their conversion, which was the day of their espousals to Christ, Luke xv. 10. They have been tender and careful over them, and very serviceable to them in this world, Heb. i. 14. and there- fore cannot but rejoice exceedingly, to see them all brought home in safety to their father's house.
5. To conclude, Christ's bringing home all believers unto God, will be matter of unspeakable joy to themselves ; for, whatever knowledge and acquaintance they had with God here, whatever sights of faith they had of heaven and the glory to come in this world, yet the sight of God and Christ the Redeemer will be an unspeakable surprise to them in that day. This will be the day of relieving all their wants, the day of satisfaction to all their de- sires ; for now they are come where they would be, arrived at the very desires of their souls.
Secondly, In the last place, let it be considered, what influence the death of Christ hath upon this design, and you shall find it much every way. In two things especially, the death of Christ hath a blessed casualty and influence in this matter, viz.
1. It effectually removes all obstacles to it.
2. It purchase th (as a price) their title to it.
First, The death of Christ removes all obstacles out of the way of this mercy : such were the bars hindering our access to God as nothing but the death of Christ could remove, and thereby open a way for believers to come to God. The guilt of sin barred us from his gracious presence, Rom. i. 2, 3. Hos. xiv. 2. The filth of sin excluded us from God, Hab. i. 23. Heb. xii. 14. The en- mity of our nature perfectly stopped up our way to God, Col. i. 21. Rom. viii. 7. by reason hereof fallen man hath no desire to come unto God, Job xxi. 14. The justice of God, like a flaming sword, turning every way, kept all men from access to God. And Lastly, Satan, that malicious and armed adversary, lay as a lion in the way to God, 2 Pet. v. 8. O, with what strong bars were the gates of heaven shut against our souls ! The way of God was chained up with such difficulties, as none but Christ was able to remove ; and he by death hath effectually removed them all : The way is now open, even the new and the living way, consecrated for us by his blood. The death of Christ effectually removes the guilt of sin, 1 Pet. ii. 24. washes off the filth of sm, 1 John v. 6. takes away the enmity of nature, Col. i. 20, 21. satisfies all the demands of justice, Rom. iii. 25, 26. hath broken all the power of Satan, Col. ii. 15. Heb. ii. 14. and consequently the way to God is effectually and fully opened to believers by the blood of Jesus, Heb. x. 20.
Secondly, The blood of Christ purchased for believers their light and title to this privilege, Gal. iv. 4, 5. " But when the fulness of " time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
284 THE METHOD OF GRACE. SERM\ XIX.
" made under the law ; to redeem them that were under the law, " that we might receive the adoption of sons," i. e. both the re- lation and inheritance of sons. There was value and worth enough in the precious blood of Christ, not only to pay all our debts to justice, but over and above the payment of our debts, to purchase for us this invaluable privilege. We must put this unspeakable mercy of being brought to God, as my text puts it, upon the ac- count, and to the score of the death of Christ : no believer had ever tasted the sweetness of such a mercy, if Christ had not tasted the bitterness of death for him. The use of all you will have in the following deductions of truth.
Deduction 1. Great is the preciousness and worth of 'souls ', that the life of Christ should be given to redeem and recover them to God. As God laid out his thoughts and counsel from eternity, upon them, to project the way and method of their salvation, so the Lord Jesus, in pursuance of that blessed design, came from the bosom of the Father, and spilt his invaluable blood to bring them to God. Nowise man expends vast sums to bring home trifling commodities: how cheap soever our souls are in our estimation, it is evident by this they are of precious esteem in the eyes of Christ.
Deduct 2. Redeemed souls must expect no rest or satisfaction on, this side heaven, and the full enjoyment of God. The life of a be- liever in this world, is a life of motion and expectation : they are now coming to God, 1 Pet. ii. 4. God, you see, is the centre and rest of their souls, Heb. iv. 9. As the rivers cannot rest till they pour themselves into the bosom of the sea, so neither can renewed souls find rest till they come into the bosom of God *. There are four things which do and will break the rest, and disturb the souls of believers in this world ; afflictions, temptations, corruptions, and absence from God. If the three former causes of disquietness were totally removed, so that a believer were placed in such a condition upon earth, where no affliction could disturb him, no temptation trouble him, no corruption defile or grieve him, yet his very ab- sence from God must still keep him restless and unsatisfied, 2 Cor. v. 6. " Whilst we are at home in the bod}', we are absent from " the Lord."
Deduct. 3. What sweet and pleasant thoughts should cdl believers liave of death ! When they die, and never till they die, shall they be fully brought home to God. Death to the saints, is the door by which they enter into the enjoyment of God : the dying Chris- tian is almost at home, yet a few pangs and agonies more, and then he is come to God, in whose presence is the fulness of joy.
* Thou hast made us for thyself, and our hearts are unsatisfied till they rest in thee. Aug. Confes.lib. 1. c. 1.
SERM. XIX. THE METHOD OE GRACE. 285
" I devsire (saith Paul) to depart, and to be with Christ, which is " far better," Phil. i. 23. It should not affright us to be brought to death, the king of terrors, so long as it is the office of death to brino- us to God. That dreaming opinion of the soul sleeping after de«th, is as ungrounded, as it is uncomfortable : the same day we loose from this shore, we shall be landed upon the blessed shore, where we shall see and enjoy God for ever. O, if the friends of dead believers did but understand where, and with whom their souls are, whilst they are mourning over their Ixxlies, certainly a few believing thoughts of this would quickly dry up their tears, and fill the house of mourning with voices of praise and thanks- giving !