preparing such a remedy as this for lost man. This is that which is justly called "The great mystery of godliness," 1 Tim. iii. 16. that mystery which the prophets enquired diligently after, yea, which the " angels desired to look into," 1 Pet. i. 10, 12. In this glorious mystery of redemption, that -roXuco/x/Xo; mzia., manifold wisdom of God, or that wisdom which hath such curious and ad- mirable variety in it, is illustriously displayed, Eph. iv. 10. Yea, the contrivance of our redemption, this way, is the most glorious display of divine love that ever was made, or can be made, in this world to the children of men ; for so the apostle will be under- stood, when he saith, Rom. v. 8. 2y>/?»j<r/ rr,v savfk ayu-Tryv, God
hath set forth, or presented his love to man in the most engaging manner, in a way that commends it beyond all compare to the ac- ceptation of men. " This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all ac- " ceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners," 1 Tim. i. 15. It might be justly expected, that when this glorious mystery should come to be published by the gospel in the ears of sinners, all eyes should be withdrawn from all other objects, and fixed with admiration upon Christ, all hearts should be ravished with these glad tidings ; and every man pressing to Christ with the greatest zeal and diligence. But behold, instead thereof,
Secondly, The desperate wickedness of the world, in rejecting the only remedy prepared for them. This was long since foretold by the prophet, Isa. liii. 3. " He is despised and rejected of men,
SERM. XXXV. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 473
"*a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid " our faces from him ; he was despised, and we esteemed him " not."" His poor and mean appearance, which should endear him beyond all considerations to the souls of men, (since it was for their sakes, that he emptied himself of all his glory) yet this lays him under contempt, he is looked on as the very oil-cast of men -f% when his own love to man had emptied him of all his riches, the wickedness of men loaded him with contempt, and as it was pro- phesied of him, so it was, and at this day is sadly verified all the world over ; for,
First, The Pagan world hath no knowledge of him, they are lost in darkness. " God hath suffered them to walk in their own " ways," Acts xiv. 16.
Secondly, The Mahometans which overspread so great a part of the world reject him, and instead of the blessed gospel, which they hiss at with abhorrence, embrace the blasphemous and ridiculous Alcoran, which they confidently affirm came down from God immediately in that Laylatto Hanzill (as they call it) the night of demission, calling all Christians, Caflrouna, i. e. Infidels.
Thirdly, The Jews reject him with abhorrence, and spit at his very name, and being blind-folded by the devil, they call Jesus Anathema, 1 Cor. xii. 3. And in a blind zeal for Moses, blaspheme him as an impostor. " He came to his own, and his own received " him not," John i. 11.
Fourthly, The far greater part of the Christianized world reject him \ ; those that are called after his name, will not submit to his government. The nobles of the world think themselves dishonour- ed by submitting their necks to his yoke. The sensualists of the world will not deny their lusts, or forsake their pleasures, for all the treasures of righteousness, life and peace, which his blood hatli purchased. Worldlings of the earth prefer the dirt and dung of the world before him ; and few there be among them that profess Christianity, who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. The only rea- son why they are called Christians is, because, by the advantageous cast of providence, they were born and educated in a nation where Christianity is professed and established by the laws of the coun-
DsiyNN H*Tn Cessans virorum: i. e. I/ifimus hominum, qui citlus desinit quarn tdlus virorum.
f Nil habet iiifelix paupertas durius in scf Quam quod ridiculos homines sacit .— —
Juvenal. Sat. III. v. 152. Want is the scorn of ev'ry wealthy fool, And wit in rags is turn'd to ridicule.
\ To put on the profession of Christ's name, and not to walk in Christ's way, wha i is it but prevaricating with that divine name ? Cyp> de Zelo,
474f THE METHOD OF GllACE. SERM. XXXV,
try ; and if the wind should turn, and the public authority think fit to establish another religion, they can shift their sail, and steer a contrary course.
But now, reader, let me tell thee, that if ever God send forth these two grim Serjeants, his law, and thine own conscience, to ar- rest thee for thy sins, if thou find thyself dragged away by them towards that prison from whence none return, that are once clapt up therein, and that in this unspeakable distress Jesus Christ mani- fest himself to thy soul, and open thy heart to receive him, and become thy surety with God, pay all thy debts, and cancel all thy obligations, thou wilt love him at another rate than others do ; his blood will run deeper in thine eyes than it doth in the shallow ap- prehensions of the world ; he will be altogether lovely, and thou wilt account all things but dung and dross in comparison of the excel- lency of Jesus Christ thy Lord. To work thy heart to this frame, these things are written, which the Lord prosper upon thy soul, by the blessing of his good Spirit upon thee.
Blessed be God for Jesus Christ I
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
To the much honoured, his dear kinsman, Mr. John Flavel, and Mr. Edward Ciuspe, of London, Merchants ; and the rest of my worthy friends in London, Ratcliffe, Shadwf.ll, and Lymehouse, grace, mercy, and peace.
" xlLMONG all the creatures in this lower world, none deserves to " be stiled great, but man ; and in man nothing is found worthy of that epithet, but his soul *.
The study, and knowledge of his soul was, therefore, always reckoned a rich and necessary improvement of time. All ages have magnified these two words, " Know thyself', as an oracle descending " from heaven •f\"
" No knowledge, saith Bernard J, is better than that whereby " we know ourselves ; leave other matters therefore, and search " thyself; run through thyself, make a stand in thyself; let thy " thoughts, as it were, circulate, begin and end in thy self ? Strain not thy thoughts in vain about other things, thyself being neglected.
* Nilil in terra magnum prater hominem, nihil in homine prater mentem. Favorin.
f Eccelo descendity y/&&/ fcauroy. Juvenal. Sat. 11. v. 27.
f Nulla scientia melior ilia, qua homo novit scijtsum ; relinque ergo catera, et teipsum diseute ; per te curre, in te consist?; a U ncipiat cogitatio iua, ct in tejhxiahir.
476 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
The study and knowledge of Jesus Christ must still be allowed to be the most excellent and necessary : But yet the worth and ne- cessity of Christ is unknown to men, till the value, wants, and dangers of their own souls be first discovered to them.