It is this last proposition, as that which is the direct design and scope of the place, that I intend to insist principally upon. But yet I shall speak somewhat to the former.
I. God is pleased oftentimes, in his infinite wisdom, to send the preaching of the word unto some places wherein it shall not put forth its quickening and sanctifying power and virtue upon the souls of them that hear it.
The whole Scripture, and whole story of the providence of God in sending the gospel abroad in the world, bears witness to this truth. It was his way from the foundation of the world, and continueth to this very day. Hence was that complaint of the prophet, Isa liii. 1, " Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" — the gospel is preached to them that believe not the report thereof; — and chap. xlix. 4, " Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought." But we need no greater instance nor any other than that of our Saviour, who spent the greatest part of his ministry in preaching to them who were never healed, — never converted nor sanctified by his word. That account he gives of his work, Matt. xi. 21-24, " Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!" etc.
Now, though there be no searching into the depths of the counsels of God, yet there appear many reasons wherein his wisdom in this dispensation doth shine forth ; as, —
1. He doth it principally because, in those places where the word
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is rejected by the generality of the people, yet there may be some secret, poor souls belonging to the election of grace, whom God will have gathered and called home to himself. So for their sakes, though in the world they are taken no notice of, the word shall be preached unto multitudes. Amos ix. 9, " I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth." The grains of Israel must be preserved through all the nations of the earth, that not one grain may be lost. Thus Paul preaches the gospel at Philippi, Acts xvi. 12, 13. And what entertainment meets it withal? He and his companion are taken and beaten, and cast into prison sore hurt and wounded ; verses 22, 23. Why, then, was it that the gospel must be preached there? Why, there was a stranger come to that town, a poor woman, one Lydia, that dwelt at Thyatira, and she was to be converted, and brought home to God, verse 14. So at Athens, chap. xvii. 34. And the apostle affirms that he " endured all things for the elect's sakes/'
2 Tim. ii. 10. Here and there a poor despised person is designed to be called.
2. God doth it for a testimony against them that receive it not, and to leave them inexcusable at the last day. Mark vi. 11, " Who- soever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them." The word is to be preached, and witness, as it were, is to be taken upon it that it was preached, that men may be left without excuse at the last day. As our Saviour pleads concerning his own preaching to the Pharisees, John xv. 22, " If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin." God will cause men to be without excuse, by that tender of mercy which is made unto them in the gospel. It shall be for a tes- timony against them at the last day.
Use. Let not men boast themselves in the outward enjoyment of the word, nor rest themselves in it. It were well, indeed, if all were believers to whom the word is preached, — if all lands were healed where the waters of the sanctuary come; but the Holy Ghost tells us they are not so, Heb. iv. 2, " The word preached did not profit them." Capernaum was " exalted unto heaven," in the use of means ; but " brought down to hell" for the neglect of them. Let men look to themselves; God hath various ends in sending the gospel. The Lord knows what will be the end of England's enjoying the gospel so long as it hath done. Sad symptoms appear of a tremendous issue. But I shall speak of this afterward.
II. The souls of all men are spiritually dead, and full of woful dis- tempers, until they are quickened and healed by the dispensation of the gospel.
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The waters of the sanctuary must come, to quicken them and heal them. They are distempered, therefore, and wofully disordered, be- fore the coming of these waters. So the apostle informs us, Tit. iii. 3-5, " For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of right- eousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Before the gospel grace comes to heal and cleanse them, this is the state and condition of men; as it is more largely described by the apostle, Rom. i. 18 to the end.