[8.] The daily application. This fountain is always open. We sin daily, and every day we sue out our discharge in Christ's name. The best of God's children make but too much work for pardoning mercy. We contract new filth by walking up and down in a dirty, defiling world : John xiii. 10, ' He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet.' Now where much is forgiven, there should be the more love, Luke vii. 47.
Use 2. To persuade yon to make use of Christ's death for this effect. If the price be paid by Christ, and accepted by God for the ransom of souls, and the liberty proclaimed to us, surely it is our own fault if we remain yet in bonds. Either you are senseless of your spiritual condi- tion, and so despise the fruits of Christ's death, or else you have not that esteem of the blood of Christ as you ought to have, as if he had not made full satisfaction. Both are great crimes.
1. Consider your misery by reason of sin. The Redeemer hath no work to do in stupid and senseless souls. They that know not their misery regard not their remedy. The offers of the gospel are always made to the sensible, the broken-hearted, the weary, the thirsty, the heavy laden. Many are welcome to Christ that know not themselves penitent be- lievers ; but never any welcome that knew not themselves condemned sinners : Luke xviii. 13, 14, ' And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other ; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbletli himself shall be exalted.'
2. Be firmly persuaded of the sufficiency of what Christ hath done for man's redemption, that you may not have slight thoughts of the blood of Christ. It is that blood by which Christ entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us, Heb. ix. 12. It is the blood of the ' everlasting covenant, which maketh us perfect in every good work,' Heb. xiii. 20, 21 ; that precious blood by which we are redeemed from our vain conversations, 1 Peter i. 18 ; that blood which purges our conscience from dead works, Heb. ix. 14.
60 SERMON UPON 1 JOHN I. 7.
3. Make hearty application of it. Lay the plaster upon the sore. In the word, when you hear the offers of grace in the gospel, that God desireth not the death of a sinner, that he is willing to save those that believe in Jesus Christ, put in for a share : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a true and faithful saying, aud worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief ; ' Kom. viii. 31, ' What shall we say then to these things ? If God be for us, who can be against us ? ' Job v. 27, ' Hear it, and know it for thy good.' Bring it home to thine heart. So in the Lord's supper, where we solemnly remember his death ; there we hear of the blood of the new testament which was shed for the remission of sins. Now apply it : 1 Cor. x. 16, ' The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? '
4. Labour to make your claim more sure. Walk in the light. The ground of comfort is the blood of Christ ; the matter of comfort is .the covenant ; but we must look to our claim and title, or else this grace is not brought home to us, nor we sanctified and enabled to live to God : John xvii. 19, ' And for their sakes I sanctify myself that they also might be sanctified through the truth ; ' 1 John iii. 7, ' He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.'
SERMON UPON JOB X. 2.
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me ; show me lolierefore thou contendest ivith me. — Job x. 2.
These words are spoken by Job in the bitterness of his soul, and as one weary of his many and heavy troubles. In them take notice —
1, Of a resolution of addressing himself to God,. and bringing his complaint before him, ' I will say unto God,' &c.
2. The matter of his address ; it is double —
[1.] A deprecation of condemnation, ' Do not condemn me.'
[2.] An inquiry after the reasons of his afflictions, ' Show me where- fore thou contendest with me,'
Let me first explain the letter of the words, and then come to the sense.
1. The deprecation ' Do not condemn me.' Do not make me or count me wicked. So Heb. his conscience did testify of his upright- ness, and therefore he desireth God would not deal with him as wicked. It is explained ver. 7, ' Thou knowest I am not wicked.' Condemna- tion is the sentence of a judge. Now in a judge three things are con- siderable— (1.) His opinion; (2.) His sentence; (3.) His execution. "With respect to all three the word is used.