And as it was their great sin, so God declared his just indigna- tion against it, in those sore strokes inflicted for it. As they dis»
104 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. VII.
cerned not the Lord's body, so neither did the Lord discern their bodies from others in the judgments that were inflicted. And, as one well observes, God drew the model and platform of their pu- nishment, from the structure and proportion of their sin. And truly, if the moral and spiritual seeds and originals of many of our outward afflictions and sicknesses were but duly sifted out, possibly we might find a great part of them in the bowels of this sin.
The just and righteous God will build up the breaches we make upon the honour of his Son, with the ruins of that beauty, strength and honour which he hath given our bodies. O then, when you draw nigh to God in that ordinance, take heed to sanctify his name, by a spiritual discerning of this most holy, and most deeply sancti- fied body of the Lord ; sanctified beyond all creatures, angels or men, not only in respect of the Spirit which filled him, without measure with inherent holiness, but also in respect of its dedica- tion to such a service as this, it being set apart by him to such holy, solemn ends and uses, as you have heard.
And let it, for ever, be a warning to such as have lifted up their hands to Christ in a holy profession, that they never lift up their heel against him afterwards by apostasy. The apostate treads on God's dear Son, and God will tread upon him for it. " Thou " hast trodden down all that err from thy statutes," Psal. cxix. 118.
Inf. 3. What a choice pattern of love to saints have we here be- fore us ! Calling all that are in Christ to an imitation of him, even to give up ourselves to their service, as Christ did ; not in the same kind, so none can give himself for them, but as we are capable. You see here how his heart was affected to them, that he would sanctify himself as a sacrifice for them. See to what a height of duty the apostle improves this example of Christ, 1 John iii. 16. " Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his " life for us; and we ought also to lay down our lives for the " brethren.'" Some Christians came up fairly to this pattern in primitive times ; Priscilla and Aquila laid down their necks for Paul, Rom. xvi. 4. i. e. eminently hazarded their lives for him ; and he himself could " rejoice, if he were offered up upon the sa- *' crifice and service of their faith,"'1 Phil. ii. 17. And in the next times, what more known, even to the enemies of Christianity, than their fervent love one to another ? Ecce quam mutito se di- iiguiit, et mori volunt pro alterutris ! See how they love one ano- ther, and are willing to die one for another !
But alas ! the primitive spirit is almost lost in this degenerate age : instead of laying down life, how few will lay down twelve- pence for them ? I remember, it is the observation of a late Wor-
SERM. VII. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 105
thy, upon Mat. v. 44. That he is persuaded there is hardly that man to be found this day alive, that fully understands and fully believes that scripture. O, did men think what they do for them, is done for Christ himself, it would produce other effects than are yet visible.
Infer. 4. Lastly, If Christ sanctified himself, that we might be sanctified by [or in] the truth ; then it will follow, by sound con- sequence, That true sanctification is a good evidence that Christ set apart himself to die for us. In vain did he sanctify himself (as to you) unless you be sanctified.* Holy souls only can claim the be- nefit of the great Sacrifice. O try then, whether true holiness (and that is only to be judged by its conformity to its pattern, 1 Pet. i. 15. " As he that called you is holy, so be ye holy") ; whe- ther such a holiness as is, and acts (according to its measure) like God's holiness, in the following particulars, be found in you.
1. God is universally holy in all his ways ; so Psal. cxlv. IT. " His works are all holy :* whatever he doth, it is still done as becomes a holy God : he is not only holy in all things, but at all times unchangeably holy. Be ye therefore holy in all things and at all times too, if ever you expect the benefit of Christ's sanctify- ing himself to die for you.
O brethren, let not the feet of your conversation be as the feet of a lame man, which are unequal, Prov. xx. 7. Be not some- times hot, and sometimes cold ; at one time careful, at another time careless ; one day in a spiritual rapture, and the next in a fleshly frolic : but be ye holy sv >aa<sri amgpopri, 1 Pet. i. 15. " in all "manner of conversation," in every creek and turning of your lives : and let your holiness hold out to the end. " Let him that " is holy, be holy still,? Rev. xxi. 11. Not like the hypocrite's paint, but as a true natural complection.
2. God is eocemplarily holy, Jesus Christ is the great pattern of holiness. Be ye examples of holiness too, unto all that are about you. " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see " your good works," Matth. v. 16. As wicked men infect one another by their examples, and diffuse their poison and malignity, wherever they come ; so do ye disseminate godliness in all places and companies ; and let those that frequently converse with you, especially those of your own families, receive a deeper dye and tincture of heavenliness every time they come nigh you, as the cloth doth by every new dipping into the vat.
* Nor did Christ so sanctify himself for us, that we should continue to be wick- ed, and strangers to the communion of the Spirit, and his sanctifying influences. Whosoever are void of this, in vain promise themselves intercourse with Chris k Muse, on this place.
106 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. VIII.
8. God delights in nothing- but holiness, and holy ones ; he hath set all his pleasure in the saints. Be ye holy herein, as God is holy. Indeed, there is this difference betwixt God's choice and yours ; he chuses not men, because they are holy, but that they may be so ; so you are to chuse them for your delightful compa- nions, that God hath chosen and made holy. " Let all your de- " lights be in the saints, even them that excel in virtue," Psal. xvi. 3.
4. God abhors and hates all unlioliness ; do ye so likewise that ye may be like your Father which is in heaven. And when the spirit of holiness runs down this upon you, a sweeter evidence the world cannot give, that Christ was sanctified for you. Holy ones may confidently lay the hand of their faith on the head of this great sacrifice, and say, " Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."'*
SERMON VIII. Of the Nature of CHRIST'S Mediation.
1 Tim. ii. 5. And one Mediator betwixt God and Man, the man Christ Jesus.