2. The presence of Christ is necessary to assist and enable his ministers in their work, for it is a work quite above their owtv strength ; it is well we are workers together with God, else we should soon faint under our labours. When Moses objected, / am not eloquent, the Lord told him, / will he with thy mouth, Exod. iv. 10. When God guides the tongue, how powerful and persuasive must the language be ! when the apostles, illiterate men, were sent out to convert the world, Christ promised to give them a mouth and wisdom, Luke xxi. 15. a mouth to speak, and wisdom to guide that mouth ; and then their words were demonstrations ; all their adversaries could not resist that Spirit and power by which they spake. Empires, and kingdoms full of enemies, received the gospel ; but the reason of this wonderful success is given us in Mark xvi. XX. " They went out and preached every where, the Lord *' working with them.'"' It is sweet and prosperous working in fellowship with Christ ; tlie Spirit of Christ gives a manifold assist- ance to his ministers in their work ; it is he that guides and di- rects their mind in the choice of those subjects wherein they la- bour with such success to their hearers. He dictates the matter, influences their affections, guides their lips, follows home their doctrine with success. And this is a special use and end of Christ's presence with his ministers and ordinances.
3. The spiritual presence of Christ is necessary for the prepa- ration and opening of the people's heart to receive and embrace the gospel to salvation ; not a heart will open to receive Christ till the spirit of Christ unlock them. Paul and Timothy were ex- traordinarily called to preach the gospel at Macedonia, there Lydia was converted ; but how ? Not by their skill or eloquence, but by the Spirit's influence ; " The Lord opened the heart of Lydia," Acts xvi. 14. The church could not be propagated without con- version ; conversion could never be wrought without Christ's in- fluence and spiritual presence. So that this presence is of absolute necessity ; tlie church cannot subsist, nor the great ends of ordi- nances be attained \vithout it.
liiference I. 'Is Christ really present in all gospel administra* ' tions, how a^vfully solemn then is Qy^x^ part of gospel worsliip ?
* we having to do with Christ himself, and not with' men only, in
* gospel oi'dinances.'* Happy were it, if under this consideration, all our people did receive the word we preach, as the Thessalonians did, 1 Thess. ii; 13. not as the word of man, but as the wot'd of God ; then it would work effectually in us as it did in them. But alas ! we have loose and low apprehensions of the word ; we come to judge the gifts of the speaker, not to have our minds informed, our consciences searched, our lusts mortified, and our lifes regu- lated. But oh ! that men would realize the presence of Christ in ordinances, and seriously consider that word of his, Rev. ii. 23. '' All the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the ** reins and hearts, and I will give every one of you according to " your works."
How would it compose Vain and wandering hearts unto holy se- riousness ? O if men would but consider that they are before the Lord Jesus Christ, as Cornelius and his family did, Acts x. 33. " We are all here present before God^ to hear all things that are *' commanded thee of God." If they would consider the Word, as the executioner of God's eternal decrees, which returns not in vain, but accomplishes that whereunto God sends it, Isa. Iv. 11. and eventually proves the savour of life or death eternal to them that sit under it, 2 Cor. ii. 16. In a word, were it but consider- ed as the rule by which its hearers shall be judged in the great day, John xii. 48. then how would men tremble at the word ? What mighty effects would it have upon their hearts ? HoSv would it run and be glorified ? But, alas, as Job speaks. Job ix. 11. " He " goeth by me, and I see him not * he passeth on also, but I " perceive him not." Few realize the spkitual presence of Christ in ordinances.
Inf. 9>. If Christ be really present with his churches afnd ordi- nances, ' How vain are all attempts of enemies to subvert and de- stroy them T That promise, Mat. xxviii. ult. supposes the continu- ance of a gospel and church-ministry to the end of the world, else there would be a promise without a subject; as^ de Jure^ there ought to be a church, so (k Facto, there shall be a church with ministei's and ordinances, let Satan and antichrist do their worst. I do not say this promise secures this or that particular cliurch or nation, for the presence of Christ is moveable from one place t<) another, but still the church is safe. And there ai'e three things that secure it against all hazards.
1. The invaluable treasures God hath lodged in the church' viz. his Truths, his Worship, and his Elect ; such a precious cargo secures the vessel that carries it, whatever storms or tempests may befalit ^
2. The covenant and promise of God with the church is it« abundant security. Mat. xvi. 18. " Upon this rock will I build *^ my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it/' The faithfulness of God is pa^vned for his people''s security. If the church fail, God's faithfulness must fail with it.
3. But above all, the presence of Christ in the midst of it, puts it out of all danger of miscarrying. In that promise, Lo^ I am 'With you alivay^ are found all munitions and fortifications whatso- ever : here we have his eye of pro%idence, his hand of power, and whatsoever else is needful to support and secure it. God accounts his presence our safety, Isa. xli. x. The enemies of God and his people account it so too, Exod. xiv. 25. and shall it not be so in oui* account ? Provoke not the Lord Jesus to withdraw his pre- sence, and fear not the consultations and oppositions of hell or earth.
Inf. S. From this spiritual presence of Christ all his faithful ministers should draw encouragement, amidst the manifold difficul- ties and discouragements they daily encounter in his work and ser- vice. Christ is ^^*ith them, they work in fellowship with him, let them not be dismayed.
The difficulties and discouragements the ministers of Christ meet with are great and many ; and the more faithful and successful any of them are in their Master'*s work, the fiercer opposition they must expect : besides, all the discouragements rising out of their own hearts, which are not a few, they must encounter,