(3.) It is the power of God instrumentally. It is the instrument God puts forth to effect his great and mighty works in the world. Preaching is looked upon as a very foolish thing in the world. " We preach Christ crucified, to the Greeks foolishness," 1 Cor. i. 23. But God hath chosen this foolish thing to confound the wise. And though the preachers of it are very weak men, mere earthen vessels, God hath chosen this weak thing to bring to nought things that are strong and mighty, — the things of this world. Therefore (Acts xx. 32) it is called " The word of God's grace, which is able to build us up, and to give us an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." The plain preaching of it hath this power upon the souls of men, — to con- vince them, convert them, draw them home to God; to expose them to all troubles in this world ; to make them let go their reputation and livelihood, and expose themselves even to death itself. It is the power of God to these ends and purposes; God hath made it his instrument for that end. If it were the power of God to give peace
2o6 THE DIVINE POWER OF THE GOSrEL.
and prosperity unto a nation, or to heal the sick, there is no man need or ought to be ashamed of it ; but to be the power of God for so excellent an end as the eternal salvation of the souls of men, makes it much more glorious. The gospel we profess, — all the parts of it, every thing wherein it is engaged, — is that whereby God puts forth his power to save our poor souls, and the souls of them who believe; and the Lord God never lay it to the charge of any who would hinder the dispensation of the gospel unto this end and pur- pose ! It were sad for men to keep corn from the poor, physic from the sick, that lie a-dying ; but to keep the word of God from the souls of men, that they might be saved, Lord, lay it not to the charge of any !
The Author of the gospel was not ashamed of his work he engaged in on our behalf; is not ashamed of us in any of our sufferings, in any of the shameful things we may undergo. The gospel requires no shameful thing at our hands, — puts us upon no duty that can justly expose us to shame ; the things are good, useful, honourable to men. We have a cloud of witnesses about us ; and if any man require of us what this gospel is which we profess, and an account whereupon we profess it, we can make this answer, " ' It is the power of God unto salvation;' and for that end alone do we profess it."
I might speak to some farther reasons, to show why this duty is indispensably necessary; for, as I said, it is not only that we ought not to be ashamed, but the duty is indispensable. And I thought to have sjjoken to those two heads, which alone make a duty indispen- sable, that we may not upon any account be against it; — because it is necessary, as we say, " necessitate prsecepti," and likewise " necessi- tate medii;" that is, both upon the command of Christ, and upon the account of the order of the things themselves.
It is necessary upon the command of Christ, because he hath re- quired it at our hands ; and under that condition, that if ever we intend to be owned by him at the last day, we should own his gospel in the profession of it. All the world, and all our own things, and all the injunctions of the sons of men, cannot give a dispensation to our souls to exempt them from under the authority of the commands of Christ. Let us look unto ourselves; we are under the commands of Christ, and there is no one particular duty to be avoided but what must be accommodated to this rule. And not only so, —
But it is necessary also from the order of things: Christ hath ap- pointed it as a means for that great end of bringing our souls to salva- tion. As well may a man arrive to a city, and never come into the way that leads unto it, as we go to rest with Christ, and never come to the profession of the gospel, nor abide by it: this is the way that leads unto it.
I have done with what I thought to deliver upon this doctrine;
GOD THE SAINTS' ROCK. 237
and among many uses that might be made, I shall only commend one unto you ; without which it will be utterly impossible that any of us shall be able, at the long-run, to keep up to the profession of the gospel, or any duty of it. And that is this : —
Use. Get an experience of the power of the gospel, and all the ordinances of it, in and upon your own hearts, or all your profession is an expiring thing; — unless, I say, you find the power of God upon 3'our own hearts in every ordinance, expect not any continuance in your profession. If the preaching of the word be not effectual unto the renewing of your souls, the illuminating of your minds, the en- dearing of your hearts to God, — if you do not find power in it, yon will quickly reason with yourselves upon what account should you adventure trouble and reproach for it.