[3]. Check vain fears of death and hell, Satan, lusts, and the world. Alas ! there is no more spirit left in these things ; they are like the Canaanites which were stung by God's hornets before the Israelites conquered them : ' I will send my hornets before you.' Fear possessed them, and then they were easily vanquished. Christ hath not only stung them, but broke them in pieces. Will you fear shattered forces ? Nay, Christ hath not only broken them, but disarmed them, and not only disarmed" them, but bound them ; and who would fear naked and chained enemies ? Children are frightened at the sight of enemies, though bound. Oh, be not such children in grace ! You shall find often in scripture that this is brought in as a just inference out of Christ's conquest : ' Fear not, I have overcome the world,' Some are careless, and fear nothing; others, that mind the danger of their souls, are very apt to be surprised with carnal trouble when they think of
472 A rriACTicAL exposition upon [Isa. LIII. 12.
death, and hell, and wrath ; and altogether it prove th' a great con- .sternation to then- thoughts : but be not troubled, 'Ye believe in God, believe also in me,' John xiv. 1. When you think of God and Christ together, God satisfying, and Christ suffering, oh ! what an amulet is there, what a cordial for fainting souls ! Timorousness in a Christian is a disgrace to Christ. Understand what fears I mean ; not a caute- lous fear to avoid sin, to shun danger, to put us upon seasonable provisions against evil, but a perplexing fear, such as filleth the soul with amazement. Cautelous fear maketh the soul run to Christ, like chickens under the hen's wings ; but the other fear undervalueth the conquest of Christ, as if there were no hope for us in our God, and no hope for us in our Saviour.
[4.] It i)rcsseth us to praise, honour, and obey him. Conquerors merit of their country ; usually some trophy and statue is erected to their memorial. Oh, what honour do you devise for Christ, now he hath conquered for you, now he hath recovered a church, and it may be your souls, out of the hands of death, and hell, and Satan, and defended you against all the malice of the world ! When our knees bow to Christ, our mouths must confess him, Phil. ii. 10, 11. Fall down like the elders before the Lamb, with the harps of God in your hands, Kev. v. 9, and give him honour, and blessing, and praise. David, when he had rest from his enemies, he thinketh of building God a temple, 2 Sam. vii. 2. God hath given you rest, think of a trophy for God. Honour him in your expressions, affections, and conversations. Serve him now he hath set you free ; you are his by right of conquest : pass over into his power and love as Christ's, Kom. vii, 14. The apostle speaketh of himself in his natural condition, ' I am carnal, sold under sin.' He alludeth to a custom among the llomans, who, wlien captives and prisoners were taken in war, they wei'c wont to sell them to one another, as captives, under a spear. Oh, do not live as carnal, and for the uses and advantages of sin, as if you were the spoils of sin, but as the spoils of Jesus Christ. Oh, be not sold under sin ; wholly pass over into his power and right, and live to his glory.
[.5.] Set against the enemies with the more courage and resolution. Oh, that the joy of the Lord may be your strength, that in all your endeavours against sin and Satan you may look up to the victory of Christ ! It is said, Kom. vii. 24, 25, ' 0 wretched man that I am ! who .shall deliver me from the body of this death ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Oh, you are enclasped within the ribs of the body of death : how shall I get free ? Through Jesus Christ there is liope of triumj)!!. Therefore do not fear, but set upon it. You are mistaken, if you think the work was so done upon Christ's cross that there remainetli nothing for your care and endeavours : Rom. xvi. 20. God ' will bruise Satan,' but it is ' under your feet ;' implying lliere is .something that we must do. And Ps. ex. 5, ' The Lord at thy right hand will smite through kings in the day of his wrath.' God will smite them through, but it will be at tiiy right hand, which doth imply our endeavours. Ciu'ist will divide the spoil witii the strong, and the violent take heaven by force ; therefore u.se all due means. Men cherish a lazy wish, a yawning, drowsy prayer;
ISA. LIII. 12.] THE FIFTY -THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 473
the}' may read a chapter, and ^o on in a dead way, perform a cold duty, or make a formal discourse, but they do not stir up themselves to lay hold upon God. They do not pray, with tears ancl strongs cries and supplications, for a share in Christ's conquest. Where is the violence of your spirits, the earnestness of desires, the fervency of raised affections, vigorous and powerful endeavours ? Prov. xiii. 4, ' The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing.' Oh, therefore, stir up yourselves. Who would not put forth endeavours when they are like to be successful ? James iv. 7, ' Resist the devil, and he shall flee from you.' You shall not only repel him, but chase him. Oh, buckle to it to the purpose, put on tlie whole armour of God. Christ's death, and Spirit, and prayers aim at this, that he may do it in you ; for it should never content you, unless it be done in your souls, that he may destroy death in you : Col. i. 29, ' Whereunto I also labour, striving according to the working wliich worketh in me mightily.' Not that he did put forth in his own person only.