III. The reasons why this prophet must be heard.
1. Consider whose voice it is who speaketh — the only beloved Son of God, or God himself — and surely when he speaketh he must be heard : Heb. xii. 25, ' See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake from earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.' It is Christ doth speak, and God by him, commanding us to repent and beheve the gospel ; now to refuse him is a high contempt. God, when he gave the law, he spake on earth ; but when he spake by Christ, he spake from heaven ; for Christ came from heaven to acquaint us with the mind of God, and having done it, is returned to heaven again, from whence he sent down his Spirit on the apostles, who revealed his gospel to the world. This was a mystery hidden in the bosom of God, and brought to us thence by his only-begotten Son. Surely, with all humble submission, we should attend unto and obey his word : Ps. ciii. 20, ' Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word.'
2. The matter which he speaketh and we hear — the doctrine of the gospel ; it is the most sweet, excellent, and comfortable doctrine that can be heard, or understood by the heart of man : Prov. viii. 6, ' Hear,' saith Wisdom, ' for I will speak of excellent things : and the opening of my lips shall be of right things.' This is the brightest light that ever shone from heaven, the profoundest wisdom, the greatest love and mercy that ever was or can be shown to sinful wretches, of the highest concernment to man ; because his everlasting state lieth upon it, a state of everlasting woe or weal.
Three things I shall take notice of : —
[1.] The way of reconciliation with God manifested and discovered out of his intimate love to us. Man had fallen from the love of God to the creature, and was conscious to himself of having displeased his
Mat. XVII. 5.] Christ's transfiguration. 399
Maker, and so lay under the fears of his vindictive justice. Now God hy Christ declareth his love to the offender in the fullest and most astonishing way, reconciling himself to him, and showeth his readi- ness to forgive and save him: 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners : of whom I am chief ; ' and, 2 Cor. v. 19, ' God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself Oh, what should be more welcome to the creature than this news of this pardoning cove- nant founded in the blood of Christ !
[2.] Our duty exactly stated, with convenient motives to enforce it. Not only the comfort of man is provided for, but also our subjection to God, and that upon the freest and most comfortable terms, that we should serve him in love, and glorify and please him, that we may be happy in his love to us ; for the sum of religion is to love him, and keep his commandments: John xiv. 21, 23, 'He that keepeth my commandments, he it is that loveth me : and if any man love me, he will keep my words.' To love him is our work, and to be beloved of him is our happiness ; and ver. 24 : ' He that loveth me not keep- eth not my sayings : and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.' The gospel is the very word of God, both the Father's and the Son's ; it is an act of loving, serving, and pleasing God ; for this is the word Christ preached, that we love God, and Christ loveth us again.
[3.] A prospect of eternal happiness : 2 Tim. i. 10, ' He hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.' This is news, but darkly revealed before, and without this man knew not how to satisfy all his capacities and desires, but was like Leviathan in a little pool. Nay, we have not only a prospect of it, but the offer of it as a reward appointed, if we will be sincere in our faith, love, and obedience : 1 John ii. 25, ' This is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.' Everlasting joy and blessedness is propounded to us ; Oh, then, hear him, if this be that he speaketh of.
3. The danger of not hearing this prophet.
[1.] For the present : to continue to slight and contemn the gospel is the mark that you are in a carnal, perishing condition : 2 Cor. iv. 3, ' If our gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost ; ' John x. 3, ' My sheep hear my voice ; ' and ver. 16, ' Other sheep are there which are not of this fold, and they shall hear my voice.' Christ's sheep, whether Jew or Gentile, they have all the same character, they all hear his voice ; and ver. 27, ' My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.' They distinguish his voice, own his voice, obey his voice. So John viii. 47, ' Whosoever is of God heareth God's words ; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God ; ' so that you lose all this comfort if ye do not hear the voice of Christ and his faithful servants.