Lesson 9. Ninthly, All that come to Christ are taught of God to abandon their former ways and companions in sin, as ever they expect to be received unto mercy, Isa. lv. 7. 2 Cor. v. 17. Sins that were profitable and pleasant, that were as the right hand, and right eye, must now be cut off. Companions in sin, who were once the de- light of their lives, must now be cast off. Christ saith to the soul concerning these, as he said in another case, John xviii. 8. " If " therefore ye seek me, let these go their way." And the soul saith unto Christ, as it. is, Psal. cxix. 115. " Depart from me, ye " evil-doers, for I will keep the commandments of my God." And now pleasant sins and companions in sin, become the very burden and shame of a man s soul. Objects of delight are be- come objects of pity and compassion : No endearments, no union of blood, no earthly interests whatsoever, are found strong enough to hold the soul any longer from Christ : Nothing but the effectual teachings of God are found sufficient to dissolve such bonds of ini- quity as these.
SERM. XXII. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 815
Lesson 10. Tenthly, All that come unto Christ are taught of God, that there is such a beauty and excellency in the warn and people of God, as is not to be equal led in the whole ivorld, PsaL xvi. 3. When the eyes of strangers to Christ begin to be opened, and enlightened in his knowledge, you may see what a change of judgment is wrought in them, with respect to the people of God : and towards them especially, whom God hath any way made instrumental for the good of their souls, Cant. v. 9. they then call the spouse of Christ, the fairest among women. The convincing holiness of the bride then began to enamour and affect them, with a desire of nearer conjunction and communion: We will seek him with thee; with thee that hast so charged us, that hast taken so much pains for the good of our souls ; now, and never before, the righteous appeareth more excellent than his neighbour. Change of heart is always accompanied with change of judgment, with respect to the people of God : thus the gaoler, Acts xvi. 33. washed the apostle's stripes, to whom he had been so cruel before. The godly now seem to be the glory of the places where they live ; and the glory of any place seems to be darkened by their removal ; as one said of holy Mr. Barrington, " Methinks the town is not at home when " Mr. Barrington is out of town." They esteem it a choice mercy to be in their company and acquaintance ; Zech. viii. 23. " We " will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." No people like the people of God now ; as one said, when he heard of two faithful friends, Utinam tertius essem ! O that I might make the third ! Whatever vile or low thoughts they had of the people of God before, to be sure now they are the excellent of the earth, in whom is all their delight : The holiness of the saints might have some interest in their consciences before, but they never had such an interest in their estimation and affections, till this lesson was taught them by the Father.
Lesson 11. Eleventhly, All that come to Christ are taught of Gody that whatever difficulties they apprehend in religion, yet they must not, upon pain of damnation, be discouraged thereby, or return again to sin, Luke ix. 62. " No man having put his hand to the " plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Ploughing-work is hard work ; a strong and steady hand is required for it : he that ploughs must keep on, and make no balks of the hardest and toughest ground he meets with. Religion also is the running of a race, 1 Cor. ix. 24. there is no standing still, much less turning back, if ever we hope to win the prize.
The devil, indeed, labours every way to discourage and daunt the soul, by representing the insuperable difficulties of religion to it ; and young beginners are but too apt to be discouraged, and fall under despondency ; but the teachings of the Father are en-
316 THE METHOD OF GRACE. SERM. XXIT,
couraging teachings ; they are carried on from strength to strength against all the oppositions they meet with from without them, and the many discouragements they find within them. To this con- clusion they are brought by the teaching of God, We must have Christ, we must get a pardon, we must strive for salvation, let the difficulties, troubles, and sufferings in the way be never so great or many. As he said, Necesse est ut earn, non ut vivam ; it is necessary that I go on, it is not necessary that I live : So saith the soul that is taught of God ; it is easier for me to dispense with ease, honour, relations, yea, with life itself, than to part with Christ, and the hopes of eternal life.
Lesson 12. Twelfthly, They that come to Christ, are taught of God, that whatever guilt and unworthiness they discover in them- selves, and whatever fears and doubts are upon their hearts, as to pardon and acceptance ; yet as the case stands, it is their wisdom and great interest to venture themselves in the way of faith, upon Jesus Christ, whatever the issue thereof be.
Three great discouragements are usually found upon the hearts of those that come to Christ in the way of faith.
First, The sensible greatness of guilt and sin. How can I go to Christ that am in such a case, that have been so vile a wretch ? And here measuring the grace and mercy of Christ, by what it finds in itself, or in other creatures, 1 Sam. xxiv. 19. the soul is ready to sink under the weight of its own discouraging and mis- giving thoughts.
Secondly, The sense they have of their own weakness and inabi- lity to do what God requires, and must of necessity be done, if ever they be saved. My heart is harder than adamant, how can I break it ? My will is stubborn, and exceeding obstinate, I am no way able to bow it ; the frame and temper of my spirit is altogether carnal, and earthly ; and it is not in the power of my hand to alter and change it ; alas ! I cannot subdue any one corruption, nor perform one spiritual duty, nor bear one of those sufferings and burdens which religion lays upon all that follow Christ : this also proves a great discouragement in the way of faith.
Thirdly, And, which is more than all, the soul that is coming to Jesus Christ, hath no assurance of acceptance with him, if it should adventure itself upon him : it is a great hazard, a great adventure ; it is much more probable, if I look to myself, that Christ will shut the door of mercy against me.
But under all these discouragements the soul learns this lesson from God, That, as ungodly as it is, nevertheless it is every way its great duty and concernment to go on in the way of faith, and make that great adventure of itself upon Jesus Christ : and of this the Lord convinceth the soul by two things, viz.
SERM. XXII. THE METHOD OF GRACE, 317
1. From the absolute necessity of coming.
2. From the encouraging probabilities of speeding.