VII. Character. The voice of Christ whereof we now speak, is generally and ordinarily conveyed to the souls of men through the word preached, which is the chosen organ or instrument of its con- veyance. We cannot absolutely and universally affirm that Christ always speaks to men this way : but certainly this is his standing and ordinary course ; 1 Thes. i. 5. " Our gospel came not to you in " word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost." Our gospel, because preached and ministered by us ; but had that been all, it had come to you in word only, as it doth to many thousand others in the world, who hear and feel nothing in it more than what is human; But unto you it came in power, and in the Holy Ghost; that is, our words were the vehicle and organ through which the vital power of the Spirit was conveyed into your souls. Providences have their voices as well as the word ; and sometimes the voice of Christ hath accompanied the voice of Providence, to the conversion of men's souls ; but this is more rare and unusual : The established and ordinary way of Christ's speaking to the hearts of sinners, is by the word, and especially the word preached, which upon that very account and consideration, as it is the organ of conveying the voice and power of Christ to the soul, is therefore " called the power of " God to salvation," Rom. i. 16. This instrument the Lord ge- nerally uses and honours for the conveyance of spiritual life into the souls of men, though it be despised and contemned in the world. " The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but " unto us which are saved, it is the power of God," 1 Coi*. i. 18. i. e. the chosen instrument by which the saving power of God com- municates itself to the souls of men : And although God may exert his saving power through providences, yet we seldom or never find he doth so where the word may be had, but is despised and neglect- ed. And truly herein God consults our peace and satisfaction; forj suppose he should make use of another medium, as a voice
from heaven, &c. and after calling (which is an nsital case) the called soul should question all, and say, how do I know but all thig may be a delusion ? May not Satan impose u|X)n poor mortals, and this voice from heaven be a counterfeit voice ? My eternal estate depends upon it, and I had need to be sure it was the very voice of God himself. In such a case as this, it would be hard to give such cleai- distinguishing characters as might be to the satisfaction of the soul, and clearly difference one from the other. But now, when God makes the word his instrument in this matter, it yields abun- dantly more satisfaction ; " We have a more sure word of prophecy,'^ surer than a voice from heaven, 2 Pet. i. 19. And though Paul was converted by a voice from heaven, yet the Lord sends him to Ananias to preach the gospel to him, Acts ix. 17. The Lord will honour his word. Providence may make way, and prepare the heai't ; but the word is the instrument by which the Lord puts forth his power ordinarily to salvation.
VIII. Character. The voice of Christ leaves abiding' effects and lasting impressions upon the soul that hears it. The words of men are scattered into the wind, but the effects of Christ's voice are durable and lasting things ; Psal. cxix. 93. " I wiU never forget '• thy word, for by it thou hast quickened me."" How many hundred sermons have we heard, and all those excellent truths vanished away as a dream ? Oh, but if ever thou heardst Christ speaking to thy heart in any sermon, or prayer, to be sure that will stick by thee for ever ; his words are sealed upon the soul for ever ; they are >vritten in the heart, Jer. xxxi. 33. What Job wished, concerning his word, that is really performed in the words of Christ, *' They are written as in the rock for ever."" We have slippery memories, but the weakest memory will, and must retain the words of Christ, spoken to the heart by his Spirit ; for they are sealed upon it. Job xxxii. 16. " He sealeth their instructions;"" and this seciu'es them. Thus you have the innate characters of Christ's voice.
Fourthly, I siiall next s}:>eak to the personal objects unto whom Christ ordinarily directs this liis internal, efficacious, and saving voice or call. And although it be true that the Spirit of Christ is a free agent, acting with the greatest liberty, and calleth whom he will, according to that, John iii. 8. " The \vmA bloweth where it " listeth.'" And it is true de facto, that Christ hath made some of all sorts and ranks of men to hear his voice ; yet if we consider the way he commonly takes, we shall find that it is very true and sel- dom, that Christ directs this saving voice or call of his to the great and wise of this world : 1 Cor. i. 26. " You see your calling, bre- " thren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many " mighty, not many noble are called." He saith not any^ but
not many. Some Clirist doth call ; * lest (as one notes) the world ' should think that Christians were deceived through their simpli- * city and weakness.' One rich Joseph of Arimathea ; one ho- nourable Nicodcmus, but not many. Men of the greatest fame and renown in the world have been the greatest and fiercest enemies against Christ : Galen the chief physician, Porphyry the chief Aristotelian, Plotinius the chief Platonist, Lybanus and Lucian the chief orators, were all professed enemies of Christ. Two things make a great man in the eyes of the world ; the external endow- ments of Providence, heaping up riches and honours upon the out- ward man ; and internal gifts and endowments of the mind, adorn- ing the inward man, as strong reason, sharpness of wit, &c. When both these meet (as many times they do) in one and the same per- son, they make him great in the eyes of the world, and usually in his own eyes too ; yea, too great to stoop to the simplicity of the gospel, and the humbling self-denying terms thereof. These the Lord usually passes by, and directs his voice to the^ poor : the poor receive the gospel ; " God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich " in faith, and heirs of the kingdom," James ii. 5. And this choice of God, Christ blesseth him for, Matth. xi. 25. " I thank " thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast " hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed " them unto babes ; even so. Father, for so it seemeth good in thy " sight."" And, indeed, the wisdom of God deserves our admi- ration in this dispensation : For,