Use 1. Is information, to show us the reason why so many reap so little fruit by the hearing of the word ; either they never had solid comfort and benefit by it, or else languish and grow lazy in the pro- fession and practice of godliness. What is the reason ? They do not take heed to what they hear, seriously regard the messages sent them by God day after day ; and then, alas ! all the good seed that is sown is like corn on the house-top, that never groweth to perfection. Neither is the understanding informed nor the will engaged to practice. Why are our hearts so little affected and inflamed with the love of God ? why stand we in no more awe and fear of him ? have so small hope and weak confidence in him ? We mind nothing that is said concerning these duties in the course of the ministry. We sit under the gospel, and pass over these things, and do not deeply consider them in our hearts. Christians, we impose no hard law upon you; many pre- tend they cannot invent arguments for meditation ; but when brought to your hands, will you think of them? They have no time; but if you will spare none of your own time, will you employ God's time well ? Let sabbath doctrines so far be considered by you as to sink into your hearts. Surely in their season all things should have their turn and place. When we are employed about the world, we are never troubled with heavenly things ; why should the world intrude upon God's portion P
Use 2. Is direction. If you would profit by the word, take heed to what you hear ; see what you do with it ; believe it soundly. Is it a truth or a fable ? a crotchet of ministers or a genuine deduction from the word of God. Consider it seriously : How shall I mortify this sin or perform this duty ? Apply it closely : What sin have I done ? how doth it concern me ? Practise it readily : James i. 25, ' But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed.'
Use 3. Is to put us upon self-reflection : Is our fruit proportionable to our hearing ? The word is not only the seed of regeneration, but the means of growth : 1 Peter i. 23, ' Being born again, not of corrup- tible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which livetli and abideth for ever ; ' with 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.' God does not
SERMON UPON MARK IV. 24. 429
<;onsider what we are de facto, but what we ought to be ; what strength we might have ; our account is according to our means : Luke xii. 48, ' Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required ; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.' Less grace will serve to the salvation of some than others ; Therefore take heed that, where more grace is bestowed, it be not neglected by you.
SERMON UPON HEBREWS II. 11.
For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one ; for ivhich cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. — Heb. ii. 11.
In this epistle, to persuade the Hebrews to continue in their professed subjection to Christ, the apostle setteth forth Christ in his person and offices. In his person there are two natures — divine and human. The apostle proveth both by one argument, that Christ ought to be such a person as was superior to angels, and yet for a time to be also inferior to them. He had already proved that Christ ought to be superior to angels ; he is now showing the reasons why he must be made a little lower than the angels in his incarnation and passion. The necessity and reasons of his incarnation he beginneth to lay down in this verse, ' For,' &c.
In the words, observe — (1.) A maxim or truth laid down ; (2.) A consequence or inference thence deduced.
1. In the truth laid down two things are expressed — (1.) A differ- ence between Christ and his people : (2.) A union between them.
[1.] The different parties here spoken of, 'He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified.' Christ is the agent ; he hath an active power to free from sin such as are polluted with it. We are passive, for by ' him that sanctifieth' is meant Christ. One prime benefit we have from him is sanctification : 1 Cor. i. 30, * Who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' And by the sanctified are meant the people of God, who sometimes were polluted and sinful.
[2.] They are said to be ' of one.' This notes the union that is between them ; they are of one stock and lineage, or one common parent of mankind, Adam. Of one blood : Acts xvii. 26, ' He hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth.' Thence Luke carrieth up the genealogy of Christ to Adam, Luke ii. 38 ; so that he is one of our kind and nature. There is indeed an union of Christ with man — (1.) By his incarnation ; (2.) Upon actual sanctification. In the first respect he is one with all mankind as they are men ; in the second, he and the sanctified, which are the church, are one in an especial manner. There is a natural bood between us and Christ, and a spiritual bond. The natural bond gave him an interest to redeem us ; llie spiritual bond is the ground of our comfort in that redemption : ' They are of one.'