fiery darts, none can express (not even those who have felt them) the amazement and confusion that fills the mind. For a person who has received a reverence for the name and attributes of God, to be haunted from morning to night, from day to day, with horrid imprecations, so strongly impressed that he often starts and trembles with an apprehension that he has certainly consented, and spoken them aloud with his lips; this is irksome and terrifying beyond description. 2dly. When the foundations of faith and experience are attacked. Many who have thought themselves grounded in the truth, who have hoped that they had surely tasted that the Lord is gracious, and have in their first comforts been ready to say, 'I shall never be moved,* thou, Lord, of thy goodness hast made my mountain so strong,' have found themselves afterwards at their wits end, when the enemy has been permitted to come in upon them like a flood.† One black cloud of temptation has blotted out all their comfortable evidences; and they have been left to question, not only the justness of their own hopes, but even the first and most important principles on which their hopes were built. 3dly. When the hidden corruptions and abominations of the heart are stirred up. And perhaps there is no other way but this of coming to the knowledge of what our depraved natures are capable. Such things a season of temptation has discovered to some, which I believe no racks or tortures could constrain them to disclose, though but to their dearest friend. This subject, therefore, will not bear a particular illustration. The Lord's people are not all acquainted with these depths of Satan. As people who live on shore have a variety of trials, dangers, and deliverances, yet know but little of the peculiar exercises of those who go down to the sea in ships; so, in the present case, there are great waters, depths of temptation, known comparatively to few. Those who are brought through them have more to say of the wonders of God in the great deep than others; and this is his design in permitting it, that they may know more of him, and more of themselves. But while they are under these trials, they are weary and heavy laden; and this burden they must bear till the Lord removes it. The help of men, books, and ordinances, is sought and tendered in vain, till his appointed hour of deliverance draws near. These, therefore, convinced, striving, and tempted souls, are the persons to whom Jesus says, 'Come to me, and I will give you rest. The purport of this gracious invitation we are to * Psalm xxx. 6. Isa. lix. 19. Psalm cvi. 24. consider hereafter. In the mean time, rejoice in this, Jesus has foreseen your cases, and provided accordingly. He says, Come; that is, believe, as he himself expounds it: He that cometh unto me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me, shall never thirst." See how his promises suit the state you are in. 1. Are you heavy laden with guilt? The Gospel message is, The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.'t 2. Are you groaning under the power of indwelling sin? Hear his gracious words: I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live.'‡ And to the same purpose his prophet: He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.' 3. Are you striving in the fire to keep the law? Wherefore will you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not?' Forego the vain attempt. Is it not written, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth ?'|| He that says, Come unto me,' 4. Are you in temptation? has been tempted himself, and knows how to pity you. He has power over your enemy, and can deliver you with a word.** Did he not thus dispossess Satan in the days of his humiliation? and if then, surely he is no less able now; for, since that time, he has gloriously triumphed over the powers of darkness.†† And as his arm is not shortened, neither is his ear heavy; he has said, without exception, Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out ;'‡‡ and thousands who have been in your distress have successively found that promise fulfilled. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.'§§ SERMON X. OF COMING TO CHRIST. MATT. xi. 28. Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. THE dispensation of the Gospel may be compared to the cities of refuge in Israel. It was a privilege, an honour to the nation in general, that they had such sanctuaries of divine appointment; but the real value of them was known to few. Those only who found themselves in that case for which they were provided, could rightly prize them. In like manner, the Gospel of Christ is the highest privilege and honour of which a professing nation can boast; but it can be truly esteemed and understood by none but weary and heavy laden souls, who have felt their misery by nature, are tired of the drudgery of sin, and have seen the curse of the broken law pursuing them, like the avenger of blood of old. This is the only consideration that keeps them from despair, that God has provided a remedy by the Gospel; and Jesus has said, 'Come unto me, and I will give you rest.' If they could receive the full comfort of these words, and heartily obey the call, their complaints would be at an end; but remaining ignorance, unbelief, and Satan, combine in various ways to keep them back. Some will say, 'O that I could come! but, alas! I cannot.' Others, 'I fear I do not come aright.' Having, therefore, endeavoured to show you the persons chiefly intended here, under the character of those who labour and are heavy laden, I proceed to consider, II. What it is to come to Christ. I have observed in general, that it appears to have the same signification with believing in him. But, that we may understand it the more clearly, let us inquire, 1. How those to whom he personally spoke these words, in all probability understood them?" 2. How far their apprehensions of them are applicable and suitable to our circumstances? 3. Whether, as we have the same necessity, we have not likewise equal encouragement to come to him with those who were conversant with him upon earth? 1. It does not appear that those to whom our Lord spoke in person were so much perplexed as many are now, to know, what coming or believing should mean; he seems to have been understood both by friends and enemies. Many questioned his authority and right to exact a dependence on himself; but they seemed to be at no difficulty about his meaning. It certainly implied more than a mere bodily coming into his presence. He was surrounded, and even followed by multitudes, who never came to him in the sense of his invitation. To such, while standing about him, he complained, 'Ye will not come unto me, that ye may have life.' Therefore, if we consult what is written of those who came to Jesus for relief, and obtained it, we may conclude, that coming to him implies, 1st. A persuasion of his power, and of their own need of his help. They knew that they wanted relief, and conceived of him as an extraordinary person empowered and able to succour them. This persuasion of Christ's sufficiency and willingness was then, as it is now, afforded in different degrees. The centurion spoke with full assurance: Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.' The leper more dubiously: 'Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.' Another, in still fainter language: 'If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.' The faith of this last was, as the man himself acknowledged, mixed with much unbelief and fear; yet Jesus did not despise the day of small things: he pardoned his suspicions, confrmed his fluctuating mind, granted him his request; and his case is recorded as an instance how graciously he accepts and cherishes the feeblest effects of true faith: 'He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.' Secondly. An actual application. This evidenced their faith to be right. They did not sit content with having heard of him, but improved it: they went to him, told him their cases, and implored his compassion. Their faith prevailed against all discouragements. In vain the multitude charged them to hold their peace; knowing that he only was able to relieve them, they cried so much the more a great deal. Even when he seemed to discover a great reserve,** they still waited, and knew not how to depart without an answer. Nor could a sense of unworthiness, fear, or shame, keep them back,†† when once they had a strong, persuasion of his power to save. *John vi. 30. and xix. 36. Matt. viii. 2. **Matt. xv. 27. John v. 40. Mark v. 37. Matt. viii. & Mark x. 48. Thirdly. When he was sought to as a soul-physician, as was the case with many, whose bodily diseases he healed, and with others who were not sick, those who came to him continued with him, and became his followers. They depended on him for salvation, received him as their Lord and Master, professed an obedience to his precepts, accepted a share in his reproach, and renounced every thing that was inconsistent with his will. Some had a more express and open call to this, as Matthew, who was sitting at the receipt of custom, regardless of Jesus, till he passed by him, and said, Follow me.'t That word accompanied with the power of his love, won his heart, and diverted him from worldly pursuits in an instant. Others were more secretly drawn by his spirit and providence, as Nathaniel, and the weeping penitent who silently washed his feet with her tears; and this was the design and effect of many of their bodily and family afflictions. The man who was brought to be healed of the palsy, received the forgiveness of his sins; and the ruler who first came to Jesus with no other view than to obtain the life of his son,|| obtained much more than he asked or expected. The Lord afforded such an affecting sense of his power and goodness upon that occasion, that he from thenceforth believed, with all his house. 2. These things are applicable to us. Jesus is no longer visible upon earth; but he has promised his spiritual presence to abide with his word, ordinances, and people, to the end of time. Weary and heavy laden souls have now no need to take a long journey to seek him: for he is always near them, and in a spiritual manner, where his Gospel is preached. Poor and inconsiderable as we are in the judgment of the world, I trust we have a right to claim his promise, and to believe that he is even now in the midst of us. Therefore, come unto him; that is, First. Raise your hearts, and breathe forth your complaints to him. Do you see your need of him? Be persuaded, and pray to him to assure you more strongly of his power and goodness. He is just such a Saviour as your circumstances require, as you yourself could wish for, and he is able to convince you in a moment that he is so. If he is pleased to cause a ray of his glory to break in upon your mind, your fears, and doubts, and griefs, would instantly give place. Secondly. Persevere in this application to him. Set a high value upon these his public ordinances, and be constant in attend *Luke ix. 23-61. Mark ii. 5. Matt. ix. 9. John i. 46. Luke vii. 58. Matt. xviii. 20. |