whom ye believed, even as the
*' Lord gave to every man ?" i Cor. iii. 5. Again;
th(-fc who are called, being made willing in the day
of God's pow-r, freely cttcr themlelves J and aifo the
jdifciplcs with whpm they are cejiieiued jiaye iWn cop-

CeiA

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 313-

cerft in this union, which takes place, as we have keu,
bymutual confent. Thus all parties are aiStive tov/ards^
the addition of perfons to any particular church, after
the example '; efore us. Ptter and John preached the
word, who, with the afliftance of others, baptized the
penitent, and were inftrumental of joining tht'm to the
church ; the members of which in refpetSt or' their recep-
tion of them into their bod)', may be looked upon as
adding fuch perfons, and alfo the party received is con-'
cerned in this union, who, on account of his voluntary
furrender and adherence to Chrift, is declared in prophe-
cy to have *' joined himfelf to the Lord," Ifa. Ivi. ■■^.
Neverthelefs, when a church is increafed in the number
of the faithful, and built up a fpiritual houfe for divine
fervice, it mult be ultimately referred to the grace and
power of God. Which leads,

Finally, tc the remaining article in this facred ac-
count, namely, the peculiar defcription of thofe who
were joined by the Lord to his people. It is declared that
they were " fuch as Ihould be faved." Some would con-
fine the fenfe of this phrafe to their obtaining the means
of falvation, but then all who heard the word fliouk!
have been united to the church, whereas it is manifeft
that fome only, thou_h a great number, even they only
were added, who received the gofpel, and were bap-
tized -in the name of Jefus. The miniflration of the
word is a diftinguifhing favor, and wo be to them
w'ho negle(5l or defpife it ; and he that is thoughtful
?ibaut his falvation may juftly encourage himfelf from
the enjoyment of the means, in a hope that, the Lord
will have mercy upon him ; for though many indulged

314 LECTURES ON

in like- manner, perifli in tlieir fins through unbelitf, yet
this grant fruni heaven is a leading ftep towards the fal-
vation of the ele«5t ; therefore great is the privilege of
a gofpel-niiniftry, and to be highly efteemed ; but it is
die thing to be of them to whom the falvation of God,
i, e. the word of falvation is font, Acts xxviii. 28. and
another thing to be oi fuch as Jhoiild be faved. The Javed'xs
a phrafe which (lands oppofed to the loji or the perifhed,
to both which the gofpel is evidently preached : It is
ufed only in two other places, which may ftrve to
illuilrate the point. In i Cor. i. 18. we read, " The
" preaching of the crofs is to them that perifh foolifli-
*' nefs ;" "but (fays the apoftlc) unto us that arc
*' faved it is the power of God." And again, 2 Cor.
ii. J 5, 16. fpeaking of the acceptance vi'hich faith-
ful minifters fnid with God , however fome to
v.'hom they preach may treat their report, and re-
ceive or reject it, he faith, " We are unto God a
*' fweet favour of Chrift in them that are faved, and in
*' them that perifh." Now in bcth thefe pafTages we
fee that the faved and the loji are cppofed to each other,
and that both the one and the other fat under the report
of the gofpel. It is therefore plain that thefe perf( ns,
of whom it is declared that they arc fuch as fhould be
fa\'cd, are not thus defcribed, becaufe they enjoyed
the means of filvation, but to diftinguifh them from
thofe who, notvvithftanding they were thus favored,
periflaed in their infidelity. iSo then, the loft, or
them that perifii, are the difobedient, who, being left
to themfelves, pcrverfely rejed the counfel of God j
and though they may take up a formal profefTion of
Chilli, yet having no root in themfelves they fall

away

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 315

away and come fhort of the promife : and the faved, in
oppofition to t'lefe, are fuch, who, beizig effeciua '^y
called, are truly obedient to the faith, and will per-
fevere unto life everlafting, being, as it is exprefled, " not
" appointed to wrath, but to ohtain falvation by
« our Lord Jefus Chrift," i ThefT. v. 9. This
phrafe therefore amounts to the fame with that ufed
of the Gentiles at Antioch, A£l$ xiii. 48. of whom it
is faid, " That as many as were ordained to eternal
*' life believed." Such who {hall be faved are fuch
who are ordained to eternal life, and accordingly
obtain like precious faith with God's e]e6i-, and having
openly fubmitted themfelves to Jefus, " are not of thetn
** who draw back unto perdition, but of them who be-
" lieve to the faving of the foul," Heb. x. 39. Thefe
are the faved, '' faved and called with an holy calling,
" not according to their works, but according to his own
** purpofe and grace, which was given them in Chrift
*' Jefus before the world began," 2 Tim. i. 9. iuch
are *' faved by grace, through faith, and that not of
*' themfelves, it is the gift of God," Eph. ii. 8. In
a word, fuch are faved, i. e. "• being called they are
" juftified by his grace, and made heirs according to
" the hope of eternal life," Tit. iii. 7. nor fhall their
** hope make them afhamed, for whom he juftified
*' them he alfo glorified," Rom. viii 30.

This then is the fum of the account, that the Lord
fo abundantly owned the preaching of the gofpel, and
profpered his church at Jerufalem, that there were
daily additions, not barely of nominal chriftians, but
they were multiplied with the chofen of God, who

were

'3i6 LECTURES ON

were called according to his purpofe, being ordained
to eternal life : Their increafe was of fucli as fhould be
faved in the day of the Lord. To be of this nunibef,
my Reader, will hereafter be found of infinite impor-
tance to each individual, and it is the glory and hap-
pinefs of a church to be filled with fuch members ;
therefore "give diligence to make thy calling and
*' eledlion fure,'* and let the Lord have no reft till he
thus beautifies the houfe of his glory, '* and makes
*' Jerufalem a praife in the whole earth, an eternal
** excellency, and the joy of many generations."

In refle<5ting on this true and delightful hiftory of
*the firft chriftians in their communion together, wc
are led into a view of the following truths :

Note I, That the communion of faints is clearly a
divine inftitution. It was under the diredion of the
apoftles who received their commiilion from the Lord,
and who were infpired by the Holy Ghoft, that the
difciples at firft were gathered into church-order, and
continued fo to be in every place where the gofptl ob-
tained.

Man by the excellency of his nature, as an intelli-
gent being, is formed for fociety, and by his relation to
others obliged to aflbciate with them ; he cannot exert
his utmoft capacity, nor anfwer the end of his exiftence,
or find compleat happinefs, but in afocialftatej and
fince the end of his being is to glorify God and enjoy
him, religious fociety has been argued from the laws of
nature i and it mull be acknowledged^ that church-

fdlowfliip

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 317

fellowfhip is agreeable to natural light, but the obliga-
tion of believers to this facred union arifes from the
authority of God in his word, who has direded our
worfhip through Jefus the Mediator, in whofe name we
gather together. Chrift is king of faints, a fon over
his own houfe, and he has not left his people without
a plain direction, and a promife fufficient to encourage
them in waiting upon him. The motive, form, rule, and
,end of th'S fellowfhip depend entirely on his will ; nor is
it in the power of any man , or fet of men, to make laws
of government or terms of communion, which are not
founded in the word of the Lord, but every thing muft
be done as he has ordained, according to the commiflion
he gave his apoflles. Matt, xxviii. 18. So then a
church is not barely a fociety, nor meerly a fociety of
believers, with a religious view, but a fociety formed
on the order and difcipline which Chrift hath appointed ;
and for the faithful to incorporate and walk together in
church-relation, is no indifferent matter, for it is not
of human invention, however prudent and ufeful, but an
appointment from heaven, as appears from the conduct
of thefe primitive chriftians, under the guidance of their
authorized and infpired leaders, who taught them to
obferve all and only thofe things which the Lord had
commanded. If the authority of this holy covenant ia
the Lord was duly confidered, it would not be fo gene-
rally negledted ; for fmce it is of God, certainly every
believer is called upon tojoin himfelf to fome congrega-
tion, on whom he difcerns the true notes ofagofpel-
church, without which no man can difcharge his duty
to Chriftj to his fellow-chriflians, or to his own fouL

3iS LECTURESON

We may therefore juftly lament the growing omiflion
of this divine order. But again.

Note II. The proper and authorized members of
a chriftian church, are fuch only, who, in all appear-
ance, are of them that fhall be faved. Indeed the
Lord alone is certainly acquainted with thefe ; he only
knoweth them that are his, and for wife ends, permits
others to intrude : but they who are in the gall of
bitternefs and bonds of inquity, notwithftanding they
have a notional faith, and are baptized, have no part
or lot in this matter. This fpiritual houfe and holy
city muft be built with holy and fpiritual perfons, and
care fhould be taken that none but thofe whofe calling
proves their election of God are admitted into the
facred fociety. He that yields not the fruits of evange-
lical repentance, and a found and lively faith in Jefus,
has no claim to a place in his church : An ignorant,
ungodly, proud, or felf-righteous man may impofc
himfelfon the company, but when the King infpe<Sls
thofe who are at his table, the man who is not inverted
with the wedding-garment, will be turned out with
fhame. That th6 Lord hath determined that his
church in this ftate of trial fhould be liable to hypo-
crites, appears from many fcriptures, and from the
inftances in whith fome fuch turn apoftates, and be-
come roots of bitternefs, whereby many are troubled
and defiled : fo that while it is meet we fliould think
well of each in our fellowfhip, and pray for him as one
of the chofen of God, there is ftill but little reafon to
expedl that none fhall be added to his vifible church
but fuch as fhaM be faved j neverthelefs the divine de-
cree

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 319

cree to permit others to mingle with his faints, gives
them no right to his fanduary, neither will it juftify
his piofefling people in receiving any into their com-
munion vv^ho appear deftitute of that grace which be-
longs to the heirs of falvation. This privilege of be-
coming the fens of God, is given only to them who are
born of the Spirit, John i. 12. And we fiiould be
careful that lively ftones are placed in this temple
of the moft High, i Pet. ii. 3, 5. And as no other
than quickened fmners are appointed, or authorized to a
place in the church of the living God ; fo none but fuch
(can anfwer the end of this divine fellowfhip, which is
to offer up fpiritual facrifices acceptable to God by Je-
fus Chrift, and to build up one another on their moft
holy faith unto eternal life : But are thefe things pofTiblc
with him that is dead in trefpafles and fin ? Can a carnal
or natural man offer up fpiritual facrifices ? Can he
that is in the flefti, and out of Chrift, be acceptable
to God who is a fpirit, and who Is well-pleafed alone
in his Son ? Or, can the dead nourifh the living ? No
more can dead finners nourifh that living body the
church, but this Is effentlal to the end of chriflian com-
munion. A formal and lifelefs profefTion, In Itfelf
confidered, avails not to the glory of God, nor to the
falvation of Its fubjeft : and however the Lord may
render unconverted perfons, who join themfelves to his
people, fubfervient to the purpofes of his grace, they
are utterly incapable of fpiritual communion, or pro-
perly and truly of fpiritual fervice, neither will it turn
out to their advantage in the end. Befides, though
fuch are permitted, ftrid^ly fpeaking, they are not
added by the Lord. Our Saviour hath ihewn who it is

that

326 L E C T U R E S O N

that (oweth the bad feed : hence tares grow up with the
wheat, Matt. xiii. 39. the enemy that fovved them is
tSe Devil. Is an ungodly perf-n or hypocrite found in
the church ? fiehold the hand of the Lord hath not plant-
ed him there * No, Friend, all his works are according
to i.he counfel of his will. Jefus is the fame, he adds
none to his people but fuch as fhould be faved. But
then.

Note TII. The hand of the Lord is in every ad-.
dition of faved and fpiritual members to his vifible
church. It is by him alone a community is inriched
with thefe chofen veflels of mercy : and when one
fuch is added, it may truly be faid, * God gave
' the increafe.' Ry his Spirit they are regenerated and
quickened fwr the fcllowfhip of his faints, as the ftones
were prepared for the temple, they are fitted to his fpi-
ritual houfe, and by him they are drawn to the obedi-
ence of faith. However minifters and churches, and
the fubiedls themfelves, as we have feen, are adlive, and
have their voluntary concern in ecclefiaftical union,
it is alone by the will and power of the moft High that
his ekcl are formed and difpoled for his fervice; and as
the arm of his grace is revealed in preparing, fo the
hand of his providence is nearly concerned in fixing
one and another in this or that particular church. If
the bound of our habitations is fixed, in refpedt of na-
tural and civil life, how much more will our heavenly
Father lead his children unto a fituation in his houfe
for the prote<Slion and nourifhment of their foul .' In
fome inftances the word and providence of the Lord ap»
patently concur in fettling his faithful in this fpiritual

relation j

PRIxMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 321

Irelation ; this affords them mattef of joy and thankf-
giving J but his concern and guidauce in this refpetSt
in every cafe is not to be doubted by thofe who truft
him, for he is their (hepherd, who muketh them to
" lie down in green paftures, and leadeth them befide
•* the ftill waters," Pfalm xxiii. 2. Yea, many a child
of Gud hah. feen reafon to a ore and blefs him Lr the
leadings of his providence, though by affliiSling changes
in. life, unto a place in his houfe, in which they have-
found fweet communion, and r ft for the foul. So
then, whc n a church is increafed by the union of one
that is called by grace, and an heir of glory, flie may
rejoice and fay, alluding to Rachel's prophecy when
Jofeph was born. Gen. xxx. 24. The Lord hath added
to me another fon ! And, it may hereafter be the v/on-
der and praife of thj general aflembly and the church-
cf the firft-born, which are written in heaven, to be-
hold the wifdom and grace of thofe difpenfations,
whereby the chofen have been diftributed in Zion on
earth. However, each living member in a church is a
fpiritual Jofeph — an addition from the Lord ; and h.ip-
py it is when the difciples receive one another as Chrift
alfo received his apoftles, as the gift of the Father;
then .would the name of the Lord be magnified, and 3
mutual eftcem prevail among his people, to their un-
fpeakable honor and advantage ! O that it was thus
more frequently feen ! Lord, when wilt thou again
pour out the Spirit from on high ? when fhall the
houfe of thy glory be filled, and converts come up to
thine altar, each one prefenting himfelf a facrifice of
joy ? and when (hall thy faints with admiration and

X gratitude

322 L|:CTURES ON

gratitude fay, *' Who aie thefe that fly as a cloud,
** and as the doves to their windows ? " Once more.

Note IV. That additions from the Lord are of
great importance to a chriftian community. An in-
creafe of fpiritual and fruitful members, whofe temper
and condudl manifefl their calling and e!e£lion of God,
are alone from himfelf, and a vifible token of his pre-
fence, which is one chara£i:erifl:ic of a true gofpel-
church. Chrift walketh in the midft of the golden
candlefticks, Rev. ii. i. yea and faith, " Where two
*' or three are gathered together in my name, there I
*' am in the midft of them," Matt, xviii. 20, The
Papifts vainly boaft in their number, and proudly ftile
themfelves catholic^ as if their profeflion was univerfal,
which, blefled be God, is far from being truej but
numbers are not the note of a church. The true
church is exceeded in number by the world in general,
and in feme periods by antichrift in particular, fo that
there can be no dependence on meer popularity -, but
this is certain, that the Lord is prefent with his peo-
ple ; and, fmce his adding unto them is one proof that
he is with them, though he hath other kind of mani-
feftatlons of his prefence to fatisfy his faints, when for
a feafoii an increafe is fufpended, thefe additions are to
be prayed for. Bcfides, the church's edijfication de-
pends on the Lord's adding fuch to her number. For-
mal profeflbrs may be an occafional advantage, but
properly fpcaking, this fpiritual houfe is built up by
them that are alive unto God, Eph. iv. 15, 16. They
are fuch who " grow up into him in all things, v/hich

" is

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 323

*' is the head, even Chrift ; from v/hom the whwle
*' body fitly joined toget'^er, and compacted by that
*' which every joint fupplieth, according to the efFec-
** tual vv^orking in the meafure of every part, maketh
*' increafe of the body, unto the edifying itfelf in
*' love." From this fine defcription ot the myftical
body of Chrift, it appears that a particular church is
conducive unto the' edification of his real members, in
proportion to the number and vigor of them who are
vitally in him ; the leaft of whom are of advantage in
his grace, prayers, fpiritual affe6i;ion, and gifts, and
may be helpful to the-greateft particular member, and
the body in general, for " the head fhall not fay to the
*' feet, I have no need of thee," i Cor. xii. 21.
Thefe additions are therefore much to be defned, fee-
ing no fpiritual fruit can proceed from natural men,
but the increafe of them who are in Chrift Jefus, will
add to the life and beauty of a church. And further,
the importance of having fuch added will appear, if
we confider that without this a gofpel church-ftate
cannot exift, but muft foon be broke up. As hinted
already, it is meet to think well of all who profefs the
gofpel of Chrift, and who do not by their unworthy
behaviour lay themfelves under fufpicion ; neverthlefs
there is but too much reafon to conclude, that in every
church there may be fome who are not of the chofen
and faithful ; nor would I pronounce it impoffible that
vital religion may be fo funk in a chriftian fociety, that
her members in general may be ho better than formal
profeflbrs. God forbid J but I apprehend this may be
the cafe; yet confidering the end of this divine fellow-
fliip, it feems unreafonable to call that fociety a church

X 2 of

314 LECTURES ON

of Chrift in which not one true chriftian remains; but
this may, yea it muft be the cafe uith a nominal
church through the viciffitudes of providtrce in this
nnorra] fVate, and that in a very {ew years, if the Lord
doth not add fome real difciples. So then this fpiritual
building, like all other ftiu£lures on earth, and even
the world itfelf, for reaf ns mentioned before, is fubjeft
to decay, and would fall into ruin, unlefs repaired by
the hand of the Lord. It appears from 2 Pet. iii. 9.
that the world iifelf is TufFered to continue for the fake
of the chofen, that they may be faved, through the
knowledge of the truth. By the reafoning of the apo-
ftle in that place, when the number of the eledt are
accomplifhed, the conflagration will immediately enfue,
and the univerfe d.flblve in the devouring flames of that
fire, in which the Judge (hall be revealed from heaven.
In like manner, a particular church is maintained for
the communion and edification of the faints; and fmce
the purpofe oi divine wifdom and grace can be no lon-
ger anfwered in a focicty who are utterly deflitute of
living members, or hath no one quickened by grace
left amo.ig themj what reafon is there to hope for their
continuance as a people r But if any are otherwife
:mlnded, of this we are certain, that if fuch a commu-
nity cou'd be pointed out, fhe would be no chriftian
church, but on the contrary of the fynagogue of fatan ;
a company of hypocrites and importers under a facred
profeflion i So then it amounts to the fame, whether
a fociety may or may. not fland under this form. Ad-
ditions from the Lord of his faved-ones is needful to
the continuance of a true gofpel -church, and therefore
of the utmofl importance.

These

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 325

These are the particular do^rlnes that refult from
this facred h ftory of the firft clilciples, and which ftand
confirmed by the clofing fent- nee of the evangeiift's
account; than whch no part is more interefting and
pleafing. The fellowfliip of faints is an ordinance of
God, that the called only, who are fuch as fhall be
faved, are meet for, or entitled to this divine privilege,
that thefe are added by the Lord, and that the addition
of fuch by him is needful to the character, edification,
and continuance of a true gofpel-church.

It follows that a chriflian church is a fociety di-
ftindl from the world. Thus flie is defcribed by her
Lord, Cant. iv. 12. "A garden enclofed is my fifler,
*' my fpoufe, a fpring fhut up, a fountain fealcd."
Nothing can be more contrary to the nature of a gof-
pel-church than a fociety laid open and common. It
is further evident, that in a particular vifible church
alone, enclofed as the Lord hath directed, the feat of
government is found. Indeed, through the carelefs ha-
bit of profefTors, difcipline may decline under any form
of chriftian communion ; and truly there feems now
little reafon for boafting in the order of many who fe-
parate from national eftablifhments, which is not to
their praife ; but it has been found, by forrowful expe-
rience, that a godly difcipline cannot be maintained in
an open church-ftate, the want of which is to this day
juftly lamented by thofe who fear God of every deno-
mination. It likewife appears from thefe premifes, that
in taking up this fellowfhip a perfon joins himfelf to
the church j and the relation which refults from this
X 3 union

326 LECTURES ON

union to any mlnifter or particui^.r perfon depends on
his connexion with the body j and alfo that every thing
done or fufFi-red in this order, is an ail of obedience to
the Lord, in whom the chriflian rejoiceth under the
fruition of his privileges in the houfe of God. A due
confideration of thefe points would check the prevail-
ing fondnefs of popular conflitutions, and reclaim ma-
ny from the diforders they indulge, which betrays an
ignorance of the nature, and fubvcrts the defign of this
facred inftitution.

And here again let me intreat the Reader to con-
fider, fince this is the appointment of heaven, who
can deny the propriety and obligation of every believer
to fubmit to his Lord, and to walk before him in union
with his people. If the communion of faints was no
mo.e than a lawful and prudent afibciation, adapted to
the honor of God, and their mutual advantage, would
it be any inflance of piety, wifdom or goodnefs, to de-
fpife or negledl it ? But, feeing it as a divine inftitu-
tion, muft not the confcience of every chriftian diclate
his obedience ? The great Dr. Owen lays it down as
an allowed maxim, and i fee no exception, ' that every
' believer is bound, by virtue of pofitive precepts, to

* join himfelf to fome fuch fingle congregation, hav-

* ing the proper m'irks of a true church of Chrift/
All rep'itable and orderly perfons, however they may
differ in th;ir opinions about particular forms, agree in
this : That the ditciples of the Redeemer are bound to
his ordinances, without delay or exception; nor will
any lefufe it who feriouily ponder the commiflion given
by our Lord to his apoHleSj to baptize in his name,

and

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 327

and teach thofe who have been baptized to obferve all
things whatfoever he hath commanded them j yet how
many linger and fcruple to tlie end of their days, and
thereby lofe the opportunity for bearing their teftimony
to the name of Jefus in the world !

To this facred fellowfhip every faint fhould be ad-
mitted on a credible teftimony of his repentance. And
here it is proper to confider in what way it becomes a
believer to teftify his faith to the fatisfaclion of the
church. The propriety of chriftians being fully per-
fuaded of a meetnefs in thofe whom they receive into
communion, as obferved in a preceeding lecture J, is
fo obvious that it will fcarce be difputed ; the queftion
is, in what form this fatisfa6tion ought to be g-iven ?
Far be it to infill on terms of com.munion net pre-
fcribed by our Lord^ and for which we have not the
example of his infpired apoftles ! But my opinion on
this article of focial religion, in favor of an ancient
cuftom too much negledled, will, I hope, be received
with candor ; and that if my Reader is convinced that
it correfponds with the fcripture, and the nature of that
divine fellowfhip on which we are difcourfing, he will
hot defpife it.

And here I truly acknowledge that this teftimony

may be given in writing, or even by figns only * ;

X 4 the

X Page 16S,

* An inftance of which not long fince turned out, in the cafe of a young
man born deaf and dumb, but whofe heart the Lord opened, in confequenie
of which he was enabled by figns to give full fatisfaftion to the church
meeting in the Pithey, Erjlkl, and continv.es an honorable member of the
fame.

328 L E C T U R E S O N

the fenfe of hearing, and the faculty of fpeech, are not
eflential to the obtaining of faith j and no believer who
can by any poHible method convey an idea of his con-
verfion, and a defire of walking in gofpel order, whofe
behaviour bears witnefs to the fincerity of his profeflion,
which ii ever to be regarded ; I fay, no fuch perfcn is
to be refufed the ordinances of Chrift, on any confide-
ration whatever j neverthelefs, a folemn, exprefs and
verbal declaration of faith in Chrift, and the power of
his grace in efFeftual calling, appears to be natural
and fcriptural, and likewife agreeable to the practice of
the faithful in all ages when the fpirit of religion pre-
vaili-d. See Ifa. xliv. 5. A profeflion of faith is uni-
verfally approved f. One Ihall fay, 1 am the Lord's.
The term oi^oy^ayix^ ufed for this chrift ian profeflion,
throughout the New-Teftament, carries in it an open
and frank acknowledgment of any perfon or thing as
our own ; and what is the chriftian profeffion but an
acknowledgment of Chrift as the Son of God, and our
dependence upon and devotion to him as our Saviour
and Lord ? This no doubt is to be done by particular
adb of obedience to his declared will, and by an habi-
tual courfe of external conduct, whereby, having put
on his name, we bear a conftant witnefs to his autho-
rity and grace j but he that looks to Chrift for falva-

tion.

f The Psdobaptift DlfTenters, yea and even the Church of Englir.d it-
felf, are not without foirte tdtimony to this; the latter require a perfoa to
rehearfe the commandments, creed and Lord's-prayer, and likewife to an-
fw^rt he queft ons in the catechifm, antecedent to his being confirmed,
without which he cannot be rcgulaily admitted to the table of the Lord,,
which is effential to a full communion of feints j and, what lels h tbij-
than a verbal confeiTion of faith ?

PRIMITIVE CHmSTIANITY. 329

tion, and is brought to this obedience of faith, has
a reafon for his hope, and fhould be ready to give itj
which is neither more or lefs, in other words, than h-is
experience of the power of God difplaycd in cniighl-
ening his mind, convincing him of fin, engaging his
heart to truft in the MefTiah ; and why fliouid the man
that has obtained this mercy make a difficu'ty of de-
claring it to the f^iithful, or even to an infidel, if re-
tjuired ? But it fhould be confidered, that a confeflion
or verbal declaration is an efTential and leading ide.i in
that profeflion which the gofpel requires ; and accord-
ingly Chrift Jefus is faid, in 1 Tim. vi. 13. " to have
*' witnefled a good confefiion before Pontius Pilate."
And this we know was an open and free declaration of
his charafler, John xviii. 38. where the fame word is ufed:
. ** Beloved, Chrift is highly exalted, and hath a name
*' above every name, that every knee ftiould bov/, and
" that every tongue fhould confefs unto him." A man
may talk of his faith in Chrift in a loofe and general
way, which comes not up to a folemn reverend con-
feflion of his name ; or, after having made a confef-
fion, he may be tempted to negleft his ordinances, and
fo fall {hort of the engagements he is under ; but bow-
ing the knee is a diftin(Sl mode of worfhip from that of
confeffing with the tongue. They are neither to be
confounded nor feparated in gofpel-obedience, which
demands the facrifice of the lips in a confe/Tion of Je-
fus ; and though fome will fubftitute the hand inftead
of the tongue in this branch of duty to the Saviour,
they may as foon prove that thefe different members of
'.the natural body arc one and the fame, as that there is
«,,(:n.$ efiVntial dift'e.rence in the manner of writing or

fpeaking.

330 L E C T U R E S O N

fpeaking, or that the Holy Ghoft intended the former
when he exprefies the latter.

Our Lord infifts on our confefling him before men
on earth, Matt. x. 32. where it is urged from a confi-
deration that one might expedl fhould awaken every
chriftian to fiiun the appearance of evading the point.
The Pharifees are condemned for not coiifcffing Chrift,
John xii. 42. And it appears from the inftance of the
eunuch, and others, that the firft (lep in a chriflian
profeffion, is to declare cur knowledge of Jefus, and
faith in him as the fon of God. And to the fame pur-
pofe u^e read, Rom. x. 9, 10. " that with the heart
*' man bjlieveth unto righteoufnefs, and v/ith the
*' mouth confeiTion is made to f:ilvation." A man's
own lips is the proper arid natural inftrument of con-
feflion J and indeed to introduce any practice under a
notion of confefling wliere the mouth is not uied, ap-
pears to me no lefs prepofterous than unfcrlptural. In
a word, a fair and clofc rcafoning out of the fcripture,
we fhall find that a verbal acknov/ledgment is included
in that profeffion of the name of Jefus, under which
the primitive difciples were found ; and therefore I
cannot but think it incumbent on every believer in
Ghrift, and am forry that it fnould be even difpenfed
with, much'm.ore difcouraged, where it may be obtained.
There is nothing in a ferious and humble declaration
of a perfon's experience in the church of God but what
is decent and horiorable, or to offend the moft tender
and modeft conftitutlon. Nor doth it appear that the
laying it afide has increafed the number of thofe who
join in communion 3 on the contrary, church-fellow-

fliip

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 331

fliip among nominal chrlftians never was more negledl-
ed than in the prefent day, fo that it is much to be
wiflied that we returned to the good old way pointed
out by reafoir and fcripture, and that the faithful were
encourage' to f.iy with David, " Come and hear, all
" ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath
*' done for my foul," Pfalm Ixvi. 16.

Finally; fince it is plain that the communion of
faints is of divine inftitution, and that from the begin-
ning the called were joined by the Lord to the church,
have we not reafon to conclude that this is the general
method of God with his people ? The pious Mr, Henrv,
n his remark on this verfe, has the following note :
Thofc, faith he, that God hath defigned for eternal
falvation, fhall one time or another be effectually
brought to Chrift; and thofe that are brought to
Chriit are added to the church in a holy covenant
by b:iptirm, and in a holy communion by other ordi-
nances.' This indeed is to be taken in a qualified
fefife, but may it not juftly be inferred from this ac-
count, and from the general report of thegofpel, " He
*' that brlieveth and is baptized, fliall be faved ;" that
this is the high-way to heaven, and that, at leafl un-
der the gofpel-difpcnfation, however there may be ex-
ceptions, for the grace of God is not to be limited
ctlierwife than according to the revealed counfel of
heaven, for the moft part, fuch who fhall be faved will
her, after appear to have been added to the church ? A
confideration that fhould awaken all who live in the
negled of this fellowHiip, to examine into the ground

' Bf

332 L E C T U R E S O N

of that hope, which is not eitcctual ro bring them un-
der this pleafant yoke of their iveaetmer.

On a review of this authentic and interefling hiflory
of the primitive church, wh.> can but fee, ana be
charmed with her beauty ! How lovely is her counte-
niance in her infant ftate, when a conilant and tauhful
fpirit univerfally prevailed! Witii what unity, zeal,
brotherly love, hoipitality, honor and fucce(i>, did fhe
:ippear in her aflemblies, daily increafing and flounih-
ing out, ftill more and more, from the bofom of her
Lord, who was continually faluting her with the to-
kens of his power and love, and cauling her members
to " fuck and be fatisfied, and to milk out and be de-
'* Ijobted' with the abundance of her glory ! " O that
it was v/ith us as in thefe days and months, when
Zion v/as a crown of gl(^ry in the hand of her Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of her God ! Thanks
be to God, he will never forfake his people. There
afe daily additions to his church, and wc have reafon
to hope that they are of fuch as fliall be f.ived j yet, is
there no caufe to bewail the pref. nt ftate of the vifible
kingdom of Chrift, and the melancholy d fference when
compared with what we have feen ? how unftable,
corrupt, divided, and lukewarm ! how covetous, loofe
and unprofitable; yea, and in many inftances, how un-
charit .b'e are profeffors in their behaviour one toward
another, infomuch that in fome places there is need
for applying the caution. Gal. v. 13. " But if ye bite
t' and devour one another, take heed that ye be not
»' confumed one of another." For tl'iefe things let us

. humble

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 333

humble ourfelves, and fc^ck for the return of the Spirit,
who is grieved by this fad difpofrion and ccndudl ; but
he waits to be gr'cious, and will heal our backflid.ngs
if we return un.o him. Rerr.cu.ber, Beloved, the con-
nexion there is between a lively, faithful, fpiritual and
fruitful behaviour, and the divine prefence and bleffing.
The wnd bloweth where it iifteth ; fo is the work of
the Spirit, amon^ a profelling people, his operations
are acccrdii g to the good pleafure of' his will, but he
work^. by the appointed means of grace. Order, har-
mony and zeal in a church are needfu! to warrant an
expectation of its increafe; fo that when thiS is abfent
the afpe<5t is threatening. Nor let it be forgot that the
defi-n of our fellowfhip in Chrifl is nothing fhortot eter-
nal falvation. This is the end of our faith. With this
view the Lord adds his chofen to the church, namely,
that they (hould be faved ; and this {hould be the aim
and endeavour of his minifters and people in commu-
nion. May this therefore be our earneft purfuit under
a profeflion of his name, that Vv^e may together appear
with our Redeemer in glory at his coming !

And now, my dear Reader, I finifh this lecture
and fubjedl with an earneft intreaty that thou wouldft
carefully furvey and ponder the whole fcene of tranf-
a6l.ons reprefentcd in the foregoing pages. What fo-
ber unprejudiced perfon can refle£l on thefe things
without admiration and praife ! How confpicuous the
fovereign love, wifdom, grace, power and faithfulnefs
of God, in fending his Son to die and fave finners, as
he fpake by the mouth of his prophets from the foun-
dation of the world ; and in fealing his miflion and

charafter

3J4 LECTURES ON

character by fo great a variety and number of miraples,
unbelievers themfelves being judges ! And, how hard-
ened their hearts, who rejedt the Redeemer, or ne-
gle£l his falvation ! Behold and be allonifhed : His re-
furrcdion from the dead ; and confider the atTipIe fatif- ,
fadion, by undeniable v/itnefTes of a fa£t equally inte-
reftino- and glorious, w^hofe tefiimony is confirmed by
the Spirit of truth ! How amazing the methods of
grace, that reigns through righteoufnefs to the par. on
and life of the mod flagrant tranfgreflbrs, vi'ho repent j
not excluding the murderers of Jefus himfelf ; but that
*' in his name remiffion of fms (hould be preached to
*< all nations, beginning at Jerufalem." Yea, and that
fo great a multitude of thefe blood-guilty wretches
ftiould be converted in a day, and obtain a pardon
from him, whom, but a few weeks before, they had
unjuftly condemned, and, by the hands of the wicked,
crucified and flain I And finally, that the faithful ftiould
be called into a fellowfhip fo adapted to the honor of
their Saviour, their mutual advantage, and the conti-
nuance of the gofpel to the end of the world, is greatly
to be admired ! Who that attends to this wonderful
difpenfation of mercy from an holy God to finful men,
can forbear to cry out with the apoftle, *' O the depth
" of the riches both of the wifdom and knowledge of
*' God : How unfearchable are his judgments, and his
*' ways pafl finding out ! "

Iv thefe things are certainly true, as doubtlefs they
are, then the gofpel is true, and wo be to them who
defpife it. It is highly unreafonable to queftion thefe
fafts, fince it is not credible that the apoftles would

have

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 335

have openly appealed to the Inhabitants of Jerufalem
concerning thefe things if they had been faife, or that
fuch prefumption and folly fhould not have immediate- •
]y met with its reward, to their ruin; and ftd] more
incredible, yea it vi^as even impolTible, on a fuppcfitioii
of any impofture or deceit, that a few plain perfons,
whofe fimplicity and moral behaviour was never dif-
puted ; without learning, riches, power, or any other
weapons, than reafoning out of the fcriptures, com-
pared with the external evidence given from heaven to
the doitrine they preached, fliould perfuade fo great a
multitude, who lived on the fpot where Jefus was cru-
cified, to become followers of him, through a fcene of
fufferings and felf denial. In a word, had there been
the leaft hefitation concerning the fa^ts referred to by
Peter in his difcourfe, and on which the apoftles pro-
ceeded in their miniftry, chriRiaaity muft have been
cruflied on its firft appearance, and its votaries fcat-
tcred with fliame and jufl: indignation: But fmce the
contrary is evident, how daring and perverfe is the op-
pofition of deifts who openly contradidl and blafpheme
the name of Jefus, and the revelation of his grace !
And indeed fmce Jefus is the Meiliah, and there can
be falvation in no other, how unhappy and dangerous
the {late of all unbelievers ! If thefe papers fall into
the hands of fuch who neglect or defpife the true grace
of God, and prove a means of convincing any one of
them, the name of the Lord will be praifed, and I
(hall have joy in the day of revelation. However, this
attempt is humbly committed to his bleffing, in hope
©f its finding fome acceptance in the heart of the true

chriftian

336 LECTURES ON

chriftian Reader; and with refpeft to thofe who arc
yet difobedient, I know of nothing more fuitable than
the exhortation of the prophet, Pfalm ii. 12, with
which I conclude : ** Kifs the fon left he be angry,
*' and ye periih from the way, when his wrath is
<« kindled bat a little : Blefled are all they that put
" their truft in him."

The End of Primiti^t: Christianity.

A DIS-

f 337 ]

A
DISSERTATION

ON. THE

EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH
AT S A R D I S,

FOR

The Warning of thofe who are fallen into the
like threatning State of Religion.

BOOK V.

The early declenfion of the church from her original
fimplicity.

LECTURE XXI.

Introdudion. The Lord's teftimony agalnft the difcl-
ples at Sardis. In what refpedls a church may be
dead, notwithftanding {he hath a name that (he liv-
eth. The occafions and fymptoms of this dreadful
ftate. Motives to watch againft it.

THAT the church foon declined from her primi-
tive purity, order and zeal, is notoiious, and a
fubjedt more needful than pleafing. On the fpread
of chriftianity tares grew up with the wheat, infomuch
that the worft of errors and moft fhameful apoltacies
appeared, evei\ in the days of the apoftles ; this their
Y writings

338 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

writings in general (hew, but no where more plainly
than in the epiftles to the feven churches in Afia, con-
tained in the revelation of Jcfus Chrift by his angel
to his fervant John the evangelift. Some writers of
note have fhunned an explanation of this myfterious
book, as though an attempt of this kind was prefump-
tuous and vain j on the contrary, fome others, no lefs-
eminent for piety and learning, feem to have ventured
too far and mifcarried : Time hath fhewn them greatly
miftaken in what, like prophets, they have been bold^
to afiert, concerning the accompliftiment of its feveral
predictions. This temerity fliould warn us againft in-
truding into things not mentioned in fcripture, but it
is no reafon for laying afide the fludy of a divine pro-
phecy, unto which we are encouraged with an afTu-
rance of a bleiling, chap. i. 3.

There are thofe who contend that thefe epifllcs arc
prophetical of tl)e vifible church in different periods,
fucceeding each other to the end of time, and fome go
about to affign them precifely, to which others make
confiderable objedlions ; but it anfwers my prefent de-
fign that it is generally allowed that a chriftian church
did really exift in each city mentioned, and that thefe
churches were actually in the circumftances feverally
defcribed at the time the apoftle John wrote, for he
is exprefly dire£led to write the things which are, as
well as thofe which Jliatl be hereafter.^ chap. i. 19. So
that, if a myftical fenfe may be admitted, a literal one
cannot be refufed. The fads then related of thefe
churches are doubtlefs hiftorically true, and the exhor-
tations.

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS, 339

tations, promifes and threatnings, and ^liktwif© the re- :
proofs and commen lations, are of univerfal m{lru<^ion» '
Indeed there are fome articles in every eptftJe peculiar
to the community unto whom it is fent, but wc It-arn
from the clofe of each, that what is faid to one is fpoken
tc^all, and therefore. the contents ard'^^tS be applied TE^'
the churches of Chrift under fimilar circumftanceSj iiji
every age, to the end of the world. "'-

- The prefent ftate of religion, which is juftly la-
mented, feems much to refemble that which appeared
in the church at Sardis, which is the fubjedt l have
chofen, and accordingly fome who take it prophetically
apply it to the period we are in; if their notion is juft,
the epiftle to her very nearly concerns us, and demands
our moft ferious atrention ; however, on comparifon,
the likenefs is but too vifible, fo that a diflertation up-
on it cannot be unieafonable.

The plan of thefe epiftles Is uniform. After an or-
der to write, they are each directed to the angel or mi-
nifter of the church from Jfu Chrift, whom the
apoftle at large in a vifion, as defciibed chap. i. and
from which uefcription this divine fptaker aflumes
feme diftiigu (hing charadier adapted to the pecu-
liar llate of the community, which being laid open,
with proper rebukes and exhortations for the awaken-
ing of backfliders and comforting the faithful, is fol-
lowed with a gracious promife unto him that p-rfe-
veres , and a folemn excitation to hearken to the
voice of the Spirit.

Y 2 • CoN'

34.0 LECTUP.ES ON THE EPISTLE

Conformable to this plan our epiftle to Sardis
runs thus :

1. " Unto the angel of the church in Sardis writer
« Thefe things faith he that hath the feven fpirits of
** God, and the feven ftars : I know thy works, that
*' thou haft a name that thou liveft, and art dead.

2. " Be watchful, and ftrengthen the things which
« remain, that are ready to die ; for I have not found
" thy works perfect before God.

3. '' Remember therefore how thou haft received
" and heard, and hold faft, and repent. If therefore
" thou (halt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief,
*< and thou fhalt not know what hour I will come up-
" on thee.

4. *' Thou haft a few names even in Sardis, which
*< have not defiled their garments ; and they fhall walk
** with me in white : for they are worthy.

e. ** He that overcometh, the fame fhall be clothed
<* in white raiment ; and I will not blot out his name
** out of the book of life, but I will confefs his name
** before my Father, and before his angels.

6. *' He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
" Spirit faith unto the churches."

I SHALL

TO THE CHURCH ;.T SAUDIS. 34.1

I SHALL endeavour to open and apply this divine
meflage from Jefus to his people, in a leciure oBCich
verfe, in the order it {lands; tlie fiiil of whiqh con-
tains the follovi'ing particulars, namely, the direcSlion
of the epiftle, the character which our Lord affumes,
and his account of their {hameful and dangerous
ftate.

The fuperfcription runs : " Unto the angel of the
" church in Sardis." Sardis was the metropolis of Lydia
in Afia minor, formerly an important city of great
magnificence, where the celebrated Crcefas once kept
his court, but it is long fince reduced, there being now
only a village of this name a fmall diftance from the
ruins of the former, which fome think was the feat of
this chriftian church ; but all thefe churches were fi-
tuate in capital cities, and there is no reafon to queftion
but that Sardis was famous in the apoftles time. A po-
pular and opulent city, the riches and luxury of which
might be one occafion of the fad declenfions complain-
ed of, for experience {hews that the bufinefs and plea-
fures which abound in fuch places are often deftructive
of vital religion ; however, unto the angel or minifter
of the church, as it is explained chap. i. 20. this epif-
tle is dire(5led ; not that it concerned him only or prin-
cipally, he might be to blame; fometimes a minifler is
tempted by the perverfenefs and ill-treatment he meets
with on account of his faithful reproofs, to let men
alone in their folly, or he might be fallen into the
fame carnal frame which prevailed in the church ; or if
chofen into office fmce fhe declined, no v/onder that
Y 3 , his

342 LFCTURES ON THE EPISTLE

his fpirit and condu£l was conformed unto theirs, for
in a f^ate of lukewarmnefs people naturally feek cut for
one like themfelves, whofe miniftration and conduct
fhall give them no difturbance in their difordcrly walk,
and there are but too many in every age who are ready
for their puipofej hence the old proverb, ' like peo-
* pie, like prieft.' Be this as it may, the paftor or el-
der is not charged with negleiEl of his duty. 1 he let-
ter is dirc£led to him as her principal officer for the
church, and manifeflly concerns every member v^'ho is
commended or reproved, and exhorted with a promifc
or threatni ig, according to his integrity or deRdl, in
whatever ftation or charader he flood.

To engage their attention the divine Jefus prefcribes
himfelf in termS "under which he appears in a grand and
moft important light : " Thcfe things faith he that hath
" the feven fpirits and jhe (even ftars." They are not
the di(Si:ate of any creature, however dignified in na-
ture or rffice, but of tl-.e great Son of man, who is the
Alpha and Omega, the true God and eternal life, the
exalted Head of the church, who, being alive from
■the dead, hath al! power in heaven and earth. *' Hq
*'• that hath the feycp fpirijs of God j" under whom
not only the angels of heaven miniOer to the heirs of
Yalvation, but the Spirit Limielf procecdeth, the fulnefs
and variety of wh^fe gi'^ts and graces are difpcnfcd in
ChriR .1 fus ; vca, and the feven flars, thofc angels in
pffice, or niiniflers of the word, who are appoii'ted to
fdify the church, thefe ate all in his hand, to he con-
tinued or removed at his pleafure. Tiiis character of
t\\p Saviour hath a twofold afpeit j it carries in it a

threat-

TO THE CHURCH AT SAJIDIS. 343

threatning if they remained difobedient, and a promife
of his bleffing in cafe of repentance, unto which they
zte called ; q d. * O ye, the minifter "and people in

* my church at Sardis, unto whom I now fend, confi-

* der who it is that faith thefe things unto you ; it is
.* he that haih the difpofmg of all fpiritual gifts and

* graces, means and inftiuments, vyhertby y( u can

* flourifli or even cxift : If you hearken not to me, or

* defpife my counfel, remetnber I am he, at wh .fe in-

* fl:at^ce the Spirit of life and grace withdraws, and the

* ftars difappear, in conftquence of v/hich churches
;* decay, and at length entirely diflblve; on the other

* hand, if you take warning and repent, under a fenfe

* of your backflidings, behold I am ready to furnilh

* you with every needful fupply for the continuance of
*- ray gofpel with fuccefs among you, that you may re-

* vive, and that your beauty be reftored to the glory ,

* of my name.' And now who cannot fee the pro-
priety of this introdudlion to the reproofs and exhorta-
tions which follow ? Could any thing be more adapted
to awaken them out of that ftate of fupinenefs and ne-
gligence into which they were funk, and to encourage
their return to the Lord ?

Many are the works to be performed in a church-
ftate, to a due dlfcharge of which it is needful that each
member fills up his flation, according to the meafure
of grace he hath obtained. The work or bufmefs of a
church is to maintain the dodrines and orders of the
gofpel in their fimplicity and glory, to hold forth the
word of life, for the converfion of fmners and the edifi-
cation of faints, to oppok fatan and his kingdom, and
Y4 to

344 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

to promote the knowledge of Chrift, and cherifh the
members of his body, to the utmoft of their power;
this requires that dligence and an expence of mind and
body, which a flothful or felfifh profeflbr will not ex-
ert. By this labour and felf-denial frequent affem-
blies are to be held for preaching the word, admini-
ftring the ordinances, ftriving together in prayers, an
holy watch over one another in the Lord, and all
works of charity, fuch as brotherly admonition, vifit-
ing the fick, and i'elieving the poor, with every office
of kindnefs as occafion requires, in which the faints are
to abound in love to God and each other. All thefe
works are required in a church ; to be zealous in which
becon'ses the difc'ples of Jefus, though they feem little
regarded by fome who pafs under that name, but every
communiiy is eftablifhed in proportion to her diligence
and faithrulnefs in thefe things which are in a degree
efleiitial to the form of a community, and accordingly
that at Sard is had her works, the knowledge of which
is the firft thing afferted, " I know thy works." It
is a pert'eit knov\led^'e which Chrifl here aflumes, fuch
as men obtain of an objecl within the compafs of their
undeiftanding after the moft careful infpe61ion, and
accordin;'ly he declares, " 1 have not found thy works
*' perk£l, &c." Thus he whole eyes are as a flaming
fire, difcerning the thoughis of the heart, declares bis
exacTr and univerfal acquaintance with the works of his
church, v/hich fhews that his eye is upon the ways of
profefl'ors who come fhort of their duty, how little
fotvcr they tliink of it, and that his judgment is ac-
cording to truth. What Chrifl fays againft a people
he fays not on the report of others, but on his own

know

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 345

knowledge, and the fads are not to be difputed ; he
is himfelf a witnefs againft thofe he condemns, there-
fore wo be to them who will not repent.

Now what report doth the omnifcient Jefus give of
the ft.>te of this church ? No doubt a juft, but alas it is
a m lancholy account ' This is the teftimony he bears
againft her : He declares it to her face, " that thou
*' haft a na.ne that thou liveft, and art dead." ' This

* is thine appearance and charader ; thou wouldeft
I* feem a church of the hving God, in whom he is
■' worfhipped in ftmplicity and truth, and haft a name
' that thou thus liveft; but this character which thou
' beareft is f^lfe, 1 know thy works ; and this is thy

* true but (hameful condition, thou art in reality dead.'
•Thus the church at Sardis ftands charged by the holy

- Jefus himftlf.

But was fhe abfolutely and totally without any
life ? Certainly no ; (he was yet alive, her church-ftat(;
exifted, nor had (he, as hinted already, wholly ceafcd
from her works ; feme things remain, though they
are ready to die ; thefe {he is exhorted to ftrengthen.
Indeed the gen.ralitv of her members fcem very defec-
tive, and it is probable many of them were hypocrites,
. neverthelefs there were a few names in Sardis of a dif-

- fercnt charader, as will hereafter appear ; and while
any who live unto God , and hold their inte-
grity, remain in a church, though their number are
few, and they are incapable of withftanding the tide
of corruption, it cannot be faid that flie is totally
dead. This charge. muft therefore be taken in a quali-
fied

346 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

fied fenfe; our Lord plainly intends that fhe was con>-
paratively dead, i. e. liJelefs, unprofitable, and very
imperfect; dead in comparifon of what is required^
her vigour and fruitfulnefs fell ftiort of what fhe pro-
feffed and the chaia£ter fhe bore, and, in a word, that
{he was fadly declined from her primitive zeal and
faithfulneis, and that, under thefe circumftances, fhe
was in a dying condition, and if fhe did not repent,
would certainly come to a fpeedy difTolution. This,
I fay, was the fhameful and dangerous flate of the
community referred to, and to the like fad condition
the moft famous chur«.he3 are liable, and are for the
moft part reduced before they dilTolve. What appear-
ances we have of a fimilar declenfion in the prefent
day, I fhall not here ftay to enquire, but that we may
be warned and improved by this affecting example, I
propofe briefly to ccnfider in what refpedt a church
may have a name to live and yet be dead, fhew whence
it is that a chriflian community, although dead in thjc
fenfe of our text, may neverthelefs have a name that
(he liveth, point out the fymptoms of this flate of
things, and then offer fome motives to be watchful
againft it.

Anb firfl, a church may have the charafter of be-
ing found in the faith and zealous for the dodlrines of
grace, and yet be (o izx degenerated as that on ex-
amination it will be found, that thofe in her commu-
nion have no jufl regard for them, or it may be arc
fond of vain notions which dire£tly oppofe them.
Thus in feveral of the Afian churches, who are flilgd
golden candleHiclcs, as in Pergamos and Thyatria, the

hateful

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 347

hateful clo£lrines of Balaam, the Nicolations, and the
fubtleties of J^zt-bel, were connived at; dodlrines
which tended to idolatry and unclernnefs ; and if, as "
fome think, thefe are typical of ; ome, her abomina-
tions are notorious ; fhe alFumes the name of the apo-
ftolic church, but is far from being fttdfaft in the doc-
trine of Chrift, for (he is not built on the foundation
of the apoftles and prop ets, of which Chiiil Jefus is
the corner-ftone ; her foundation is not in the fcrip-
ture, but in human traditions, fo that her tenets are
befide the authority of God, whofe precept in many
'inftances fhe difann l!eth, te:iching for dodlrines the
commandments of men, and particularly in the article
of juftification ; human merit, and the works of the
finner, are made a caufe of his accept?nce with God,
' and a title to life, againft all reafon and fcripture, for,
fince " we are altogether as an unclean thing," moft
certain it is that *' all our righteoufnefles are as filthy
**rags,"Ifa.lxiv.6. And the gofpel-dodrine in this point
makes the obedience of Chrift and his perfe<ft righ-
teoufnefs, imputed and received by faith , the fo'e
ground of glory in the fight of God, declaring that be-
lievers are "juftified freely by his grace, through the
*' redemption which is in Chiift Jefus," Tit. iii.7. But
if, as hinted, the Sardinian church-itate under her de-
"clenfions was a figure of the reformed churches, who
earn t fee too great a likenefs ? The very name of a
Proteftant is oppofed to the doftrines of Fore, and
thofe of the reformation were levelled dircdtly againft
that root of all popifh inventions * the merit of works,*
but alas how are many Proieftants, both at home and
abroad, fvveryed from the true grace of God ! Thofe

precious

34« LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

precious truths,, by which, through the power and blef-
iing of the Almighty, antichrift was expelled, and this and
ot'icr nations were refcued from popifh fupeiftition and
tyranny, are now fet at nought, and in a manner uni-
verfally denied ! May not a church be fa:d to have
a name that fhe liveth and at the fame time is dead in
refpe£l of her do£lrine, when her public confeflion and
Iworn articles are full and ftrong, for inftance, for the
Holy Trinity, the Deity and fatisfadtion of Chrift, the
deplorable ftate of man who is born under the guilt
and dominion of fin, his total impotence in himfelf,
and the neccfilty of the regeneration of the Spirit, to-
gether with jufLincation alone by the merits of the Re-
deemer, and at the fame time the generality of her mi-
niflers and members contradict: thefe great and impor-
tant truths of revtlation, and to liieir utmoft promote
a fet of notions in direct oppofiiion unto them ? And
need we go far for an inftance fo amazingly perverfe
and afFecting ? Nor is this confined to any particular
denoininaticn of Proteflants. it is fad to relate, but
even among Frotefcant Diifenters, whofe feparation
from the public hath a form of zeal for the purity of
the gofpel, it is notorious that there are fomx even
among them moft fhamefuily corrupted with the leaven
of thcfu vi'ho fubvert the truth as it is in Jcfus, info-
much that in all appearance they have fcarce any thing
of the gofpel of Chrift to Le found with them.

Again ; this mny be the cafe with a church in
refpedf of her difcipline. It belongs to a church to
watcli over the life of her m.embers, and to warn them
of errors in dodtriiie and pra6lice, to admonifli them

that

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 34.9

that go aftray, to cenfure the diforderly, and if re-
quired, as in cafe of perverfenefs, to put the offender
away; and this is fo reafonable in itfelf, and fo plainly
revealed, that no one denies it. Indeed it is needful to
the purity and prefervation of every corporate body to
exercife difcipline, the objects, manner, and end of
which, in a chriftian community, are defcribed in the
word, with many exhortations to be faithful in this
truft, yet alas it is but too much ncgleded even among
thofe who feparate from others under a pretence of a
confcientious regard to the authority of the Lord in the
order of his houfe. At Thyatira they are condemned
for fufFering that woman Jezebel, and in Corinth the
difciples are blamed for not putting away the incef-
tuous perfon j and if he that fearcheth the hearts and
trieth the reins was to examine his churches in the pre-
fent day on this head, there is reafon to fear he would
have many charges againft them for fuffering thofe who
ought to be dealt with. If Proteftants, who have a
name for order and purity, were truly adlive and faith-
ful, we fliould not find erroneous, proud and loofe
perfons walking about with their names in the churches
es of Chrift, as they do in fome inftances, to the grief
and fcandal of many. But, when a people profefs a
holy difcipline in the houfe of God, and at the fame
time connive at fin, are they not dead notwithftanding
they have a name that they live ? And this was the
cafe among the churches in Afia at the time when thefe
epifiiles were wrote, and it will ever be thus in propor-
tion to our decay from the life and power of godiinefs.

And

350 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

And further ; this may be the cafe in reference to
the af}'e<flion which is required in the communion of
faints. A people may have a name for love to each
other, when at the fame time, on due examination,
but little may be found of that goodnefs, fympathy and
delight among them, which is the genuine fruit of true
chriftian charity. Love is the leading grace to the
works of faith, a defedl in which is manifeft where
contentions and divifions abound, which is fometimes
the cafe ; but where things are not come to this pafs,
the members of a church may be far from continuing
in that defirable harmony and intimate afFedion which
belong to their charadter : At a diftance it may be
thought that they are in a ftate of cordial friendfhp
and union of foul, when alas to them that are within,
there appears an unhappy fpirit among them, or at
leaft, that inftead of cleaving together as choien com-
panions, and being kindly afFedtionate in their beha-
viour, they fcarce know one another, and through an
unnatural diftance and {hynefs are incapable of that
mutual affiftance and comfort which becomes iheir pro-
leflion. This ftrange conduft among chnftians ui fel-
iowfliip, is fometimes owing to a corruption from the
fimplicity of the gofpel, the dodlrines and ordinances
of which are adapted to unite the difciples ; but when
errors take place, iniquity abounds, and the love of
many waxeth cold. However, brotherly love is not
always anfwerable to the fame of a chriftian fociety;
and when this is the cafe, in proportion to her defi-
ciency, fhe is truly ftiled dead under a name to live, to
the grief of thofe who fcek her profperity.

Once

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 351

Once more ; (he may have a name to live and yet
be dead in refpedl of her aflemblies. Frequent and
general aflemblies are eflential to the performance of
the works v/hich belong to a church, in a forfaking of
which, their fall is inevitable. Now the gatherings of
a fociety may be defeiSlIve, and far fhort of what they
feem to fpe(Slators, or are reported to be. It may be
thought ftrange, but experience hath fliewn, that a
church ftate may decline, and in a manner dwindle to
nothing, in the midft of a popular audience. Many
may attend the ordinary mea is of grace in a chriftian
community, the members of which are very remifs in
thofe fpccial meetings, on which depend that difcipline,
and works which are needful to her welfare and increafe ;
and when this becomes ha'^itual among a people who
are of repute in the churches, they fall under the de-
fcription before us, are in very great danger, and do
well to take warning.

These falfe appearance and threatning declenfion in
any community no doubt arifes from the bad difpofition
and condu£l: of thofe who compofe it, for this lifeleft
ftate is inconfiftent with the order and zeal of her
members, fo that even fuch who, by their future re-
pentance may appear to be difciples ind ed, muft at,
prefent be in a fleepy and carnal frame, while there. ii
reafon to apprehend that fome, and thofe not a few,
are meer formal profeffors, of whom it may be truly
faid that they are fpiritually dead, notwithftanding their
name among the living in Jerufalem. However the re-
putation of a church fo different froiti her real condi-
tion

352 LECTURES ON THE^PISTLE

tion as -at Sardis, may be owing to one or more of
the follow in 2: occafions :

1. To the gradual manner in which {he declined
from her original perfedlion and vigour. When a church
is firil gathered her members are for the moft part
lively and adive, they are full of zeal and good works ;
hence they have a name among the brethren, and this
their chara6ler may remain after they have left their
fiift love, from whence they go ofF by flow degrees,
even almoft imperceptably, at leaft to others. Or
again,

2. It may arife from comparing their Hate with that
of another community ftill more declined. By this falfe
rule of comparifon both particular perfons and bodies of
men, fometimes flatter themfelves to their ruin ; but it
fliould be confidered that in fome refpedl or degree v/e
may be better than others, and at the fame time be in a
very bad fl:ate, yea and even nigh to deflrudtion ; fo
dangerous is that deceitful line by which we are but
too much inclined to meafure ourfelves and others.
And,

3. The character of a church, even after (he is
greatly declined, may awhile be fupportcd, at leaft with
fome, by the favor and good converfation of a few be-
longing to her who yet maintain their integrity, for per-
fons at a difl:ance judge of the whole by the part they
are converfant with, which fliews, by the way, how
much the reputation of a community depends on the
good behaviour of her members, and fhould be one mo-
tive

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 353
tivc to virtue in every one who ftands in the facred re-
lation. On the other hand, it is not impoffible but
that fome may be deceived by the mifreprefentation of
vain glorious pcnons vi^ho are diforderly themfelves, yet
boaft of the community to which they belong. Thefe
are the ordinary occafions or means by v/hich the good
name of a church for purify and zeal may in fome de-
gree prevail, although in reality {lie is very much funk,
and her things v^^hich remain are dying away j namely,
the gradual manner of her declenfion ; the ftill more
deplorable flate of fome other communities, with whom
ihe is compared, the reputation fhe receives by a few
of her members whofe walk is agreeable ; and the like
falfe idea may alfo be promoted by the deceitful talk of
fome men.

But from whatever quarter the deception may arife,
in this fad hypocritical ftate, a church is in the utmoft
danger of being difTolved, for in proportion to her
deadnefs fhe is barren j a principal means of fruitful-
nefs is wanting. It is true, the uprightnefs and zeal
of a church, or the vigor and fpirituality of its mem-
bers, are not the efficient caufe of increafe j it is
alone by the power of God that finners are con-
verted, planted and flourifti in the houfe of the Lord,
yet the promife of the Spirit is to be expedled in the way
of our duty, both in a foclal and private capacity ; and
accordingly the Laodiceans are threatned with the lofs
of the candleftick, and even to be caft out with abhor-
rence, if they did not repent of their lukewarmnefs.
Befidesj it appears from example, that the livelinefs and

354 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

adtivity of faints in communion, is a means fubfer-
vient to the work of the Spirit among them, for many
are indebted to the earneft prayers, the godly dif-
courfe, and to other inftances of piety and zeal in the
faithful, as a means of their converfion, which is often
confeflcd in the church by them that are called. The
prder and ftedfaftnefs of a people like wife engage the
godly to join them, but it cannot be expeded, and it is
rarely feen that fuch unite or continue with a church
in a like ftate with that at Sardis ; and indeed where
diforders and hypocrifies prevail the Spirit is grieved
and departs, whofe divine agency, as already obferved,
is needful to any degree of fuccefs. In a word, the
analogy between natural and fpiritual things is obvious,
and though I am far from apprehending that they are
in all refpefts the fame, yet that the Lord in his ordi-
nary courfe, works with and by the graces of his peo-
ple, and renders their falthfulnefs and zeal a means of
converfion and a flourifhing ftate of his church, can-
not be modefl:ly denied, infomuch that Abraham had as
good reafon to hope for a child by Sarah, when her
body was dead in the courfe of nature, as the moft: able
and a<Slive minifter in the world has to expedl an in-
creafe of fpiritual feed, from a people funk into the for-
mality and coldnefs defcribed.

Another melancholy fymptom of this fad and
fliameful condition, is an unperfuadable obftinate fpi-
rit. It is exceeding difEcult to convince a people in
thefe circumftances of their danger, for the mofl part
they are infenfible and fecure, yea, and often fo con-
ceited

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 355
celted of themfelves, that, in a manner, it is vain to
exh^'it them; a remonflrance of their folly and pre-
fiimption they impute to an uncharitable jealoufy, and
are difpleafed, or it may be treat their faithful monitor
with contempt ; they reply in fuch language as this :
The former times were not better than thefe, others
are ftill more deficient, and in fhbrt we are as well as
can be expected, and thus they excufe themfelves from
amendment till they become incapable of bearing re-
proof, but are immediately ofFended with every attempt
to reclaim them ; fo that, like Ifrael in the days of
Amos the prophet, being fet on their own ways, they
hate the man that rebuketh in the gate, and abhor him
that fpeaketh uprightly unto them.

And now, who that fears God will not deprecate
being in any degree the occafion or fubje£l of this
odious and threatning ftate of religion ? May it never
be a general cafe in our land I But, have we no alarm-
ing fymptoms which call for a fpeedy reformation, left
we fall in like manner? To awaken our indignation
at every thing which tends to this fhameful condition,
remember, that though the Lord is mercifully pleafed to
call fuch a people to repentance, their hypocrifies are
hateful in his fight. To reft in a formal communion
and be carelefs and unfruitful, is to affront our holy
Redeemer, who is jealous of his honor. By allowed
partiality and negleft in his houfe, a people defpife his
authority, abufe his love, difgrace his name, and in a
word, as it were provoke him continually to his face;
and who can ftand before him when he is angry ? If
Z 2 he

356 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

he is offended that hath the feven fpirits and the feven
ftars, 'n whofe pov. er is every gift and divine operation,
on vvhicli the welfare and even the exiftcnce of a
church-j^are depends, what le^s cnn be expected but
difiblution and ruin ? \vo be to them whofe finful
condu(Sl and long provocations, bring down his judg-
ments ; they mufl anfwer the confequence ; for
when the kingdom of heaven is removed from a
land, many temporal miferies attend the unfpeakable
lofs, of which there are awful inftances; but we fhall
have occafion to fpeak of the punifliment that awaits
thofe who fm away the gofpel, and leave their pqfterity
in darknefs, in the following leflure. I conclude the
prefent with a prayer, in which the ferious Reader will
certainly join me :

* Lord, fend down thy holy Spirit to purify and

* quicken our hearts, that thy love may conftrain us
' to a becoming zeal for thy glory, and that as we

* have a name that we live, we may Ihew that we are

* alive indeed unto God, and abound in every good

* work, to the promoting ^thy vifible kingdom in the
' world ! '

LECTURE

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 357

LECTURE XXIT.

The difciples at Sardis exhorted to repent ; their works
are impeached. How the Lord appears a judge of
what a people perform in his name. The meafures
to be taken to reftore a church when declined. Rea-
fons for attempting it, notwithftandmg her things
may be dying away.

THE omnifclent and holy Redeemer, having warn-
ed his church of her hypocritical and dangerous
/late, goes on to exhort and rebuke her, the particu-
lars of which, with proper refledlions, are now to be
confidered. This part of his meflage is contained in
the following words : " Be watchful, and ftrengthen
*' the things which remain, and which are ready to
*' die; for I have not found thy works perfect before
*' God." We are told. Matt. xiii. 24. that " the-
*' kingdom of heaven is like to a man that fowed good
*' feed in his field, in which while men flept the enemy
" fowed his tares." Decays in a church originally
fpring from a defe6l in herfelf, and the adverfary gains
his firft advantage by the inattention of her members.
If chriftians were on their guard, fatan could have no
opportunity of introducing thofe poifonous errors, and
formal profeflbrs, which are the bane of religious fo-
ciety. Thus it appears that thefe difciples were very
remifs. Hence temptations prevailed, and they were
Z 3 daily

358 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

daily declining j they are therefore admonifhed to return
to their watch. The firft ftep towards a recovery is to
renew that difcipline which, in the fad ftate complained
of, muft have been greatly negleded j a watch is to be
fet over ourfclves, and againft the enemy, that no fur-
ther place may be given him, without which we can-
not v/ith reafon expe6l to reform; and accordingly we
fee a guard is placed at the door of this church, and at
the hearts of her members, by way of prevention, and,
this done, all hands are required to repair the houfe of
the Lord, in the following words ; " Strengthen the
*' things which remain and are ready to die."

It has been thought by fonie, that the things re-
ferred to are the graces of the Spirit, from the exercife
of v/hich, no doubt, there muft have been a general
decay among thefe dlfciples ; nor could they hope to
revive as a church unlefs they were reftored to a more
vigorous habit of faith and love in Chrift Jefus ; but
they are v/rong who would infmuate from hence that a
principle of grace may become extinil, or ceafe to exift
in the heart of a regenerate man, for it is exprefly de-
clared, that " vvhofoever is born of God, his feed re-
*' maineth in him," i Johniii.g. And again, that the
grace, or water of life, given by Chrift to him that is call-
ed, " fhall be in him a well of water, fpringing up into
*' everlafting life," John iv. 14. So that nothing can be
more certain than the final perfeverance of the faints;
and therefore, however the vifible intereft of religion
may be on the decline, and particular churches decay
or dillblve, yea, and a child of God be found dead in
his frame, the man that hath root in himfelf fhall en-
dure

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 359

dure to the end ; fuppofing therefore that the graces of
the chriftian are here intended, it cannot be juftly in-
ferred, becaufe he may in this imperfed" flate feem to
languifti awhile, and partially fail in his fruits, that
therefore he fhall totally fall from grace, and perifii at
laft. All that can be fairly concluded is this, that the
real faint is liable to decays, againft which it becomes
him to watch, or that, when he is fallen, means are
to be ufed for his recovery, which are truths univerfaily
acknowledged.

They feem nearer the purpofe who undeiftand by
thefe things backfliders among them, who, in appear-
ance, were on the point of cafting cfF their faith. In
this view it is a feafonable exhortation to the church to
admonifli and reprove them, and, if poffible, prevent
their total apoftacy and ruin. But I apprehend that
the works of this people, on which the Lord hath an
eye, and which he declares to be imperfeft in the very
nextclaufe, are the things chiefly, if not folely intended.
And the things or works, which belong to a gofpel
church- ftate, are recited, Adts ii. 42. namely, doctrine,
fellowfliip, breaking of bread and prayers, which com-
prehend the whole of the faith, worfhip and difcipline
effential to chriftian communion. Now it feems there
remained fome works among this backfliding people,
they were not totally departed from the truths of the
gofpel, nor had they entirely forfaken the aflembling
of themfelves for the worftiip of God, and the difcipline
of his houfe ; their united prayers were not wholly
ceafed, neither were they utter ftrangers to thofe offi-
Z 4 ces

36o LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

ces of kindnefs and love which are the genuine fruit of
a cordial feilowlhip in the Spirit. Plad there been no-^
thing of this found among them, they had not exifted
as a church ; but alas, they were flothful and partial,
and fcarce faved appearances; tliey were fo back-
ward and unftable, that thcfe things were hardly main-
tained ; they were fmking daily, and feem almoft ex-
piring and gone. Under this fhameful and dangerous
declenfion they are called upon to reftore and con-
firm their feeble and dying ftate, each one to return to
his duty, and to exert himfelf in repairing thofe decays
that were found in the houfe of the Lord.

As one means of awakening thefe backfliders to re-^
pentance, the holy Redeemer makes the following re-,
port, which might juftly alarm them, " I have not
*' found thy works perfect before God ! " q. d. 'I

* that fearch the heart and try the reins, have ex-

* amincd thy works, and rcje61: them as unfound and
' imperfect in the prefence of God ; they are fuch as

* cannot be pleafmg to him, nor will he accept them.'
Thus the ferviccs of thefe degenerate people are as it
were thrown back in their faces, or returned upon them
as naught. But, can we look for perfe6lion in the
works of a community compofed of imperfedt and falli-
ble men, which is the caf; with the purcft focicty upon
earth ? No church ever yet prctenJed to infallibility,
except that apoftate one, whofe errors, fuperftition and
idolatry, notorioufly contradict her arrogant claim }
what then is intended by a want of perfedlion ? Thip
native idea of the expreiiion here ufed, is fulnefs, and

this

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 361

this complaint manifeftly intends a criminal * defefV,
or that fhe did not exert herfdf with the integrity and
diligence required. We are told that at Corinth they
came behind in no gift; but, alas, at Sardis they are
charged with not coming up to their ability, which
amounts to no lefs than a charge of hypocnfy itfelE,
and anfwers to the character already giveii of this
church. The works of a church are imperfeiSl, when
her members deal deceitfully one with another, and are
each making idle, it may be falfe pretences for not fup-
plying his part; fo that her aflemblies are fmall, and
her works, however comparatively tolerable, come
fhort of the power fhe hath, and what is required at
her hands. In a word, when a people can do more
and better than they do, and are (hort for want of ex-
erting the gifts they have received, then their works are
not perfe6l ; they may feem fo to men, and to the de-
linquents themfelves, who, like thofe of Laodicea,
ver. 17. may boaft that they are rich and increafed in
goods, but to the Lord, whofe eyes are as a flame of
fire, their fmful imperfeiSlion appears, and on which
account they are highly difpleafmg in his fight, and
though he is gracious and long-fufFering, yet he is jea-
lous of his honor, and will one day condemn thofe who

trifle

* In like manner the Ifraelites who periflied In the wilderners, are charg-
ed with not having fuliy followed the Lord, as Caleb and Jofhua did. ■ See
: Numb. xiv". 24. The word t^/D there ufed fignities compleat, or rather
filled as a fliip under fail carried ftrongly with the winds, as if flie feared
neither rocks nor fands. Leigh's Crit, And much the fame idea is fixed
ty the late excellent Mr. Hervey to 'BiT?:(JVC-,<iii on 2 Pet. i, 11, Th's flack-
nefs and deficiency tljrough negleft is highly provoking to the Lord, as ap-
pears from the above avvful inftance of his difplcafure ; an enfample to
warn us againfl Ccth and unfaithfulnefs, in what concerns our holy pro-
fcflion.

362 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

trifle with his name, and negle<Sl the facred inftitutions
of his love. Thus, as in the hand-writing of Bel-
fhazzar, T£kel is infcribed on this fallen church, fhe
" is weighed in the ballances, and found wanting," by
the Iving of faints. This charge is the more afFedting,
as it is laid on her works without any exception —
*' I have not found thy works perfect before God."
Awful fentence indeed ! and the rather as it is a fen-
tence confirmed by the infallible truth of him that pro-
nounced it. Had this charge proceeded from the lips
of a creature, it might have been falfej but who will
difpute what Jefus, the Amen and faithful witnefs, de-
clares ? Many are the falfe accufations which are laid
againft the righteous, by the world and fatan, from
which they fhall hereafter be cleared, but that people
are certainly guilty who are charged by the Lord him-
felf; their mouths will therefore be flopped, neither
fnall any plead for them, no, nor fave them from his
juft indignation, for as this rebuke implies his abhor-
rence of their floth and hypocrify, it likewife befpeaks
his coming upon them in judgment unlefs they repent,
according to a fubfequent threatning.

From this account it appears that the Lord is judge
of thofe works which arc performed in a gofpel church-
ftate, and that when his people are fenfible of threat-
ning declenfions, they are required to exert themfelves
in order to recover ^ and it may be ufeful to confider
in what points of light the Lord is a judge of his peo-
ple, the meafures to be taken to revive an intereft that
is dying, and the reafons there are for attempting it.

AN0

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 363

And firft, the judgment of Chrifi: In his church is
tnanifeft in lefpe^l of his omnifclence. He is a God
of knowledge, by whom a6^ions are weighed, i Sam.
ii. 3. This was the refort of Peter in a time of diftrefs,
*' Lord, thou knoweft all things," John xxi. 17. And
in Heb. iv. 13. Aiys the apoftle, *' All things are na-
*' iced and open unto the eyes of him with whom we
*' have to do." An excoriated beaft, flain of old for
a facrifice, hung up and opened to view, or even the
anatomized body, doth not lie fo expofed to the eye of
the fkilful beholder, as our v/orks to the Lord Jefus
Chrift. He difcerns the thoughts and intents of the
heart, and hath an exadl: and intuitive knowledge of
their number, nature and fprings of adlion in his peo-
ple, -fo that nothing efcapes him. Again,

This charafler our Lord fuftains in refpeil of his
office. He is not only Judge as a divine perfon, but
alfo as Mediator. It belongs to him as the great Shep-
herd of the ilieep to inipedl and judge his people ; to this
he is appointed by the Father, who hath committed all
judgment to his Son j fo that Chrift is inverted with
this power in his paftoral capacity, being feated on the
throne in his church. Every community under a pro-
fefiion of his nam.e, and each particular member there-
of is fubjecS to his examination, and mufl fland before
his judgment-feat. And further, the Redeemer is judge
of his people in a pradtical fenfej i. e. he actually and
conflantly infpe£ts their work in the charafter of a
judge. We cannot v/ith decency fuppofe that the holy
Jefus doth not execute the commifTion he hath received,

364 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

or exert this authority in the midft of his churches;
and the inftance before us proves that he is active in
judgment upon them, for when he faith, " I have not
*' found thy works perfe6l," he fpeaks as one that had
examined and proved them ; fo that his eyes are on his
people, not only as their Saviour to preferve them, but
alfo as their judge to try them ; he has a ballance or mea-
fure in his hand to weigh and adjuft all they profefs to
do in his name, and thofe which are not perfect or full
according to their ability he will furely rejed, and re-
gard not the perfuns of any. In thefe rcfpeils our
£ord is judge of what is done in the character of a
church ; in refpecl of his eflential omnifcience as a
divine perfon, in refpedl of his office, and in refpe£l of
his certain adual infpection into their fpirit and con-
"duft. It is therefore of the utmoft importance when
thin'^s are dying away in any community, that they
hearken to his voice and repent, as will hereafter more
particularly be feen.

But, what are the meafures to be taken in order to
revive an intereft that appears on the decline ? Before
we enter on particulars here it may be proper to note,
that when things are come to this pafs, and a church is
funk fo low, through long and repeated backflidings,
as to be ready to diffolve, her awakened members are
prone to defpond, and may be tempted, through guilt
and unbelief, or from floth and felf-love, to leave her,
which is mean and ungrateful j yet this has been the
conduct of fome, in regard of the community to
which they belonged, v/hen fiie feemed to be going ;
as a fhip in diflrefs is left by her company, who appre-
hend

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 365

hend (he wiU fink or be otherwife loft, fo hath a
church in danger been forfaken by her members, till
broken to pieces and ruined ; they could not endure the
pains and felf-denial which peradventure might have
.faved her, but this is unbecoming a dlfciple of Jefus,
and againft his diredlion before us. It mult therefore be
highly difpleafing to him, when any thus evade their
endeavour to preferve and revive his declining caufe;
therefore let thofe who would have boldnefs at his
coming fee to it, that nothing Is wanting on their part
to rellore the finking intereft of religion in their hands,
and the meafures to be taken in order to effeik it are as
follows :

I. A STRICT and impartial enquiry into the ftate of the
community, and the condition of its feveral members.
In exhorting the difciples at Sard is, to ftren^then the
things which were ready to die, there feems an allufion
to a natural body, which having long languiflied under
a threatning diftemper, is, in all appearance, nigh
unto death : And every one knows, that when a phyfi-
cian is called in this dangerous cafe, he firft examines
into the nature of the difeafe, the parts affected, the
time, occafion, and p'rogrefs which the diforder Hath
made, with every other circumftance relating to the
patient's complaint : In like manner, when a people
find themfelves on the decline, in order to their re-
covery, they muft difcern what errors and ill habits
prevail, and confider who are defective, and in what
degree, under what temptation, and In a word, how far
the corporation is degenerated from Its natural and primi-
,rtive ftate. Without ajuft idea of her real condition, in

thefe

366 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

thefe particulars, the means of reftoration cannot be
applied, and things vWll grow worfe, till a diffolution
enfues, if not timely prevented. To this method we
are dire6led In the following words : " Remeinber
*' therefore how thou haft received and heard, and re-
*' pent." Of which in its place ; for the prefent it
may fuffice, that in general this certainly implies a
reflection on her fallen ftate, that flie might be fenfible
of her declenfions, and even know the worfl of
her cafe. This enquiry among a people fufficiently
awakened, ' who are in the way of recovery, will
be perfonal, each afte£led will examine his own
fpirit and conduct, and fay, " What have I done?"
Jer. viii. 6^ And the fame will be carried on in public,
by the infpecSlion of the paftor and other officers, and
likewife by the church herfelf, who, as a body cor-
porate, will, in her difcipline alTemblies, be lodkihg
diligently, that by her feafonable admonition, and
even cenfure, if needful, fhe may prevent a further
fpread of diforders, and at length be perfedly re-
ftored. Again,

2. Another means required, is united and earneft
prayer to the Lord to heal our backflidings. We have
deftroyed ourfelves, but our help is in him. The cha-
radler Jefus allumes, when fpeaking to this people, im-
plicitly directs them to himfelf, as poffeft of all thofe
gifts, and that grace which are needful to a flourifliing
ftate. When the Lord is as the dew on Ifrael, then
fhe will revive as the corn; but for this he will be
fought unto, without which his bleffing cannot be ex-
peded. Befides the fervent prayers of the faithful, are

TQ THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 367
jn themfelves a means of reftoration : in prayer the
graces of the Spirit are exercifcd and ftrengthened.
prayer in the Spirit is of an edifying nature j by this
the heart is humbled, melted, purified and refreflicd :
Hence, Jude ver. 20. the brethren are diredled, in a time
of falling away, to " build up one another on their
" moft holy faith, praying in the holy Ghoft." 1 he
declining (late t)f a church, appears in nothino; more
than in a negled of her prayers : in proportion to this
the love of God moft furely decays, infomuch that
there is little or no hopes of recovery : When a people
are not to be induced to wreftle at the throne of grace,
they muft grow more and more formal and lifeleis, and
be in the utmoft danger of ruin.

3. When the things of a community are thus re-
duced, they are not likely to revive, unlefs there is
a mutual activity and diligence in her members, in
their feveral ftations ; every man to his poft, and
all hands employed in the work. As the recovery
of the natural body from a threatning diforder depends
much on a due circulation, and each member perform-
ing its fundion, fo is Chrift. It is not fufficient to
behold our declenfions, or to bewail them, either to
the Lord or to one another : Like Ifrael of old,
I Chron. xxii. 16. w^e muft arife and be doing, in hopes
that the Lord will be with us. " Why ftand ye cry-
** ing ? faith the Lord to Mofes, fpeak to the children
•' of Ifrael that they go forward." In a v/ord, infpec-
tion and prayer are vain without a refolution in the
ftrength of the Lord to hold faft and repent. If prayer-
raeetmgs are ever fo frequent or full, they will come

Ihort

368 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE '

fhort of a remedy, unlefs Individuals fill up their places;
for the works of that church can never be perfedt",
whofe members fail of their duty : To complain of de-
fedis without endeavouring to fupply them, is highly
abfurd, a conduct which tends flill more to weaken
the caufe. Now it any man would know his particular
duty, under declenfions in the fociety to which he
belongs, his confcience will tell him ; and the fcrip-
ture is fo plain, with refpecl: to that nobleft of focieties,
a church, that no one can plead ignorance. He that
will not attend her aflemblies, and exert his ability in
theilation he holds, turns away his ear from the voice
of Chrift, and will not regard the welfare of Zion.

One motive in them who love God and his people,
for exerting themfelves in reftoring the affairs of a
church when gone to decay, is her imminent danger.
Hence the Lord notes to this people, that the things
which remained were " ready to die;" q. d. confider
how near you are to a total lofs of thofe things which
belong to your ftate ; if they fhould entirely ceafe you are
utterly ruined. Now the more threatning the cafe
of a difordered conflitution, the greater the concern of
him who defires to preferve it, and his diligence after
its recovery will be in proportion : In like manner
when things are ready to expire in a chriftian commu-
nity, an argument is drawn by her prudent and
afFedtionate members, from the danger apprehended,
for being fpeedy and a£tive to revive her. Again,

A PROSPECT of her recovery is another inducement.
This alfo is fuggefted in the warning before us. A

command

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 369

command from God to repent and return to duty, im-
plies a promife of remifiion and fuccefs to them that
obey. This call on the chuich at Sardis was a kind
intimation that the might be recovered, and a feafon-
able encouragement to arife for her help, and efpecially
as the Lord revealed himfelf to her under charafters
expreffive of his power and grace. This was a token
for good, and an argument with every wife and confi-
derate perfon to do what in him lay to reftore her, it
appearing that however dangerous her cafe, it was not
yet defperate ; yea, there was the higheft reafon to con-
clude that his labour fliould not be in vain, fmce he
that called him to this fervice is able to render it ef-
feftual. While there is life, we fay, there is hope.
The animal frame may be in a laiiguifhing ftate ;
through a prevailing difeafe, or a complication of dif-
orders, it may be brought very low, fcarce any pulfe
to be difcerned, yea, and the vital principle fo retire as
to be out of the view even of a fkilful phyfician, and at
the fame time it may exift, and recover its vifiole force,
fo that it is not always eafy to determine whether or
not it is a£l:ually dead ; but this we know^, that as long
as any fenfible warmth and motion remains, there is
hope that in the ufe of means the fpirit may revive,
and a vigorous circulation return, whereby the body
(hall again be ftrengthened for the a£lions of life. In
like manner the fymproms of fpiritual life and the love
of God, in which true religion fubflantially confifts,
may, through a prevailing carnality and corruption, be
reduced very low, and fcarcely perceived in a chri-
ftian community, of whofc recovery we are not to
defpairj there may yet be life in hcrj many of her

A a members.

370 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

memberSj who feem formal and dead, may be concealed
in darknefs, difcouragcd and fearful under various
temptations, who on due application may be animated
and fhew themfelves alive; their graces may yet be
drawn forth into exercife, by whofe adtivity and dili-
gence the church will be reftored and flourifh again.
Thus, though things are apparently dying, they may
Hill revive; and there is always ground to hope that a
people however declined, being fenfible of their condi-
tion, on return'ng to their Lord and their duty, ftiali
not be difiblvcd or deftroyed ; and is not this an argu-
ment for feeking to revive her again, even in the moft
dangerous circumftances ?

And fuither; the excellency and ufe of a chriftian
church-{late, is another flrong motive to an endeavour
after its prefervation and welfare. We are fallen in a
time when the yoke of Chrift feems rather grievous to
feme, whofe pretence of knowledge runs high, and
have reaion to lament that the communion of faints
fuits not the popular taile of the day; yea, fome even
prefumc to plead a liberty from it, and, as it were,
gloiy in their negle£l: of gofpel-appointments, as if it
v/as the privilege of a chriftian to live free from the
orders of his Lord, or becoming his charailer to defpife
rhem ; but that notion of chriftianlty, which includes
not a perfonal fubjcclion to the ordinances of the Re-
deemer, is prepoflerous and vain, and a more threat-
ning fymptom cannot appear among nominal chriftians,
than a prevailing omiflion of that divine fellowfhip in
which the called bind themfelves to walk together in
the Lord. If this becomes general in a nation, where

the

to THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 371

the gofpel is preached, the kingdom of God will foon be
removed, and along with it departs liberty, civil and reli-
gions, in confequence of wnich a country is debafd and
enflaved ; witnefs all Afia, and other parts of the earth,
formerly the feat of fiourifhing churches, like the city
of Sardis, once famous, while the golden candleftick
adorned her, but, as already obrerved, flie r.ow appears
a poor contemptible village. So then gofpel-churches
are the glory of a land, with which ftand connecSted all
that is dear, and this will be an argument with every
fenfible perfon to exert himfelf in refloring the church
to which he belongs, when her things are declining.
Indeed the continuance of the gofpel doth not depend
on any particular congregation, yet every fociety of be-
lievers, in which the do6lrine, difcipline and worfhip
of Chrift is maintained, is a part of his vifible intereft
in a nation ; it muft therefore be a grief to thofe who
lay to heart the glory of God, and the good of man-
kind, when they behold fuch a fociety in danger of
diflblving.

The importance of maintaining a gofpel-church
will alfo appear, when we confider the piomife fhe hath
of the Redeemer's prefence and bleffing, which is a fur-
ther motive to preferve it: By a diiliilution of an orderly
fociety of believers, who are entitled to this gracious
afTurance, we are deprived of one precious means of
communion with God , the manifcftative glory of
Chrift, the converfion of ftnners, and the comfort of
them that believe ; who then that hath any regard for
the honor of Jefus, or the welfare of fouls, can fail of
A a 2 beinff

372 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

being excited, on reflexion, to ufe his utmoft endea-
vour to prevent it ?

Besides, it will be an argument with the awakened
backflider to a fpeedy and vigorous attempt for reftoring
a church that is near a difiblution, if he himfelf hath
contributed to her threatruns: declenfions. Things ne-
ver come to this pafs in a community without the de-
fect and folly, at leaft of many individuals ; it is proba-
ble that few, if any, are entirely free from being in
fome meafure the occafion of this deplorable ftate ;
however in proportion to a fenfe of the injury dene a
fociety by a man's own condudl, muft his readinefs be
to repair it. If we behold a natural body languifhing
under pain and ficknefs, and in danger, will not hu-
manity itfelf demand our immediate afliftance, if pofli-
hle, to revive it ? But if, as may be the cafe, we are con-
fcious that our own, neglect, or abufe of this body, has
been the (hameful caufe of its perifliing condition, are we
not ftill more obliged to lay out ourfelves with a view to
its recovery ? The application is eafy. Every ingenuous
perfon will be careful about reftoring an intcreft, the
tlecleniion of which is in fome degree owing to him-
ftlf. And if they who feem liitle concerned at the dy-
i;ig flate of a community to which they belong, and
who are practically faying, Let the caufe fink, were duly
f:jnC.b!e of their own conduit, they would fee it highly
iiicunibent on themfelves, more than on others, to arife
At its help. Add to tliefc, the reward which is in-
fiired to thofe who feek the honor of God, which is
another juft motive for reftoring the beauty of his

houfe.

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 373

houfe. This is exprefled in a following claufe : " He
** that overcometh, the fame {hall be clothed in white
'* raiment;" of which in its place. It requires felf-
denial and courage to ftand up for the purity and
order of the gofpel when it is generally neglected or
defpifed. A man muft exert his ability, and it may be
endure the refentment and fcorn of thofe who, wedded
to their lufts, will oppofe a reformation ; and if he has
heretofore, in any degree, complied with the evil of
the time, or been ofFfrom his watch, which, as hinted,
Is probable, it will be ftill more difficult for him ; he
muft firft cleanfe himfelf, and forfake every fmful in-
dulgence that hath turned him afide, and may expe6t
many refled ons to difliearten him from uniting in the
work, but the man need not fear whofe repentance is
evinced by a return to his duty ; he fhall not only be
forgiven, but likewife (hare in the recomperce pro-
mifed ; for no man's labour fhall be vain in the
Lord.

It appears then that the chriftian ought not to forfake
his ftation in the church, when things are declined and
feem ready to vanifh away ; no, by no means. The
members of a community in decay have reafon to
mourn, and it may be, to be covered with fhame for
their own backflidings, but can have none to defpair ;
however threatning the danger, if they awake and re-
pent, and diligently follow the things they have ne-
gledled, there is ftill a profpeiiitof recovery, which, with
the excellency of this gofpel-conftitution, and efpccially
when the fubjedl is confcious of being acceftary to the
declenfions lamented, and the certain future reward of
A a 3 the

374 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

the righteous, are cogent arguments for an attempt to
reftore a church-ftate, even under the loweft circum-
llances that can be fuppofcd. And, can the love of
God dwell in that man, w'. o is not to be engaged by
cither or all of thefe motives, unto a zeal for the wel-
fare of Zion ?

While we mourn the dying intereft of Jefus among
'US, may we not juftly admire his love and patience, thus
to warn his backfliding people, and gracioufly meet
them with a promife on r.epentance. But, Reader,
forget not that religicm is a perfonal thing, and allow
me to fay, that in whatever flate the particular com-
munity may be with whom thou art connefted, as an
hearer or member, thou thyfelf may be in a fimilar
condition with that of this church ; in thy own re-
ligious experience and pra£lice the things which lemain
may he on the decline, and almoft expired. Permit me,
with freedom, to afl<: thee. How {lands it with the
frame of thy foul ? It may be thy cafe. In time paft
fin pierced thy heart, and thou waft then anxious ior
repentance and pardon ; thy breathing was earneft after
an intereft in Chrift, and the inheritance of them who
are fan6lified by faith, in order to communion with the
Lord and his people, but now, alas, thefe convi61ions
are worn oft', and, through the cares of the world and
the pleafures of life, thy former defires are abated or
gone, thou art ready to quit all concern about the
kingdom of God and his righteoufnefs, and to lay afide
the thoughts of living to the Saviour, under a pro-
feflion of his name. Doth confcicnce tell thee that thou

art

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 375

art in this manner gone backward, and that thine heirt
is almoft a ftranger to this holy concern and afll'clion ?
Great is thy delufion and danger ! i befeech thee to
hear what Jefus faith by his Spirit to this fallen
church, *' ftrengthen the things which remain."
It is of the utmoil importance, therefore icpent in-
due feafon, for if thou art not conforined to this ex-
hortation, behold, he cometh to judgment, when
thou and thy religion, fuch as it is, will perifli to-
gether.

But again, my dear Friend, how is thy private de-
votion maintained ? Enter into thy clofet,'true religion
firft. appears there, and there a decay from its power is
firft to be difcerned. Once every opportunity of re-
tirement was embraced, to pour out thy foul unto
God, to contemplate his law, and for fcif- exa-
mination ; then it was thy cuftom to come forth
from thy chamber into the family, thy children and
fervants were aflembled for prayer, reading, and other
exercifes of{ a fpiritual nature. Thus fome begin, and
it may be go on for awhile, till worldly bufmefs and
carnal company interfere; alas, they cannot withftand
the temptation, their goodnefs is as the morning-cloud,
and as the early dew it pafleth away. And are any like
fymptoms on thee, chriftian Reader ? are thefe things
omitted, or are they attended in an uncertain, cold and
indifferent manner, infomuch that there is danger of their
being utterly forfaken? O be wife, and confidcr, arife
from the dead, flee from thofe lufts that have enticed thee,
A a 4 and

376 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

and return immediately unto him from whom thou haft
foohflily departed.

Finally, Is there a fenfible and vifible alteration
for the worfe in thy public or fecial religion ? P'ormerly
thy feet were prepared for the temple, and hearing the
word of the Lord was delightful, it was a pleafure to
fit at his table, and his ordinances were highly efteem-
ed, infomuch that the return of his fabbaths was the
joy of thy foul : But haft thou loft thy relifh for thefe
facred' and precious enjoyments ? are they become wea-
rinefs to thee ? and doft thou excufe thyfelf on every
occafion, and of choice abfent from the fanfluary, or
make light of thy deficiency in the relative duties of
communion ? It is indeed a fad cafe to become thus
unfruitful, and for the leavs of thy profeffion to fade
and fall off in this manner. Thus hypocrites often
Aide away and turn apoftates to their ruin. Far be it
the Rt^ier ftiould have in the end his portion with un-
believers ! but I would hope better things, even
things that accompany falvation. And haft thou
efcaped or overcome the temptations by which many
are caft down and deftroyed, and in a flourifhing ftate,
in thefe points of religion ; thou art highly favoured of
heaven ? Adore the grace by which thou haft flood, be
ftiil on thy guard, and whoever draws back, cleave
thou with purpofe of heart unto the Lord. In one
word, may all who call upon the name of the Lord
hearken unto the words of Peter, in the clcfe of his fe-
cond epiftle, and with which I conclude this lecSture.
'* Ye therefore, beloved, feeing ye know thefe things

" before,

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 377

*' before, beware, left ye alfo, being led away with the
*' error of the wicked, fa! J from your own ftedfaftneCs;
** but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
" Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift : To him be glor\',
*' both now and forever. Amen."

LECTURE XXIII.

A repetition of the Redeemer's call to repentance,
with particular diretSlions; and a threatning in cafe
of difobedience.

OUR Lord having called upon the church at
Sardis, to reftore the things that were* dying
away, gracioufly dire«Eis her how to proceed, but at
the fame time threatens her if Ihe did not repent:
*' Remember therefore how thou haft received and heard,
** and hold faft and repent. If therefore thou flialt
*' not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou
" flialt not know in what hour I will come upon thee."
An awakening meflage, by which they who are on the
decline in their religious character are inftrudted and
warned, and which may be applied to chriftians in
every age, in a private or fecial capacity.

The principal thingtobe confidered is that which ftands
firft, an exhortation to look back and review paft experi-
ence and ccndudl from the beginning: " Remember there-
" fore how thou haft received and heard." Hearing is the

means

378 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

means of the obedience of faith ; and this degenerate peo-
ple are diredleu to refle6t on the manner in which they
embraced the truth, or the fpirit and behaviour which
prevailed among them at the beginning. It is a call on
the church, or on her members in particular. In re-
fpe£c of fociety, it refers to their original fimplicity and
zeal in the faith and order of Chriff, from whence fhe
was fallen : " Remember how thou haft received and
" heard ;" call to mind the manner of entrance the
gofpel had when firft preached among you, with what
readinefs and joy ye received it, on what foundation the
church-ftate was raifed, how watchful, ddigent, and
lively her members, and compare it with her prefent
fecure and lukewarm condition.

Some apply this to the prefent flate of theProteftant
churches, who are in general but too much gone off
from that purity in doitrine, worfhip and difcipline, for
which they were famous, when they firft renounced
the errors of Rome, asobferved in a preceeding lecture,
and particularly in refpe<5l of the grand and capital ar-
ticle of juftification by grace, in oppofition to the merit
of works. It cannot modeftly be denied, but that the
religious fentiments and practice, which now prevail in
Geneva, Holland, and other foreign Proteftant ftates,
differ wide from thofe that were avowed on the reforma-
tion : And, O that our native country could be excepted !
But,- alas, the pulpit, the prefs, and the popular tafte,
unite in declaring our fhameful departure. Thisalfo
appears when we compare the tenets which are in a
manner univerfally fpread, with the inftruments of ori-
ginal union and articles of faith, which, notwithftand-

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 379

ing the contempt caft upon the truths contained in
them, are fliil extent by publig authority, together
with the writings of the firft reformers in every place ;
all which loudly teftify againft us !

But, pafllng this, the people at Sardis were greatly
corrupted, infoniuch that few had efcaped the general
pollution ; fo fad was their departure from the f'lmpli-
city and holinefs which originally adorned the church
in that place, the remains of which glory was fading
away. In thefe difgraceful circumftanccs Ihe is bid to
remember. In a difordered ftate of body, no faculty is.
fooner impaired then the memory; and a chriftian fo-
ciety, when funk and depraved, are forgetful of their
forrrier zeal and good works ; a fcrious refleiftion on
which might ^bring them to repentance. The precife
date of the epillle is uncertain, but doubtlefs this
church, with others in Afia, had fubfifted a conlider-
able time; fo great a declenfion could hardly obtain in
a few years only, yet fome aged perfons, as the cvange-
lilt himfelf, might remember her gathering, and wit-
nefs the melancholy difference.

Under thefe decays the fame refledlion becomes in-
dividuals; every perfen fhould examine himfelf, and en-
quire, how did I come under a profeffed fubje6lion to the
gofpel ? Was it from a deep convicStion of my miferable
ftate as a Tinner, and a perfuafion of the authority and
grace of Jefus, as the only and all-fufEcient Saviour, that
I trufted in him, and furrendered myfelf to his will ?
O my foul, now fo unfavuory and carelefs, call to mind
the love of thine efpoufals, and the kindnefs of thy

youth ?

38o LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

youth ! How didft thou receive Chrift Jefus the Lord,
and hear the tidings of his mercy ! how precious then
was the word of his grace ! with what fweetnefs and
power did it come to thy heart ! O the readinefs and
joy with which thou laid hold on the hope fet before
thee ! thou waft then impatient for feafons of commu-
nion with the Lord and his people; but now, alas, how
indifferent towards them, the new moons and fabbaths
are almoft a wearinefs to thee; confider how thou
art fallen ; the danger thou art in, and how pro-
voking thy condudl, and repent ! When a backfliding
chriflian is enabled thus to refle6l on his firft fetting
out in religion, there is hope of his recovery, and
that he will be ftedfaft in every branch of his holy pro-
feflion, which is the next thing required. " And hold
" faft," i. e. keep diligently * the precious dodrines
and ordinances thou haft received, with a watchful
eye, that they be not loft or taken away, which agrees
with the following fentence, and implies the danger
they were in through the fubtlety of fatan, to whom
they had already given place, and likcwife that it re-
quired their utmoft folicitude and ftrength to preferve
them. It is added, " and repenf," i. e. be wife and
turn from your evil, as perfons convinced of their
folly, return unto me. The word fignifies afterwit,
and alludes to the' madnefs of thofe who depart from
the Lord. Thus the prodigal, who is an emblem of
a penitent finner or backflider, is faid to come to him-
felf. When men wander from God and the order of
the gofpel, it may truly be faid that a deceived heart
hath turned them afide, they are as it were infatuated

througlv

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 381

through the deceitfulnefsoffin ; and when fuch are re-
ftored to their fpiritual fenfes, they will be covered with
fhame, and thankful for the grace that has prevented
their ruin, and their change will be attended with fu-
ture diligence in every duty.

As a further means of awakening this church, fhe is
threatned in cafe of difobedience : " If therefore thou
** flialt not watch;" if, after all my patience and
warning, thou contiiiueft fupine and carelefs, and will
not awake and be on thy guard, " I will come upon
*' thee as a thief. Many are the chaftnings in ftore for
a loofe and hypocritical generation of profefTors;
fometimes they are hewed by the prophets of the Lord,
and flain by the words of his mouth, Hof. vi. 5. He
animates his fervants to cry aloud and fpare not, but
fhew them their tranfgreflions and fms, who are fure to
meet with their refentment, unlefs they are reclaimed.
At other times the hand of his providence is againfl them,
and they are diminifhed by ficknefs and death, as at Co-
rinth. Again, he hides his face that they cannot behold
him, or itjnay be his Spirit is with-held, and the dew is
not on their fleece ; they are barren and comfortlefs, their
breads are dry, and a mifcarrying womb is their por-
tion, Hof. ix. 14. Or, once more, when joined to
their idols, as Ephraim, he lets them alone. Thefe are
tokens of his difpleafure, which a fenfible people will
deprecate ; But the threatning before us is ftill
more alarming, it is not to corredl but to deftroy ; a
threatning of vengeance, the terror of which will ap-
pear, if we confider.

■d:.

I. That

382 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

I. That the Lord himfelf was to come upon them*
If an angel, or even but a man had been commiflioned
from heaven to chaftize them in anger, they might
juftly have trembled at the thought of his approach, but
how fearful to fall into the hands of the living God, of
Jefus himfelf, whofe power is infinite, and whofe face,
as an angry judge, neither earth nor heaven can endure !
Every attribute afcribed to the Redeemer in that grand
and awful defcription, chap. i. and e!fe where, is
properly applied to this threatning, " I will come upon
*' thee :" 1, whofe eyes are as a flame of fire, who
fearcheth the heart and the reins ; I, whofe feet are as
fine brafs, as if they burned in a furnace, to tread
down Tmine enemies and trample them in my fury; I,
whofe voice is as the found of many waters, as the roar-
ing of the fea ; 1 that have the feven ftars in my right
hand, and out of whofe mouth goeth a fharp two-
edged fword ; I, whofe countenance is as the fun
fhining in his ftrength, before whom no flefh can
(land ; in a word, I, that have the keys of death and
hell, and kill and make alive at my pleafure ; I, even
" I will come upon thee." Awful expeitation ! Who
among the guilty is prepared to meet this offended God
in his anger ! But,

2. The comparifon ufed by our Lord to illuftrate
his coming, is another confiderable aggravation, *' as
*' a thief." This denotes the manner and the end of his
vifitation. i. It implies that he would come on a fudden ;
which indeed is contained in the phrafe itfelf, come on^
I Sam. ii. 34. but the idea is ftill more enlivened by

the

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 383

the comparlfon, the thief cometh unawares. Hence
faith our Lord, Matt. xxiv. 43. " If the good man of
" the houle had known in what watch the thief would
** come, &c." And that this is principally intended,
appears from the following fentence, " Thou (halt not
*' know in what hour I will come upon thee." In this
manner the world of old was deftroyed, and thus it
will be in all divine judgment, " the day -A the Lord
" fo cometh as a thief in the night," i i'hefl'. v. 2.
and particularly in removing the candleftick out of his
place, for the fins of a backfliding people : " Behold I
*« come as a thief. Blefled is he that watcheth and
** keepeth his garments," Rev. xvi. 15. which agrees
with the condition in the text, already confidered. Be-
fides this, 2. it alfo intimates the end of his coming,
which is to deprive * and ruin the impenitent : ** The
*' thief cometh not, but for to iteal, and to kill, and
" to dettroy," John x. 10. Thus the wrath of the
Lamb comes on wilful and ftubborn tranfgreflors, 1 ut
with this difference, that, whereas the conduit of the
thief is unjuft and finful, the judgments of the Lord
are righteous. And,

3. This threatning is the more dreadful, as it leaves
no hope of further warning or patience : It is the laft
meflage, in contempt of which they are doomed to

immediate

* Chrift cannot be faid to come as a thief in an evil fenfe, morally
fpeaking ; his effential goodnefs and righteoufnefs forbid our entertaining
fo bale or unworthy idea of his coming, as that it is with any unjuft or
cruel defign, but certainly the end of his judgment is the dertrudion of
unbelievers and hypocrites, and the comparifon is only in refpeft of fuch;
" for ye, brethren, are not in darknefs; that that day fliould overtake you
" as a thief," i Theff. v. 4.

384 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

immediate deftrudlion ; nothing can be more abfolute
than the terms of this awful declaration, *' If
" therefore thou fhalt not watch, I will come upon
*' thee." Wo be to them who are at cafe in Zion ;
they are threatned with fudden deftrudion from the
Lord, who w -i^ himfelf come upon them, except they
repent.

See then, O chriftian, the difpleafure of thy Re-
deemer with thofe who are unfaithful and fruitlefs
under a profeflion of his name; he is a holy and jealous
God, and cannot endure a lukewarm and deceitful
condudt in them that approach him. He hath com-
panion on the frames of his faints, yea, and when they
f:n through infirmity, he is their advocate with the
Father, as it were, to cover their involuntary failings,
and to plead againft every accufation of the adverfary j
but when a people, having the form of godlinefs, be-
come habitually negligent and partial, it is an affront
to ail his perfe6lions j fuch perfons provoke him to his
face, and if after due warning, they prefume in this man-
ner to defpife him, his anger will fmoke againft them,
and utterly confume them !

Beware then of fettling on the lees, and reding in
a name for religion; thou art under a profeflion and
waft formerly adlive and fruitful, but art thou now be-
come lifelefs and formal ? Remember the zeal and good
works of this fallen church in her primitive ftate was
no excufe for her prefent dcfc£tion and floth, (lie is
threatned with the vengeance of heaven notwithftand-
ing her former gocdnefs, and the fame (lie now had for

beins

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 385

being alive, thefe things availed not w^ith the Lord in
whofe fio-ht fhe was talfe, and came fhort of her cha-
rafter ; therefore be not fecure in the opinion of men,
God is not mocked ; and when he comes on impenitent
tranfgreflbrs, the works they have forfaken will witnefs
agatnft them, rather than juftify their prefent hypocrify
and negligence, or hide them from his wrath ; therefore,
boaft not thyfelf, thou backfliding profeflbr, in what thou
haft betn, or in what others now take thee to be ;
arife from the dead, and repent, fo flialt thou be ap-
proved of thy judj^e, and his ange: fhall not fall upon
thee.

How deplorable the condit'on of thofe who are over-
tak'.n by an injured and offended Saviour! The fug-,
geftion is ftroiig with refpe£l to this church, that if
Chrift came upon her, as he threatned, fhe would be
miferab.y dettroyed : " 1 will come on you;" q. d. and
what will you do ? wh ther can you flee ? Haft thou an
arm lik God ? or canli thou thunder with a voice like
him ? A' . am againft thee, who can be for thee, or
fave thee ? 1 bis is th^ language of the threatning be-
fore us ; it is the word of a King, and it comes with
power, for he is able to dcftroy all thofe who hate him.
If fatJn or the world come on a church, or the chri-
ftian is attacked from any other quarter, the temporary
fuffering and lufs may be great, yet a deliverer is at
hand, but when the omnipotent Jefus himfelf overtakes
the fmner in judgment, there is no efcape or remedy,
deftrudion will enfue ^ he is terrible in righteoufnefs,
when he comes to take vengeance on the workers of
iniquity, and more efpecially on hypocrites in Zion.
B b Hear

386 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

Hear what he fays when he uttered his voice and roared
out of Zion : " I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and
*' as a young lion to the houfe of Judah : I, even I will
*' tear, and go av/ay ; I will take away and none (hall
*' refcue him," Hofea v. 14. He is ftill the fame Lord,
who will judge his people, and this will be the mifera-
rable end of all who defpife him.

Nevertheless, the patience and grace of the Lord
Jefus Chrift are difplayed, and demand our attention j
he is flow to anger, and warns the generation that pro-
voke him to jealoufy before he comes on them to their
ruin. Thus he waited long in the days of Noe before
the flood came upon them, and forty years was he
tempted by them who fell through unbelief in the wil-
dernefs ; alfo the like fpace was granted to Jerufalem
after the time of our Saviour, and fince the fpread of
his kingdom in the world. No nation or people was
ever deprived of a gofpel church-ftate till after many
warnings and great provocations. The language of
Chrift in his word and providence, with refpe6l to a
fallen people, is like that by the prophet to Ephraim,
" How fhall I give thee up ? " as if his heart turned
within him ; his repeated exhortations and much long-
fuffering (hews that he delights not in the deftru6tion
of a people, or in removing the candleftick out of his
place J they fpeak againft the diflx)Iution of churches,
and call loud on delinquents to repent and be faved.

It appears then, that nothing but a perverfe and im-
penitent fpirit will bring down the wrath of God on a
people i however long a church may have been on the

decay

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 3S7

decay or low fhe is funk, though fhe hath years been
declining, and her works are very imperfed:, infomuch
that, as a: Sardi-;, her things which remain are ready
to die, yet, if it at length, by any means, her mem-
bers are awakened, and return to the Lord, he will
have mercy upon them 5 and the like' may be obferved
in regard of any one perfon who is under declenfion;
a penitent backflider is not cafl into defpair by the fe-
vereft threatnings of Chrifl-, whofe love, grace and
power are more than fufficient to reftore him, and who
is ready to heal his backflidmgs and accept the calves
of his lips. This {hould engage us when chaftned for
our fmful departures, to excite one another in the lan-
guage of Ephraim and Judah, Hof. vi. i. " Come, Jet
*' us return unto the Lord j for he hath torn, and he
*' will heal us ; he hath fmitten, and he will bind us
" up." In this confidence every repenting finner, and
backfliding people, may come to the Lord, and find
reft for their fouls.

To conclude. Let this divine meflage be improved
by the faithful in a way of prevention. This fallen
church is direded to remember how (he had received,
and heard; a ftep which was need iul towards her re-
covery ; and the fame means will be of excellent ufe
againft every temptation to fin, and of keeping up a
lively fenfe of religion in the foul. Chriftian, let thy
firft fetting-out in the ways of the Lord be ever before
thee ; daily recolle6t the grace and power exerted in
thy converfion j remember Bethel, where thou anointed
the pillar, and began thy vows unto thy God ; when
no eye faw thee, and thou gaveft thyfelf unto the
B b 2 Lord 1

388 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

Lord J alfo frequently confider the manner and mo-
tives of thy public furrender; with what reverence,
hope and joy, waft thou baptized in the name of the
Lord, came into his houfc, fat down at his table, and
numbered thyfelf with his faints. O the grateful fenfe
of his power and grace on thefe folemn occafions !
How did it melt thee, and caufe thee to pour out thy
foul in fecret, with fervent fupplications, and holy re-
folutions to cleave to the Lord with purpofe of heart !
A frequent review of thy experience in thefe gracious
feafons hath a tendency to preferve thee in an hour of
temptation, and prevent thofe backflidings which in
many have made work for bitter repentaace j but if any
man is already fallen into fin, this recolledlion will re-
vive the evidence of his calling, and promote his re-
covery, fince this is the language of a covenant God
to his people, who mourn their declenfions : " Turn,
*' O backlliding children, for I am married unto you."
And again, " Return, thou backfliding Ifrael, faith the
*' Lord, and I will not caufe mine anger to fall upon
*.' you." Haft thou been thus mercifully reftored, my
dear Friend ? it will appear in thy holinefs and lovej
keep thyfelf unfpotted, and, notwithftanding thine un-
worthlnefs, thou ftialt have honor with thy Redeemer
at his appearance and kingdom.

LECTURE

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 389

LECTURE XXIV.

The faithful diftingu'fhed in a time of general defec-
tion, with the promife of a glorious reward.

ITHERTO the epiflle has bore a gloomy
and threatning afpe61; ; but to the upright
there arifeth a light in darknefs ; an illuftrious ex-
ample of this now appears for the encouragement of
thofe who fear God in a degenerate age : " Thou haft
** a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled
*' their garments ; and they fhall walk with me in
" white, for they are worthy," ver. 4. Amidft the luke-
warmnefs and hypocrify which in a manner univerfally
prevailed, here are prefented to our view, chofen and
faithful perfons excepted from the general indiitment,
and owned of the Lord, with a promife. The names
of God's people * are written in heaven, and ever be-
fore him. This, no doubt is true in the moft literal
fenfe, for it cannot with reafon be queftioned but the
omnifcient Jefus, that great fhepherd of the flock f,
calleth his own Iheep by name ; but, in the paflage be-
fore us, names are evidently perfons, and the term
thus applied conveys an idea of reputation and honor;

B b 3 for

* Luke X. 20.

•f- John X. 3. Accordingly fome perfons were prophefied of b3f name two
•r three hundred years before their birth, witnefs Jofiah and Cyrus. Sec
1 Kings xiii. 2. a Kings xxii, xxiii, and lia. xliv. aS.

390 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE"

for inftance, Ecclef. vii. i. it is faid, *' A name,"
i. e. a good name, " is better than precious ointment.''
And again, Job, chap xxx. 8. fpeaks of bafe men,
i. e. literally, men ivkhcut nanie^ ; not but the vileft of
men are fometimes exalted ; as in the days of Malachi,
chap. iii. 15. the proud were called happy, and they
who worked wickednefs were fet up ; then the name
of the righteous is rather a prey than a praife ; but,
however defpifed or traduced by men, they are a fweet
favour to God, and fhall be honored by him : So then
thefe names are no other than eminent and honorable
perfons of real charadler, and not of report only, as
with the church in general, but good men and true, iri
the fight of him who trieth the reins, and accordingly
are efteemed and rewarded. This account contains a de-
fcription of the perfons commended, their recompence
of reward, and the propriety or fitnefs of conferring
this honor^upon them. And they are defcribed,

I. By the fmallnefs of their number, a few. The
flock of Chrift is little compared with the world,
" Many be called but few chofen :" But the compari-:
fon here is with the members of this church, the gene-
rality of whom were fadly dec''ned, only here and there
one, through grace, had maintained a good confci-
ence, whom the Lord diftinguifnes from the reft.
Numb rs are no certain note of truih, and the fmallefl
part of a divided fociety may appear to be right;
however, as we fhall prefently fee, the charaiter of
the faithful, when religion is on the decline, is
in proportion to the number of thofe who are
defected ,

2. THEm

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 391

2. Their purity is another part of the defcription,
" which have not defiled their garments." The allu-
fion is obvious. Garments are what men inveft them-
felves with, and in which they appear according to
their rank and condition : Spiritually taken, they are the
religious habit and courfe of nominal chriftians, in the
light of God, angds and men. Thus we read, Ifa.
Ixi. 10. of the " garments of falvation, and the robe
*' of righteoufnefs." Thefe, at lead the latter of
thefe, is no other than the righteoufnefs of God, v/hich
is by the faith of Jefus Chrifl, with which al! true be-
lievers are clothed and adorned unto their compleat and
everlafting juftiiication ; but here it feems principally,
if not folely intended, of the profeilion and behaviour,
of thofe honorable difciples, and points to their order,
the ftedfaftnefs of their faith, and tlieir holy converfa-
tion : Thus holy Job declares, in vindication of his
charafler, chap. xxix. 14. " I put on righteoufnefs
" and it clothed me j my judgment was as a robe and
*' a diadem." In like manner thefe upright fouls were
not turned from the fimplicity of the gofpel, nor tainted
with the common pollutions, but held faft, having
nobly withftood the prevailing corruptions, and kept
themfelves clean, " hating even the garment fpotted
*' with the flefh," like the virgins mentioned, Rev.
xiv. 4. who had *' not defiled themfelves with women."
Thefe, I fay, as chafle virgins efpoufed to Chrift, were
free from the fpots by which many had difgraced them-
felves and his name ; not that we are to fuppofe they
had no defedls to lament, or were totally free from
Gccafional error : it is not faid that their garments were
B b 4 not

392 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

not defiled, but that they had " not defiled their gar-
*' ments." Whether the Reader fees a real difFerence
between thefe forms of expreflion or not, I piefume he
will readily admit, that this account (hews they had
not wilfully corrupted themfflves, but preferved their
integrity, and bore a teftimony, at lead in their pradlice,
againft the difordcr and licentioufnefs which prevailed
in the church, and had reduced her to fo threatning a
condition. Thus they were without guile before God,
and free from the general charge. And,

3. The integrity of thefe worthy perfons is further
illullrated, by a glance on the exceeding degeneracy of
the people with whom they flood connected, ivcn in
Sardis. The particle is juftly fupplied; it being won-
derful indeed that any ih luld be clean in fo degenerate
a company, among whom the life and power of reli-
gion was in a manner cxtinci J yet this was the fa6l,
notwithdanding the community was declining apace,
and even nigh to a diifolution, through the depravity
of her members, there was a number, though but iewy
who were enabled to retain a fpirit and conducl be-
com.ing their holy profeiiion, with whom th'.- Lord was
well-plcafed.

This report Is made to the angel or minifler of the
church : '-'• Thou haft a {qvj names, he.'' I apprehend,
not fo much to info»-m him, for can it be fuppofed that
thefe luigular piofcflbrs were uiiknown to their paftor ?
Not without highly impeaching his charader. Forma-
lity and fin in a people are a fnare to their minifler;
and when errors and diforders prevail, it requires pe-
culiar

TO THE CHURCH AT SAUDIS. 393

euliar fortitude and grace to withftand the tide of cor-
ruption, fo as not in any degree to connive at fome
evil, and deferve reproof; but though I would not itift-
nuate that pallors arc never, or even fcldom to blame,
the contrary of which is notorious, nor would I cover
or extenuate their faults, which are more heinous thitn
the errors of perfons in a private capacity ; yet, as for-
merly hinted, it doth not appear that the oliniiter at
Sardis is particularly charged; it feems therefore natu-
ral, in charity, to rank h m among thofe faithful fer-
vants of the Lord who are grieved to the heart to fee
thino-s dyinu under th-::ir hands: In the like furrowful
cafe we fee fome have been overwhelmed, they have
dwelt on the decienfions and apoftacies of the multi-
tude, and overlo'ked the exceptions there are from ihc
general decay, till they have almoft delpaircdofa re-
covery: Thus Elias thought he was alone^ and that.
true religion would expire with his bfe, when at the
fame time a very large number were referved from the
idolatry of the times. And this notice fiom the Lord
to his fervant at Sardis feems to be to comfort him, and
alfo to infpire him v/ith courage to attempt a reforma-
tion; Be that as it msy, in this inftance we fee, and it
mayjuftlybe admired, that the exalted S-iviour, the
great and chief Shepherd, gracioufly florps from his
throne, to give his under keepi^r an account of the flae
of his flock, before whom, as thir judge, both he and
his backfl.ding people were fliortly to appear.

Now the recompence infured thefe upright difciples,
is not any prefent or temporary reward, but an honor
and happjnefs far exceeding every thing to be enjoyed

394 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

in this world, and is couched in the following terms,
" l^hey fhall walk with me in white." Some re-
fp£lable writers * have thought that this of walking
with, or before God, is peculiar to a pleafing admini-
ftration of an office : Thus did Enoch as a prophet, and
Isioah as a preacher of righteoufnefs. And i Sam. ii. 30.
the Lord faith unto Eli, *' I faid indeed, that thy
*' houfe, and the houfe of thy father, fhould walk be-
*' fore me for ever;" i. e. as appears from the context,
in the office of a prieft : But, with fubmiffi m, the
phrafe is extended to the behaviour or walk of the
faithful in a private capacity. Abraham, though
poflefled of a promife that his feed fhould be multiplied,
feems not invefted, properly fpeaking, with an office
when the Lord faid unto him, *' Walk before me, and
*' be thou perfedl," Gen. xvii. i. However, it is cer-
tain that " to walk humbly with thy God," Mic. vi. 8.
is not confined to perfons of a public charadler, but that
it becomes every chrilliain to " walk worthy of the
*' Lord unto all well-pleafmg," according to Col. i. 10.
and other paflages in the New-Teftament, where the
fame idea is conveyed. In this fenfe, they who defile
not their garments, walk before God with an holy avve
of his divine majefty and prefence, and an hatred of
fin ; and in keeping his commandments they are often
indulged wiih that fweet communion, and tliofe mani-
feftations of his love, which greatly over-ballance every
trial they meet with j but the reward here intended is
manifeftly future; and accordingly it is laid out in
terms, frequently ufed by the Holy Ghoft, to fet forth

the

* Aynfwoith on Gen, v. 24. ^nd vi, 9.

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 395

the bleflednefs of the righteous in the world to come,
which it may be ufeful to confider : And,

1. It is faid, " they fhall walk.'* In natural walk-
ing the powers of the body are exercifed, and the fub-
je£l makes a delightful progreffion to the end he is
purfuing: it denotes life, ftrength, freedom aiid joy,
and moft fitly reprefents their happinefs who are enter-
ed into life, free from weaknefs and fm, and filled with
joy in the prefence of God : This agrees with Ih.
XXXV. 10. 1 he redeemed fhall walk there. And
again, chap. Ivii. 2. it is faid of good men de-
parted, that " they reft in their beds, each one walk-
" ing in his uprightnefs." And further it is affirmed.
Rev. xxi. 24. that " the nations of them which
*' are faved {hall walk in the light of the heavenly
" city." Again,

2. To be with God or with Chrift ; i, e. in their im-
mediate prefence, is another known defcription of the
faints in paradife. Thus in Phil. i. 23. Paul declares
his defire " to depart and to be with Chrift." And our
Saviour in John xvii. 24. prays to the Father, fay-
ing, " I will that thofe whom thou haft given me be
" with me where I am ;" namely, in heaven, " that they
*' may behold my glory." And,

3. This honor of the faithful is ftill more ftrongly
exprefled by their walking with Jefus in white', this
Vvill occur in a fubfequent ledure, but it is needful to

touch.

396 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

touch on it here. White is an emblem of purity and
glory: Thus appeared the angel that rolled back, the
ftone from the fepulchrej we are told, that " h's rai-
*' ment was white as fnow." In like manner when
our Lord was transfigured on the mount, his vefture
was white as light, a brightncfs more reCplendent than
the meridian fun. It may allude to the garircnrs of the
priefts, who were dreffed in white linen, to fignify their
confecration and acceptance with the Lcird, who is
holy, or rather to the v/hite robes which conquerors
anciently wore in their triumphal proceflions ; both ideas
are fuited to the charadler of the faithful " who overcome
** through the blood of the Lamb, being made kings
" and priefts unto God, and his Father," Rev. i. 6.
In a word, if it be enquired, Vthen this will come to
pafs ? No doubt it will commence in a degree in the
feparate flate of the righteous, but the reference is more
direcSlly to the fecond appearance of Chrift, even to
that grand proceflion of Jefus in the day of his revelation
from heaven, when he fliall be glorified in his faints,
and admired in all them that believe; or rather it ter-
minates in the ultimate glory of the redeemed, which
fhall be everlalling. Thus each member of the pro-
miffary fentence correfponds with the language of
fcripture, when it points out the future glory of the
faints, and together they yield a full and mofl lively
defcription of the reward which is laid up for thofe
who maintain their integrity, and hold out to the
end.

It remains to confider the propriety or fitncfs of con-
ferring this honor on thefe holy men, and the reafon

affigned

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 397
afligned is no other than this, " for they are worthy."
Now methinks the fincere believer is ready to blufii at
this gracious expreffion : Can worthiness be juftly af-
cribed to a finful creature, redeemed by the blood of
Jefus ? O my foul, what is thy faith, or what are thy
worki ? Suppofe thou haft not defiled thy garments, is
it more than became thee ? Thou art then an unprofit-
able fervant, and ft ill more indebted to the fovcieign
mercy, and power of God, by whom thou haft
flood, and thy boafting is for ever excluded. In this
manner will the pureft faint upon earth, on the appre-
henfion of there being any glory attributed to him,
however comparatively perfect his works, in point of
integrity, check the firft rifing thought of merit in
himfelf, and with unfeigned humility and gratitude de-
clare : " By the grace of God I am what I am." But
the truth is, that no fuch worthinefs is intended. The
labourer, we fay, is worthy of his hire ; he hath
earned his wages, and it is his juft due; alfo the wicked
righteoufly fuffer the vengeance of the Almighty, they
ftridlly and properly deferve the punifhment they en-
dure, Rom. i. 32. but worthinefs in this fenfe cannot
be afcribed to the heirs of falvation by grace.

Nor will it fuffice to fay that believers are gra-
cioufly accepted through the merits of Chiift; doubt-
lefs the work which the Redeemer finifhed on his crofs,
when he made compleat atonement for fin, is the de-
ferving caufe of his people's fruition of glory, but thii
does not come up to the terms in the text, for it ex-
prefly declares that they are worthy j thefe very per-
fons are the real, proper and immediate fubje<Ss of this

worthinefs,

398 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

worthinefs, whatever it be. To clear up this point we
muft note, that a perfon may be worthy in rel'pe^l of
merit or meetnefs, now, as already hinted, a worthi-
nefs of merit is difclaimed by the chriftian, nor can it
be decently afcribed to him in relation to his future in-
heritance. All the works and felf-denial which attend
the ftridieft proteflion of godlinefs, or the holieft con-
v.erfation, however diftinguiftiing, exalted or valuable
in its p ace, weighs not a fmgle grain towards the
kingdom of heaven. A title to glory lies in the dona-
tion of the Father, and in the purchafe of his Son, in
and with whom the faints become heirs; it follows
that thefe difciples are declared worthy in refpeil of
their meetnefs for g'ory to come, which appeared in
their faith and evangelical obedience. Thus the apo-
ftle is to be underftood when he tells* the afflicted
Theflalonians, 2 epiftle i. 5. that their tribulations
were with a view to their being counted worthy of the
kingdom of God, for which they' alfo fufFered. And
again, ver. 11. he faith, "We pray always for you, that
*' God would count you worthy of this calling." But
how ? by reckoning their fufFerings, however great, the
meritorious caufe of their enjoying this kingdom ? God
forbid we Ihould thus attempt to rob the Redeemer of his
glory, in whofe obedience unto death alone this caufe is
to be found ! How then ? The anfwer follows : " And
*' fulfil all the good pleafure of his goodnefs, and the work
" of faith with power." This counting them worthy,
therefore, is no other than to finifli the good work be-
gun in them, and thereby compleat the evidence of
their efFedual calling, that their real charadler as faints
may be manifeft. By this divine operation and in-
fluence

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 399

fluence, the faithful perfevere, and even, if required,
will refift unto blood ; and their fufFcrings for righ- .
teoufnefs fake fhall manifeft that they are of thofe to
whom the promife is given. Now this is the fenfe in
which thefe men of Sardis are faid to be worthy, i e,
they appeared by their purity in do6lrine and life,
amidft abounding corruption, to be holy perfons, the
fubje^ls oi like precious faith with God's ele£t, and con-
fequently Abraham's feed, and heirs according to ^the
promife. Thus in the laft and great day the righteous
Judge will count, i. e. having compleated his work in
his faints, he will fhew them to be worthy ; their
works of holinefs fhall prove that they are his difciples
indeed, to the glory of his name, and the fhame of
thofe who accufe them.

Thus even in Sardis, when the church in that city
was formal and lifelefs, and her members in general
fadly corrupted, infomuch that her things were dying
away, there was a remnant of excellent perfons, who,
by the grace of God, efcaped the common pollution,
and retained their integrity; of thefe the Lord moil
gracioufly condefcends to bear witnefs unto his fervant,
their paftor, pronouncing them holy, and worthy, or
meet for the reward of the inheritance, and accord-
ingly declares, that having finifhed their courfe and
overcome, they fhould walk with him in white, or in
robes of immortality and light. So then, like Enoch
before he was tranflated, thefe worthies, even in the
prefent ftate, obtain this witnefs that they pleafed God,
which is at once a pledge and vindication of their being
admitted to the glories of his everlafting kingdom.

From

4C0 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

From this example, we learn that apoftacy proceeds
from conuption. It is ouiiig to the indulgence of the
fleih that men turn afuie from the ways of the Lord.
If the flc rts of thofe whofe works are not perfect are
expofed, ^c will be foui-d that they thtmfelves are un-
clean and the fou^ce of their {lumber and hypocrify
will appear. The members of the natural body are not
deficient or uftlefs but through fome prevailing difor-
der, although for a fcafon it may not be difcerned : In
like manner, however awhile, church-members may
cover their defects with deceitful pretences, it gene-
rally turns out that they are cold and unprofitable
throup;h a fecret allowance of fm ; fome error or lull is
harboured, which, Hke a worm at the root, eats out
their ftrength. Hence they are flothful and partial,
as it is written, " Men love not the truth, becaufe
*' they have pleafure in unrighteoufnefs ;" " where-
" fore he faith, Awake thou that fleepeft, and arife
" from the dead, and Chrift fhall give thee light,"
Eph. v. 14. An alarm occafioned by the prefumption
of fome of whom it is faid, " It is a fhame even to
" fpeak of thefe things which are done of them in fe-
*' cret." Accordingly fome error, in principle or prac-
tice, lies at the bottom of an unfruitful behaviour un-
der a profeffion of religion, and unlefs the old leaven is
purged out, the hypocrite will jincreafe unto more un-
godlinefs, till his iniquity is full^ and his end is de-
ftrudtion.

At Sardis, as in every city, there was but .one gof-
pel-church, which, confidering the popularity of the

place.

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 401

place, and the fucccfs which had attended the preach-
ing or the: word, muft be fuppofed very large, and
when fuch a community became depraved in the de-
gree reprefrnted, the danger was great, yet a few are
preferved. Thus in the worft of times the Lord hath
a people that fear him. In the old world, uhen vio-
lence covered the earth, Noah was righteous in his
fight; alfo in Sodom pious Lot dwelt; and, what faith
the Lord to \r lias, when he thought himfelf alone ? as
referred to before: *' 1 have referved feven thou land'
" that have not bowed the knee to Baal." So in the
days of iVlalachi, when facrilege and infidelity abounded
in Ifrael, we fhall find perfons who thought on the
name of the Lord ; and in ages fince, particularly
when antichnlt fpread through the nations, and the
world wandered after the beaft, witnelTes arofe who are
famed in hiftory for the noble teitimony they bore to
the truth, through fulFeiings, and even at the expence
of their blood.

And Ihall the righteous be overlooked or forgotten ?
Far be it ; Jefus remembers thefe fev/ names in Sardis ;
he will ever be mindful of thofe who cleave to hitn,
when others forfake him. 1 he Lord is a God of
judgment, and feparates the precious from the vile. In
an evil time the faithful may lie in obfcurity; they
may he driven into corners, or obliged to conceal
themfelves, but the eye of the Lord is on them who
figh and cry for the prevailing abominations, and he
will certainly mark them in love ; for a feafon they may
be m heavinefs, but their forrows in the end fhall turn
to their unfpeakable advantage ; in the mean time their
C c fingulai-

402 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

fingular purity and zeal fliines the brighter, by reafon
of the darknefs ot tranfgrelFors with whom they are co-
temporary ; befides fuch are frequently taken from the
evil to come, or hid in the day of God's anger, or it
may be they are wonderfully preferved in the midft of
bis judgments J but if he has allotted them to fall with
the wicked in a general deftru£l:ion, which is fome-
times the cafe, they are gathered to himielf, and his
promife is fure.

What then is the lofs or fhame which may at-
tend thofe who cleave to the Lord, compared with
their reward ? Holinefs and zeal in a degenerate age,
when a lifelefs profeflion is current, will expofe a man
to contempt and ill-will j the ungodly will turn upon
him, and on every occafion reproach him ; he will be
fure to meet with the refentment of thofe who ?re con-
tent with a name J this, joined to fatan's temptations,
and the conflicts he has with his own flefli, together
with his concern for the honor of religion, and in a
word, what he feels for thofe whofe God is their belly,
and who are haftening to ruin, may at prefent diftrefs
him, but a joyful harveft of the tears which he fows to
the Spirit is infured him, he fliall remember his for-
rows as waters that pafs away, and find that reckoning,
juft, that " the fufFerings of this prefent time are not
" worthy to be compared with the glory that fhall be
*« revealed in the faints."

But {hall everyone who is advanced to the king-
dom of glory, hereafter appear a meet fubjedl ? fhall his
works be found perfed, and prove his faith and true

holinefs

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 403

holinefs in the day of revelation ? Then the divine pu-
rity and juftice, and every mora! p'=rfc6rion of Deity,
will be vindicated arid honored, in crowning the faints
wifi immortality and life ; but, what will become of
the licentious profeflbr, who prefumes on his religious
character, and holds the truth in unrighteoufnefs.
Would God there were none of this appearance ! But
alab, the fioots which are feen on the garments of fome
who call themfelves chri^ians I How are they wander-
ino- from God, and making provifion for the flcfh, to
the-srief of thofe witii wh .m thev are in communion,
while the enemy blafphemes ! Such rv.-iy hav'e a name
that they live,, but in the fight of God and good men
they are dead ; they |live in the pride and pleafure of
life, and are dead while they live; yet they hope to be
faved, and it highly offends them to queftion their
ftate. Fatal delufion ; unlefs thev repent! The Lord
convince fuch men of th?ir folly and deceit, left,
overtaken as by a thief in the night, they fall fhort of
the heaven they boafl, and are covered with fhame and
everlafting contempt.

And now, chriflian Reader, dofl thou expe£l to join
in the illuftrious procefTion, and to walk in white with
the Lord at his cominy ? dofl: thou lock for this reward
and for a place amons; the faints in the ren^ions of lio-ht?
then hare and (hun the appearance o^ evil; let unbe-
lievers and hypocrites, who have no hope or defire of
this bleffed inheritai.ee, live as the\ li^; their diforders
and licentioufnefs fuit their character and end ; but
thou art a candidate for glory and honor ; the leaft
ftain of fm is a difgrace to thy profefHon. In the pro-
C c 2 fpedi

404 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

fpe£l of triumph with Chrift, at his appearance and
kingdom, the believer is proof againft every temptation
to iukewarmnefs and apoll^acy j it will infpire his foul
with refoluiion and courage in a feafon of trial, and
efpecially when he at-tends to the animating affurance
which follows : " He that overcometh, the fame fhall
" be clothed in white raiment ; and I will not blot out
** his name out of the book of life, but 1 will confefs
" his name before my Father, and before his angels j"
but this will be the fubjedl of another le£lure.

LECTURE XXV.

The honors decreed the believer in the day of Chrift ;
being a defcription of his white raiment, the book
of life, and likewife what is implied in not having
his name blotted out of that book.

THE plan on which all the epiftles to the churches
in Afia are formed, among other articles, con-
tains a promife to him that overcometh j and in the lec-
ture immediately preceeding, we have feen that a glo-
rious reward is laid up for the righteous, an affurance
of which is repeated with enlargement in the following
proclamation, the fubjedl of our prefent difcourfe :
" He that overcometh the fame fhall be clothed in
" white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out
" of the book of life ; but I will confefs his name be-
•'* fore my Father and before his angels." A declara-
tion

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 405

tion from the throne in the heavens, not only to ani-
mate the few whofe garments were clean, but likewife
for the encouragement of every convinced backflider to
repent, in confidence of pardon and life : So wonderful
is the patience and mercy of God. And the man who
can be impenitent under this blefTed report, is manifeftly
perverfe, and will in the end ftand felf-condemned, and
juftly perilh with the workers of iniquity.

The promife is exceeding punctual with refpcft to
its objedl. He^ the fame, that very identical perfon,
under whatever age, charailer, or circumftances ■ he
may fight the good fight, (hall be clothed v/ith honor
and glory. Hence note by the way, that the eye of the
Lord is on each nominal chriftian, and that he will not
mifapply the rewards of his grace.

Faith is a warfare, and every believer comes under
the notion of a foldier: he may not be an officer, who
is flationed in the front, and thereby more particularly^-
expofed to the fire of the enemy ; but I fay every chri-
ftian is a foldier, under the Captain of falvation. This
is the general characSler of the faithful : they are all
fwordfmen, and fliould be expert in this war, that fub-
duing their enemies they may triumph at laft. Thus
we have the fituation, bufinefs and end of the be-
liever in this militant ftate, he is one that overcometh.
To overcome, fuppofes powerful and dangerous oppo-
fition ; it carries in it an adlual and toilfome confli6l,
confifts with many fears, and even temporary foils ; it
requires a refolute perfeverance, and is perfected in final
viilory. Our text, therefore, is as a trumpet blown in
C c 3 the

4o6 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

the midft of an engagement, whi'e the em my is pufti-
Jng, and threatens, that the believer may be infpired
with courage, and conquer.

The powers againft •'horn rhe chrifliian is engaged,
are known to be tie world, the fleth and the devil ; but,
alas, in appearance this knowledge is often meer fpe-
culation. Can a juft idea of thefe fubt'e and vigilant
forces, admit of the wanton and carelefs manner which
prevails in the conduct of many ? Surely, if we really
apprehended danger from fo many quarters we fliould
be more on our guard. Thefe enemies are uncertain
and various in their manner, but there is no place,
charaiSler, or circumflances, in civil or ri-ligious life,
fecure from their attempt to injure and deftroy. Noiv
the trial is more fenfible from one of thefe parties, and
then from another, and frequently they are both to be
difcerned in the attack; however their intereft is unit-
ed, they are fiibfervient to each ether, and their view
is the fame j to conquer and ruin. In moft temptations
fatan is the principal, the ficfh gives occafjcn, and the
world affords the materials. In a v.'ord, there is an
endlefs change in the meafurcs taken by ihefe. rcftlefs
adverfaries, as permitted, according to the dirFerent
fituation of the believer, or {late of the vifible church
in h''; f^ay. Someiimes faran ranges as a roaring lion, he
com'is ciovvn, as in the daysofperfccution, i Pet. v. 8.
At another time, like a ferpent, as when he enticed mo-
ther Eve, he corrupts in a more imperceptible, but not
]efs effectual manner: Then his artillery are not depri-
vation of goods, exile, file and fword, but by herifies,
delufions, and fnares of this world, of which he is the

god I

TO THE CHURiCH AT SARDIS. 407

god ; he infinuates and deceives men into lukewarm-
nefs and di-forder, till the example of formal profeflbrs
are more than fufficient to anfwer his end. And thus
it often comes to pafs, as at Sardis, that a people have
a name that they live, when, alas, in truth they are
dead, and are in danger of being overtake;n in judg-
ment by an offended God, who is jealous of his glory,
and whofe anger is more to be dreaded, than all the
malice and power of men or devils, v/ho would turn
us afide from his ways. Whether there are any fymp-
toms of the like condition on the Proteftant churches,
at home or abroad, in the prefent day, the Reader will
judge: But when this is the cafe, the upright are un-
der peculiar temptations, from the number of apoftates,
fome of whom may have been famous for their feeming
knowledge and zeal for religion : They are likewife in
danger from the fpecious fhew of time-ferving men,
who often make a found of liberty, charity, goodnefs
and virtue, but at the fame time they are full of all
fubtlety and mifchief, to captivate men from the faith,
experience and order of the gofpel. Moreover, the ill
treatment which the faithful fometimes meet with for
their ftedfaftnefs, by thofe who fall in with the corrup-
tion of the times, the burthen laid on them, through
the deficiency of others, with whom they are con-
nedled in fociety, their fears of being overcome, and
it may be of a total diffolutioh of the church in [thes
place where they dwell ; thefe, and other things that
time would fail to mention, are a fore trial to them
who love God, in a day of general declenfion. " Blefs-
" ed is he that endureth to the end : He that "over-
" Cometh, the iame Ihall be clothed in white raiment j
C c 4. *' and

4o8 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

'' and I will not blot out his name out of the book of
" life, but I will confefshis name before my Father and
*' before his angels." A glorious pr^mife, which Je-
fus him felf {lands engaged to fulfil! It is laid out; in,
three diftinii: branches; they correfpond with each
other, and together yield a mod: animatino' profpecl,
of the honor of the faints, at the coming of the Lord,
The two firfl: are highly figurative, and are explained
by the laft, which runs in plain language,

T. It is declared, that the victorious faint " {hall
*' be clothed in white raiment." The fame metaphor
occurred in the foregoing ledure, in which it was noted,
that white is an emblem of purity, glory, conqueft
and joy. Thus, Rev. xv. 6. " the angels came out of
" the temple with the vials of wrath, clothed in pure
*' and white linen," in token of their holinefs and
fplen Jor. For the fame reafon, chap, iv. 4, " the
** four and twenty elders fit round about the thrqne
*' clothed in white raiment, with crowns of gold on
" their heads." And further, as hinted, it was the an-
cient cudom to make triumphal proceffion in white:
To v/hich agrees. Rev. vi. 2. TheCap^ain of falvation,
the Lord of hofts, is beheld "an a v^hite horfe, with
*' a bow in his hand, when a crown was given him,
*' on which he went forth conquering and to conquer."
And in chap. xix. 14. the armies that followed him
are alfo in veiled in w'lite. Once more, to the fame
purpofe alfo is chap, vii 11. "John beheld, and lo, a
" multitude flood before the throne and bcfpre the
^' Lamb, clothed with white robcf, and palms in their
'? h,^ndsi" vyhich is another eftablilhed token of vic-
tory.

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 409
tory. Some indeed confine this to the martyrs, who,
on account of their fufFerings for Chrift, may be faid
to "have wafhed their robes, and made them white in
" the blood of the Lamb," and ftile it the enfign of
martyrs ; but, with fubmiflion, however the phrafe
may be pecuHarly adapted to thofe who fealed the tefti-
monyofjefus with their blood, it is not confined to
them ; there is indeed a noble army of witnefles to
the truth, who fhine in the kingdom of glory, and
whofe crowns maybe of fingular luftre, but the vifion
feems rather to comprehend all the redeemed who have
attained the heavenly ftate. However, there is another
way of being wafhed in the blood of the Lamb, befides
that of martyrdom, and without which even the mar-
tyrs themfelves could not ftand before God in his
temple above J and it is certain, that the promife un-
der confideration hath refpe<St to the faithful, whofe
fufFerings aiid trials arofe from a different quarter than
that of pcifecution.

If one ftate is Intended by the whole of the promife,
which will fcarce be denied, it cannot terminate in any
future period of the chuich on earth, as fome are of
opinion ; the finifhing claufe manifeftly refers to the
day of revelation, when the faints fliall appear with
their illuftrious Head m a glorious manner, i. As in-
verted with the robe of righteoufnefs brought in by the
Mefliah, when he made reconciliation for iniquity by
his obedience to the death of the crofs. This is fitly
compared to white raiment. Rev. iii. 18. for its infi-
nite purity and ineffable glory, being the righteoufnefs
pf a divine perfon, though wrought in and by the hu-
man

410 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

man nature, which he affumed, in order to redeem us.
This fpotlefs robe is now upon every one thar believ-
eth, Rom. iii. 22. in which he (lands juftified, and'
perfedly comely in the fight of God, like Joftiua the
pritft, Zech. iii. 4. his iniquity is pafledaway, and he
is clothed with change of raiment, no charge can lie
agalnft him, Rom. viii. i. Thus the church is de~
fcriled; " Her cloathing is of wrought gold, mafTy and
*' bright," Pfalmxlv\ 13. And fometimes the chiiftian
can rejoice in his God, beholding himfclf herein decked
as a prieft, and adorned as a bride with her jewels ; yet
this is not always the cafe, a believer may be in the
dark, and doubt his ov/n (late, but when Jefus is re-
vealed from heaven, his faints (hall be arrayed in this
garment of falvation, and fhall find themfelves hono-
rably acquitted in the preTnce of all. But, 2. Ano-
ther branch of his glory will be the beauty of holinefs :
*' The King's daughter is likewife all glorious within."
A perfeclion in holinefs is laid up in the hope of the
gofpel ; it is the earnefl: defire and expecl"ation of every
true chriftian, and towards which fome make greater
advances in the prefent ftate than others ; at beit he is
deficient, but in the future worid his fpirit is made per-
fe£l ; and when he comes with his Saviour from heav-
en, his wiiole fpirit, foul and body will be wholly
fan(5lified, he fhall appear blamelefs and without fault :
fo that his righteoufnefs in this fenfe will break forth as
the light, the fplendor of which will cover bis mali-
cious accufers with fliame at the refurredlion. For,
3. The chriftian will be clothed with white in re-
fpe6l of his glorified body. We have feen the raiment
of Jefus on the mount was white as light j a figure and

earneft

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 411

carneft of his future glory, when rifen from the dead ;
and to this we kno.v bis faints will be conformed,
Rom. viii. 29. Phil. iii. 21. ''for we fliall fee him as
*' he is," I John iii. 2. Of this blefied hope, the refur-
reftion of Jefus is an infallible pledge, 1 Cor. xv. Now
the chriftian may be faid to be clothed with vile raiment
in refpedl of his finful and mortal body, but when it is
fafliioned like that in which his Saviour fits- at the
right hand oFGod, it will be an eflential part of his glory.
Finally, The luftreof each believer will, I apprehend,
greatly arife from his vifible union in the church,
unto Jefus the head, and to every member of his glori-
ous and myftical b '.dy, v/ho wil- then appear in their
brighteft apparel before the Father and his angels ; then
wiU the faint that overcometh, fit down v/ith his Lord in
his throne, in exceeding white raiment, with all the en-
figns of victory and triumph, and with him enter the
kingdom, where the wife fhall Hiine as the fun in the
firmament, and as the flars, for ever and ever. Thefe
are the fliining garments which the fons of Zion ftiall
put on in the day of the Lord ; they {hall be invefted
with the righteoufnefs of their Redeemer, as with gold;
the fine linen of perfect and fpotlefs purity fhall adorn
them, their bodies (hall then be fpiritual and glorious ;
and further, they fhall be clothed in robes of everlafting
light, as members of Chrift and one another, who have
gained a total and final vitSory over all their enemies,
and are crowned with honor in the eternal kingdom of
the Father. In one word, then (hall come to pafs that
faying, " He will beautify the meek with falva-
f« tion."

124 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

We now come to the fecond branch of the promife ;
** And I will not blot out his name out of the book of
'* life.'* As hinted already, thefe are figurative terms,
and they plainly allude in general to a well-known in-
ftrurnent, in which things are noted down to be
brought to remembrance as occafion requires, and par-
ticularly to the ufe of books in a court of judicature,
where caufes are tried and determined. Our concern in
attending unto them, is to avoid every idea unworthy of
God, or of divine revelation : With this caution I at-
tempt to faew from the fcripture, our only fure guide,
what may be underftooi by the book of life, and the im-
port of this promife, namely, that Chrift will not blot
out the believer's name out of his book.

Daniel, chap. vii. relates his vifion of the Father,
who is ftiled " The Ancient of days;" by whom he
faw all judgment committed to the Son of man, who
alfo appeared with the clouds of heaven. A grand and
awful vifion, which enters deeply into the myftery of
God ! 1 he prophet declares, that *' the judgment was
*' fer, and the books were opened." The like fcene is
prefented to John in the ifle of Patmos, Rev. xx. 12. "I
" law the dead, fr.all and great, (land before God, and
*' the bouks were opened ;" not that we are to fuppofe
that, properly fpcaking, books will be wanted, or ufed
at the tribunal of Chrift; he is net like earthly judges,
unto whom, as obferved, the allufion [is made, who,
with all their fuperior ability, ftand in need of fuch
means to affift and direct them : the infinite underftand-
ing, and other perfe6lions of the divine Jefus, who is

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 413

judge, forbid this low conception; before him all things
are prefent and naked from the end to the beginn n;^ ;
no witnefTes, no records are needful, no ; he hjth abi-
lity in himlelf to execute his impoitant commiffion,
and not a man fiiall have caufe to complain of his
judgment, or be able to appeal from his bar. Yet this
is the repeated language of fcripture, the books fhall
be opened, and fomething no doubt is referred to by
this term, which demands our attention ; we may
therefore foberly enquire. What are thefe books ? I an-
fwer, in general, every objed fenfible or fpirituaJ,
which the Holy Ghoft has thought fit, dire<flly or indi-
redlly, to prefent to our view under the notion of a
book, may be juftly numbered among thofe that fhall
be opened in the day of judgment ; it will therefore be
pertinent to mention thefe books, at leaft the principal
ones, in our way to that exprefled in this promifeu
And, I. In Pfalm xix. univerfal nature is compared to
a book, which declares and fpeaks as it were, in words
or lines, the exiftence, infinite wifdom, and other per-
feiStions of its glorious Author. 7 his ^xtenfive volame
contains the vifible heavens and earth, with all its
amazing furniture and innumerable inhabitants; it lies
open for the inftrudtion of man, and to put him in re-
membrance, that, beholding the eternal power and god-
head therein expreffed, he might adore and ferve his
bounteous Creator and Lord ; by this the heathen
ftand condemned for their idolatry and immoral be-
haviour, Rom. ii. I. And again, Confcience is ano-
ther thing reprefented as retaining to the view of man
things pait or prefent; it generally fpeaks now to every
mani but if, through the indulgence of fin, the tranf-

greflbr

414 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE '

grtffor is feared, or finally impenitent, and this book
is fjuit, it will open at the tribunal of God to his
coniulion and condemnation for ever. There is like-
wife the book of fcripiure j that folemn guard on the
facred writing, Rev. xxii. i8. ftiled the words of the
prophecy of this book, is not to be confined to that
which is commonly called. The book of the revelation
of St. John the divine, but is to be extended to the
oracles of God, without any exception. This code
coiitains the books of Mofes, the pfalms, and the pro-
phets, and likewife the evangelifts, the Adls, and every
epiftle of the New-Teftament, out of which thofe {hall
be judged who enjoy the benefit of divine revelation.
Aud further, we read of the book of the law, 1 mean
the covenant of works, which whether confidered as
written in the heart, or exhibited under the difpenfation
of Mofes, demands particular notice ; in this dreadful
book every tranfgrtfibr is written accurfed. Gal. iii. lO.
It is a miniftration of condemnation and death to every
man who is under the law, and no doubt this will alfo
be opened when the judgment is fet, when all that are
in it (liall perifti with a miferable deftruclion : But,
here is another book ftill, which is pointed to in the
promife before us, namely, the book of life ; this book
or roll, we are exprcfiy told, will be unfolded, and
that it will appear diflincSl from, and after all the reft.
Rev. XX. 12. " And another book was opened, which
*' is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of
*' thofe things which were written in the book, &c."
Paul fpeaks of this book, Phil. iv. 3. and mentions
fome perfons whofe' names he was pcrfuaded were in it.
We alfo read, Rev. xiii. 8. of them that worfhipped the

beaft.

TO THE CHURCH AT S ARDIS. 415

beaft, that their names are not written in the book of
life, and the fame is referred to in feveral other places;
Now, what is intended in divine revelation by this im-
portant and interefting book ? There is a record in
heaven concerning the fpirit and conduit of the faith-
,ful, which is fl-iied in Mai. iii. 17. a *' book of remem-
" brance," and faid to be ^vritten before the Lord for
them that feared him ; of which in a fublequent lec-
ture. God is not unrighteous to forget the love of his
faints, but will remember their works in the day of ac-
count ; but I apprehend this book of lite is no other
than the roll of eleding love, or, in other words, the
decrees of God concerning his chofen and redeemed
among men ; in proof of this I Ihall fhew that the de-
crees of the Almighty in general, and confequently
thofe which relate to the counfels of his mercy in par-
ticular, are mentioned under the idea of a book, and
then point out fome circumftances revealed concernino-
the book of life, which is the fubje£t in hand.

Nothing can be more clear than that the fecret
purpofe or decree of God, in reference to nature and
providence, are reprefented under the notion of being
written in a book. In reference to our natural frame,
fays David, Pfalm cxxxix, 16. *' Thme eyes did fee
" my fubftance yet being imperfect, and in thy book
" all my members were written," i. e. determined or
decreed, before thou gaveft them adual exiftence. The
fame may be obferved in refpecf of providence. Re-
markable to this purpofe is the paffage in Daniel, chap.
X. 21. to which I crave the Render's attention. The

angel

4i6 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE
angel fays to the prophet, " I will fhew thee that
" which is noted in the fcripture of truth." This
agrees with the property of a book in which things are
noted. Now the fcripture of truth in Daniel cannot be
underftood of the written word in his time, for the
prophet was well acquainted with all divine revelation
then extant ; and it is manifeft that the angel refers to
an event yet to come, and which hitherto lay concealed
in the bofom of the Father ; here is therefore an un-
doubted inftance of the fecret purpofe of God being re-
prefented as it were noted before him in a book j and
doth not this prove the doctrine of predeftination,
which feme men blalpheme ? Indeed the election of
God lies at the foundation of all the grace communi-
cated to any of fallen Adam's race from the beginning,
in time, and in the glories of eternity ; and if the de-
crees of God may be confidered as a book which con-
tains all his purpofe and counfel in reference to creation
and providence, there is no reafon againft conceiving in
like manner of the things which concern the ftili more
wonderful work of redemption. In [this book of life
are written all things relating to the falvation of the
cleft, and particularly the certain objefls of that fore-
knowledge, or love, which was difplayed in their ap-
pointment to glory by Jefus Chrift j nor is it ftrange
that he who recorded the various parts of the human
body before it was formed ihould note, as in a book be-
fore him, all the members of that myflical body, the
church, who fliall enjoy him for ever ; they are " vef-
*' fels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glo-
" ry," Rom. ix. 23. Their names are in this book

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 417

of decree, yea, doubtlefs ftridly and literally, as hint-
ed before *, the very names by which they are
knoWli in this life are included, for in fome in-
ftances, as in Jofiah and Cyrus, proper names of per-
fons were exprefly revealed, even centuries before they
"were born ; but this is nnt peculiar to the chofcn, nor
infifled on here ; the phrafe is metaphorical, and it is
enough that the heirs of falvat on are marked in this
booic, and that, being found written therein in the day
of judgment, they will then take poffeflion of the king-
dom prepared for thofe whom the Father hath blefl-
ed, from the foundation of the world.

Nor is fcr'pture filent or even fparing concerning
this wonderful and interefting volume. We read in
Luke X. 20. that the names of the faints are written in
heaven; and again, Heb. xii. 23. that the church of
the firft-born, i. e. the names or perfons that make up
that general aflembly, are written or enrolled in heav-
-en J, which is thought to allude to the enrollment of
the firft-born of literal Ifrael, Numb. iii. 40. However
it is well known that the ancients wrote on rolls of
parchment; now this roll or book muft needs be ori-
ginally in heaven, fmce it exifted from eternity, which
is the next thing recorded; Rev.xvii. 8. the book of
life is faid to be " from the foundation of the world."
Moreover in chap. xxi. 17. it is ftiled " the Lamb's
*' book of life." And in chap. xiii. 8, thefe criterions
are united ; where we read of fome whofe names are
not written in " the book of life, of the Lamb flain
** from the foundation of the world." A paliage which

D d throvvs

* Page 389. ;J Dr. Owen on the plr.cc.

4i8 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

throws a light on this divine code, and agrees with the
current. of prophecy, the general fubjedl of this book is
no other than the redemption of the eledl by the
blood of God's Son, whofe name is at the head of the
chofen, as the firft-born among many brethren, pre-
deftinated to the adoption of children by him, and co-
heirs with him in the heavenly inheritance, to be en-
joyed on the completion of his furetifhip-engagements,
one eflential branch of which was the expiation of fm.
Hence, when the Redeemer appeared to put away fm
by the facrifice of himfelf, he faith, " Lo I come (in the
" Volume of the Book, it is written of me) to do
" thy will, O God." In the volume y.s^aXiJ*, i. e. in
the head of the book, or roll, it is written of me ; they
who would confine it to the written word, or to the
writings of Mofes, which is emphatically ftiled the book,
by the Jews, apply this to the firft promife, Gen. iii. 15.
But, I think this addrefs of the Son to the Father is
julily confidered as ultimately referring to the cove-
nant of redemption, in which divine compact he fo-
lemnly engaged to die for the fms of the people;
certain it is that the fufFerings and death of Chrift
were particularly noted in this eternal volume of
decrees, for we have feen that he was " delivered
" according to the determinate counfel and foreknow-
'' ledge of God." From this ancient record, trea-
fured up in the archives of heaven, previous to the
commencement of time, the book of revelation is
drawn, even the whole gofpel, which is a record of
eternal life, promifed in Chrift before the world began.
So then this idea of the decrees of the Almighty is af-
forded in fcripture, they are noted as in a book before
( him.

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 419

him, and the book of life in particular appears to be
the fame with the Lamb's book of life, which is fre-
quently'mentioned, and which contains the names of
the el'£l:, and the methods of infinite wifdom in bring-
ing them to glory by the.fufferings of Jefus, the only
begotten of ihe Father. And furely, my Reader, if the
divine deciees in general are in fcripture compared to a
book, as you have feen, thofe which concern the falva-
tibn of the church in Chrift may well be ftiled fo,
tvith this fingular and illuftrious epithet, the book of
life.

Now the Lord declares concerning him that over-
cometh, faymg, *' I will not blot out his name out of
*' the book of life." It appears, in Rev. xx. 15. that,
in the judgment to come, whoever ;s not found written
in the book of life, will be caft into the lake of fire;
this part of the promife therefore proves that an inte-
reft therein is of the utmoft importance. I am fenfible
that fome fay, that to have a name written in heaven,
is only to have a prefent right to the inheritance by
virtue of our faith, v/h.ch, they fuppofe, may be loft.
This groundlefs and uncomfortable notion is induced
from a prejudice againft the doctrine of ele£tion, and
that of the final perfevcrance of the faints, but fuch do
well to confider the following particulars ; i. That
nothing can be more evident than it is from the fcrip-
ture, that God hath a people chofen unto falvation in
Chrift Jefus his Son, and that by this line of ele^lion all
fpiritualbleflings are directed, and defcend on any of the
children of men, Eph. i. 4. 2 Theft", i. 13. 2. A title to

D d 2 the

420 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE '

the inheritance of the faints, though it be received by
faith, is not grounded in faith, but origina'ly in the
donation of the Father; and the believer's right to the
poffefiion ard enjoyment, is derived from the merit of
the Son, through whofe blood it defcends to them who
(hall be heirs of falvation, in a way of righteoufnefs ;
this is the truth and the glory of the gofpel ; the inhe-
ritance is by promife, as to Abraham, and the fruition
of the faithful in time and eternity is not of debt, but
of grace, Rom. v. 21. Eph. i. 14. Befides, 3. It is
highly indecent to imagine that the immutable and
eternal God fhall change his purpofe, or repent of his
gift, or, to fpeak freely according to the figure of this
palTage, that he fhould write any man in this book,
and then blot him out again, and fo vice verfa> as he
riles or falls in the obedience of faith, not to fay, that
if the divine Advocate with the Father prevails, the
faith of his people cannot totally and finally fail, Luke
xxii. 32. Again, 4. This ftrange notion contradicts
the word and oath of the moft High, who hath revealed
unto the heirs of falvation the immutability of his
counfel, which is their ftrong confolation, Heb. vi.
■ J", 18. And further, this conceit is inconfiftent with
a full affurance of hope, and leaves no room for the be-
liever's rejoicing that his name is written in heaven,
which our Lord himfelf recommends to his difciples,
Luke X. 20. In a word, this imagination directly op-
pofes the tenor of the gofpel-report, which runs in
thefe abfolute terms : " He that believeth and is bap-
'< tizt d, fhall be faved." Thus it appears, that to af-
ferc that an ele<Sl perfon, who is redeemed and called

according

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 411

according to the purpofe of God, is liable to an erafe-
ment from the Lamb's book of life, or that the Lord
will blot him out from thence, is to deny tlie teftimony
of God, to impeach his perfedions, and to make an at-
tempt on the foundations of the righteous ; but we know
it is vain, for the counfel of the Lord (hall ftand.
As to the phrafe in this place, that the Lord will not
blot out the believer's name out of the book of life, it
is purely figurative, and, according to the allufion,
amounts to this, and no more, namely, that in the end,
when this important volume is opened, he (hall cer-
tainly be found written therein ; or in other words,
that the man who overcomes will appear in the future
judgment blefled of the Father, who hath given him
the victory, and that he fhall accordingly be admitted
to the honors and triumphs of the redeemed in that
day : And, what more can the chriftian defire ? It is a
glory which will infinitely furpafs his utmofl prefent
conception.

The light in which we have confidered thefe meta-
phorical branches of the promife, is confirmed by the
following fentence, with which it concludes : " but I
** will confefs his name before my Father, and before
*' his angels." This fettles the period of its accom-
plifhment, namely, the laft and great day, when the
Son of man fhall be revealed from heaven to judge the
world, for it is manifeft from Matt. xxv. and many
other parts of the New-Teftament, that then the righ-
teous will be owned by the Lord ; and in thefe words
to confefs his name, being fet in oppofition to his
blotting it cut of the book of life, determines the {enie
Dd 3 of

422 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

of that difficult phrafe, for by this antthefis it appears,
that when Jefus fays, I will not blot out his name out
of the book of life, he intends prerilely this, namely,
thac he would acknowledge him ; t his appearance and
kingdom. To be blotted out of the book of life when
the judgment is fet, i> not to be found written therein,
Rev. XX. 15. and pofitively confifts in being rejedlec^
and difowned by the Judge, as all the workers of ini-
quity will be ; but, on the contrary, Chrift in this pra-
mife engages to own and honor his victorious faint,
he will not deny, but confefs his name ; he will de-
clare his righteoufnefs, own him to be a fon, and an
heir of falvation and life.

This is the fum ; every man that holds faft his pro-
feffion, and overcomes in the end, as the real chriftia^
mofl: certainly will, the fame fnall be found writtn in
the Lamb's book of life at the day of judgment ; Chrift
will then own him to be chcfen and faithful, on which
a glory fhall be revealed upon him anfwerable to a tri-
umph ; yea, far exceeding the moft beautiful diadem
placed on the head of the greateft conqueror or prince
of the earth, even a crov/n ot glory which fadeth not
away.

Now, the man muft be hardened indeed, who can
queftion the importance of being in this book, or re-
main indifferent whether or not his name is found
there. But, Reader, dolt thou inquire for thyfeif ?
Look ; hath the golpel reached thy heart, and reduced
thee to the obedience of faith ? doft thou believe on
the name of the Son of God, and hath his Spirit made

the

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 423

the word efFe^lual to thy repentance, and brought thee
to rely on Jefus as thy Lord and thy God ? Thou
mayeft then rejoice that thy name is written in heaven,
I ThefT. i. 4. This ground is Aire. Think not, en-
quiring foul, to afcend up to heaven and there enter the
bofom, or fearch the eternal record of the Father, it is a
fruitlefs attempt, and needlefs ; that book will not be
fully opened to any creature till the day of revelation,
but there is a tranfcript fufEcient on earth to fatisfy
him that is conformed to the gofpel of Chrift ; defcend
into thine heart, and compare thy experience with that
divine ftandard. Dwells the love of God there ? Is his
law in thine heart ? Fear not. A confcience purified
from the love and allowance of fin, and pofT^fled of an
hope, in the falvation of God, is an undeniable tffed:
of that power of the Holy Ghoft, which leaves no
room to doubt that the fubjecl is enrolled in the
Lamb's book of life : " Whom he did predeftinate,
*' them he alfo called," Rom. viii. 30. This is the
only fafe rulej other methods of judging thy ftate
may amufe but deceive thee; thy attainments, thy pro-
feffion, thy name for religion are no certain criterions,
much lefs doth this knowledge depend on vifions and
private revelations, imaginary or real, but if the defire
of thy foul is to the name of the Lord, and to the re-
membrance thereof, thou mayeft fafely conclude that
his defire is to thee, and that thou art numbered with
his faints.

And, art thou acquainted with this power of the
gofpel in thy heart, my dear Friend ? mayeft thou con-
clude that, unworthy as thou art, thy name is written
D d 4 in

424 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

in heaven ? then let me intreat thee, dwell much oq
the glory contained in this promife ; be not conformed
to this world ; and if thou art under fore trials, or
fuffering for righteoufnefs fake, let the honor and tri-
umph of the faints, whenjefus fhall appear, infpire thee
with courage ^ fliun not a teftimony for the Lord in
the way of his appointment ; remember that not to
own Chrift is to deny him, and the man who will not
confefs him lets go the promife of this glorious rewar4
unto them who obey him ; then be not afhamed of the
name of thy Saviour in the figbt of an unbelieving
world, or to live up to thy holy profefllon, in the
midft of the diforders that prevail in a fmful genera-
tion, this is unworthy thy charadler and hope ; there-
fore caft off the works of darknefs, and put on the ar-
armour of ligbt, in a certain expt<S|:ation of being
crowned in the day of the Lord, when fhame fhall
cover thine enemy, with all who forge^ God and
defpife the Lord Jefus Chrift. " Behold he comes
" quickly, and his reward is with him, tp give every
*' man according as his work fhall be," Rev. xxii. 12,
In a word, attend to the exhortation, wl^ich concludes
this and the other epiftlcs to the difciples in Afia, *' He
** that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith
'* to the churches." With the opening of which we
ihall finifli our defign on this fubjedl.

LECTURE

TO THE CHUPs-CH AT SARDIS. 425

LECTURE XKVl.

The unlverfal obligation of chriftians to attend to the
voice of the Spirit.

THE epiftle to Sardis clofes, like the reft, with a
folemn excitation to hearken to the Spirit. " He
*' that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith
*' to the churches." A like exhortation is repeated by
our Lord in the courfe of his miniftry, and is always
needful, Tince they who are endowed with this diftin-
guifhing faculty are liable to be dull, which is a cafe
too frequent to admit of debate. Some take the paffage
as exprefllve of the confequence of the word being
preached, n?mely, that then, the man that hath an ear
will certainly hear j but experience denies it.

Our text is a demand on him that hath an ear, who
is directed to hear what the Spirit faith to the churches ;
i. e. In his epiftles to the churches in Afia, which no
doubt is to be regarded by the faithful to the end of the
world, yet the phraie vvill admit of a more compre-
henfive idea, and may be juftly applied to the whole of
divine revelation.

The exiftence, office and operations of the Spirit, are
fq much the fubjedl of fcripture, that one might have
hoped for an unity of faith concerning him, but alas,
Ri^ny are the fancies advanced againft the dignity of his

perfon

426 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

perfbn and grace. Some nominal chriftians intend by
the Spirit no other than natural confcience, or the in-
ward light of human reafon ; and if this is thy notion,
my Reader, take heed, left ** the light that is m thee
" be darknefs." Others conceive of the Spirit as a mcer
q,ualky in the divine Being, and ftile him the virtue,
influence or power of God ; but thefe are low and falfc
conceptions, which contradi6l the fcripture-account of
the holy Ghoft, whofe ptrfonality is fo fully fet forth
in thofe facred writings, that even fome who ftumble
at the adorable Trinity, overborn wrth the evidence
thereof, are compelled to confefs it, and have recourfe
to a ftupFd and vain imagination *, that he is fome em-
inent angel or created fpirit, who on account of his
highnefs and intimacy with God, was fingled out and
fent from heaven to fandlify the church ; this ftrange
conceit Ihews the wretched fhift to which men are
driven when they leave the teftimony the Lord hath
given of himfelf. The perfonality and deity of the
Spirit are manifefl: in the word, in which there are
afcribed to him, in numberlefs inftances, underftand-
ing, will, power, and every thing eflential to an intel-
ligent voluntary agent, which coropleat the idea of a
pcrfon ; and his divinity is clear from his being joined
with the Father and the Son, with whom he bears re-
cord in heaven, i John v. 7. and alfo is worfliipped,
particularly in baptifm, Matt, xxviii. 19. His proper
deity and diftiniEl perfonality are clear in the inftance of
Peter's rebuke of Ananias, who declares that he had
lied to the Holy Ghoft, and that in fo doing he had'
not lied unto man, but unto God, Ails v. 3, 4. Now

this

• Dr. Owen on the Spirit, p. 46,

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 427

this glorious divine Spirit, thus equal in nature wit : the
Father and Son, from whom he procee is, appears to be the
great gent of the covenant, whofe operations are need-
ful and efFe<£lual to accompli fh the purpofe of grace in
the falvation of the chofen, in a fubferviency to which
he moved the prophets, 2 Pet. i. 21. who fpake by him
the counfel of God. *' All fcripture is given by in-
" fpiration of God ;" and this is never afcribed to the
Father or the Son, but to the Spirit alone, by whom
the Son himfelf prophefied when he miniftred on earth,
*' He whom God fent fpeaketh God's words, for God
*' giveth not the Spirit by meafure to him," John
iii. 34. Thus the Spirit is the author of fcripture,
when, or by whomfoever it was uttered, not excepting the
Lord Jefus Chrift. So then the whole of divine revelation
is his voice, which voice is to the churches, for though
fome things were originally dire£led to particular per-
fons, or to mankind in general, yet it was in the
phurch the Spirit fpake by the mouth of his fervants,
and whatever is written is for the univerfal learning,
patience and hope of the faithful, Rom. xv. 4. And
moreover to the church hath been committed thefe
oracles of God, as of old 1:0 the Jews ; and fince the
gofpel has been eftablifhed, fcripture, under a wife and
wonderful providence by the will of God, has not been
}eft in private hands ; and neither Jews nor Gentiles
have been unfaithful to their truft ; the former, al-
though fadly corrupted and funk fo low, through igno-
rance and vice, that they knew not the voice of Mofes
and the prophets, read in their fynagogue every fab-
bath, A'fls xiii. 27. yet it is notorious that they fcru-
puloufly adhered to the letter of fcripture, and are ne-
ver

428 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

vei charged with altering it in any one inftance ; and
with refpedl to the chriftian church, even the unhappy
divifions, and oppofite fentiments of its nominal mem-
bers, have been fubfervient to the keeping them entire,
each party, having a jealous eye over the other j it has
been out of the power of either to alter fcripture in favor
of their own particular fcheme. Thus what the Spirit
faith he faith to all the churches, even to every church
and to each of her members, who are therefore every
one required to hear ; for facred prophefy is not a dead
letter, which is now filent and paft, but the lively ora-
cles of God, even the word of God which liveth and
abideth for ever, A,6is vii. 38. i Pet. i. 23. compared.

But what is this ear with which a man mufl; or can
hear the voice of the Spirit? No doubt, as obferved,
it is a diftinguifhing talent. If an ear, in the fenfe of
this pafTage, was common or univerfal, the form of the
text would be impertinent. What then is this ear? The
fielhly ear, or organ of natural fenfe, is out of the
queftion, being common to all who dwell in the
body ; befides, the objedl to be regarded is moral or
fpiritual, the faculty therefore muft be intellec-
tual. It may be ufeful to note by the way, that to
have an ear in a natural fenfe, is to have that ufeful
member perfedt and clear, which, through one or ano-
ther occafion, may be obftrudled. The ears of fome
men are dull, they are in a manner flopped ; that curi-
ous membrane is fo out of tone that the fubjeiSl can hear
but little, yea it may be nothing at all, which is very
difcomftting, particularly to them that have known

the

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 429
the pleafure of found. To be totally deaf, is inconve-
nient and dangerous, and atrial to the chriftian, pp.rti-
cularly on this account, that it deprives him of hearino-
the word of the Lord, a principal means of his com-
fort. Thanks be to God, there are other ways cf
hearing the voice of the Spirit than that of attendirjg
to the word preached ; neverthelefs it is a great aiflic-
tion to him that delights in the teftimonies of the Lord
to be prevented from hearing them publifaed in his
name.

This ear is no other than an ability of foul <5r he-^rt
to praife and embrace the voice of the Spirit, or a
capacity for difcerning fpiritual objedis, v/hicli the natu-
ral man hath not. It is not the natural underftanding
of any man, however cultivated or enlarged. Man, as
a reafonable creature, with proper afTiftance, may uti-
derftand the words of fcripture, he may perceive the
dodrines they contain, and alfo difcover the ju ft con-
nexion and harmony of gofpel truth, and at the fame
time fall fnort of this divine faculty : neither is it aa
ability for difcourfing on points of faith to public edi-
fication, which is a fmgular talent. The ear we now
fpeak of is common to regenerate perfons, who being
favingly enlightened, can diftinguifh the glory and
importance of the gofpel, and cordially embrace it, as
when the heart of Lydia was opened flie attended to the
things which were fpoken by Paul. A certain writer,
who is not to be fufpeded of undervaluing hixman
power or attainments, thus defines it : 'It is, fays he,
' a good inclination to, and a good judgment and per-
* ception of divine things, fo as thoroughly to weigh

' and

430 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

' and confider what is fpolce :' All which are certainly
included, for we ftiall prefently fee, that in the ufe of
the fpiritual ear, every power is engaged ; but, if the
fcripture is true, it is impoflible that the natural man
ftould thus know the things of the Spirit of God,
1 Cor. ii. 14. a vail of ignorance and prejudice covers
his mind; nor is one man by nature b.ttrr difpofed
or more capable than another of attaining to this: It is
for wantofconfidering tbeb.;d moral ftate of fallen man,
that any, in oppofition to the teftimony of God, con-
ceit that the fine fenfe, liberal education, or any other
comparative excellency, in an unregenerate ftate, brings
the fubjedl a jot nearer to this divine fenfe, the wifeft
and nob eft of the world are as far off from it as the
foolifh and vulgar; there is no foundation for this
capacity in the carnal mind ; and if the fmner cannot,
with the greateft external advantages, attain the true
idea or difcernment of fpiritual things, much lefs can
he apply them to himfelf. What our Lord faid to the
Jews, John viii. 43. may juftly be applied to natural
men without any exception, *' Why do ye not under-
*' ftand my fpeech ? even becaufe ye cannot hear my
'* word." Carnal reafonings and pride blindeth the
eyes of the fmner, and fill him with infuperable preju-
dices againft the fpirituality and purity of the goipel ;
till thefe are removed he is not able to diftingufti their
excellency or relifti their fweetnefs. So then this ear
is not any fpeculation or human attainment, however
refined or exalted, but a fupernatural and experimental
thing of the Spirit of God. The phrafe, even when
applied to a capacity for natural hearing in the common
fenfe of mankind, conveys an idea of fomcthing extra-
ordinary.

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 4.31
ordinary, to have an ear for mufic : What is it lefs than
to have a diftinguifliing judgrrifnt and taflre for the har-
mony of founds, which yield the fubjcd unfpeakable "
pleafure ? But will any deny that this is a peculiar ta-
lent, a kind of perfonal fenfe, which is not to be ac-
quired or defcribed, though it may be greatly improved ?
A perfon muft be naturally formed for delighting in
mufic : In like manner no man can kd the happinefs
of knowing the joyful found till Chrift is formed in
him, or he is a new creature. This heaiing ear is the
fpecial gift and work of the Lord, Prov. xx. 12. which
he beftows at his fovereign pleafure : Hence fays Mofes
to rebellious Ifrael, " The Lord hath not given you
" an heart to perceive, and eyes to fee, and ears to
*' hear unto this day," Deut. xxix. 4. In a word,
theneceflity of regeneration, in order to hearing the
Spirit, is evident from our Saviour's declaration, ** He
" that is of God heareth God's words ; ye therefore
" hear them not becaufe ye are not of God," John
viii. 47.

To hear in general, is to exert this diftinguifliino-
faculty, in attending to the things of divine revelation;
and it implies a diligent fearch into the mind of the Spi-
rit. " Let him hear;" i. e. let him exercife his fpiri-
tual fenfes that he may perceive the mind of the Holy
Ghoft, and attain a juft conception of divne things,
till he arrives to a full aflurance of underftanding in the
myftery of God. Now he that doth this will embrace
every opportunity for hearing, reading, meditation and
prayer. It alfo carries in it a ferious refledion on the
excellency and importance of what he difcerns, that

his

432 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLfi

his heart may be duly and conftantly afteded. Afi'd
further, this hearing is to be extended to pradlice.
The man who doth not ronform to the orders of his
fupcrior, can in no proper or honor-jble fenfe be faid
to hear him, nor can that man be efteemed a hearer of
thr Spirit, whofe temper and conduft are not con-
formed to his didates ; without aiming at this, or in-
deed unlefs this is in a good meafure attained, all pre-
tence to hearing the Spirit is vain : for a man to talk of
heaimg what the Spirit faith to the churches, and live
in pride and fenfual pleafure, or go on in a courfe of
diforder and fm, is to mock the Almighiy, or rather to
deceive his own foul, for God is not mocked. In (hort,
to hear in the fenfe of this exhortation, comprehends
the w^hole obedience of faith.

Some refolve this fpiritual ear into a holy defire, or
purpofe of heart to attend to the voice of God, and
give the fenfe in thefe words, ' Let him that has an
' ability and is defirousof hearing :' And moft certain it
is, that to hear is freely to open the ear. A willing
heart is eflential to the hearing of the Spirit. The
people of Chrift are a willing people, and their will,
being fandlified, is much concerned in hearkening to
the Lord: they are alfo impartial, and open the ear
without any refcrve. This is the language of the obe-
dient foul, " Speak, Lord, for thy fervant heareth."
And again, " 1 will hear what God the Lord will
" fpeak," Pfalm Ixxxv. 8. Moreover he is conftant in
this divine exercife, it is his habitual and daily pra6^ice ;
and finally, it is that in which he delights. The wif-
dom and goodnefs of our adorable Creator are wonder-
fully

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 435

fully difplayed in fo conftituting the human body, that
in a healthful and temperate flate, the ex-rcife of
its fenfes is highly delightful. Thus, in the exercife of
faith, that fpiritual fe;.le of tl.e new creature, in what-
ever manner it is exerted, affords the fuDJfcSi: a fingular
pleafure ; the very opening of uie e .r to the Spirit,
though it call for great felf-d'-nial, is grj.icful to the
chriftian ; his love to Jefus, and h.-. prolpec^ of glo y to
come, yield him unfpeakable joy, even in fufFv:fings for
the fake of Chrift and his gofpel.

Many are the motives which induce the believer to
hearken to the Spirit j as for inftunce, his dignity and
love. Doft thou find thyfelf dull, my dear Friend?
Confider who fpeaks : the infinite majefty of this di-
vine Perfon, and the grace and power difplayed in the
execution of his office, demand thy regard ; it is the
voice of God, of the Holy Ghoft, of that Spirit which
proceedeth from the Father and the Son ; he is
the almighty Agent that formed the body, thy Re-
deemer alTumed, in which he bore thy fins away on
the tree ; by his power alfo that body was raifcd from
the grave, and thou thyfelf waft quickened wh.n dead
in trefpailes and fins, and obtained the ear with which
thou canft hear, and on whom all faints depend for the
refurredlion of their bodies in the laft and great day. To
turn a deaf ear to the Holy Gh(ift ; what is it lefs than
to affront thofe divine Per(^:»ns by whom he is fent, and
to defpifehim as a Spirit of revelation and grace ? But,
far be the finful and fatal prefumption !

E e Again,

434 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

Again, another inducement is what the Spirit de-
livers, which is important and glorious. There is no-
thing fpoken by the Spirit to the chujrches that is fa'fe,
impertinent, or trifling; all his fayings are true, they
are holy and wife, and moft nearly concern us; he
Ipeaketh great things, things deep and myfterious,
which call for the utmoft attention to difcern, and the
knowledge of which is of an interefting nature ; what-
ever he faith in his word hath a real connexion with
the believer's prefent peace, and will have fome in-
fluence into his future happinefs, or promote the
honor of God in his eternal felicity; yea, he is alfo a
comforter in all that he fays to his people. There is
no awful threatning, or felf-denying precept in the
whole book of God, but, if rightly underflood and
duly applied, imports fome confolation to the believer :
*' He will fpeak peace to his people and unto his
" faints."

It is alfo an argument with him that fears God to
hear the Spirit, when he confiders unto whom his
words are dire£led, even to himfelf. The voice of the
Spirit, particularly in his exhortations to perfeverance,
and promifes of falvation, vidlory, and glory to the
churches, is to every difciple of Jefus. " He that hath
*' an ear." If thou haft an ear, the Holy Ghoft fpeaks
unto thee; and this is the argument of wifdom,
" Unto you, O man, 1 call, and my voice is to the
" fons of men," Prov. viii. 4. And befides, we are to
remember that the Lord fpeaks in kindnefs and love,

Heb.

TO THE CHUPCH AT SARDIS. 435

Heb. xii. 5. faith the apoftle, *' Ye have forgotten,'*
i. e. neglecfted, " and not hearkened to the exhortatioa
** which fpeaketh unto you as unto children."

And further, t\i<2 importance of obeying the Spirit, is
not the leaft motive to hearing his voice. In the
inftance before us, we fee, from the epiftle itfdf,
how awful the expectation of thofe who would not hear,
hold faft, and lepent ! On the other hand, the glory
and joy of him that attended this divine mefTage is
great beyond all expreffion. In like manner it is m
refped of the whole of facred fcripture : The divine
author is the Spirit of Chrift, that great Prophet, con-
cerning whom, thus faith Jehovah, " Whofoever fhall
*' not hearken to my words, which he fhall fpeak in
" my name, I will require it of him," Deut- xviii. ig.
i. e. punifh him with everlafting deftrudlion, as appears
from Peter's difcourfe, A«5ls iii. 23.

The amount is as follows : The ear demanded in
this exhortation, is a fmgular faculty, peculiar to the
the regenerate; it is the ear of faith, which is a kind
of fpiritual fenfe, by which the fubjedl is able, through
divine affiftance, to difcern the things of the Spirit, and
is duly affeiled with their importance and glory. The
attention required is no other than the exertion of
this ability in fearching into the mind of God, that he
may be conformed unto it in heart and life. The mo-
tives to which are, the majefty and grace of the divine
Speaker, the excellent and interefting nature of the
thmgs he declares, his din.61:ion to the fubjecl, and the
infinite importance of obeying his voice,

E e 2 It

436 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

It appears then, that a new heart is needful to a fav-
ing improvement of the gofpel. A man muft have an
ear before he can hear. Without a faculty fuited to the
obje6t, it is impoflible to difcern and embrace it. But
of this the natural man is deftitute, in refpeft of fpiri-
tual things, he muft therefore be born again, for, con-
ceived in fm, his heart is corrupt and totally alienated
from God, fo that he neither doth nor can delight in
his lav/. In vain are the moft ftriking reprefentations
of divine objedls from the vi^ord, to the carnal mind ;
it is void of fpiritual fenfe, and the conceit is abfurd,
that any fpiritual object, how glorious foever in itfelf,
or however juftly or neaily prefented, or indeed finely
illuftrated, Ihould properly afFedl it. Hence the moft
fkilful and afFedionate preaching is frequently abor-
tive, and the grace of God is faithfully preached to
many in vain ; for until the Holy Ghoft is given from
on high, and a new fpirit is put within the hearer, as
promifed, he cannot difcern or relifti the things of God,
fo then '' Paul may plant and Apollos water, but God
" muft give the increafe."

I HAVE already hinted, and it (hould be remember-
ed, that the chriftian himfelf ftands in need of frequent
and earneft exhortations to hearken to the Spirit. No
man can hear in any fenfe without an ear, but he that
is cndoAcd with this faculty may be dull of hearing,
yea, and fcarce hear at all to any advantage, hermit
/ne, my Friend, to excite thee : Open thine ear to this
divi/ie voice j let this be thy care when in private or in
jpublic devotipn, yea and in every fuuation and concern

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDTS. 437-

of life. Alas, our ears, how often are they turned afide
to vain imaginations ! The fuggeftions of fatan and the
fancies of men captivate, impoverifh, and darken our
minds, and betray us into fin ; but, if our ears hung
on the lips of the Spirit, with what reverence, delight
and profit fliould we hear I

And wouldeft thou examine thyfelf, my dear Rea-
der; the following criterions may affift thee. This
hearing by faith is accompanied with the love of the
Spirit, and his voice; his mouth is moft fweet; and
no wonder, feeing it is the voice of thy Beloved who
fpeaks by him; thou art alfo imploring his divine aids,
that thine ear being opened may be perfe6l and found ;
likevvife the preaching and the minifters of the word
are highly efteemed ; thou wilt not, as fome, under a
conceit of hearing the Spirit, defpife the means, an at-
tendance on wi'iich he hath prefcribed to his faints ;
moreover, the hearers of the Spirit, are thy chofen com-
panions, and every notion or mventlon of man, con-
trary to the teftimony of God, thy utter averfion. And
further, thou wilt try whatever is propofed in the name
of the Lord by the fcriptures, and adhere to nothing in
refpedt of do<Slrine, worfhip or experience, but what
they declare to belong to the faithful. And are thefe
fymptoms upon thee, my Friend ? then, be not afraid ;
whatever may be thy infirmities or involuntary defe6ls,
thou mayeft foberly rank thyfelf with thofe who have
obtained mercy to incline their ear to the Spirit of ho-
linefs and grace,

E e 3 To

438 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE

To conclude. This folemn demand from the ex-
alted Redeemer, proves religion a perfonal thing, and
that liberty of confciencc is every man's privilege and
duty. Nothing can more effe6lually cut off every pre-
tence of authority over another man's confcience than
this exhortation ; we are not allowed to hearken to
any who would arrogate to themfelves a power of im-
pofnig upon us their i'cn(c of fcripture, or prefume to
direft our faith, or the manner of our worfhip. He
that hath an ear, which is requifite to vital godlinefs,
and which, as we have feen, is the fpecial gift of di-
vine grace, is called upon, not to hear what the
churches didate, but what the Spirit jaith unto the
churches. No man therefore, nor any body of
men, however facred in their character, are at any
time to be regarded, in p( int of religion, farther than
they agree with the voice of the Holy Ghoft.
Confcience is facred to the authority of God j yea,
and by this demand of the Lord every man is not
barely pennltted^ but tven commanded to hear with
his o'Lvn ear ; he therefore that interpofes his authority
between my ear and the voice of the Spirit, a£ls a ty-
rannical and impious part, for every man by this word
of the Lord is not only entitled^ but alfo ohliged to
maintain the rights of his own confcience, as he will
anfwer it to the Almighty. 1 hus liberty of private
judgment, that firit and great principle of Proteftants,
and of ail true religion, is fixed on a folid bafis, and
never to befhaken to the end of the woild. Thanks be
- to God, and cur excellent prince and conilitution,

TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 439

in thefe happy nauons, we f^njoy this freedom in
its utmoft extent ; no po'nt of faith, mode of worfhip^
or whatever relates to that dear thing religion^ is at-
tempted to be impofed upon us. O that we may lead
peaceable lives in all godlinefs and honefty, and that
our fenfuality, lukewarmnefs, unbelief, and carnal con-
tentions, may never deprive us of the invaluable privi-
lege, or prevent our improving the fame, to the glory
of God, and our own everlafting advantage!

End of the Ep'tjile to the Church at Sardis»

Ee4 ADIS.

r 440 }
DISSERTATION

O N T H E

CONDUCTOFTHE FAITHFUL IN
THE DAYS OF MALACHI.

B O O K VI.

LECTURE XXVir,

The degenerate frate of the Jews. What is implied in
the faints fpeaking often one to another ; topics of

difcourfc. RcHcdiions,

IT appears from the letter which we have opened
and read, that a few remained upright amidft the
threatning declenfions at Sardis. Thus in times of
the greateft dcfe£l!on God hath referved a people for
himfclf ; and it may be ufeful to fee the meafures they
took, that, following their laudable example, we may
in like manner preferve ourfelves in an hour of tempta-
tion. l\o doubt thcfe worthy per Ions, who ftand com-
mended of the Lox^D, were acftive in iheir duty; and,
while they mourned the fad flate of Zion, ufed every
means in their power to maintain their integrity and
hope; of this indeed we have no particulars, but, from
other like inllanccs on record, we may gather the in-

cl Illation

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 441

dination and pradice of the faints in a time of diforder,
of which none is more diredlly to our purpofe than that
of thofe in the days of Pylalachi, when religion and
manners were funk to a degree, perhaps below the
mark of any former period of the church, I have there-
fore chofe to fubjoin a view of their condudl and
the memorial taken of their zeal in the prefence of the
Lord. It is written in the third chapter of the prophe-
fy, the i6th and 17th verfes, as follows : " Then they
*' that feared the Lord fpake often one to another, and
'' the Lord hearkned and heard it ; and a book of re-
f' membrance was written before him for them that
^' feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
*' And they {hall be mine, faith the Lord of hofts, in
*' that day when I make up my jewels ; and I will
*-' fparc them as a man fpareth his own fon that ferv-
*' eth him." In this account we have the cuftom of
the faithful, the regard which the Lord paid to them,
and his gracious refolutlon In their favor; the firft of
thefe is the fubjedt of this le<Sture.

The imagination of fome, that Malachiwasan an-
gel in the form of a man, feems whimfical and ground-
lefs; his narrie, though it fignifies an angel, will not
fupport their conjecture, for the fame word is applied to
the Melliah himfelf, chap. iii. i. where the Father
ftiles him my mejfenger ; fo that we may as foon queftion
the proper humanity of Chrift, as of this fervant of the
Lord. We are told, 2 Pet. i. 21. that the prophets,
>vith whom M^lachi is iiuir.bered. Matt. xi. 10. were
holy men^ who fpake as they were moved by the Holy
phoft. Some take him to be the fame with Ezra the

fcribe,

44-2 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

fcribe, who indeed was a prtacher, and expounded the
lav/ to the people, but hath no criterion of a prophet in
his chara£ler ; it is thought, with more colour of rea-
fon, that he was cotemporary with ISehemiah ; this,
however, feems plain, and is generally allowed, that he
was the laft infpired mcfienger to ungrateful backfliding
Ifrae!, nnd that from his death prophecy ceafed till the
incarnation of the Son of God, being about the fpace
of four hundred years, whofe appearance was the more
confpicuous for this long night of darknefs and
fiience.

But our concern is rather with the moral and reli-
gious ftate of the Jews in his jday, and, as hnted al-
ready, this was fliamcfully diflblute. Far be it that
fuch a deluge of iniquity Ihould again fpread over any
people or nation ! They indulged to all manner of evil,
and v/ere funk into the very dregs of corruption and
wickednefs. In ver. 5. they are charged with forcery,
adultery, falfe-fwearing, oppreffion, injuftice, and cru-
elty. It likewife appears that the moft daring infidelity
raged, iniomuch that they impudently faid : " Every
*' one that doth evil is good in the fight of -the Lord,
" and he delighteth in them," which is in fome re-
fpe6ls worfe than atheifm itfelfj and, taunting the
prophets v/ho thre;.tned them with vengeance, they faid,
*' Where is the God of judgment ?" chap. ii. 17. No
wonder thefe fcofFers Ihould profane the holinefs of the
Lord, and marry the daughter of a ftrange God, yet
they called themfelves the children of God, and pre-
tended to ferve the moft High ; but at the fame time
were partial, hypocritical and prefumptuous ; like fome

nigardly

IN THF DAYS OF MALACHT. 443

liigardly chriftians whofe pitiful offering fail ihon of their
ability as required, they deceitfully covered the altar v/nh
tears, while they polluted it with their torn auu Ume
facrifices, and fealkd themfelves w'th the lambs of the "
flock, having plenty of males to anlwer the apptiiiu-
ments of the law; but the table of the Lord was con-r
temptible, ii \yas a wearinefs to ferve hiui, and thty
fcornfully fnuffed at the provifion of his houfe; yea, the
priefts themfelves were ignorant, flothful, meicenary,
and dcfpifed the name of the Lord, for which chc v
were rendered bafe in the eyes ot the people, a cnrfe
which feems entailed on time-itrving and coTupr mi-
fiifters in every age ; for mankind in gencial, however
void of religion themfelves, feldom fail of heiut.ly dc-
fpifing wicked men under a facied charaiter ; m ihort,
the vilenefs of every rank in this depraved generation is
fcarce to be parallelled, and almoft incredible ; and
thoUj_,h they were ftiarply reproved they received r,oc
corredion, but, inftead of repenting, were ftout, and
with mfolence replied to the Lord: " Wherein have
*' we robbed thee ? wherein have we defpiftd thy
^' Name ?" And, to conclude this melancholy fubject,
fo wretched was the time that the more proud and
wicked any man was the more he was carefTed and ap-
plauded ; fuch was the hateful and dcp'orable condi-
tion of Ifrael when Malachi was fent in the name of
the Lord, and accordingly as a thick fpreading cloud
clothes the heavens with blacknels, and as it were
makes fackcloth their covering ; fo high and heavy
charges on thefe heinous tranfgreflbrs , and fearful
threatnings of divine vengeance, extend through all
this prophecy, infomuch that Ihort of the account be-
fore

444 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

fore us, (o dark is the fccne, that one might be tempted
to think with Ehja'i, that not a faint was leK, as if the
Lord had totally foriaken his people ^ but on a fudden
darts for.h from this threatnirag cloud a ray iron; the
Sun of RghteoLifncfs to chear us ; a remnai.t appears
*' vhat feared the Lord, and that tiiought upon his
" Name ! "

But what couM thefe p'ous fouls do? Their num-
ber w.ib finall, ai)d it is prob.tbie alfo their outward
condition co;rparatively mean, for it is feldom chat
others efcapc the pollutions of the day; and, from the
facrilege and prof^nenefs complained of, with what is
declared in this prophecy concerning men of that order,
it feems no breach of charity to fuppofe that not a
pried was to be found in this little company, at leaft
no one of dign ty or pcAver v/as am. n2; them ; what then
was a few, poor and d.fpifed, though godly pcrfons,
capable of, in oppoiition to thefe floods of impiety and
vice ? Could they ftem the rapid tide of corruption,
or be lii;cly to reform this abandcntd race? Or to what
purpofe v/as it for them to open their lips to this fcorn-
ful and hirdcned generation ? In fuch evil times the
righteous are filent, they have no fafe or promifing op-
portunity of fpeaking to the public in behalf of God
and religion, yea, it may be, watch the door of their
mouth againll bofom friends and relations, jVlic. vii. 5.
What then could be done? muft each, like a folitary
dove, tabring on his bread, bewail himfelf alone ? Jt is
likely they mourned much apart, being greatly per-
plexed, though not indefpair; they could find no fa-
tibfaction or relief in popular affembliesj but one way

was

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHL 445

was left among themfelvcs, and ihough it was attended
with trouble and danger, thi . way they took, a path liit'e
trod in a day of licentioufneo and carnal fecuiity. This
track is no oihcr than religious conference j they fre- •
quenily difcouifcd together in u]^- ighinefs and Io\e:
*' Tiien," when immorality, proLin<.nefs and inhdeiiiy
fo much abounded, " they that feared il.e Lord, fpake
" often one to another." And ihcir voice, ab we fhrill
prefently fee, came into the earo cf the Lord of hi ils
with acceptance. In like manner they who l.;ve God,
without riches, power, learning, or any other fiiining
gift of nature or providence, by their holy converie, in
his prefence may greatly edify one another; an expe-
dient more efpecially uilful in a feafon of general de-
parture from the ordmanccs of the Lord, and the habit
of life which becomes thofe who fear him. This was
the cuftom of thefe pious ^fraelitCa, however inferior
they might be in many rci'pedts, with hcariS full of
concern for the glory of God, and a view to their own
prefervation and comfort, they v. ere enabled by grace
to confer together, to their unfpcakable honor and ad-
vantage, as will hereafter be feen.

Now this pradlice fuppofes, i. That they had freguent
c/pmbiL'S. It was impolTible to hold thefe conferences
without meeting together, to which they who fear
God have been always inclined, and particularly when
they perceived aiiy remarkable danger. Man is focial
in every ftate. " The companies of the wicked (fays
" David) have robbed me; but I have not forgotten
*' thy law," Pfdm cxix. 61. When the impious meet
daily Lo countenance one another in their abominations,

and

446 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

and to upliold the wretched caufe of infiuelity, fhall the
riohtei us, whom they hate and oppofe, forfakc- the af-
fembling of themfelve'- together, and lofe the things
they have gained ? John ii. 8. They certainly will
not ; the faints, in t e exerclfe of grace, will aflbciate
for tht ir mutual fupport, and in defence of the truth,
when the enemy tomes in like a flood; and he that
can allow himfelf to negle£l this natural and neceflary
means of his own prefervation, and of promotmg the
caufe of piety in the world, does well to confider how
the love of God dwells in his heart !

Again, it implies that they freely opened their
minds to each other, 7 he fcripture is unacquainted
with filent meetings, which are really vain and abfurd.
Religious aflemblies are for the glory of God and our
mutual profit ; but, can thefe ends be anfwered where
nothing is faid ? How can our united fupplications and
praifes afcend to the Father, or infl:ru6lion and com-
fort be conveyed to our hearts, in a meeting where a
word is not uttered ? It is therefore highly unreafon-
abie to plead for or pra£tice a total filence among the
famts, when gathered together in the n::ir;e of the
Lord. The faithful referred to were otherwife taught;
they opened their mouths, no doubt, to the Lord, in
prayer and thankfglving ; but the report we are now con-
fidering is confined to their fpeeches one to another,which
might be according to their ability from the word ; but
here is not fo much a regard to the preaching of one
qualified and called to that important fervice, which
may be one means of eftabliftiing the children of God
in their private aflemblies j it refers to conference-
meetings.

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 447

meetings, in which they more freely and univerfally
difcouifed, everyone bearing his part ; for inconverfa-
tion, like a bank, each companion has or fhould hav^e
his fhare; at thefe meet'ngs of the faithful all in gene-
ral fpeak in their order, in a manner fuited to the oc-
cafion and circumftances they were in, as the expreflion
implies.

This leads to obferve, that we are not to imagine
that this was a light or common difcourfe. The word
"lli'i rendered [pake in the account, is very emphatical ;
it points to the order of their conferr ng together,
and the propriety of what they delivered. The
term is applied to God when he fpake to xMofes, and
it is alfo ufed to exprefs the e.oquence of Aaron, whofe
lips were prepared to fpeak well, or in an excellent
manner ; it is not barely to fay, but it figniiies an or-
derly continued wife fpeech, fuch as may delight and
profit the hearer, and (hews that thefe pious fouls were
greatly affifted in this humble attempt, and endowed
with a Spirit from on higii ; the confufed and rude way
of fome, under a pretence of freedom in their afiem-
blies, is carnal, indecent and vain, and no more to be
compared with the conference commended in fcripture,
than the babling of fools with the ferious and perti-
nent difcourfes of the learned and wife, in the mod re-
fpedable fociety. Thefe holy men met under a deep
concern for the name of the Lord, and their mutual
fafety and encouragement in his ways, which w.re de-
fpifed ; and when the people of God come together in
this frame and view, whether in a formal or more fa-
miliar manner, the Spirit is often poured out from on

high ;

448 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

high ; hence their lips move fwettly and wifely. O the
reverence, fervor and proprioty with which they who
fear the Lord fomctimes fpeak. to one another, under
the influence of his grace, which he hears with de-
light !

It is neither prefumptuous nor vain, but may be
ufeful to conjecSlure the topics or heads of difcourfe the
faithful went upon in thefe meetings. Indeed no man
now llviig was prefent, but, from the nature of the
thing, and from univerfal experience under the Lke
circumftances, we may eafily apprehend, and even ven-
ture to affirm, that the following fubjeils had a place
in their conference:

I. "The name of the Lord." This includes his na-
ture, counfels and caufe, as we (hall have occafion to
fhew when we enter on the character of the pious,
Thefe Ifraelites fpake the truth in their heart, and no
doubt their difcourfe turned on that which occupied
their thoughts. They fpake one to another concerning
the holinefs, juftice, power and faith fulnefs of the Lord
their God. Every one in his temple fpeaks of his glory.
Diifcourfes on the name of the Lord in this fenfe are very
ftrengthening to the faith of God's people, and tends
to engage their hearts towards him. Befides, we may
fuppofe that they conferred on the prophecies, hiftory
and promifes contained in revelation. Indeed, before
the invention of printing, copies of the fcripture were
fcarce j Bibles are now very cheap j but in thofe days
a few leaves of that facred volume would fetch a con-
fiderable fum j neverthelefs feme of the company might

furnifo

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 449

furnifh the reft, and others from their iremoiies affift
theaflembly; hence they might fpeak to one another
on the promifes of the Meffiah, God's covenant with
Abraham, and his repeated engagements to fave them
that fear him ; they might likcwife difcoune on the
feafonable and wonderful appearance of the Almi^jhty
for the prefervation of his church, and the reviving his
caufe when in danger, by Noah, Mofes, and alfo in
the days of Elias, when faith feemed to fail, and true
religion was ready to expire. Tinefc confiderations,
with the immutability of the divine counfel, which
infures the completion of tl.e eled;, afford itrong con-
folatiun to the faithful, and fill them with courage
under the darkeft fcenes of prpvidence.

?. Their hearts were full of concern about the abo-
minations by which the Name of the Lord was blaf-
phemed, and therefore no doubt they dwelt upon the
threatning errors and difoiders which prevailed. In
this fad ftate of things, as hinted before, they might be
rather dilcouraged from fpeaking to otiiers who, being
hardened in their iniquity, would only deride and abufe
them, and thereby add to their guilt; but to one ano-
ther, in thofe conference-meetings they freely unbur-
thened their minds on the melancholy fubjetl, which
might be ufeful to excite a becoming indignation
againft the provoking tranfgreflions of the times, to
keep them on their guard, and to animate them in
holding faft their profsffion. And further,

3. It may be prefumed that they fpake to one ano-
ther concerning the fnares that were about them, and
F{ the

450 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

the temptations they were under, at leafl in fome mea-
fure, to comply with the finful cuftom of the day, and
thereby to fail from their ftedfaftnefs. In a feafon of
general defe(3:ion, men full of fubtlcty lie in wait, if
poflible, to pervert from the ways of the Lord, and
there are commonly popular arts in pra£lice, by which
fome are overtaken to their hurt j thefe differ according
to the tafte of the times, and are craftily adapted to the
temper and circumftances of the objeiS; but whatever
may be the form of the nets which are fpread, it is
natural for thofe who are on the watch, to acquaint one
another with what they perceive, and mention the in-
ftances in which they prevail, that, being fufficiently
warned, they may efcape the paths of the deftroyer.
To this it may be needful, at times, to call to remem-
brance their frailty, and how liable the beft are,
through the deceit of the flefh, to be overtaken and
fall into fm.

But, of all the fubje(9:s which may turn up in the
conference of the faints in a time of apoftafy, there is
none more common or ufeful than that of their own
experience. By experience I mean the efficacy of the
aofpel in the heart, which is through the operation of
the Spirit, and that communion with God and fenfe of
his love, which the believer may have found in his
attendance on divine inftitutions. That the word comee
not in word only but alfo in power, fufficient to inveft
the fubjeft with an alTurance of the truth, and that.
they who embrace it with love, and obey it from the
heart, have enjoyed delightful fellowfliip with the Lord
in his ways, mull be owned by thofe who pretend to

the

• IN THE DAYS OF MALACHT. 451

the credit of divine revelation ; and indeed, he who has
felt nothing of this internal efFeifl: by the word unto re-
pentance and faith, is a flranger to vital religion ; for
we are exprefly told that the word thus " efF.vf aally
*' worketh in them that believe," i ThefT. ii. 13. It
is not barely a fa6t which has in lome decree once been
found v^ith the chriilian, much Icfs is it confiaeJ to
thofe who are ftrong in fa rh, this -^fFeSl: is common to
them who believe j nor were the tauhul of old with-
out this experience, the fymptoms jf which are, ha^
tred of fin, defires after holmefs, anr' joy in the Lord j
now, however fome under a fpecious pretence of hu-
mility, and the deceit of the heart, would take chri-
ftians off from a regard to this as an uncertain and
tranfitory thing, if any fuch exper'ence exifts, to hefi-
tate which is to favor of deifm itfelf, let reafon judge
if a remembrance thereof is not a natural and powerful
means to eftablifh its fubjeil in an age that is loofe and
prophane, for this man has the witnefs in himfelf to the
truth from which he is tempted to depart ; he has r'elt the
power of thofe do£lrines, vv'hich the wicked contradict
and blafpheme ; and can a man be eafily moved from the
truth which hath been efFeclual to his growth in grace,
and communion with God ? He that doth the truth
Cometh to the light, and will bring the feeiings of his
heart, as v/ell as his external obedience, to tho» ftand-
ard of fcripture, for he is concerned to manifeft its fo-
briety, and that it is agreeable to the analogy of
faith, and to the common teftimony of the faints, for
even experimental religion is fubftantially the fame ia
the called, and nothing can be more rational than to
improve that experience, th^- reality of which is evident

F f 2 to

452 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

to his confcience, into an argument for holding faft his
profeffion, for though no man's private experience is a
proof to another that his religion is divine, yet to him-
felf a more fohd evidence of this he cannot poffefs, mi-
raculous teftimony or immediate infpiration alone ex-
cepted ; even that bell of internal evidence which be-
longs to the Bible, namely, the purity of its doctrines
and precepts, is not equal to that of its fan6iifying ef-
fects in the heart, of vi^hich the believer is confcious on
refledion. This being the cafe, it is eafy to fee the
advantage that muft arife to the faithful by a free com-
munication of their experience to each other, to con-
firm them and to animate their perfeveratice amidft the
fcorn of unbelievers, or licentious pi ofeflbrs, for, what
man who hath this evidence of the truth in his heart
will defpife or forfake it ? The apoftle was animated by
this effcd of the word upon others : " For I am not
•' afliamed of the gofpel of Chrift, for it is the power
'* of God to the falvation of every one that believeth,**
Rom. i. 16. How much more fhall a man be encou-
raged to abide in his profeffion, who finds himfelf the
fubje£l of this divine power ? May the Reader manifeft
his knowledge of the like teftimony by his walk, for I
prefume that he is convinced that no article or topic of
difcourfe is more profitable among the children of God,
in a perilous time, than what relates to their acquain-
tance with experimental religion. Other particulars
might be fubjomed, namely, their infinite obligation?
to Jefus, who was facrificed for them, the contradic-
tions he endured, and the fhame he defpifed when he
fufFered on the crofs ; they will likewife remember their
folemn engagements to him and his people, the mife-

rable

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHT. 453

rable end of apoftates, and by every argument in their
power excite one another to ftrive againft fin and to
hold out to the end j and, to fay no more, they will
not forget the grace there is in Chrift to fupport and
deliver them, nor the glory they fhall obtain at his ap-
pearance and kinydom ; but time would fail, and the
Readei will think thefe hiato aie fufficient.

It appears then, that chriftians are not filent when
together, for want oi fubjedts adapted to their comfort
in this Itate of trial. The things of the Spirit afford
a rich variety of matter for difcourfe ; yet, alas, how
often is it feen that, being ftraitened in themfelves,
they are dumb, or rarely converle on what relates to
the kingdom of God ; but when they are enabled to
open their bofom and fp^ak freely on thefe divine to-
pics, they find comfort by the mutual faith of each
other; it knits them together m lov, and has a pow-
erful tendency to revive their fpirits when drooping,
infomuch that fometimes they meet in heavinefs
through manifold temptations, and return with thankf-
giving and joy, being ready as it were to take >: ff their
harps from the willows, and with melody tune them to
the God of their life, fo that they who omit fuch oppor-
tunities little think how much they lofe by their ab-
fence, and lie out of the way of their pwn great ad-
vantage.

From this inftance of piety it alfo appears that true

religion is focial. Indeed the godly man is obliged to

Ihun the vam multitude. He is in a manner fequeftered

from the world, and muft often retire, it may be fome-

F f 3 times

454 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

times from the beft of company, for, however fomC
live, private devotion is needful to a clofe walk with
God 5 to be unacquainted with this, is to be a ftranger
to faith, or at leaft fuch are declining apace from its
virtue, and will one day bitterly weep for their folly;
now, on account of thefe neceflary withdrawments,
the believer may be thought an unfociable creature,
but this is for want of underftanding or confidering the
nature and tendency of his life, which, while it induces
him into his chamber to converfe with himfelf and
his Lord, that the life of religion may be maintained
in his foul, by that very means preferves an habitual
fenfe of the love of Gcd to him, and his approaching
falvation, which naturally cn^ate a defire, yea, and
'fometimes a lonp,ing after thofe aflemblies in which he
may hope for a tafte of that joy, in the fulnefs of which
the fpirits of the juft fing round the throne of God and
the Lamb. Thus the believer's clofet fits him for the
fandhiary, and his private iniercourfe with heaven pre-
pares and dirpoffrs him for the communion of faints;
ncr is any eflt'it of divine love in the heart more cer-
tain, than that of a rtadinefs to meet them on &\cry
proper occafior, and a delight in their prcllnce. Some
iindi r a high profeffion of the gofpel may be cynical
and relervcd, but it is unjult to charge their difagree-
able temper on tne religion of Jelus, the genius of
which is quite the revcrfe ; nothing can be more di-
rectly oppofite to an evangelical Ipirir, to Vv'hich bro-
therly love is eflential, than any thing that favours of a
rr.onkifh life, which fome men, through weaknefs or
defign^ plead for : rui practice. The gofpel leads its
fulj-ds to airociate ofien, and to an open frank con-

verfatioi>

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 455

yerfation <me with another; f(» that it is no good fign,
and far from being amia->le, when ptrf.>ns affe6l the
unfociable habit which i nie men wear; a hah t v/hich
as it is contrary to fcr [tur:-examp!e, is no hf- pre-
judicial to tlie itU'-reit g1 religion, u r it tend*, to de-
prive che faithful of one [.rincipal means of their con-
firmation and joy.

It Is an observation grounded on univerfal expe-
rience, that a man is known by his con pany. Thus
the friends ot^ the believer are thofe who fear God ; his
natural or civil connexions in life may expofc him to
very unpleafmg fociety at times, but he that walks in the
Spirit will not choofe to afibciate with the ignorant and
prophane ; he is, with David, " a companion of all
"them that fear God ;" and he delights in the faints
who are the excellent of the earth ; hence he is earneft
with the Lord in fuch language as this: "Let thofe
*' that fear thee turn unto me, and thofe that have
*' known thy teftimonics." Art rhou, Reader, a com-
panion of the ungodly, thou art either ungodly thyfelf,
or ftrangely feduced ; beware of rhe plagues that are
coming on the wicked, but I would hope thy fellow-
fhip is with the righteous ; be thankful for thy happy
fituation ; it is a fingular advantage to enjoy their fa-
vor and company, but a mercy fliU greater is an heart
to improve it.

And, are the advantages of chriftian conferences fo

great and important ? may we not juftly lament that it

is fo much negledled, or rather laid afide ? That there

is now little of it in the ordinary difcourfc of believers,

F f 4 almoft

456 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

almofl- every one knows, a forrowful fymptom of their
hearts being too feidom employed on heavenly fubjedls 5
her ce many are lean and unfruitful, but, as the per?
fe£lion ot chriftian fociety lies in a gofpel church ftate,
the intereft of religion is moft effedually promoted by
the gatherings of thofe who are joined in the Lord, it
is therefore melancholy indeed, when members of the
fame church either fpeak not at all, or rarely fay any
thing to one another about the things of God. Cafual
and ordinary meetings of the faithful ought to be intir
proved to their fpiritual profit, but the principal and
only fufficient means of promoting the kingdom of
God, is the fellowfliip of the faints in the order of the
gofpel, to which every other pious endeavour muft be
fubordinate ; hence the old ferpent, in every age, would
entice mtn from a regard to this divine inftitution j in
jfome inflancef, they who belong to this or the other
community, omit the affemblies of their brethren, and
{am to be religious abroad, which is ftrange ; but,
from what we have feen, the advantage of conferring
togehi-T is manifeftly great, it (hould therefore be en-
couraged in every church, without which one confi-
deic'ble end (>f conimunion and means of keeping up
the power of godlinefs is loft. O that thefe ancient
worthies were followed ! can any thing be more highly
appro\ed t' an ihtir practice ? or can it with reafon be
doubted whahcr iheir condu6t is tranfmitted for the
imitation of po''eiity ? Why then. Beloved, is the
laudi.ble cuftom difcouraged or forfaken ? Things are
rot fo bad with us as in the time of thofe whofe exam-
ple is before us 5 but, are there no appearances to awa-
ken our concern for the Name of the Lord, and to put

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 457

us on every method to quicken one another in his
wav ? why then do we omit this excellent means of
promoting the knowledge and love of God ? will you
fay thiit religious conferences have been abufed ? Be it
fo ; what means of grace may not be abufed by vain
and felf-confiJent perfons ? Shall the children of God
be fiient, or refrain from fpenking one to another, be-
caufe fome bafe hypocritical men have taken occafion
from thefe exercifes to intrude and exalt themfelvesj
againit the order and peace of the church ? This me-
thod of edification is fo natural, that it is fcarce to be
avoided by them who are earneftly feeking the things
which are above, infomuch that whenever the work
of the Lord is going forward, conference- meetings
abound, and the enlightened gladly lay hold of every
opportunity for fpeaking on divine fubjciSs, and the
eonftant ufe of this pradtice in a church is of great fer-
vice towards the mutual acquaintance and love of the
members, difcerning of gifts for the miniftry, prevent-
ing apoftafies, and promoting the power of godlinefs
among them. O that the faithful were enlarged, and
their lips circumcifed to fpeak to one another, that
they were free to communicate their experience and
knowledge, and to lay open the temptations, fears,
hope and joy, which exercife their hearts in a life of
faith ; nothing can be more rational or becoming their
character. By this means many a church has been
preferved, or revived, yea, and in fome inftances long
fulhined without a ftated minifter, till one has been
obtained, with a bleffing, under whom it hath flou-
jifhed again j it is therefore to be wifhed that the ex-
ample before us was univerfally followed, and fpiritual

confe-

458 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

Cinrerenc':' tncour^^^cd in every chriftian community.
A pradlice lb high'y pleafing to the Lord, and condu-
cive to the intercft of perfonal and fecial religion, muft
fureK b? thf object of rh.-ir defire, wiio hope to be his
in the day v/h(:u he makes up his jewels, which will
abundantl recompence the lelf-denial that may attend
their zca! for his Name,

LECTURE XXVIIL

What included in thinking on the Name of the Lord.
His hec'rke.iing to his peoples difcourfe, and book of
remembrance, explained. Refledlions.

^ r E have feen the righteous in conference toge-
' V iher at a time when the Name of the Lord
was p'ofaned, and have heard, as it vi^ere, the fubjedls
on whicln ihey dncourfed. Thefe exercifes are el}ecmed,
in proportion to the increale or decay of vital godli-
iiefs, infomuch'that we may in a meafure difcover the
ft te of religion among any body of people, by their
regard to fuch pious and needful affembiies. , When
the work of the Lord is going forward, the afFedlions
of his faints are raifed towards heaven, then they de-
Ijoht in thofe interviews before him which tend to pro-
mote his intercft, and iheir mutual acvantage. At firft
converfion men naturally defire to tell what God hath
done for their fouls, and to be further enlightened, and
it is the joy of more advanced believers, when in a be->
coming frame, to affift tiieir young bre'Lhren. Hence

they

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 45Q

they gladly embrace every fit opportunity of comino-
together. To this fome objeil and fay, that thefe
meetings interfere with the chriftian's obligations in
other refpe(3:s; but, however fome idle perfons rnay
have negledled their duty, and given juft caul'e of com-
plaint, it is far from b.ing impofiible for the difciples
of Jefus, who are nearly fituated, to hold frequent^ I
had almoft faid, daily*' aflemblies for fpiritual exercifej

this

* As hinted p. aSS, if people delighted in fpiritual exercifes, they might
contrive freqiieiit meetings without a negledl of their civil concerns. The
daily prayers, and other religious fervice in the Eftablifhed Church, and
alfo among the Diflcnters, in almoft every market-tovi'n and citv in the
Jcingdom, not excepting the metropolis itfelf, evidently prove that our fore-
fathers found this to be faft, otherwife, what fhould be the occafion or
motive to the many donations and voluntary fubfcriptions for the fupport of
fuch"opportun!tis3 ? We may flatter ourfelves j but, for the moft pa:t, ab-
fence from thefe appointments is not owing to neceffary bufinefs, but to a
want of inclination, and the truth is, that we are too plainly now become
lovers of pleafure more than lovers of God. I take leave further to obferve
concerning thefe occafional meetings of the faithful, that, hov>'ever in the ge-
neral they were promifcuous from the beginning, there are inftances recorded
in which they were compofed of women only, who cxercifed, at leaft in pray-
er, one among another ; in all appearance this was the cafe in the houfe of
Mary, Afts xii. 12. At this meeting for prayer many were gathered, but
not a man feen among them; and from what Peter fays, ver. 17. it fliould
feem that neither James, nor any of the brethren were there ; but, that
in whuh Lydia uas converted, an account of which we have in chap. xvi.
is fti^i mote to the purpofe. We are told that Paul fpake to the women
which --eforted thither ; and will any perfon fuppofe that the men with-
drew on inp entrance of the apoftle, or that he fpake not to all who were
prefent ? To fay that the greater part were women, or that Paul difcourfed
with thufe women before worihip began, is at beft an improbable conjec-
ture, and as it were begging the queftionj no tircumftance is mentioned
J;hat would induce an unprejudiced perfon to conclude that a man, befides
the apoftle and his companions, came to this meeting: And, why fhould
not womviii endowed with grace exercife one among another in private? In-
{leed their filence i? rcjuircd in open ard public aff:nib!ier, it being, as de-

rl^rcd

46o CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

this may cer.a nly be done without any imj)earhment
of r heir character in civil and natural life, and it has
always b^e the cafe in a flouriftiing ftate ol the church.
Widely different from this, was the period 'n which the
faith lul rcfened to were accuftomed to meet; there
was then not h hare coldnefs or negledl, but an averfion
to the way of the Lord, which is ever attended with
a popular conttmpt of thofe who delight in waiting up-
on him. Under thefe circumftances we may fuppofe
that their mctt ngs were private, or that they who fol-
Iov\-ed taem wen. expoftd to reproach and derifion ; but
the God whom they lerved difdained not to own them,
whofe record on high in their favor, infinitely over-
balanced the difgrace and trial they met with from

men,

flared in I Cor. xiv. 35. a fliame for women to fpeak in the church;
nor fhould any prcfume to encourage a praftice in dirtdt oppofiiion to the
teftimony of God; but, if it is abfolutely unlawful for a woman to praj',
or to o^jen ht-r mouth on points of religion, in any alTembly whatever,
vhere is thi pt-u nercy or defign of the ap ftle's difcourfe in chap. xi. 5, 6?
Stveral other paflages ihew that women were ernploytd in a spiritual way
for tht benefit of the aifciplcs, namely, A£ts xviii. 27, Rom. xvi. i, Phil,
iv. 3 Rev. li. ^o, &c. which me Reader may coniult at his leifure. In-
deed it fccms uareafonable to reftrain chriftian women irom any manner of
of e irymg one anoiher, in their power, that is dtcent, and that eonfifts
with the Older of the church, prcfcribeu by the Lord, and his infpired
miniftt-is. In one word, I fee nothing in nature or fcripture that forbids a
woman the liberty of pr.iying, or otherwife exercifing her ability, in pri-
vate or fpecial fociety, which I the rather mention, becaufe without this
allowance, in feme circumftances, one means of religion is eratirely loff,
particularly family-prayer, and that even where the rifiug generation is
nearly concerned, and there is realbn to fear that this groundlefs prejudice
againft a woman's b?ing exercifed in a foclal way under any confideration
whatever. h-ii.h occafioned a fad negledl of that branch of worfhip ia fome,
who might otherwife have l"d thofe under their c.^re to the throne of
grace, with advantage, though, to their praife be it fpokv;n, a few of that
fex are not ailiamed of their duty to God, and the fouls cominitttd to tbel^
charge.

IN THE DAYS OF MALACH^. 461

men, which we are n')W to confider. " And the Lord
" hearkened and heard it j and a b'?ok of ixmembrance
" was written before him for thdn ihat kw.^^d the
*' Lord, and that thought iipm hi^ Nanr"." To
think on the Name ot tht Lord i? a ci teruju <.f fje-
nuine piety, it may tiiertiore br u!' tul to Oj.ea this
critical notp, and fhew unio wliom it bt-h n_.->, and then
fee the attention which Jehovah ^ave to the -o ]y m
their meetings, and the tranfudfinn which euluctJ this
graCiOus notice of their zeal tor lis glory.

The Name of the Lord, in this place, is h's publ'c
authority, worfh'p and intereftj or in other words, it
is his truth, ordinances, and vifible church, and com-
prehends every thing that relates to rea) pitfy, in its
power and form; it is the caiife of God and t uth, and
ftands oppofed to infidelity, prophai enefs and vice, of
every kind and degree, whereby the nioU High is dif-
honored and blafphemed, as in the c<riupt and de-
generate age of ]VIalac!".t: To this agrees chap. i. u.
" My Name, faith the Lord of h( Us, fhall be great
" among the Gentiles," i. e. as appears from the fen-
tence immediately following, " in every pla..e incenfe
** (hall be offered to his Name, and a pure offering,'*
which came to pafs through the obedience of faith,
when the gofpel obtained in the world.

Now to think on this N ime, is not barely to have a
thought about it, which the wicked may havej nor
doth it preclude all conc.rn about civil and temporal
things, without which no man can fill up hisftation in
providence, or adorn a chriftian piofeJlion j neither is

462 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

it impofli lie for a man who is entitled to this charafter,
through one occafion and another, to have the Name of
the Lord out of his thoughts for a feafon : His expe-
rience was rare, who laments in his diar)^, that on a cer-
tain day, for the fpace of an hour, he was a ftranger
to a thought of Jefus and his Name. Alas, hew many
hours and days pafs away without an affcding fenfe of
his love, and concern for his glory !

This regard for the Name of the Lord, lies, i. In
an habitual concern for his honor, and the intereft of
religion, which is inherent to a pnnciple of grace, and
infeparable from the love of God in the foul. The new
creature breathes after the glory of its divine Author ; fo
that it is as natural for the righteous to think on the
Name of the Lord, as the thought of foolifhnefs is to
the wicked. This facred habit in the faithful appears
to be univerfal from Ifa. xxvi. 8. " The defire of our .
" foul is to thy Name and remembrance of thee."
Herein lies a critical difference between the natural and
fpiritual man's thoughts of God, that in one it is forced,
difagreeable, againft the prevailing bent of his mind,
and what he would gladly difmifs; whereas in the
other it is of choice, accompanied with delight, and
what he feeks after, as David, " iVIy meditation on him
*' fhall be fweet," Pfalmciv. 34. Which leads, 2. To
obferve, that the firft fenfible and adlual exercife of
this divine habit is a fixed and deep intention of mind,
contemplating the intereft and glory of God ; The word
imports a clofe infpe6lion, as the ingenious artificer
turns about a curious work, and views it on every fide,
that he may finifh the fame : So that one obvious and

efTential

IN THE DAYS OF AlALACIII. 463 •
efiential idea, is that of employing our faculties in rumi-
nating on the Name of ;hc Lord. He therefore who
is a ftrangcr to the Ituuy of ihofe things which belong
to the kingdom 01 God, has no pi'.te re to this charac-
ter ; nor is it merely to meui ..tt, but, 3, To th.nk,
with a folicitude of mind, about its prv)fp rity, with
contrivance how to promote it. This thou^htfuinefs
turns not only on the excellency and importance of the
Name of Jehovah, but alfo on the danger it is in th. ou2;h
the declenfions ar.d apoftacies of the t'mes, and implies
our chief care and ftudy to fave, revive, and incrcafe it.
The word is fometimes rendered dcrnfe: and he that
doth not lay to heart the welfare of Zion, and contrive
what in him lies towards the intereft ol Chrift in his
day, falls fhort of the defcription. In a wo.'d, it im-
ports doing to our utmoft, whatever may tend to the
honor of God, or exerting our talents of every kind for
his glory. Some obferve from this claufe, that here is
comfort for the poor and weak, who cr.n fcarce fay or
do any thing for promoting the caufe of che Redeemer
in the world ; the promife is not to them who ck^ but
to thofe who think on the Name oi the Lord; but
every one who anfwers this character will be adtive ac-
cording to his ability. In vam do they pretend to a cordial
regard for the caufe of God, who withhold any thing
in their power to promote it; and what man is not
capable of doing fomeihing ? who cannot pray for
Zion, appear in her affembiies, and be more or lefs ac-
tive for the peace or jcrufalem .?

Thus to think on the Name of the Lord is no fuper-
ficial tranfitory or Iruiticfs thing, but a folid, perma-
nent.

464 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

neni, and choice experience oF the faithful, and car-
ries in it the utinoft folici'.ude and enHe^vour of the
fubject for the g ory of God. Now whoever ib thus
employed will find himfelf grieved, or rejoiced, as the,
intereft of religion declines or ,Dioipcrs ; h^ will alfo
deny himfelf, when needful, and, li called to it, fub-
mit to the k^weil or lUKid difficah olTice of love, for
the fake of Chnil and his people, riappy the man
who hath this noble teftimony ot his confcien. e ! the
Lord will think upon him in a time oi tr9uble, and
great is his honor, as will hereafter appear.

And, hath the Reader a claim in this note of the
righteous ? Is he confcious of a like folicitude tor the
Name of the Lord, and concern for his intereft in the
world ? Alas, fome nominal chriftians openly difcover
a want of this regard for the welfare of Zion 5 they
live in a fenfual manner, and are not grieved for the
apoftafies of the times ; but awful is the threatening :
*' If ye will not lay it to heart to give glory unto my
•* Name, faith the Lord of hofts, I will even fend a
•' curfe upon you." O that carelefs backfliders, who
negleft the honor of God, could tremble at his word,
and repent of their folly ' But, my Friend, is, *' hal-
•* lowed be thy Name," engraved in thine heart f haft
thou a cordial concern for tht caufe of religion in a de-
• generate age ? Rejoice ; cheriih every thought which
the love of God may excite in thy breaft for his glory,
purfue it with vigour, and feize the opportunity for
adtion ; it may call for much felf-denial ; the world
may fcofF, and wanton profeflbrs reproach thee, but

the

IN THE DAYS OF MALACIII. 465

t"he eye of the Lord Is upon thee; dare to be holy,
and zealous in his ways ; thou Ihalt net lofe thy re- .
ward !

DECE^f'l' conceptions of Jehovah will prevent low
and carnal ideas of this report of his grace ; when we
fpcak of the Lord's hearkening to his people, we are
to guard againfl- every conceit unworthy his glorious
perfections, and not indulge a thought to the diflionor
of his infinite mind. Far be it to imagine that the
eternaJ God is at any uncertainty about what is fpoken
in fecret, ox that his acquaintance with what p^^ffes in
the mofb private alTemblies of his faints, depends on that
formal attention, by which they attain to the knowledge
of one anothers dircourfe; bodily parts and gefturcs are
no doubt attributed to God by. way of allufion, and de-
note a fimilitude in his dilpenfations with the conduit
of men under the like circumftances ; thus his fupport-
ing grace is defcribed by holding v^ith his hand, and
putting underneath his arm ; his regard of the ftate and
fupplications of his people, by opening his eyes and his
ears; and when it is declared that he hearkened and
heard v/hat thefe gracious perfons faid in their meet-
ings, I apprehend the following ideas are included,
I. That he is prcfcut. They who liflen to difcourfe
are fupoofed to be in company, or near, at leaft with-
in hearing : It is true the Almighty fiiis heaven and
earth, and in ihis f?nfe is always at hand and not far
ofr, Jer. xxiii. 23, 24. But we know that there is
a fpecial and gracious prefence vouchfafed to them who
fear God ; he is nigh unto all who call upon him in trut^i,
Pfalm odv. i8. Of this there was a fymbol in tolo-

G 2 n;on'i^

466 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

mon's temple, and the promife is given to the fmalleft
aflembly of his faints, Matt, xviii 20. And it is fre-
quently found, that when two or three are gathered in
his Name, they have :eafon to fay: Is not the Lord in
this place! A^z\n ^ftleiKe is another idea conne<5^ed with
hearkening. The Lord is faid to keep filence when
he fpeaks not in judgment to the wicked, Pfalm 1. 3.
Alfo Jer. viii. 6. it is faid, that he hearkened and
heard, but they fpake not aright, no man repented him
of his wickednefs, i. e. the Lord gave them fpace for
repentance, but they did not improve his long-fuffer-
ins; and G,race ; fo that this may intend, among other
things, the forbearance of the Almighty, who could
have looked on the proud and abafed them, but he faw
meet, as it were, to (land ftill in the courfe of his pro-
vidence, and fuffer the wicked to prevail, which, how-
ever a trial to the righteous, gave them an opportunity
of tefti Tying their zeal for his Name, which turned to
their advantage. ltz[{o\vc\'^\\G.$\{\s peculiar attention. Men
liften in order to obferve what is faid j and the Lord
hearkening to the converfation of thofe who think on
his Name, effentially includes his particular notice of
whatever they fpake ; with this ftands connected an
idea of his perfeSl knowledge of all their difcourfc; the
end of hearing is to underftand the report; indeed
among men this end may be lofl: ; through diftance,
the lovvnefs of the fpcaker, or fome occafional obftruc-
tion, a perfon may hearken in vain, but nothing can
prevent the all-perfett Jehovah from an exa(fl and full
acquaintance with every thing which pafleth in the
conference of his people. Finally, it denotes his appro-
bation and delight : " Let me hear thy voice, for fvveet.is

" thv

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 467

*^ thy voice," Cant. ii. 14. A melodious f^und en-
gages the attention, and the Lord hearkens to
the prayer and pious difccurfe of his faints, in their re-
ligious aflemblies, as one who hath a tafte for mufic in-
clines his ear to a found and good inftrument, played
by a fkilful hand. Thefe are the natural and prin-
cipal ideas contained in this wor.dcrful fentence, name-
ly, the prefence of the Lord in the aflemblies of his
faints, his fiience, his attention, his perfei^t knowledge
of every thing they fay, and the pleafure he rakes in
their concern for his glory : Their earnefl fupplica-
tions, and afFe»3:ionate fpeeches one to another, out of
love to his Name, afcend up before him, as pillars of
Imoke, " with myrrh and franckincenfe, perfumed with.
*' all powder of the merchant," Cant. iii. 6. All
which is very inciting, ard may well induce us to fol-
low this noble example of piety, and efpecially when
we confider the honorable notice which is taken of
thefe eminent faints, to v/hich we proceed.

" And a book of remembrance v/as written before
*' him." It has already been {hewn chat there are ma-
ny kind of books m.entioped in fcripture, to be opened
when the judgment is ict. A book of remembrance is
a regifler of names or events, to which recourfe may
be had on proper occafions. The allufion is to the
cuftom of princes, who order their fcribes or fecretaries
to write down certain important events, in their pre-
fence. Thus when the confpiracy of Bigthen and Te-
refli, certified by Efther in Mordecai's name, was
proved, it was written in the book of the Chronicles
before the king at court, i. e. in the royal prefence, '
G g 2 which

468 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

which was afterward produced, and his faithful fervant,
who difcovered the matter, rewarded, chap. vi. 3. In
like manner the Lord is here reprefented, feeing, with
his own eyes a true record of what he had heard with
his ears from thofe who feared him, whofe pious
affedlion, fidelity and courage, he determines to recom-
pence, with a glory not to be fully exprefied. The
eternal omnifcient Jehovah needs no memorial ; but
this manner of fpeaking after the ufage of men, denotes
his delio;ht in thefe faints, his everlafting: remembrance
of their love, and the certain reward of his grace, as
may be feen by comparing the paflage with Ifa. xlix.
16. and Hof. vii. 2. This memorial was written before
him^ i. e. under his eye and infped^ion, to be conti-
nually in his fight, or laid up in the archives of heaven,
above the reach of ar,y who would erafe or deftroy it,
that nothing might be loft, but that every inftance of
their holy zeal might appear in that day, when the
righteous fhall be ci owned in his prefence. Confide-
rations of a moft enlivening nature, and admirably
adapted to infpire them with an unfhaken refolution to
the end of their courfe.

The particulars of the glory afllgned thefe advocates
for God and religion, are at prefent referved, but in
general we are told, that the record was for them. It
was not like that which Ifaiah was dire6led to infcribe
againft the degenerate children of Ifrael, in which was
inferred their rebellion and ruin j no, this is a regifter
highly in their favor 3 indeed it contained the names
and conference of thefe holy perfons, but the phrafe
expreffes more than its being meerly of or concerning

them,

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 469

them, and points at the tenor and defign of this wri-
tino-, namely, that it was to their honor, and to fecure
their future and eternal advantage. In a word, this,
memorial is revealed not for their fakes only, who lived
in Malachi's days, but a!fo for the confolation and joy
of them who think upon the Name of the Lord in
every place, to the end of the world ; and he that be-
lieves will hold taft his integrity, however tried, and
reckon that h'S prefent fufferings are not worthy to be
compared with the dignity and bleficdnefs of his accep-
tance with the Lord at his coming.

How much to be admired is the condefcention and
grace of the moft High ! That the infinite and adorable
God fliould thus bow down to his creature.^, or hearken
to the feeble voice of his imperfe£l faints in their little
aflemblies, is truly aftonifhing ! May we not juftly
adopt the words of the royal confecrator, when, on his
knees in the temple, and with expanded hands towards
heaven, he draws back as it were with holy amazement,
and fay, " But w;ll God in very deed dwell with men on
*' the earth I " The thrones in heaven bend, to be-
hold this wonderful kindnefs of Jehovah to his people !
That the glorious Lord of univerfal creation, who
alfo, in his Itate as Mediator, is far above ail principali-
ties and powers, and whofe ears are continually faluted
with the adorations and fongs of the innumerable fpi-
rits above, fhould ftoop, and be taken with the groans
and tears, and broken conferences of them that fear
him below ; this is wonderful indeed, and can only be
refolved into that fovereign love which pafleth under-
ftanding, and which firft brought him down fromi his
Gg 3 glory

470 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

glory in which he fhone with the Father, to humble
himfelf to the fhame and death of the crofs, that he
might redeem us to God by his blood !

This throws a luftre on the conference of the faith-
ful, and fliould engage them to be frequently fpeaking
one to another. The prefence and ear of the Lord
are a glory on the afT-mbly of his people, howeyer
fmall or deipifed. The reputation of any fociety
draws many after it ; and if men fought the honor
which comes from God only, they would certainly
delight in thofe meetings, which they too often Ihun.
It is natural to frequent the afl'cmblies we apprehend
to our credit and advantage ; how ftrange is it then
that a good man can be unfociable in this refpect,
or refufe to join in an exercife fo rational, fo approved
of the Lord, and fo beneficial to himfelf, and to the
deareft interefl he has !

Under a perfuafion of this divine 'prefence and no-
tice, with what reverence and fobriety fliould we be-
have in our aiTcmblieb ! \n a meeting where every thing
that paflts is recorded in heaven, and the Lord is pre-
fent himfelf, who can allow a vain thought or trifling
exprellion ? Would a man of fen'fe or modefty behave
unfetmly, or fay any thing difagreeable in the prefence
or hearing of a wife and refpedlable governor or prince?
woul i h ■ not be careful to avoid whatever might offend
bis highiicfs, and lludy to honor and pleafe him ? Im-
perci lent and foobfh difcourle among them who profefs
to fear (jod, on any occifion, is /siC, and unworthy
their character i yet, alas, if this book of remembrance

wag

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 471

was laid open before us; could we read without bl-iHi-
in^ ? How many hours that are fptriu, even in the .
company of chriftians, (land ready to accufe us ? Our
fpeech fhou d always be good, that it may niinifter
grace to the hearers, but in religious meet.ngs, more
efpecially we fnoulJ keep! our hearts with all diligence,
and behave in an orderly, decent, humb'e and cautious
manner, as in the fight of the Lord. A due fenfe of
the record taken in heaven of what is faid amona: the
faints on earth, would c'leck th^ bo!dn'-fs of foT.e, who
fpeak, or rather prate. Without thinking, and give juft
offence. Beloved, we are not to be rafli with our
mouth, but pray for a fpirit of v/ildom, that we naay
know how to condu6t ourfelves in the houfe of God,
who dwells in the midft of his people. This holy
guard in the affemblies of the faints is perfe£IIy con-
fiftent with a becoming freedom in expreinng our
thoughts and experience, or whatever rr.ay tend to the
promoting of vital religion.

But, thou art ready to object, my talents are mean,
I can fay or do little or nothing for the caufe ; and on
that account am tempted to abfent from the meetino-s
of the brethren. Thou haft the greater need to attend
them; they are an excellent means of flrengthening
the weak, and increafmg the light and capacity of
thofe who fear God, and, where is the upricrhtnefs of
thy complaint, if thou art not feeking more grace? It is
pofTible that pride may lurk at the bottom of this fpccious
pretence ; is it decent to fay, I will not employ the capaci-
ty I have, becaufe it is not equal to that which fome (-thers
obtain ? Wilt thou refufe to acknowledge the fovereignty

G g 4 of

472 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

of God in the diftribution of his gifts? Or, canft thou,
with reafon, expe£l to be further entrufted, if thou
doft not improve the talent thou haft ? Be clothed with
humility, and do not think thyfclf utterly incapable of
icvviwy the intertft of religion. A perfonal appearance
among the faints, is in itfelf a means of thofe affem-
blics, in which they contrive and a6l for the Name of the
Lord ; and, is not this in thy power ? Thou haft not the
eloquenceof Aaron or the tongue of Apollos, yea, it may
be thou canft fcarce fpeak at all, yet, if with real concern
for the honor of God, you ailill with your prefence before -
him, he knows thy delircs, and his ear is open to the voice
of thine heart. It is an honor to be qualified for plead-
in"- the caufe of God, and for edifying his church, but
his gracious memorial in behalf of his people is not
ccnHned to thofe who fpeak beft, or even to them whq
do moft, but extends to all v.-ho think pn his Name.
Upon the whole, it appears that there is no reafon to
bo difcouraged on account of thy v.eakncfs, nor is
that an exciue for t.y non-attendance with the faith-
ful in their confercnce-meetinns.

And, vi'hat is the contempt, ill will, or reproaches
of n^cn, or any other trials to be met with in thus
fci'kins the kingdom of God ? The world may deem it
u-cak and fup-rrllitious, and they who are addicted to
pi.'.afure, and attend all aflem.biies but that of the
faint?, may prom uncc it aftl-dled fingularity, or even
divibt the iuK-eiity ot thofe v/ho follow them; they
v/ill objecl: and lay every faimbling-blcck they can in
thy way, if not malicioufiy watch for thy halting, and
pia^nify every failing againflthee; yea and furthe/,

thoij

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 473

thou mayeii: be forfakcn by fome who were once thy
^zealous companions, fee little fuccefs, and even for a
feafon be in darknefs of foul. Thus the Lord may
h'de himfelf, and keep filence awhile, neverthelcfs thy
name is written in heaven ; a bock of remembrance is
th'.re ; not a thought, a figh, a tear, a word, or an
paction, fnail be loft- or forgotten . Then be not
aftiamed ; though out of the books of fome men, to
thy prcLnt difadvantage, and the contempt of vain per-
fons ; thou art noted in this book of God, precious in
^is fight, and fhalt receive at his hands a crown of
glory which fadeth not away.

To conclude : Should not the gracious inclination
and regard of the Lord to his faints when difcourfing
together on his Name, excite their attention to him ?
It belongs to the faithful to hear whatever the Lord
God v/ill fpeak, and his hearkening to them is one mo-
tive to this obedience of faith. " The companions
" hearken to thy voice," Cant. vlii. 13. It is not
only difobedient but ungrateful to neglect: his voice,
whofe ear is attentive to ours. Blufh, Chriflian, if thy
ccnfcience telis thee tliou haft at any time difcovered a
want of regard to the authority and love of thy Lord,
who is ever v/aitir.g to be gracious unto thee ! In a
word, is a book of remembrance written before him
for thee ? let a memorial of his free and wonderful
grace be written on the table of thine heart ; bind it on
thine arm, or rather let it be graven on the palms of
thy hai.ds, to animate thy zeal for his glory, that thou
mayeft appear to be his in that day when he makes up
]iis jev/els?

LECTURE

474 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

LECTURE XXIX.

LoKD of bolls J whence that magnificent title; the
dzy when he will make up his jewels ; and what
implied in fo doing.

TH AT a book of remembrance was written be-
fore the Lord, in favor of his people, might
juftly infpire them with courage under all their temp-
tations, but he is gracioufly pleafed to make a further
revclatiC)n of his will, and to unfold this facred memo-
rial; not to indu'ge a vain curiofity, but that they
irsicrht be fi kd with peace and joy in believing, and
prcfs towards the mark of this glorious prize. This is
the record ; *' And they {hall be mine, faith the Lord
" of hofls, in that day when 1 make up my jewels ;
•* and I will fpare them as a man fpareth his own fon
" that ferveth h.m." Other pafTages intimate the no-
tice God takes of the thoughts, affedlions, refolutions,
prayers, tears and ferviccs of his faints, and they war-
rai>t us to conclude that thefe are all punctually in-
fcribcd in this book; but here we have an exprefs re-
cital of its contents, from whence the faithful may cer-
tainly know what is written in heaven concerning
them . And , who can forbear with the pfalmift
to admire and fay : ^^ O Lord, how great is thy
'* goodnefs v/hich thou hafl: laid up for them that truft
f' in thee before the fons of men ! "

This

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 475 .

^ This is not the corijefture cf man but the counfel .
of God, on which alone that hope depends, which is
the anchor of the foul; it is what the Lord of hofts
fa'th ; a difcinguifning cha:a6tcr firft adopted by Han-
nah, when flie vowed in the bitternefs cf her foul,
I Sam. i. II. Jehovah is the Lord of hofts, as he
ruleth in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabi-
tants of the earth, in which refpecb the number of his
forces are not to be told, they comprehend every crea-
ture on whom his light fhines. Job xxv. 3. In this
illuftrious character, are difplayed the majefly, power,
and glory of the moft High over all ; but I apprehend
it chiefly refpeds him as King of faints, and as the
commander cf the people he hath redeemed ; it feems
a title peculiar to Jehovah the Son, and to be originally
derived from his conducing the Ifraelites out of Egypt
into Canaan, of whom it is faid, Exod. vi. 26. that
they were brought " from the land of Egypt, accord-
*' ing to their armies or hofts." And again, chap,
xii. 41. " In the felf-fame day it came to pafs that all
" the hofcs of the Lord went out from the land
*' of Egypt ;" and accordingly the ark on which ihe
fhekinah rcfted was called by the *' Name of the Lord
" of hoft?, who dwelt between the cherubims," 2 Sam.
vi. 2. This agrees with the chara6ler under which he
appeared to Jofhua, chap. v. 15. " The Captain of the
*' Lord's hofts," to whom divine honor is paid, which
correfponds with Ifa. Iv. 4. where the Father faith,
'* 1 have given him — a leader and commander of the
*' people." Now this fignificant and fmgular charac-
jter is aftijmcd in the proclamation before us 5 and this

was

476 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

was the grand and flriking manner in which the -pro-
phets came forth : " Thus faith the Lord, the Lord
" of hojts^' from whofe mouth the report comes to the
heart with authority, and being mixed with faith, pro-
duces an affured expeiStation of the promife ; for who
fli.^It queftion the word of the omnipotent and un-
chaugeable God ?

Ani> what ear is not open when the Lord of hofts
fpeak-s ? Who is not waiting to know what the King
of heaven will pronounce at the head of his troops ? He
will farely'declare fomething great 2xiA good ^X'^g. himfelf,
t-^ the joy of his faints ; of this David was confident,
Ff.lm ixxxv. 6. " The Lord will fpeak peace to his
" Jieople and to his faints ;" nor was he miftaken : he
utteishis voice from his heavenly throne, under whom
rank, in order, the innumerable company of angels, arch-
ai'.ge'.s, cherubiins and feraphims, with the patriarchs,
ap()(lles, and a multitude of fpirits made perfe6t, who
were redeemed unto God by his blood, all filent to
Imw^ and fwift to perform his fovereign pleafure ; and
lo his command is to infcribe this decree from his
lip3 ! " And they (hall be mine, faith the Lord of
*' hofts, in the day when I make up my jewels ; and
" I will fpare them as a man fpareth his own fon that
" ferveth him." No lefs honor is infured them who
think on the Name of the Lord : it contains all their
falvation and all their defire j lefs could not fatisfy
them ; more is net wanting to render them compleatly
h^ppy for ever.

Th^

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 477

The period referred to is the laft and great day ; for
though the deftruitjon of the Jews is pointed at in this
prophec}', on the credit of which, as confirmed by our
Lord, many fled* and efcaped, whom fome count
thefe jewels j yet this fearful inftance of vengeance,
however Hke that yet to come, did not amount to the
defcription given of this day of the Lord, which we are
told, "fhall burn as an oven, and utterly confume all
" that do wickedly," infomuch that it fliall leave them
neither root nor branch : but this was not the cafe in
the deftruclion of Jerufalemj indeed multitudes periftied
in a terrible manner, yet their pofterity remain to this
day in fm and unbelief; neither did the righteous then
tread down the wicked as afhes under the foles of their
feetj nor (hall we difcern between him that ferveth
God and him that ferveth him not ; all which is de-
clared of this day, till Jefus is revealed from heaven to
judge the fecrets of men, and render to every one ac-
cording to his deeds.

In this gracious declaration from the Lord of hofts,
we are to note, whofe property the righteous fiiall be at
his glorious appearance, the mercy they fhall then ob-
tain, and how that folemn and interefting period is
defcribed. It begins with the claim which the Lord
will make in his people at his appearance and king-
dom, " They fhall be mine." Every creature is
the Lord's, who is the Maker of all things; he
hath an abfolute propriety and univerfal dominion
©ver the works of his hands. All fouls are his, angels

and

* To PeJli, a city of Macedonu,

47S CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

and men ; nor doth the apoftacy and rebcliicn of either
deprive the moft High ; but there is no cert.uh con-
nexion between being the Lord's by creation and natu-
ral right, and an efcape from his wrath, as a righteous
judge, who will not acquit j but thi;, we fhall prefently
fee, ftands connedled with being his in the ku(Q of the
text, " They fhall be mine," to me, as it literally
runs J i. e. my fons, each one fhall be to me as an
own, dutiful, and beloved fon to his affectionate and
generous parent : This appears from their being fpared
as a fon, according to the promife; for the infinitely
wife and unchangeable Jehovah cannot mifapply the
bleffings of his love. He is undoubtedly a fon whom
the Lord deals with as fuch . Again} *' They
fhall be mine," i. e. my jeweh. Now the jewels of
z man are his treafure, and 'his cbimi the Lord
hath in his people, txod. xix. 15. " Thou fhalt
*' be to me a peculiar treafure above all the people
" of the earth." 1 he expreffion carries in it more
than bare property, however valuable, it is an allufion
to jewels purchafed and appropriated to a man's own
ufe, and for the difplay of his perfonal glory on certain
occafions, of which more hereafter. Thefe ideas cor-
refpond with the relation fubfifting between God and
his people, whom he hath chofen, redeemed, and fet
apart for himfelf : " The Lord hath chofen Jac, b for
" himfelf, and Ifrael for his peculiar treafure," or jew-
els, for the word is the fame, Pfalm cxxxv. 4. " They
" fhall be mine." But are not the righteous now his ?
Doubtlefs they are } being called by grace, they ap-
pear to be his ; under a perfuafion of which they may
boldly fay, " I am the Lord's," Ifa. xliv. 5. or, as in

Cant.

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 479

Cant. vii. 10. "lam my Beloved's, and his deirc is
*' towards me," 1 hus Gith the Lord to the leed of
Jacob, " I have called thee by thy name, thau art
*' mine" Ifa. xliii. I. This is the chara«3:erirt.c of
them who fear God, by the teftimony of his word, and
in which they can ibmetimes rejnice, when fealed with
the Spirit of adoption ; and in many inftances the Loio
hath owned his people in the difpenfation of his provi-
dence, by which their enemies, who opprefTed them,
have been made to know, to their coft, that he " that
*' toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye ;" never-
thelefs, in this ftate of imperfection and trial, they are
.often obfcured in infirmities, affli£lions and perfecu-
tions, under which they lie concealed, and their real
character queftioned by themfelves and others. In this
dark and doubtful fituation, the eriemy is ready to infult,
and they are but too prone to fear that they are no: the
children of God j but in the day when Chrift makes up
his jewels, thefe dlouds fhall vanifh away, they (hall be
manifeftly hisj and be filled with courage and joy whea
he will confefs them before his Father and his an^ieis,
'' They fliall be mine," faith the Lord of hofts, evi-
dently mine : I will inveft myfelf with them^ and be glo-
rified in them ; then fhall fmall and great know, and
every creature, in that univerfal alTembly, acknowledge
they are mine, when my glory is revealed upon them ;
it fhall then be manifeft that they are mine, whom the
Father hath given me, my (heep, for v/hom I laid down
my life, my chofen, called and faithful ones.

With this honor and joy, ftands connected the mercy
of our Lord Jefus Chrift, exprefled in thefe words,
" I will fpare them as a man fpareth his own fon

" that

48o CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

" that ferveth him." Some refer this to the dealing^
of God with his children in timej q. d. they fhall hi
mine in the day when I make up my jewels ; till then I
will fp:ire, i e. have pity on them , 1 will not enter
into judgment with them; but pardun.and accept
them, nothwithftanding all their imperfediunsj and
no doubt the believer is indebted to the fj.anng mercy
of the Lord while in their natural ftate, till called into
fellcwfliip with him; and in all his difpeitfations, even
in his chaftenings, he corre6tcth them as a father a
fon in whom he delights ; but it is realonable to refer
both claufes to the fame period, even to that day of the
Lord v/hen vengeance fhall be taken on the wicked.
The Word* properly fignifies to be propitious, favor-
able, or compaffionatc, even to fhew mercy to them
who in juftice might bedeftroyed. " As I live, faith the
*' Lord, I will not fpare, neither will I pity," Ezelc,
V. II. i. e. I will execute juftice, *' becaufe thou haft
** defiled my fanduary." Thus God fpared not the
an pels that finned, but ca/i them down to hell, nor the old
-world, 2 Pet. ii. 4, 5. In this fenfe alfo the Father
fpared not his own Son, but delivered him up to juftice
for our fins, which indeed is the legal ground of that
mercy which the righteous (hall obtain according to
this promife. I will fpare them, fo as not to inflicSl the
punifhment or evil their iniquities deferve ; as a prince
fpares the life of a criminal, or traitor, which he might
juftly have taken away, or rather as a par'?nt dealeth
with his own fon, whom he will not punifh according
to his defert. This fparing mercy is a kind of pity pro-
ceeding from love, by which the fubjeil is faved from

deferved

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 4^i

iJeferved punifhmcnt ; and this ftiercy is looked for by
them who think on the Name of the Lord, Jude xxii.
In that awful day, when the righteous vengeance of
a fm-hating God fhall confume the wicked as with
fire, thofe devouring flames ftiall not kindle upon them,
they (hall be wholly and perfectly fpared ; not a drop of
vi/rath fhall fall on them ! yea, faith the Lord, " I will
*' fpare them as a man fpareth his own fon thztferveib
*' hiMf" they ftiall be treated as innocent, or as though
tliey had never offended : wonderful mercy indeed !
They fhall not only be entirely fecure from the punifh-
ment of fin, but they ftiall be jufl:ified and openly ac-
quitted at the tribunal-feat, which juftification fl:ands
infeparably connected with life everlafting. So then, to
be fpared in the fenfe of this promife, is nothing ftiorC
of compleat ahd eternal falvatioh,

. In this illuftratiori of the mercy which the righteous
fhall obtain at the appearance and kingdom of their Sa-
viour, we may note, the charailer under which this
grace ftiall be brought unto them, viz. that of own fons.3
this befpeaks new covenant-relation, out of which co-
venant no finner ftiall be fpared in that day. Chrift is
the judge, by commiflion from the Father, and the
mercy he difpenfes from his throne, terminates on thofe
adopted fons, whofe fafe condudl to glory was the end of
his fufFerings and death ; and accordingly we find that he
inverts them in the following terms, " Come ye blefled
*' of my Father." To which agrees Rev. xxi. ft.
*' He that overcometh fhall inherit all things, and I
*J^ will be his God, and he ftiall be my fon." We
H h are

482 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

are , further taught by this allufitn, the pleafure
and joy with which the Lurd will thus fpare thems
that fear him. When a father corrects his own fon,
he ftill delights in him, though his conduit requires
chaftifement ; but if a parent, .n the charadter of a
judge, is called to fentence and punifh condemned ma-
lefadors, among whom his own child has been
numbered, can in juftice acquit, or fpare him from
the miferable deftrudlion of the guilty, with what
tranfporting joy muft he difcharge and defend him ^
who can fay, or fully conceive, the delight an affec-
tionate father muft take in thus fparing his beloved
fon ? This is the time, O believer, when thy God will
*' rejoice over thee," Ifa. Ixii. 5. " He will rejoice
" over thee with joy ; he will reft in his love, he will
*' joy over thee with fmging," Zeph. iii. 17.

This notable day is defcribed from a lingular and
interefting tranfaiSion which is then to take place:
" In the day when I make up my jewels." It has al-
ready been {hewn, that the jewels of the Lord are no
other than thofe who love, and think upon his Name;
thefe are his dear and precious property, prepared and
reffrved for his glory •, now thefe jewels he will mah
Zip f . The firft and obvious idea of which is coUe^ion,
It alludes to a prince or rich man whofe plate and jew-
els, being depofued and difperfed in different places, are
on fome grand occafion gathered together for the dif-
play of his magnificence. Thus on fet- times the great
men of the earth make up their vefiels of gold and of fil-

vffrj

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 483

i'er ; and likewife their diamonds and other curious ftones
of beauty and value, v/ith which they adorn themfelves
and make their appearance, oil marfiage-feafts, or ori
other public occafions, to be admired in their affluence
arid grandeur: In like manner the Lord will colledl
his people, W'ho, as we have feen, are his pecuh'af
treafure. " Gather my faints together unto me, thofe
" who have made a covenant with me by facnfice,"
t'falm I. 5. And again, " And he fhall fend his angels
*' with ; great found of a trumpet, and they fliall
" gather together his elc«Sl from the four v/inds, froni
*• one end of the heaven to the other," Matt. xxiv. 31,
both which places evidently refer to the day of judg-
fhent, when all the redeemed ftial! be together in
one body) with their glorified Head.

But fimple collection is not peculiar to the faints,
for in that day fmall and great, without exceptionj
fhall ftand before God ; the v/icked will be gathered as
well as the righteous. The exprelTion alfo imports their
luftre and beauty, and points to the glorious manner in
which the righteous £hall then appear together with
Chrift ; " when I make up," i. e. when I finifh, polifli,
br compleat them, that they may appear in the utmoft
perfeftion. This is the gradation of the Lord's work
on his people, Ifa. xliii. 7. " I have created him for my
glory, I hnve formed him, yea, I have w^^^ him," or,
according to the rendring before us, for it is the fame
word, fnade up; and it is well known that in the
making up of jewels, in order to a magnificent appear-
ance, they are cut, fet and polifhed, that their bright-
nefs may appear. Thus the faints fhall be glo^oufly
H h 2 finifhed

4^4 CONDUCT QF THE FAITHFUL

finiflied at the coming of th' ir Lord, when called t^

kingdom of thei. Father. They who- fear the LoR»

have the principle of glory and beauty in themfelves,

not indted by nature, in which refpeft the comparifon

fails J they are naturally polluted and guilty, naked

and bare, which is ihameful, but, being partakers-

of grace in Chrift, thty are the excellent of the earthy

and have a real- and fubftantial glory belonging ta"

them : Covered with the fpotlefs robe of his mediatorial

righteoufnefs ; their cloathing is wrought gold, and

their brightnefs as a bridegroom which decketh him-

felf as a prieft, and as a bride adorneth herfelf with her

jewels j but the finifhing thefe fpiritual jewels refpe£ls-

their internal holinefs and perfonal beauty, as renewed

in the image of God, unto a divine and eternal life,

which is the honor and happinefs of the creature, and

will extend to their whole perfons at the refurredlioHi*

Grace is the eflence of glory, which cannot be fully

difplayed in a ilate of fm and mortality, but when

Jesus makes up his jewels, they fhall not only be

compleat in their number, not one being miffing, but

each (hall be finifhed in the higheft manner. In that

day they who are the Lord's, whether found among

the quick or the dead, fhall be brought forth in his

likenefs ; then each faint will be wrought up to the

greateft perfection and bear his part in new Jerufalem,

when that holy city comes down from God out of

heaven, as a bride adorned for her hufband.

There is yet another thing implied, without which
a number of jewels can never appear with advantage,

na,mely.

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 485

^namely, their due difpofitlon. The beauty of all
precious ftones, however excellent in their nature, or
polifhed by art. will be feen in proportion to the order
in which they are placed ; a proper adjuftment in this
refpeil is needful to a compleat view of a biilliant
diamond, or other precious ftone, and accordingly
fome read the words, I difpofe, i. e. order, my
jewels, as the ftones of a crown, fet by a flcilful hand,
"for a difplay of their luftre in every point of light, to
charm the fpedlator; for then the faints, thus colleded
into one ftately body, will be as a crown of glory in
the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand
of their God. In all bodies who make their appear-
ance, individual membtrs fhine in their place, and the
glory of the proceflion depends upon order ; a faint out of
order, is like a loofe jewel that is fcattered or concealed in
a corner j he cannot difplay the beauty of holinefs, the
obedience of faith, or his love to the Lord Jefus
Chrift, but lies as it were in obfcurity and contributes
nothing towards the luftre of his Redeemer's kingdom
on earth, which is greatly eclipfed by a neglecft of an
orderly profeflion, or not walking in the Name of the
Lord, as becometh his faints j but at the refurredlion
every man will appear in his own oider, i Cor. xv.
There will be no confufion or mifplace in that general
afTembly and church of the firft-born, every jewel fiiall
be in its place ; from whence it will appear in the moft
ftriking manner to its own advantage, and the glory of
all with whom it ftands in connexion.

This is the gracious afllirance from the mo^th of

the Lord, in favor of thofe who think on his Name.

Hh3 In

CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

In the laft and great day, when all the workers of
iniquity fhali be rejedcd and punifhcd, and the ven-
gea; ce of a fm-hating God, by the wrath of the Lamb,
(hall come down on the wicked, to their eternal per-
dition, thefe faints fliall appear to be his, his dear and
valuable treafure, to his honor and glory ; he will
then make them up as his jewels, gather them to-
gether, perf'e6lly finifli and duly difpofe them in his illuf-
trious'myftical body, when he fliall prefent her a glorious
church to himfelf ; then fhall all his faithful fervants
obtain mercy, be fpared from the juft defert of their
manifold tranfgrefiions, yea, and treated as innocent,
being juftified and accepted, as though they had never
offended ; and in one word, as the fons of God, with
joy and delight, the Judge, their Redeemer, in the
name of, his Father, will polTefs them with life
everlalling.

It appears from this account, that the Lord hath
a people fet apart for himfelf, his peculiar treafure ;
that thefe jewels are at prefent fcattered and divided,
but that on the day of his appearance they fhall he,
made up, or compleated, when they fhall obtain his
mercy unto eternal life, in which they will find an
ample reward for all their fufferings for righteoufnefs
fake, and their love to his Name. An improvement on
thefe points v/ill be the fubjedi of an other ledlurej
which will finifh the defign we are upon^ for the
preient it may fuffice to obferve, that the expectation
of the believer is fure, it refts not on any uncertain
conje£lure, however probable, nor is it a conclufion
drawn from the moft plaufible reafonings of rnan i his

hope

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHL 487

hope is in the teftimor.y of God, and its foundations
lie detp and ftcure in the immutability of his c lunfel,
and guard' d by every perfeclion of deiry. ** I wait for
the L RD, my f ul doth wait, in his word do I h' pe,"
Pfalni cxxx. 5. Nothing fliort of the exprefs declara-
tion of the I.oRD hin.fclf, lies at the bottom of our
hope in Chrirt, it holds in the promif^-, and centers in
Jehovah, who abiderh faithful, for be cannot deny
himfelf; *' In hope of eternal life which God that
*' cannot lie, promi^^d b-fofe the v/orld began," Tit,
i. 2. The Lord hatn fpoken, and v jio Ihall diffannul
it ? His " word is forever ftttled in the ]ieavens, and
*' his faithfulnefs eftabliihed above the clouds ;" he is
the Lord of hofts, he fpeaks and it is done, he com*
mands and it ftands faft j the foul that depends on his
word may challenge the univerfe, and look upon every
creature as an inftrument in the band of God, fo far
as it may afFedt him, to bring about his €xpe(3:ation
and hope ; "all things work together for good to them
*' who love God," whofe purpofe, according to which
they are called, fhall ftand, certainly ftand, " for if
*' God be for us who can be againft us ?" This then
is the chorus of the church, or the repeated fong of
the faithful in fociety, " The Lord of hoils is with us,
" the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah." This hope
is infallible; that every or>£ who thinks on the Name
of the Lord fhall be his, in the day when he makes up
his jewels, and that he " will fpare fuch, as a man
*' fpareth his own fon that ferveth him ; for this is as the
" waters of Noah, ifa. liv. 7 — 10. As the Lord hath
" fworn that the waters of Noah fhall no more go over
.« the earth, fgbath he fworn he will not be wiath with
Hh4 his

488 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

"^^ his people, nor rebuke them in the day of his anger,?
*' Surely in the floods of great waters they fhall not
*' come nigh unto them. He will be their hiding-place,
** and will compafs them about with fongs of deliver^
f ance," Pfalm xxxii. 6, 7.

Nor fhall the happinefs of the faint be delayed ; his
falvation flumbereth not. Under fome circumftance?
he may now be impatient, not making the teftimonies
of the Lord the men of his counfel, but rather leaning
to his own underftanding, and efpecially when his enei-
mies infult, and tauntingly fay, Where is the promife of
his coming ? The chriftian may then be ready to cry,
O Lord how long ! or in the mother of Sifera's words,
in relation to her fon, " Why is his chariot fo long in
" coming ? Why tarry the wheels of his chariot ?" But
the Lord is not flack concerning his promife; the
day is at hand when it fhall come to pafs that, as fure as
the Lord brought forth the children of Ifrael, the felf-
fame day appointed four hundred and thirty years
before its commencement ; in like manner the falvatioa
of God fhall not tarry ; *' of that day and hour no maa
** knoweth " it is a fecret in the bofom of the Father,
Mat. xi. 27. and it will be fuddenly revealed ; but of
this we are certain, that a time is fixed, and that it
nearly approaches, when Chrift: will make up his
jewels ; nor fhall earth or hell be able to procraftinate
the hour of this bleflTed hope; he faith, " Surely I comip
5' quickly: Amen; even fo, come Lord Jefus.

LECTURE

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 489

LECTURE XXX.

Chrift's people comparable with jewels ; their difperfior^
in time J the certainty of their accomplifhment at
his coming. Reflexions.

FROM the promife explained in the preceding
lecSlure, it is evident that the Lord has a peculiar
people, who are ftiled his jewels ; that at prefent thefe
are difperfed, but that a day is at hand, when he will
compleat them, and that then he will own and honor
them as a father his dear and dutiful fon. The Reader's
attention is once more intreated, while I attempt to
improve the delightful fubjeft, by fhewing the pro-
priety of the metaphor under which the chofen are
defcribed, in what refpe6ts they lie fcattered abroad,
and the r^afons there are to conclude that they (hall
certainly be gathered and fpared, according to the word
of the Lord j thefe particulars, with a glance on the
ample reward the righteous will find in this grace, and
fuitable refledlions, will finifli my defign.

In this glorious prophecy, the Lord mentions his
jewels, which he will make up at his coming; now,
that thefe are no other than his people, who think on
his Name, appears from the aflurance he gives them.
that they fliall be his at that time, which amounts to a.
promife of being counted in his treafure in the day of
revelation, and the aptnefs of the defcription before us
will appear when we confiderj

I, That

490 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

I. That their nurrher is certain. The jewels of a
prince or great nan, are known and determinate
pMftionb or parts of his peculiai' treafure. For a man
to r alee up his jewels, ws have feen, is to accomplifh
their number or gaiher them altogether, but how can
this be if their number is uncertain with the owner ?
Can a r ch rr;an be I'uppofed unacquainted with thofc
prtc'ous things whi.b h.- hath fet apart for himfclf,
or his perfonul glory i Much lefs is it dLcent to imagme
that there is any .uiicertainty with the Lord in ;-efpe<3:
of the faints, the knowledge of whom is ffTentiil to
the idea of nna.king them up, it being impollible to
compleat an indefinite number of objedls : The peo-
ple c,f God are a certain chofcn generation, whom
the Father has adopted to himfelf in Chrift, who hath
redeemed t^em with his blood, and is charged with
their recovery and falvation ; thefe are vefTels of mercy
afore prepared unto glory, being ordained to life evej*-
lafting, whofe number cannot in the nature of things
be increafed or diminiflied. I am fenfible this holy
dof^rine of the Bible is difagreeable to the tafte of men
who lean to their own underftanding ; but however they
who fubmit not themfelves to the divine fovcreignty in
the difpenfations of grace, may contradict and blafpheme,
thisfoundatjon of Godftandeth fure; " the Lord know-
*' eth them that are his :" This fober and rational truth,
is fupported by many exprefs and flrong declara-
tions, and indeed by the curient of fcripture, yea, it
is infeparably connedted with the way of falvation
opened in the gofpelj for take away the dodrine of

eledion.

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 491.

.e-ie(^ion, and the notion of a proper facrifice of atone-
ment, and redemption by the Sori of God, as the fub-
ftitute of finners, is not to be fupported but the
/cripturcs declare that " Chrift hath redeemed us from
*' the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us,''
Gal. iii- 13. And again, " He hath made him to be
" fm for us, who knew no fm, that we might be made
*' the righteoufnefs of God in him," 2 Cor. v. 25,
This idea of the faints, feems couched under the figure
before us, which fhews its propriety. Jev/els are a cer-
tain known number of precious veflels, which however
depofited at prefent in different places, are to be col-
lected, in order, on particular cccafions for the honor
of thofe who pofiefs them. In like manner we have
feen, " that the Son of man ihall fend Jiis angels
'" with the great found of a trumpet, and they fhall
'* gather together his elecSl from the four winds, froin
f* one end of heaven to the other." But,

2. This figure flands illuftrated by the very high
ejleem of the Lord for his people. Jewels are exceed-
ingly valued by their owner ; and our Saviour hath ob-
ferved what univerfal experience confirms, Matt. vi. 21.
" that v/here the treafure," i.e. the peculiar portion and
joy of a man is, " there will his heart be alfo." Now
the Lord hath fet his afFeiSions on his people, and
therefore he chofe them, Deut. vii. 7. They are fealtd
on his heart, Cant. viii. &. They are the objedls of
his fpecial unchangeable and eternal love, precious and
honorable in his fight. This choice and efteem arofe
not from any motive in them. Neither a forefight of
ithfir mifery, or their faith, or any thmg comparatively

better

492 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

better or wprfe, properly and fimply, induced the AI-
ijiighty to regard them above others ; no, they arc
efteemed as his elc(3:, and he fet them apart, of his meer
good pleafure, as the Sovereign of grace ; but, havino-
thus chofe them for himfelf, they are dear to him, in-
fomuch that he that toucheth them, " toucheth the ap-
f pie of his eye," Zech. ii. 8. Again,

3. They rnay well be thus ftiled on account of the
price he paid for them. Jewels are coftly, and ufually
obtained with a very great fum. Thus of wifdom it is
faidy *' She (hall not be exchanged for jewels of fine
*' gold, and her price exceeds that of rubies," Job
xxviii. 17, 18. To the fame purpofe we read. Matt,
xiii. 46. of the having found one pearl of great price,
went and foid ail that he had, and bought it. As hint-
ed already, there was no fingular excellency in the
people of God, in their natural or creation ftate, much
l^fs as mvolved in the fatal apoftacy of man, to com-
mend them in the fight of Jehovah ; but having fet his
love upon them, and they being under a fentence of
death, and children of wrath and difobedience as others,
they were dearly bought out of the hands of juflice;
redeenied, not with corruptible things as filver and
gold, but with blood ; not with the blood of bulls or
of goats, but yvrith the precious blood of the Son of
God, who was manifeft in the flefh, and who, in re-
fpedl of his innocence as man, and the defignation of
the Father, was as a lamb without blemifh or fpot.
** Ye are, faith the apofcle, bought with a price," i Cor,
vi. 20. No trifling or inadequate confideration ranfom-
ed thefe veflels of pkafure and mercy i the expreffion is

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 495

ftrong, and carries in it tha' a full price was paid tor
them ; it points to the equitable, yea to the unfpeakable
value of that which the Lord laid down for his peo-
ple. Ineffable indeed J he gave himfelf. for them and
poured out his foul unto death, that he might poflefs
and enjoy them ! No jewels, however comparatively
immenle in their value, were purchafed at th" rate of
Ghrift's people ; their price, on the higheft poflible com-
putation, falls infinitely below that: by which the chofeH
were redeemed. And fufth^r,

4. The allufion is juft in refpe^l of their virtue ana
goodnejs. Jewels have an intrinfic worth, and are of
real value to him that polleffes them. So are the faints,
they are the excellent of the earth, Pfalm xvi. 3. In
their apcftate ftate they are vile and unprofitable ; and
fmce their converfion, their fiefh which cleaves to them
is bafej yet being called, and chofen, and faithful,
they are dignified in the righteoufnefs of God, which
is by faith, " unto all and upon all them that believe.*,
In this robe they are decked, as a prieft with his jew-
els, Ifa. Ixi. 10. They are likewife choice in regard
of their inherent righteoufnefs; there is fome o-ood
thing wrought in them, by the Holy Ghoft j they znreallyy
though in refpe6l of degree but imperfeSfly, fan6tified,
and in proportion to their light, faith, love, and fruits,
truly valuable, and accordingly. Lam. iv. thefe ftones
of the fanduary, the precious fons of Zion, are com-
pared to fine and pure gold. Moreover,

5. As jewels, the people of God are moft carefully
preferved, Men lock up their treafure in a cabinet or

place

494 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

place of great fafetyj and the Lord preferves therf!
that love him ; they are hid and preferved from being
loft or deftroyed : They dwelt on his heart and wefft'
fecurcd in the covenant, chofen in Chrift, who is the
fecret place of the moft High, from everlasting. In the
time of their ignorance, when in the world dnd iti the
kingdom of fatar, they ^ere preferved in him, and,
being called, they are fecure in his hands, his eye is con-
tinually upon them, and he keeps them, as with a gar-
rifon J, by his power, for *' as the motjntains are
*' round about Jerufakm, fo the Lord is round about
" his people from henceforth even for ever," Pfalni
cxxv. 2. And,

6. This metaphor fs proper on account of ths
glory they reflect on the Saviour. Jewels are fof
ornament; in them, on certain occafions, perfons of
rank make a magnificent appearance, agreeable tof
«heir diftinguiftiing charadler. In like manner, Je-
fus doth and will fhine in his chofen; he is novg'
adorned by their obedience of faith and fruits of righ-
teoufnefs, which redound to his honor and praife, and
in fome periods the Lord has flione in the beauty of
Zion in general, when his glory has rifen upon her,'
then this flock of his people, whom he hath faved, are
as the ftones of a crown lifted up, Zech. ix. i6. or,
Ifa. Ixii. 3. as " a crown of glory or a royal diadem in
" his band," but at his coming, when he fhall defcend
from heaven, in the glory of his Father and his angels,'
he will alfo be *' gloriiied in his faints, and admired m
*' all them that believe." Once more,

7. A5

tjpfovpovy,imi I Pet. i. 5, compared with 2 Cov xi. 33.

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 405

y. As jewels he will poflefs them for ever. A no-
tle perfon, who regards his honor, will part wi;h
any thing rather than his jewels; for without thefe, on
particular occafions, his appearance will fall fliort of
his charader, and dif^race him. No man will difpofe
of his peculiar treafure, but in cafe of neceffity ; nor
will the a]l-perfe<S and blefled Jehovah, who hath fet
apart the chofen for himfelf, fufFer them to be loft, or
refign them to any, for he refts in his love, and will
eternally rejoice in his people. So then they who fear
the Lord may fitly be counted his. jewels; they are a
certain known number, precious in his eyes, and which
he hath purchafed at a very high rate; befides their real
beauty and worth, confidered as faints, his care to pre-
ferve them, the honor they do him both now and here-
after, and, in a word, his determination to enjoy
them forever ; thefe are fufficient to juftify, yea, and
finely illuftrate the propriety of the metaphor.

Now thefe jewels are united in the purpofe of the
Father; their names are together in the Lamb's book
of life ; they are from the beginning, before Go 1, in a
myftical union with Clirlft, who is the head of his body
the church, and of the flock committed to the charo^e of
Jefus, the fhepherd and b;fhop of fouls ; neverthelefs it
appears that for a feafon they lie in a fcattered and di-
vided condition, and that in the following refpedls,

I. In the period of their aftual exiftence. The a!I-
comprehenfivemind of the infinite Jehovah, from eter-
mty viewed the obje<as of his love, and chofe them at

once.

496 CONDUGT OF THE FAITHFUt

once, but they are produced by degrees, both in nature
and grace j in refpedl of the former, which is thcf
point before me, they defcend by ordinary generation -
from Adam, and are brought forth, fome in one
age and fome in another ; hence they are as it
were difperfed in different ages and nations of the
world, from the creation to the diffolution of the
heavens and the earth. This natural divifion or fepa-
ration in time, no doubt is under the condudtof Infinite
wifdom ; and in the day when he makes up his jewels
will turn out to the glory of God, and the fatisfaclion'
and joy of his faints. Again,

2. These chofen, who are cotemporarles in this
world, are fcattered abroad in the earth ; the bounds
of their habitations are fixed in common with others,
and it is probable in fome inftances, with a fpecial
view, fubfervient to the purpofeof divine grace, for ma-
ny have been called in confequence of their fituation ;'
however the children of God are locally difperfed, fome
in one place, and others elfewhere, infomuch that f<?w
of them comparatively can aflemble together and havef
perfonal and frequent interviews ; hence a particular
church-ftate is appointed, and needful to the fupport
of focial religion. The like might be obferved in re-
fpedl of their different ftations and circumftances in the
prefent lije\ but, in death they are ftill more divided.
Under the dominion of this laft and great enemy, for a
while, they are not only feparated from others, but
each individual is in a ftate of difperfion ; his fpirit is
gathered to the throne of God and of the Lamb, while
the tabernacle of his body, having feen corruption, is

diffolved

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 49^

diflblved into aflies and duft ; and thus thefe bodies lie
icattered in the grave till the morning of the relurrec-
tion. In fhort, if we take a general view of the people
whom the Lord hath fet apart for himfelf, and who
are ftiled his jewels, as they appear in the glafs of the
word, at the inftant period we fhall behold an innume-
rable multitude already paffed through the revoliitions
of time, who are through faith and patience inheriting
the promifes. In the unfeen and eternal world, as al-
ready obferved, they are in a kind of perfonal difper-
fion, their bodies and fouls being at prefent in a ftate of
reparation ; we {hall likewife fee many now living, who
may be confidered as called, or in a ftate of nature, for
though revelation doth not difcover the particular vef-
fels of mercy, while in the kingdom of darknefs, yet
they bear witnefs to a chofen feed who fhall be
faved in every age and generation, fo that we have a
general and certain knowledge of faith, that, befides
vifible faints, there are fome of thefe jewels exifling on
the earth, who furely fhall be gathered, though the
number of fuch which remain in any period, or any in-
dividual of them, is referved till the appointed time of
converfion. And further, if we look forward, it appears
from the word of the Lord, that there are children yet
unborn, who fhall in fucceeding ages be a feed to ferve
him, and that in the latter day a glorious harveft fhall
be gathered, both of Jews and Gentiles. And, final-
ly, that at the revelation of Chrifl, though the greater
number of thefe precious faints will be gathered from
their graves, fome will defcend with him in their glo-^
rified bodies from heaven, and at the fame time not a
few will be found alive on the earth. Thus divided are
I i the

498 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

the peculiar treafure of the Lord in time, under pros*
vidence, through the unlverfe, in every generation,
pad, preie-:t, and to comej fome dead, fome alive,,
ibme yet rebelling in the kingdom of fatan, while
others are reduced to the obedience of faith^ and are
rejoicing in the Lord as their God ; and when the
laft trumpet founds, the elel: ftiall be gathered from
heaven, earth, and hell, or the grave j but, however
difperfed, they are fecure and forth coming. The
Lord will- certainly make up thefe jewels ; their num-
ber fhall be compleated, and not one fliall be wanting,
when he appears in his glory, of which bleffed hope the
following particulars are a full confirmation ;

. I. It hath already been fhewn that they are his
chofen dear property j he hath fet his love upon them,
Ihed his blood for them ; they are his treafure and his
glory as Mediator, and will he fufFer one of thefe to be
loft ? What man would lofe a jewel of his treafure, or
fufFer it to lie in a total and final obfcurity ? The de-
light the Lord hath in his people, and efpecially when
joined to his purchafe, is an abundant fecurity for their
being gathered to himfelf in due time. And,

2. If thefe are not made up, the end of his choofing
and redeeming them is lofl. It was to fhew the riches
of his glory, that thefe vefTels of mercy were felefted
and ranfomed j the ultimate view of all this grace, is the
honor of God, in the perfedlion of his people j this was
the end of the divine counfel from everlafling ; for this
purpofe the Father chofe his faints in Chrift, and con-
ttituted his Son the head of the church, and the Saviour

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 499

•of the body. Agreeable to this, Chrift having loved his
church, gave himfelf for her, that he might prefent
her to himfelf a glorious church, Eph. v. 27. But this
will not be accompiifhed while a jewel is miffing,
there would then be a defetSl or fchifm in the body, nor
will the glory or happinefs of any one faint be abfo-
lutely, and in all refpe<Ss compleat, till the whole elec-
tion of grace appear united in one body, and each
member fin jftied and fet in his place. In a word, Jefus
^ied " that he might gather together in one, the chil-
*' dren of God that were fcattered abroad," John xi.52.
Not only thoife of the nation of the Jews, but alfo the
chofen among the Gentiles ; fo that if any one is left
hehind^ Chrift died in vain j a notion to be utterly re-
jeded. See Gal. ii. 21. But again,

3. Of this the believer hath an earneft in his effec-
tual calling. Every chriftian may fafely argue from the
beginning to the completion of a divine work in his
foul, Phil. i. 6. Shall the Almighty forfake his own
work, or leave it unfinifhed ? It cannot be decently
fuppofed. What fiiould hinder the Lord from makino-
up, or, as the word imports, finiftiing any one of his
jewels, which he hath fet apart, redeemed, and called
by his grace ! Not the unworthinefs of the fubjeil, nor
any, however feeming unfurmountable, difficulties that
lie in the way, feeing what he hath already done with
refpeil to this chofen veflel of mercy, and efpecially
in turning him from darknefs to light, and flaying the
enmity of his mindj this I fay is no lefs, if not a great-
er inftance of grace and power than is required unto
the perfe<^ion of him who is already wafhed and fanc-

I i 2 t.ficd J

5C0 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

tified ; nor can any leafon be given why the unchange-
able and hving Cjod fliould fufter his mercy to fail,
contrary to his folemn engagements to maintain it for
ever. He then who hath been gathered by the hand of
the Lord out of the world, and is numbered with
them who are fan£tified by faith, may be affured
that they {hall be made up, and counted among his
jewels at laft, and efpecially when we confider fur-
ther,

4. The infinite perfecSlion and glorious power of the
moft High, with whom all things are poffible. Thefe
have already been difplayed in their exiftence and con-
verfion ; it is highly unreafonable to queflion whether
he that created his people, and redeemed them from
the dominion of fm and the power of fatan, can make
them perfe«51: in holinefs, and prefent them faultlefs,
and finifhed, in the day of his appearance, and equally
abfurd to imagine that any thing needful to compleat
the faints, can lie out of the reach of unfearchable Wif-
dom and divine Omnipotence ; nothing of thefe jew-
els, however difperfed, is hid from the Lord, or be-
yond tlie reach of his arm ; their being made up carries
in it the refurrecSion of their bodies, which at prefent,
as we have feen, are diflblvel and fcaitered in the grave,
infomuch that to an eye of fenfe, their return feems im-
poffible, yet reafon proclaims that God is able to raife
the dead ; we are indebted to the gofpel for this light
of life and immortality fi'om death, yet reafon is not
jnore incapable of difcovering this redemption of the
bodv, to which the faints are adopted, than it is for-
ward to atteft its credibility, on the teftimony of God.

11^ THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 501

So then, the affection the Lord hath for his people, the
end of his choice, his purchafe, and what he hath al-
ready done for, and wrought in them, ami his almighty
power, and other perfe£lions, leave no room to queftion
but that he will make up his jewels, according to the
word of his grace.

Nor is the hope of that mercy which ftands con-
ne£ted with the glory to be revealed on the faints, in
the day of Chrift, lefs certain. Its foundation is laid
in the fubftitution and fufFerings of the Son of God in
their ftead ; all their iniquity was laid on him, and he
bore away their fms by the facrifice of h mfelf. If God
fpared not his own Son, and Chrift died for them, the
faithful may be affured that they fhall be fpared in the
day of his wrath ; furely in the floods of great waters
they fhall not come nigh unto them; the Redeemer is
their hiding-place, and will compafs them about with
fongs of deliverance j this may alfo be gathered from the
pompaflion already exercifed towards them, when in aftate
of death and condemnation ; he that patiently endured
their enmity and rebellion, and plucked them as
brands from the fire, will furely have mercy on them,
and fpare them in the dny of his wrath ; befides, they
are covered with the robe of his righteoufncfs, and
wafhed in his blood j the righteoufncfs of God is upon
them, and being now j uftified freely by his grace, they fhall
doubtlefs be faved from wr^th through him, Rom. v. 9.
Yea, and further, the experience of the chriftian con-
firms it. Indeed the patience and goodnefs of the Lord
in his providence, is no fecurity againft the vengeance
oi the Almighty, who endures with much long-fufFer-

502 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

ing the veflels of wrath ; yet, alas, how often do Tin-
ners prefi.me on an efcape, becaufe the execution of
their fentence hath liOt taken place ; but the prefent
mercy and favor oi God in a way of ipecial grace to
his called, afcertains this bleffed aflurance, the gift of
his Spirit, the light of his countenance, their commu-
nion with God at any time in his ordinances, their
freedom of accefs to him as their Father, and in a
word, every infl;anc€ of fpiritual fupply, or promife ap-
plied to their heart, is an evident token, or rather a
tafte and earneft, of that mercy the righteous fhall ob-
tain at the coming of Chrift ; fo that there is not the
leaft room to hefitate their being fpared by the Lord
in the day when he makes up his jewels, even as a
man fpareth his own fon that ferveth him.

Now, that the honor and glory of being owned of
the Lord, and fpared as a dear and dutiful fon, is be-
yond all expreflion, and that it will turn out an ample
reward for the tribulation and tears of his faithful diici-
pies, in a time of general apoftacy, appears from the
promife itfelf. No other confideration is oiTered to fa-
tisfy and encourage his fuffering people under the fore
temptations which befal them. The Lord doth not
fay, I will now avenge myfelf on the ungodly who
profane my Name, and defpife them who fear me ; or,
I will immediately defcend as the dew on Ifrael,
and remove the occafions of her forrow, which is
fometimcs the cafe, at the interceflion of his mourners,
but here is no abfolute promife of any alteration for the
prefent, all that is propofed to animate and comfort
thcfe gracious and aiflided fouls is, that they ftiould be

his.

IN THE DAYS OF xMALACHT. 505
liis, and that he would fpare them in the dav of his
coming j but the divine Wifdom and Goodnefs would
not leave the righteous without a firffi;cieiit rew^urd ; we
may thererbre be alTured that in the accompliibnient of
this promlfe they fhall find a full recompence for all
the felf-denial a;nd grief to which their piecy may have
exp.'fed them* To this agrees the exprefs declaration
of our Saviour and his infpired apoft'es, and alfo the
judgment of the faithful m all generations. M' fes
chofe to fuffer aiflidlion with the people of God, and
even efteemed the reproach of Chrift, greater riches
than the treafures of Egypt, having refpedl to this re-
compence of reward. And we read of many, who, be-
ing tortured, would not accept deliverance, on the con-
dition of refigning their hope, that they might obtain a
better refurreilion, Heb. xi. If the honor and joy of
the faints at the day of Chrift will not abundantly
compenfate for all the fhame and forrow which they
may endure in this vi^orld for his Name's fake, thefe
worthies were certainly under a delufion, and of all
men moft miferable ; but *' we know our light afflic-
*' tion, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
** far more exceeding and eternai weight of glory," (o
that we may juftly " reckon that the fuffcrings of this
*' prefent time are not worthy to be compared with the
*' glory, which ftiall be revealed in us." Compare
2 Cor. iv. 17. with Rom. viii. 18. Of this reward
many, whofe trials have been great, have had a joyful
Carneft in the witnefs of the Spirit, and the (olace they
have found in the houfe of the Lord ; they who have
sndured the moft for the teltimony of their confcience

will

504 CONDUCT OF THE FATTHFUt

will acknowledge that the pleafures of fellowfhip witR
God, and the fatisfadtion they have found in the com*-
munications of his grace, and efpecially when they be^
hold themfelves in Chrift, through the Spirit of adop-
tion ; their delight and joy in God have far over-bal-
lanced the pain and difgrace of their fufFerings. Thus
David, from his paft experience in the fanftuary, re-
joices in this expCfSlation, faying, " My mouth fhall be
*' fatisfied as with marrow and fatnefs," Pfalm Ixiii. 5.
and many like inftances might be produced. Now if
believers are fo abundantly fatisfied in what they at
prefent enjoy, and find fuch ample return for the felf-de^-
nial they are called to for the fake of religion in therr
experience of the love of God in this world, what
muft be their glory and joy on being made up and fi-
nifhed in the laft and great day ? To be the Lord's,
and to be numbered with his jewels, when he appears
in his kingdom, muft be an honor and reward, of which
they v/ho attain to the higheft degree of knowledge in
the prefent ftate, can form no adequate conception. *' It
*' doth not yet appear, faith the apoftle, what we fhall
' *' be," I John iii. 2. But we may foberly conclude
that the reward of this inheritance will exceed the
higheft expectation of the moft eminent faint on earth,
and it may be of thofe who in a feparate ftate are al-
ready admitted to the throne in the heavens, however
it certainly pafleth the underftanding of every mortal, and
will fill the happy fubjedls with triumph and praife " un-
*' to him that loved them, and wafhed them from their
*' fins in his own blood, and made them kings and
*' priefts unto God, and his Father."

How

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 50J

How melancholy and miferable the cafe of thofe,
whom the Lord will rejed!, or leave behhd in the day
when he makes up his jewels ? If it is the peculiar pri- ,
vilege of the righteous to be his, and to be fpared in
that awful day of decifion and juftice, let th° Chriftlefs
fmner beware j God will not fpare thec^ but will exe-
cute the fiercehefs of his a'^tr^^r! O how unconcerned
are many about an intereft in Chrift, and beirg gathered
with his peciiliar treafure at his coming; they conrider
not the vengeance he v/ill then take on them wiio dif-
bbey him. It were better, Reader, thou hadft never
been born or ex:ifted, than hot be found among the
Lord's jewels at the feafoh referred to ; when they
fliall fhine forth in their beauty, afcend up to glory,
and poflefs the everlafting kingdom of the Father,
ihame fhall cover unbelievers, who will be then, O
tremble, ye carelefs ones ! caft into the lake of fire,
and lie dovi^n in forrOw and darknefs for ever !

But, art thou, dear Friend, waiting for the hope of
right^ouifnefs by faith ? Haft thou found the Pearl of
great price ? Is Chrift thy dependence and delight, and
exceeding precious to thy foul, fo that all things are as
nothing compared v^ith his excellency and grace ? Is
his name fo dear, that it occupies the thoughts of thine
heart ? And art thou grieved at the contempt caft upon
it by the ungodly, and when licentious profeflbrs dif-
grace it ? Thefe are genuine fymptoms of that holy
fear which belongs to the Children of God ; and they
who thus think on the Name of the Lord, are entitled
to ejrped the honor of being Ch rift's at his coming.
K k And^

5o6 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL

And, Reader, is this thine experience ? Doth thine
heart re'oice in piofpedl of being found among the peo-
ple of the LoRo, before the Father r.jid his angels, in
the day of re\e!ation ? Manifeil this in thy profefled
fubjc6tion to the gofp^-1 of Ciinft. Can any man, with
rcafon, be looked upon as a fuccefsful candidate for the
glory and joy oi b.ing thw Lord's, when he makes up
his jewels, to whom it is an indifferent matter, whe-
ther he appears to be his among men, or who will not
confcfs him on earth. 1 he importance, credit, and
advantage of a public acknowledgment and worfhip of
Jefus, has been a principal dtCipi of thefe papers, how
far they may fucceed w.li hereafter appear ; but I think
it muft be allowed an awkard and inconhftent part, for
a perfon to boad in the vicv/ of being numbered with
the faints in the day of revelaMon, and at the fame time
allow himfelf to be namelefs arnong them in the fight
of m.ankind. Is it nqt (Irange, that he who expects to
be owned, fpared and glorified, as a vilible member of
Chrift, in the univerfal alTcmbly, at the tribunal of
God, fhoulu not think it his duty and honor to be
openlv joined to the Lord and his people, or that he
fbould not be alliam.ed to live feparate from the vifible
heirs of falvatlon ? One would think it almoft impoffi-
ble that a m.an whofe heart is fixed in the hope of being
revealed in the church triumphant, could reft fhcrt of
appearlns in the church in her militant fiate- it is a
conduct fo ungrateful, not to fay abfurd, a fenfible
perfon wiil blufli to find jn fiimfelf, and it is hoped will
repent; however, this is certain, that nothing can be
more unreafonable than to prefume we faall appear
with Chrift in glory, when he is revealed from he avcn.

J a

IN THE DAYS OF MALACHT. 507

m a negle6l of his honor on earth ; and It becomes
thofe who amufe themfelves with this expedlation to
fee if it ftands fupported by the teftimony of God, for
3n hope void of that foundation will furely deceive.

And now, Beloved, I take my farewel with an qar-
neft exhortation to my own foul and yours. Picfs for-
ward, and haften to the coaiing of ihe Lord. Blefled.
is the hope of his fecond appearance ! A day awful. and
fatal to the wicked, who fhail be utterly confumed,
but, oh how delightful to the righteous who fear him.
Then will their eternal gl; ry commence j when every
jewel fhall be fin'ilied, difp/ed and fet in the moft'
beautiful point of light, and, t'-e number of the eledl,
being accompl idled, the adorable Rtdeemer will pre-
fe-nt his beloved church, faultlefs b. fore the prefence of
his glory, with exceedingjoy. Animated with this divine
hope, may all my dear keaders, with their unwortny
writer, keep themfelves in the love of God, looking
for the mercies of our Lord Jefus Chrift unto eternal
life; who is over all, God bleffed for ever. Amen.

FINIS.

Lately publillied, by the farrte Author','

I. rr^ H E Chriftian's concern that he may not be i
JL caft-away, in two difcourfes, price 8 d.

2. A Sermon on the deceafe of his Royal Highneft
the late Duke of Cumberland, price 6d.

3. The eternal exiftence of the Lord Jefus Chrilt
confidered and improved, price 6d.

4. The Chrifiian's falutation, a far^wel - fermon^'
price 6d.

5. The conftitutlon of a gofpel-church adapted t9
union and peace, price 6d.

6. Some thoughts on the indecency and danger ot
the believer's refting fhort of the communion of faints.
The third edition, price 3d. or 2s. 6d. per dozen.

6. An humble addrefs to the churches of Chrift, not
to forfake the aflembling themfelves together. The fc-
cond edition, price 3d, or 2s, 6 d, per Dozen,

■■-' i - --^ ^x--> \S--^' i^^ N--^ \ ■"■"^'^ .'

:J^^a^^-^

^"^^^

»#<<

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

See other formats