224 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXXI,
of Jerusalem, but weep for yourselves and children.' That would not comport with the end of the death of Christ, which was not to be looked upon as a spectacle of human calamity, but as a mystery of higher consideration, and God looked for more noble and spiritual motions than this passionate condoling. So to fight for him ; Peter was in a rage wlien they came to attack Christ, and therefore draweth on a whole troop: John xviii. 11, 'Put up thy sword in thy sheath, Peter. The cup which my Father hath put into my hand, shall I not drink of it ? ' Peter's act seemed to express much zeal and affection to Christ's person, but Christ showeth that he was appointed for a higher purpose, and checketh Peter for his rashness. Nay, the disciples languishing for the comforts of his bodily presence, then Christ told them, John xiv. 15, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.' When a man is ready at our command, and willing to do what we would have him to do, it is a sign of his love ; to be up and be doing is a sure manifestation of obedience ; so John sx. 27, ' Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father ; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend.' Mary Magdalene was now fallen at Christ's feet, and embraced them, Mat. xxviii. 9. They came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. In a humble and affectionate devotion, she hangeth about our Saviour ; but Christ forbids this embracing — * Touch me not ; ' it comes of human aiFection, out of a compliment ; but Christ rejects this testimony of her love, and directs her to a more acceptable service, — to carry tidings to his brethren of his resurrection. And it is more acceptable and pleasing to him to be about our service, and doing good in our station, than to be performing these offices of human love, and kindness to his person, entertaining him, seeing, hearing him, weeping for him, defending him. Otherwhiles he bids them come to him : Luke xxiv. 39, ' Handle, and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have ; ■" for a confirmation of their faith.
2. There is a knowing Clirist after the flesh since his ascension into heaven.
[1.] By a naked profession of his name, without conformity to his laws. There are disciples in name, and disciples in deed : John viii. 31, 'If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.' Christ hath some disciples who are so in reality, and others who are so in show only ; there is no true ground of solid comfort but in being real disciples. Others are but christians in the letter, not in the spirit. Those that are in the letter have notions of God and Christ, and heaven and hell ; but they have but names and notions of these things, but feel nothing of the power and life that accompanieth these things. A man may profess himself a christian, and yet perish with unbelievers ; yea, be as great an enemy to Christ as the Jews that crucified him, and the heathens that worshipped other gods. A grieving of his Spirit, a despising the fruits of his purchase, a refusal of his holy ordinances, and a hatred of his servants, is no less offensive to him, and may argue as little affection in us, as either the spite of the Jews or idolatry of the heathens did in them to Christ. I call this profession of careless, lawless christians, a knowing Christ after the flesh, because it is a mere carnal, human, natural respect to Christ's memory, such as a man beareth to his famous ancestors, or the
Ver. 1G.] sermons upon 2 coRI^'T^IANS v. 225
deceased heroes of his country, not befitting him who is our mediator, and lord of all things, who is best remembered when our hearts are converted to him, and when his laws are obeyed ; such as the Jews did bear to Abraham, the founder of their nation, or Moses the lav/- giver of their country. Surely Abraham and ]\Ioses were as dear to the carnal Jews as Christ can be to us; but Christ telleth them, ' It you were Abraham's seed, you would do the works of Abraham,' John viii. 39 ; and John r. 46/ If ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed me/ They were Abraham's seed after the flesh, not after the spirit ; they were Abraiiam's seed after the flesh, but that did avail them nothing, since they did not follow his example, but sought to kill him, which was far from Abraham's spirit and temper. A little of men's practice is a surer rule to try by than all their fair language and compliraental re.'^pect : John ix. 28, 29, 'Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple ; we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake to Moses : but as for this fellow, we know not whence he is.' However he, or such as he, were so fully resolved to become disciples to Christ, yet they would cleave to Moses, John ix. 28. Thus are the best of men mistaken and abused by their carnal successors : they made use of Moses' name to excuse their disobedience to Christ. It is an old trick of degenerate men to cry up the names of pious ancestors, and externally to adore the memory of saints departed ; but such motives of love are but carnal, when there is an apparent inconformity between you and the persons whom you would magnify. We detest the memory of Annas and Caiaphas, Judas, and such others as conspired to take away the life of Christ ; so did they of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Ahal) was accounted as wicked by them as Pilate by us ; therefore to rest in a naked, historical belief, and mere profession of the name of Christ, when there is such an apparent insubjection to his laws, it is but a knowing Christ after the flesh, owning him as the God of the country upon custom and tradition. Well then, Christ is never rightly entertained but when his doctrine is received and entertained by faith ; though there should be a hatred of his persecutors, a quarrelling for his religion, you put him to more shame in your conversations, and crucify him afresh every day : Heb. vi. 6, ' Seeing they have crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame.' A quarrelling rufiBan may be ready to fly in the face of him that shall sjieak a disgraceful word against his father, when his own dissolute and ungracious wicked courses grieve his father's spirit, and shame him more than all their reproaches ; so. many will pretend much love to Christ, and in a heat and quarrel be ready to venture their lives for their religion. No man would have his religion despised ; but yet he shameth and bringeth it most into contempt that matcheth it with disproportionate practices; as those are called enemies to the cross of Christ that preached Christ, but yet lived in a sensual and earthly manner, Phil, iii, 19.