But man, unhappy man, being seduced by the devil, did eat of the forbidden fruit, and thereby became liable to that curse which the eternal GOD had pronounced on him for his disobedience. And we read, that soon after _Adam_ was fallen, he complained that he was naked; naked, not only as to his body, but naked and destitute of those divine graces which before beautified his soul.
An unhappy mutiny and disorder then fell upon this world; those briars and thorns which now spring up and overspread the earth, were but poor emblems, lifeless representations of that confusion and rebellion which sprung up in, and overwhelmed, the soul of man, immediately after the fall. He now sunk into the temper of a beast and devil.
In this dreadful and disordered condition are all of us brought into the world: We are told, my brethren, that “_Adam_ had a son in his own likeness,” or with the same corrupt nature which he himself had sunk into, after eating the forbidden fruit: And experience, as well as scripture, proves, that we are altogether born in sin, and, therefore, uncapable, whilst in such a state, to have communion with GOD.
For as light cannot have communion with darkness, so GOD can have no communion with such polluted sons of _Belial_. Here, here, appears the great and glorious end, why CHRIST was manifest in the flesh, to put an end to these disorders, and to restore us unto the favour of GOD. He came down from heaven and shed his precious blood upon the cross, to satisfy the divine justice of his Father, for our sins; and so, he purchased this Holy Ghost, who must once more re-stamp the divine image on our hearts, and make us capable of living with, and enjoying of GOD. We must be renewed by the spirit of GOD; he must dwell in us before we can be new creatures, and be freed from a reprobate spirit: the spirit of CHRIST must bring us home unto that fold where all his sheep are, and implant his grace in our hearts, and take from us that spirit of sin which reigns in us: And till this is rooted out of our hearts, however we may flatter ourselves with being good christians, because we are good moralists, and lead civil, moral, decent lives, yet if we live and die, my brethren, in this way, we are only flattering ourselves into hell.
I think I have proved, to a demonstration, the necessity there is of receiving the spirit of CHRIST. I now come to shew you,
_Secondly_, Who CHRIST is, whose spirit you are to receive.
My brethren, JESUS CHRIST is co-equal, co-essential, co-eternal, and consubstantial with the Father, very GOD of very GOD; and as there was not a moment of time in which GOD the Father was not, so there was not a moment of time in which GOD the Son was not.
_Arians_ and _Socinians_ deny this godhead of CHRIST, and esteem him only as a creature: The _Arians_ look on him as a titular Deity, as a created and subordinate God; but, if they would humbly search the scriptures they would find divine homage paid to CHRIST. He is called GOD in scripture, particularly when the great evangelical Prophet says, “He shall be called the mighty GOD, the everlasting Father, and the government shall be upon his shoulders:” And JESUS CHRIST himself says, that he is “the Alpha and Omega;” and that “the world was made by him:” But though this be ever so plain, our gay airy sparks of this age will not believe the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be equal with his Father, and that for no other reason, but because it is a fashionable and polite doctrine to deny his divinity, and esteem him only as a created God.
Our _Socinians_ do not go so far; they look upon CHRIST only to be a good man sent from GOD, to shew the people the way they should go, on their forsaking of Judaism; that he was to be also an example to the world, and that his death was only to prove the truth of his doctrines.
Many of those who call themselves members, yea, teachers of the church of _England_, have got into this polite scheme. Good GOD! my very soul shudders at the thoughts of the consequence that will attend such a belief. O my brethren, do not think so dishonourably of the LORD who bought you; of the JESUS who died for you: he must be all in all unto your souls, if ever you are saved by him: CHRIST must be your active, as well as passive obedience; his righteousness must be imputed to you. The doctrine of CHRIST’s righteousness being imputed, is a comfortable, a desirable doctrine to all real christians: And to you, sinners, who are enquiring what you must do to be saved? how uncomfortable would it be to tell you, by your own good works, when, perhaps, you have never done one good work in all your lives: This would be driving you to despair indeed; no, “believe in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you shall be saved;” come to the LORD JESUS by faith, and he shall receive you. He is able and willing to save you.