304 THE TWELFTH SERMON. [JoB XIX. 25.
certain, infallible truth. I put you upon this, partly because we have a great argument in the text. If Job could see it so long before it came to pass, shoultl we not now see it ? Believers of old uiake us ashamed who live in the clear sunshine of the gospel. Job lived long before the gospel was revealed ; the redemption of souls was at that time a great mystery, being sparingly revealed to a few. But one of a thou- sand could bring this message to a condemned sinner, that God had found a ransom, Job xxxiii. 23. Partly to put you upon earnest prayer to God, and other holy means. The Spirit opens our eyes and inclines our hearts : Eph. i. 17, 18, ' I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and re- velation in the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.'
II. I exhort you to apply and improve it to your particular comfort. I shall speak : —
1. To the careless.
2. To the sensible.
1. To the careless, who do not give diligence to make their interest clear, that they may be able to say, ' I know that my Redeemer liveth.' Some are contented so they may be well in the world, and live in peace, credit, and mirth here, but never look after an interest in the Redeemer, or to get a sure hope of a sentence of absolution from him at the last day. They content themselves with a general belief that Christ died for sinners, and only make use of it for the increase of their carnal security and boldness in sinning. We must not only consider what Christ hath done, but what we are to do that we may be partakers of the benefits. The general work of redemption Christ hath performed for us, without any consent on our part. He took our nature, fulfilled the law, satisfied the justice of God, merited grace ; but we must thank- fully receive him, live in him and to him, before this is applied to ua, or we can have the comfort of it, 2 Cor. v. 17 ; xiii. 5. They content themselves to think and hope well, but do not make it sure upon good grounds. And when questions and scruples are raised in their hearts, there is not a full hearing of the matter, the court is broken up ere things are well determined ; and so they run the hazard of uncertainty, and live and die venturing their souls upon the bare possibility of being saved, never put it out of doubt, nor ' assure their hearts before God,' 1 John iii. 19.
2. To the sensible ; to live upon this truth in the midst of their cala- mities, esi)ecially that they may enjoy the comfort of it in a dying hour. Oh'jccl. You will say. We could take comfort in this, if we knew we had a Redeemer at God's right hand ; but alas ! after all our profession of the name of Christ, and long waiting ujjon God, I cannot make this close application, to say, ' My Redeemer liveth,' or ' My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,' Luke i. 47.
Ann. But cannot you bless God for the gospel, and the offers of par- don and life by him ? The main foundation of comfort lies in the general truths ; your hopes are not built chiefly upon the sense of your own interest, but the ransom which Christ hath 2)aid (or you. Is it
Job XIX. 25.] the twelfth sermon. 305
nothing to you that God should become man, and your judge your kinsman ? John i. 14. Surely goodness and mercy is nearer to us in our own nature than it was in the divine nature. We have an appar- ent demonstration of it to us, that Christ would come among us to bring home souls to God, Heb. vi. 17, 18. Again, is it nothing that, in this nature of ours, he would pay our ransom, that none should perish for want of a sufficient satisfaction to God's justice, but for want of a "will- ing heart to accept and own his Kedeemer ? John iii. 16, 17; Eev. iii. 24-26. We are so far onward in our way. Again, is it nothing to us that our Kedeemer will rescue us out of the hand of the destroyer ? 1 John iii. 8. It is his office. This should prevail with us, not to tie the cord the faster, but to wait upon him with the more hope if you desire his aid to this end and purpose, for it is his office. Again, is it nothing to you that this Redeemer liveth ; that Christ, in your nature, rose again, and is now at God's right hand, to manage the causes of poor sinners ? Rom. viii. 34. St Paul's triumph hence ariseth. Lastly, is it nothing to you to know this, that God hath sent the gospel to you, and given you faith of these things ? 1 John v. 20, ' We know the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true.' Is this favour nothing ? These are the trutlis you must live upon.