This our blessed LORD himself intimates in the xxvth of _Matthew_, where he tells those who had been rich in good works, “That inasmuch as they did it unto one of the least of his brethren, they did it unto him.” From whence we may plainly infer, that it is seeing CHRIST in his members, and doing good to them out of an experimental knowledge of his love to us, that alone will render our alms-deeds rewardable at the last day.
_Lastly_, As neither our acts of piety nor charity, so neither will our civil nor moral actions be acceptable to GOD, without this experimental knowledge of JESUS CHRIST.
Our modern pretenders to reason, indeed, set up another principle to act from; they talk, I know not what, Of doing moral and civil duties of life, from the moral fitness and unfitness of things. But such men are blind, however they may pretend to see; and going thus about to establish their own righteousness, are utterly ignorant of the righteousness which is of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS.
For though we grant that morality is a substantial part of christianity, and that CHRIST came not to destroy, or take off the moral law, as a rule of action, but to explain, and so fulfil it; yet we affirm, that our moral and civil actions are now no farther acceptable in the sight of GOD the Father, than as they proceed from the principle of a new nature, and an experimental knowledge of, or vital faith in his dear Son.
The death of JESUS CHRIST has turned our whole lives into one continued sacrifice; and whether we eat or drink, whether we pray to GOD, or do any thing to man, it must all be done out of a love for, and knowledge of him who died and rose again, to render all, even our most ordinary deeds, acceptable in the sight of GOD.
If we live by this principle, if CHRIST be the Alpha and Omega of all our actions, then our least are acceptable sacrifices; but if this principle be wanting, our most pompous services avail nothing: we are but spiritual idolaters; we sacrifice to our own net; we make an idol of ourselves, by making ourselves, and not CHRIST, the end of our actions: and, therefore, such actions are so far from being accepted by GOD, that, according to the language of one of the Articles of our Church, “We doubt not but they have the nature of sin, because they spring not from an experimental faith in, and knowledge of JESUS CHRIST.”
Were we not fallen creatures, we might then act, perhaps, from other principles; but since we are fallen from GOD in _Adam_, and are restored again only by the obedience and death of JESUS CHRIST, the face of things is entirely changed, and all we think, speak, or do, is only accepted in and through him.
Justly, therefore, may I, in the
_Third_ and _Last_ place, Exhort you to put the Apostle’s resolution in practice, and beseech you, with him, to determine, “Not to know any thing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.”
I say, _determine_; for unless you sit down first, and count the cost, and from a well-grounded conviction of the excellency of this, above all other knowledge whatsoever, resolve to make this your chief study, your only end, your one thing needful, every frivolous temptation will draw you aside from the pursuit after it.
Your friends and carnal acquaintance, and, above all, your grand adversary the devil, will be persuading you to determine not to know any thing, but how to lay up goods for many years, and to get a knowledge and taste of the pomps and vanities of this wicked world; but do you determine not to follow, or be led by them; and the more they persuade you to know other things, the more do you “determine not to know any thing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” For, this knowledge never faileth; but whether they be riches, they shall fail; whether they be pomps, they shall cease; whether they be vanities, they shall fade away: but the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified, abideth for ever.
Whatever, therefore, you are ignorant of, be not ignorant of this. If you know CHRIST, and him crucified, you know enough to make you happy, supposing you know nothing else; and without this, all your other knowledge cannot keep you from being everlastingly miserable.
Value not then, the contempt of friends, which you must necessarily meet with upon your open profession to act according to this determination. For your Master, whose you are, was despised before you; and all that will know nothing else but JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified, must, in some degree or other, suffer persecution.
It is necessary that offences should come, to try what is in our hearts, and whether we will be faithful soldiers of JESUS CHRIST or not.