(3d.) He is so beneficial to us. We have cause to rejoice if we con-
SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26. 175
sider the many benefits we have by him : 1 Cor. i. 30, 31, ' But of hun are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and right- eousness, and sanctification, and redemption : that according as it is written. He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.' Ignorance alien- ates from God ; depraved nature brings doubts and fears, which always haunt us about eternity and the way thither. Now, when God hath provided such a suitable and all-sufiicient remedy, should we not rejoice, and esteem him, and delight in him, and count all things but dung and dross in comparison of him, that we may gain him and his grace ?
(2.) The subject.
(isf.) They are affected with their misery ; for according as our sense of our misery is, so is our entertainment of the remedy. Those that heal their wounds slightly little care for the physician. A doc- trinal sight of sin maketh way for a dead opinion about Christ. It is they that are often in tears and groans, through the feeling of sin and fears of the wrath of God, who do most esteem Christ and rejoice in him : Mat. ix. 13, ' I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance ; ' Acts ii. 37, ' And when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do ? ' A saviour is welcome to them, for he is to them a comfortable and suitable remedy.
(2c?.) They mind their end, which is to return to God as their proper happiness. When the soul seeth nothing better than God, then nothing is sweeter than Christ. Intention of the end maketh the means acceptable : John xiv. 6, ' Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh to the Father but by pie ; ' Heb. vii. 25, ' Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost all those that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.' Christ is of no use but where God is our chiefest good ; for if we be indifferent as to the favour of God, why should we prize Christ ?
{3d.) Their heart is suited to spiritual things. To excite delight and complacency there are two things necessary — the attractiveness of the object, and the inclination of the faculty. Delight and pleasure is applicatio convenient is convenienti. If the object be never so lovely, yet, if the faculty be not suited, there is no delight. We use to say, One man's food is another man's poison : Eom. viii, 5, ' For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh ; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.' Every man's taste is accord- ing to his constitution ; some are so lost and sunk in the dregs of pleasures, honours, and profits, that they have no relish for better tilings. Though Christ be so excellent and so suitable, and so all-sufficient to soul-necessities, yet carnal men cannot savour him : this excellency is only valued by a spiritual mind. Scarlet maketh no more show in the dark than a better colour. The mystery of redemption to the carnal is but a cold story, and the rose of Sharon but as withered flowers, and the promises of the gospel are as dry chips.
(3.) The causes of it ; they are the Holy Ghost, and faith as his instrument. This joy is stirred up by the Holy Ghost, therefore often called joy in the Holy Ghost : Eom. xiv. 17, ' For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ; ' 1 Thes. i. 5, ' For our gospel came not unto you in word
176 SERMON UPON JOHN YIIL 26.
only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost.' And the comforts of the Spirit : Acts ix. 31, ' Walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.' But then faith is the mf^ans : Kom. xv. 13, ' Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and [)eace in believing ; ' 1 Peter i. 8, ' Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' So that it is a fruit of faith as well as a work of the Holy Ghost. Faith joined with love will bring much love into the heart of a believer, and will cause it to be deeply affected with Christ's grace.
[3.] The nature of this joy and gladness. Here we must dis- tinguish—
(1.) There is a superstitious joy which ariseth from knowing Christ after the flesh : 2 Cor. v. 16, ' Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh ; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more; ' which is seen in this, it prize th Christ's name but neglects his office, pretends a fond esteem of his memory but despises his benefits. As the Jews would fly iu the face of any that would not count them Abraham's children, yet would not do the works of Abraham, so is the nominal christian's joy. This joy venteth itself in a carnal way, by outward theatrical pomp and cere- monial observ^ances, but not in real affection to Christ ; yea, they are rather enemies to his spiritual kingdom and cause and servants, and express their rejoicing rather as votaries of Bacchus than as disciples of Christ, in a gross and carnal way. This joy is a rejoicing in Christ for a day, but we are to make it our daily work, a holy festival that lasteth our whole lives : Phil. iv. 4, ' Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice.' This is a different thing from Abraham's rejoic- ing. He had a prospect of Christ's day, and was exceeding glad ; but this is a carnal owning of the god of the country, and no more.