And because people are in a contrary state to Christ, ' to preach Christ,' is oven to begin with the law, to discover to people their estate by nature. A man can never preach the gospel that makes not way for the gospel, by shewing and convincing people what they are out of Christ. Who will marry with Christ, but those that know their own beggary and misery out of Christ ? That he must be had of necessity, or else they die in debts eternally ; he must be had, or else they are eternally miserable. Now, when people arc convinced of this, then they make out of themselves to Christ. This therefore must be done, because it is in order, that which makes way to the preaching of Christ ; for ' the full stomach dcspiseth an honeycomb,' Prov. xxvii. 7. Who cares for balm that is not sick? AVho cares for Christ, that sees not the necessity of Christ ? Therefore we see John Baptist came before Christ, to make way for Christ, to level the moun- tains, to cast down whatsoever exalts itself in man. He that is to preach must discern what mountains there be between men's hearts and Christ ; and he must labour to discover themselves to themselves, and lay flat all the pride of men in the dust ; for ' the word of God is forcible to pull down strongholds and imaginations and to bring all into subjection to Christ,' 2 Cor. X. 4. Aud indeed, though a man should not preach the law, yet by way of implication, all these things are wrapped in the gospel. What need a Saviour, unless we were lost ? What need Christ to be wisdom to us, if we were not fools in ourselves ? What need Christ be sanctification to us, if we were not defiled in ourselves ? What need he be redemption, if we were not lost and sold in ourselves to Satan, and under his bondage ? Therefore all is to make way for Christ, not only to open the mysteries of Christ, but in the opening and application to let us see the necessity of Christ. In a word, being to bring Christ and the church together, our aim must be, to persuade people to come out of their estate they are in, to come and take Christ. Whatsoever makes for this, that course we must use, though it be with never so much abasing of ourselves. Therefore the gospel is promulgated in a sweet manner. ' I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God,' &c. The law comes with ' Cursed, cursed ;' but now in the gospel Christ is preached with sweet alluring. ' I beseech you, brethren,' and ' We as ambassadors beseech you, as if Christ by us did beseech you,' &c., 2 Cor. v. 20. This is the manner of the dispensation in the gospel, even to beg of people that they would be good to their own souls. Christ, as it were, became a beggar himself, and the great God of heaven and earth begs our love, that we would so care for our own souls that we would be reconciled unto him. It was fitter, indeed, that we should beg of him. It was fit w^e should seek to be reconciled to him, but God so stoops in the dispensation and ministry of the gospel, that he becomes a beggar and suitor to us to be good to our souls. As if he had ofiended us, he desires us to be reconciled. The wrong is done on our part, yet he so far transcends the doubtings of man's nature, that he would have nothing to cause man's heart to misgive, no doubts or scruples to arise. He him- self becomes a beseecher of reconciliation, as if he were the party that had
* That is, rraoarjiKpiot = Bridcmen.— G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 507
oflFended. This is the manner of the publication of the gospel. I do but touch things, to shew what it is to preach Christ.
Use. Seeing then of necessity there must be a dispensation together with the gospel, let us labour to mctt/iiifi/ this dispensation of x>reachinfi, that, together with redemption and the good things we have by Christ, we have also the standard set up and the brazen serpent lifted up by preaching ' the unsearchable riches of Christ ' unfolded to us. It is a blessed condition. Let us magnify this ordinance, without disparaging other means, of reading, &c. This preaching is that whereby God dispenseth salvation and grace ordinarily.
And God in wisdom sees it the fittest way to dispense his grace to men by men. Why ?
(1.) To try oar obedience to the truth itself. He would have men regard the things spoken, not for the person that speaks them, but for the excel- lency of the things. If some glorious creatures, as the angels, should preach to us, we should regard the escelleney of the preachers more than the truth itself ; we should believe the truth for the messengers' sake.
(2.) And then God icould knit man to man by bonds of love. Now there is a relation between pastor and people by this ordinance of God.
(3.) And then it is more suitable to our condition. We could not hear God speak, or any more excellent creatures. God magnifies his power the more in blessing these weak means.