Secondly, Christ cures outward troubles by inward consolations, which are made to rise in the inner man as high as the waters of affliction do upon the outward man, 2 Cor. i. 5. One drop of spiritual comfort is sufficient to sweeten a whole ocean of outward trouble. It was an high expression of an afflicted father, whom God comforted, just upon the death of his dear and only son*, with some clearer manifestations of his love than was usual : " O, " (said he) might I but have such consolations as these, I could M be willing (were it possible) to lay an only son into the grave " every day I have to live in this world.1' Thus all the troubles of the world are cured by Christ. John xvi. 33. " In the world " ye shall have trouble, but in me ye shall have peace.11
Thirdly, Christ cures all outward sorrows and troubles in his people by death, which is their removal from the place of sorrows to peace and rest for evermore. Now God wipes all tears from their eyes, and the days of their mourning are at an end ; they then put off the garments and spirit of mourning, and enter into peace, Isa. lvii. 2. They come to that place and state where tears and sighs are things unknown to the inhabitants; one step beyond the state of this mortality, brings us quite out of the sight and healing of all troubles and lamentations. These are the diseases of souls ; sin, and sor- row ; and thus they are cured by Christ, the Physician.
Secondly, Next I shall shew you that Jesus Christ is the only Physician of souls, none like him for a sick sinner ; and this will be evident in divers respects.
First, None so wise and judicious as Jesus Christ, to understand and comprehend the nature, depth and danger of soul-diseases. O how ignorant and unacquainted are men with the state and case of afflicted souls ! But " Christ hath the tongue of the learned, " that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that " is weary,11 Isa. 1. 4. He only understands the weight of sin, and depth of inward troubles of sin.
Secondly, None so able to cure and heal the wounds of afflicted souls as Christ is ; he only hath those medicines that can cure a sick soul. The blood of Christ, and nothing else, in heaven or earth, is able to cure the mortal wounds which guilt inflicts upon a trembling conscience ; let men try all other receipts, and costly experience shall convince them of their insufficiency. Conscience may be benumbed by stupefactive medicines, prepared by the devil,
*NUiil corpus sentit in nervo, cum anima sit incalo, i. e. The body has no feeling when the soul is in heaven.
196 THE METHOD OF GRACE.
for that end ; but pacified it can never be but by the blood of Christ, Heb. xvi. 22.
Thirdly, None so tender-hearted and sympathizing with sick souls as Jesus Christ ; he is full of bowels and tender compassions to afflicted souls ; he is one that can have compassion, because he hath had experience, Heb. v. 2. If I must come unto the sur- geon's hands with broken bones, give me such an one to chuse whose own bones have been broken, who hath felt the anguish in himself. Christ knows what it is by experience, having felt the anguish of inward troubles, the weight of God's wrath, and the terrors of a forsaking God, more than any or all the sons of men : this makes him tender over distressed souls. Isa. xlii. 3. " A " bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not " quench.1'
Fourthly, None cures in so wonderful a method as Christ doth ; he heals us by his stripes, Isa. liii. 5. The Physician dies that the patient may live : his wounds must bleed, that ours may be cured ; he feels the smart and pain, that we might have ease and comfort. No physician but Christ will cure others at this rate.
Fifthly, None so ready to relieve a sick soul as Christ ; he is within the call of a distressed soul at all times. Art thou sick for sin, weary of sin, and made truly willing to part with sin ? lift up but thy sincere cry to the Lord Jesus for help, and he will quickly be with thee. When the prodigal, the emblem of a convinced, humbled sinner, said, in himself, I will return to my father, the father ran to meet him, Luke xv. 20. He can be with thee in a moment.
Sixthly, None so willing to receive and undertake all distressed and afflicted souls as Jesus Christ is ; he refuses none that come to him. John vi. 37. " He that cometh unto me, I will in no wise ii cast out." Whatever their sins have been, or their sorrows are ; however they have wounded their own souls with the deepest gashes of guilt ; how desperate and helpless soever their case ap- pears in their own or others eyes, he never puts them off, or dis- courages them, if they be but willing to come, Isa. i. 18, 19.
Seventhly, None so happy and successful as Christ ; he never fails of performing a perfect cure upon those he undertakes ; never was it known that any soul miscarried in his hands, John hi. 15, 16. Other physicians, by mistakes, by ignorance, or carelessness, fill church-yards, and cast away the lives of men ; but Christ suffers none to perish that commit themselves to him.
Eighthly, None so free and generous as Christ; he doth all gratis; he sells not his medicines, though they be of infinite value ; but freely gives them; Isa. lv. 1. "He that hath no money, let him M conic." If any be sent away, it is the rich, Luke i. 53. not the
SERM. X. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 197
poor and needy : those that will not accept the remedy as a free gift, but will needs purchase it at a price.
Ninthly, and lastly, None rejoice in the recovery of souls more than Christ doth. 6 ! it is unspeakably delightful to him to see the efficacy of his blood upon our souls; Isa. liii. 11. "He shall see " the travail of his soul, (i. e. the success of his death and suffer- " ings) and shall be satisfied." When he foresaw the success of the gospel upon the world, it is said, Luke x. 21. " In that hour " Jesus rejoiced in Spirit." And thus you see there is no physician like Christ for sick souls.
The uses of this point are,
For information and direction.
First, From whence we are informed of many great and neces- sary truths deducible from this : As,
Inference 1. How inexpressible is the grace of God, in providing such a physician as Christ, for the sick and dying souls of sinners!