It is true, that those who are sincerely good, are set up for marks for every one to shoot at. There is a continual enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent; if you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because CHRIST hath chosen you out of the world, therefore it hateth you.
Do not think of following CHRIST into glory, unless you go through the press here. Look forward, my brethren, into eternity, and behold CHRIST coming, and his reward with him, to give a kind recompence for all the temptations and difficulties of this present life.
_But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the seas obey him!_
The men of the ship were amazed to see the miracle that JESUS CHRIST wrought only by his word; they thought he was something more than a man. And have not we as much reason to admire, that when we are overwhelmed with troubles, from within and without, that JESUS CHRIST, only by the word of his power, should speak peace, and then there is peace indeed. When GOD first awakens us with a sense of sin, and sets his terrors in array against us, then there are troubles and tempests; for Satan having got possession, before he will give place, he will fight and drive hard to keep the soul from closing with JESUS: But when CHRIST comes, he storms the heart, he breaks the peace, he giveth it most terrible alarms of judgment and hell, he sets all in a combustion of fear and sorrow, ’till he hath forced it to yield to his mere mercy, and take him for its governor; then Satan is cast out; then the storm is rebuked, and he establishes a firm and lasting peace.
Can the sea be still while the wind is raging? no, it is impossible: so it is that there can be no peace in the soul, while it is at enmity with CHRIST; indeed, it may flatter itself and speak peace, but there can be no true peace: tho’ thou, O Pharisee, may harden and fortify thy heart against fear, grief, and trouble, yet, as sure as GOD is true, they will batter down thy proud and fortified spirit, and seize upon it, and drive thee to amazement. This will be done here, or hereafter; here in mercy, or hereafter in wrath and judgment.
O my brethren, consider what CHRIST hath done, and you will be astonished that he has done so much for such wicked wretches as you and I are. If you are easy under the storm and tempest of sin, and do not cry to CHRIST for salvation, thou art in a dangerous condition: and it is a wonder to consider, how a man that is not sure of having made his peace with GOD, can eat, or drink, or live in peace; that thou art not afraid, when thou liest down, that thou should’st awake in hell: but if CHRIST speak peace unto thy soul, who can then speak trouble? None; no, not men or devils: Therefore, lie down at the feet of CHRIST whom you have resisted, and say, LORD, what wouldst thou have me to do? and he will rebuke the winds and seas of thy troubled mind, and all things will be calm.
_And when he was come to the other side into the country of the |Gergesenes|, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way._
The LORD JESUS CHRIST, who went about doing good continually, very well knew, that he should meet two poor men in this country of the _Gergesenes_, who were possessed with devils; and JESUS CHRIST went on purpose that way, that he might relieve them. The devil, where he has the power, never wants will: but as I said before, so I say again, though the devil is an enemy, yet he is a chained one; he could not destroy these two poor men, he could not hurt the people that passed that way, he could only terrify them: and thus it is with you; the devil tries his utmost skill and power to frighten you from coming to the LORD JESUS CHRIST; he uses the utmost of his endeavours to keep poor sick and weary sinners from coming to JESUS; if he can but make you lose your souls, it is the end he aims at.
And how many souls does he keep from CHRIST, for fear of reproach? Many thousands would willingly see CHRIST in his glory, in the world to come, and would be happy with him there, but they are afraid of being now laughed at, and of hearing the pharisees say, here is another of his followers: they are afraid of losing their worldly business, or of being counted methodistically mad and fit for bedlam. I doubt not but many are kept from JESUS CHRIST, for fear of a little hurt or inconveniency.
What will such say, when the LORD JESUS CHRIST shall appear in his glory? Would you be glad to be confessed by him then, you must now not be ashamed of confessing him before men: let not the fierceness of the devil keep you back from CHRIST, for fear of being counted fools; for the time will come, when it will be found who are truly wise, and who are truly mad.