not some of the Disciples ask him before whither he went John 13.36 Simon Peter said unto him Lord whither goest thou Jesus answered Whither I go you cannot follow me now but you shall follow me hereafter Lord saith he why cannot I follow thee now Why then doth Christ say here none of you ask me whither goest thou when Peter expresly asked the Question before Answer To this I answer The Question that Peter put to Christ whither he went was not so much to understand his Exaltation and Glory and the End of his going away as out of presidence of his own strength and ability to follow Christ but now Christs meaning is when he saith None of you ask me whither goest thou that is you do not understand the end of my going away from you you do not know wherefore I go to my Father and therefore Sorrow hath filled your hearts and then he blames them for being so sad and sorrowful for his going away Verse 6. Because I said these things to you Sorrow hath filled your hearts if they had known that Christ was now going to the Father to be exalted at the right hand of God they would not have been so sorrowful no saith Christ John 14.28 If ye had loved me ye would have rejoyced because I said I go to the Father for my Father is greater than I. Now observe and take notice of this That it is displeasing unto Christ to see any of his Disciples and Servants to be immoderately sorrowfull upon any account though it was upon the account of his departing from them and their losing his Presence yet notwithstanding Christ would not have them immoderately sorrowful he blames them for it and now sayes he because I said these things to you Sorrow hath filled your hearts And further he comes to lay down some Comforts and Antidotes against their Sorrow here in the Text the 7th verse wherein by way of Comfort he tells them 1. That it was expedient for them that he should go away It is expedient for you not only expedient for me that I go to the Father to be exalted in Heaven but it is expedient for you also saith Christ Expedient for you That is one Ground of Comfort to allay their Sorrow And not only so But 2. He doth assert it and affirm it very confidently he would have them fully perswaded of it Because it was hard for them to believe that Christ should leave them and go away from them that they should be deprived of his personal presence was there any thing harder for them to grapple with than that could there be any thing more expedient for them than that he should stay with tnem but saith Christ I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away You may be confident and perswaded of it nevertheless I tell you the Truth And. 3. He doth further amplify this Comfort about his going away by telling of them What Benefit they would have by his going from them Therefore that may sustain and support their Hearts and Spirits Why what shall they get by it saith Christ you shall have something that shall be equivalent to my bodily presence you shall have that that is more expedient for you you shall have the presence of the Comforter the Holy-Ghost and this he doth express both negatively and affirmatively If I go not away the Comforter will not come to you but if I depart I will send him unto you You shall be sure to have the Comforter if I go away when I come to sit at the right hand of my Father I will send the Comforter and you cannot have the Comforter so fully now my presence is with you as you shall have after I am ascended up to Heaven to be glorified And 4. He doth more particularly set out the Benefits they shall have by the presence of the Comforter and amongst other things he saith the Comforter shall be with them to give them success in their Ministry shall make their Ministry effectual and powerful for to convince To convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Thus you see the Scope of these Words they are spoken by Christ by way of Comfort to his Disciples whose hearts were filled with Sorrow at the hearing of his going away from them Nevertheless I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him unto you and when he is come he shall reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment I have formerly as you may remember spoken concerning the glorious effects of the Gospel from that Scripture Acts 26.18 Now here you have laid down the Cause whereby the Gospel came to be so efficacious and effectual namely by the presence of the Comforter by the assistance of the Holy Ghost with the Ministry of it You may observe and take notice of it That after Christs Ascension into Heaven immediately their Ministry was more powerfull and more effectual in one Sermon than it was in all the time they were with Christ in his bodily presence three thousand at one Clap were brought in by one Sermon so powerful was the Holy Ghost with them in their Ministry But briefly then before I come to speak to the eighth Verse which principally I aimed at in pitching upon this Scripture I shall take up one Note or Observation which may be of Use and Concernment to us from the 7th verse and that is this Doct. That it is a most certain Truth that it is expedient for the Disciples and Servants of Christ sometimes to be deprived of the nearest and dearest Comforts that they have in this World Brethren the Presence of Christ was the nearest and dearest Comfort that they had in this World yet saith Christ It is expedient for you that I go away from you and that you be deprived of my bodily Presence and because it was a hard thing for them to believe what to be deprived of his Presence that was so dear to them therefore he adds this I tell you the Truth it is true what I say it is no Lye Nevertheless I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away It was expedient that Christ should go away and lay down his Life that he should rise again from the dead and ascend into Heaven and sit on the right hand of God and have all Power and Glory put into his hand and therefore it was expedient for them that they might enjoy all the Fruits of his Death and Resurrection and Ascension and Glorification and Exaltation it was expedient for them in all these respects but more particularly that they might have the Holy Ghost sent down to them Me-thinks Brethren Jesus Christ here comes to his Disciples and speaks to them as a tender-hearted Husband to his dear Wife when he is about to undertake
if the Lord call us to part with any thing that is near and dear to us near and dear Yoke-Fellows Husband or Wife or an only Son well here is the Cordial and Antidote that Christ gave know saith he That it is expedient for you that this near Comfort go away from you it is for your advantage profit and benefit Brethren I pray let me ask you this Question Do you think that any creature comfort that you enjoy in this World can be nearer and dearer to you than the personal presence of Christ was to the Disciples Yet saith Christ It is expedient for you that I go away truly so I may say as to every Comfort that God takes from us It is expedient for us that this comfort be taken from us It may be you cannot see it now but you may see it afterward it is that which your heavenly Father knows to be expedient for you and he is wiser than we This may be a Cordial and Antidote both for the time past and for the time present and to come the time past when we call to remembrance O the comfort that sometimes we had the comfortable enjoyment of such a Relation such a Husband or such a Wife or such a Child our hearts are ready to bleed afresh at the remembrance of it Now here is a Cordial and Antidote that Christ himself prescribes I tell you the truth saith Christ It is expedient for you O I cannot tell how to think it can be expedient for me to lose such a Husband such a Wife such a Child yea saith Christ I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that such a comfort be taken away from you So for the time present if God take away a near Relation or Wife or such a Child remember that Christ hath said it is expedient for you that this Child should go that this Comfort that this Relation should go away from you And Brethren if we do believe that it is expedient for us why then should we be excessive in our grief and sorrow I pray tell me if a Physician come unto you and by reason of your distemper prescribe you some bitter Pill or bitter Potion to take or a strong vomit or he prescribe a great deal of blood to be taken from you these things are somewhat hard but he tells you it is expedient for you and you will yield to it you will take the Vomit or Purge though never so grievous to you you will take the Pill though never so bitter to you and if he will draw so much blood from you let him take it So the Lord is pleased to deal as a wise Physician he prescribes sometimes a bitter Pill for us to swallow down O to lose such a Yoke-Fellow or such a Child this is a strong vomit a bitter purge this is like the drawing of a mans blood from his heart but our heavenly Father knows what is most expedient for us I tell you the Truth saith Christ it is expedient for you that I go away it is expedient for you that I take so much blood from you that I put you upon the swallowing of this bitter pill And remember and lay up this Antidote against a time of need we know not how suddenly any of us here before the Lord may be called to part with our nearest and dearest Comforts we know not how the Lord may deal with us well remember this Antidote and lay it up for the time to come remember and say Well it is expedient for me that this and that Comfort be taken away from me and you have heard the Reasons O remember these words of our Lord Jesus which he spake to his Disciples to comfort them against their griefs and sorrow for being deprived of the greatest comfort they had in this World Nevertheless I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away Conversion of Souls great Joy to the Ministers of Christ. SERMON III. JOHN 16.8 And when he is come he will reprove the world of Sin and of Righteousness and of Judgment IN this Chapter as you have heard our Lord Jesus Christ doth fore-warn and fore-arm his Disciples against Persecution and Sufferings which they were like to meet withal and this he speaks of in the first four Verses and then he doth endeavour to comfort their hearts against that sorrow that had possessed them for his going away from them Saith he Now I go my way to him that sent me and because I have said these things unto you sorrow hath filled your hearts Christ endeavours to comfort their hearts against their great sorrow and this in the general he proposeth for their Comfort Namely saith he 'T is expedient for you that I go away 'T is not only expedient for me but it is expedient for you that I go away But they could hardly think so And then he gives them this Reason saith he If I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him unto you But then they might be ready to say Lord Suppose the Comforter do come will that make recompence for our loss of thy presence What if the Comforter do come what if we have the presence of thy Spirit yet thy presence might seem to be more comfortable to us Now Christ lays in further for that saith he If the Comforter come that will be still better for you than my bodily presence is for if he come he will be with you to assist you in your Ministry He will accompany the Ministration of the Gospel in your mouth he will make your Ministration to be succesful and effectual for convincing and converting Thus now Christ doth lay in against their sorrow that they might have upon his departure from them that though he went from them yet they should have that from the promise that should countervail all that comfort and joy that they had by his bodily presence And this seems to be the very scope and intendment of these words When he is come saith he He will so work with your Ministry that it shall Reprove or Convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement Before I come to the Point because the words seem to have some difficulty in them and because there seems to be some variety in the Interpretation of them I shall briefly give you a hint of what I apprehend to be the most proper meaning of these words As now 1. What doth he mean by Reproving He shall reprove the World 2. What doth he mean by the World And then 3. How he shall Reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement I. The word here translated Reprove hath a three-fold acceptation in Scripture 1. Sometimes it signifies to Reprove as here 't is translated And so I remember Titus 1.13 This Witness is true Wherefore rebuke them sharply or reprove them sharply 'T is the same Word So here 't is translated
Salvation and further built up in our most holy Faith That is the second Direction 3. Receive the Ministration of the Gospel with humility of Spirit and meekness I say receive it with all humility and meekness of Spirit that is the way whereby it may be made effectual to Salvation When people come and say they can tell as much as the Minister can tell them and they had as good stay at home and read a good Book and not câ—ming to it as Gods Ordinance with a teachable frame of Spirit being willing to hear what the Lord will say how can the Word become effectual but now when a Soul comes with meekness of Spirit to hear what the Lord will say and then as Psal 25.9 The Lord will teach the meek and saith the Apostle James 1.21 Receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save your Souls receive it with meekness with an humble Spirit to receive whatsoeever the Lord shall please to direct his Servants to speak And let me add but one thing more and I will have done and that is this 4. Be careful to receive the Word and Truth in the Love of it and to mixe it with Faith Receive it in the Love of it Truly if so be we have no Love to the Truth and the Word when we come to attend upon it it may be just with God to give us up to believe Lies as that hath been the very Judgment of God upon the Antichristian World for these 1200 years together for this very Sin for not receiving the Truth in the love of it 2 Thess 2.11 12 13. Because they received not the Truth in the Love of it therefore God gave them up to strong delusions to believe Lies And Antichrist hath prevailed to this Day upon that very account Therefore remember that we be ready to receive the Truth in the Love of it as to say This is a Truth of God and though I have heard it before yet it is a Truth and the Lord would have this Truth spoken to me and I must receive it in the Love of it and then mix it with Faith Hâ—b 4.2 They had the Gospel preached to them as well as we and The Word preached did not profit them that heard it why because they did not mixe it with Faith in their hearts What is this mixing the Word with Faith Truly when the Lord perswades the Heart to receive whatever is spoken as spoken from the Lord to me this Word the Lord doth intend for me and makes a particular application of it this is the proper work of Faith to apply the word spoken to our selves as spoken from the Lord to us And thus the word cometh to be effectual through the Spirit either in a way of Conviction or Conversion or for the Furtherance of the Salvation of the Souls of any But thus much shall suffice at this time The Holy Ghost convinceth of Sin SERMON IV. JOHN 16.9 Of Sin because they believe not on me YOU have heard the scope of these words already which in short is this Christ would here comfort his Disciples against their sorrow which they had for his going away from them Because I said these things unto you saith he Sorrow hath filled your hearts Now Christ is speaking here in a way of Comfort to sustain and support the hearts of his Disciples against that grief and sorrow that did possess them And how doth he comfort them He tells them that his spiritual presence shall be more advantagious to them than his bodily presence could be The presence of the Spirit which he would send to them saith he he shall be a Comforter to you If I go away I will send the Comforter to you and that shall be more than my bodily presence to you whereas If I go not away the Comforter will not come Ay but how shall the presence of the Spirit be in stead of Christ's bodily presence to them and make up that loss to them Christ tells them for that wherein the presence of the Spirit with them after his going away would be equivalent and correspondent to his own bodily personal being with them But wherein He tells them namely because when the Spirit comes he shall co work with them in their Ministry so as their Ministry shall be made efficacious and effectual to the furtherance of the Salvation of many Souls The Spirit shall go along with their Ministry and this Christ gives in by way of Comfort to his Disciples Hence we Observed the last time That it is matter of exceeding great Joy and Consolation to the faithful Servants of Christ that through the operation and co-working of the Spirit their Ministry is made effectual for the good of Souls This is a great matter of joy and rejoycing for observe it Christ doth lay this down as a comfort to preponderate and out-weigh their sorrow that they had in their hearts in respect of his going away from them But I shall not speak to any thing that was then spoken to But still it may be said But how shall the Spirit concur with our Ministry to make it effectual for the Conversion and Salvation of Souls Saith Christ When he is come he shall convince the World The presence of the Spirit with your Ministry shall convince the Men of the world Convince them Of what Now here he tells them You heard in the general from the 8th Verse He shall convince the World of Sin and of Righteousness and of Judgement But now in these 9 10 and 11 Verses he comes to shew particularly the work of the Spirit in convincing the World and he gives the reason of every particular that the Spirit shall convince the World of Of Sin Because they believe not in me And again He shall convince the world of Righteousness Why Because I go to the Father and ye see me no more And again He shall convince the world of Judgment Why Because the Prince of this World is judged I shall speak only to the first of these at the present through the Lords assistance He shall convince the world of Sin Of Sin and this in order to their Conversion and Salvation Why Because Christ speaks this by way of Consolation to the hearts of the Disciples now this would be matter of Comfort indeed that their Ministry should be made efficacious for the Conversion and Salvation of Souls Therefore this convincing the world of Sin is in order to Salvation There are two Points to be spoken to from the Verse But I shall only take up one to speak to at present through the Lords assistance and that is this Doctrine That it is the first work of the Spirit of God in order to the Conversion and Salvation of any Soul to convince the Soul of Sin I say the first work of the Spirit of God in order to Conversion and Salvation of Souls is to convince of Sin For here Christ speakes of the work
some great Journey or some Voyage to go away from her she is mourning and weeping he comes and speaks comfortably to her and perswades her to be of good chear as if he should say My Deare there is no Remedy I must go away I must take this Journey there is no help for it 't is necessary 't is expedient nay and 't is for thy sake it is to fetch in Comforts for thee and necessaries for thee it is expedient not only for me to finish my Business because my occasions and business call me abroad but it is expedient for thee that I take this Voyage or Journey 't is for your Comfort and be assured of it that I will send to you ere long thou shalt hear from me ere long I will send One on purpose to comfort thee and refresh thee in my absence and know this that I will not stay always from you but will come in a short time again Thus Jesus Christ spake to his Disciples when he was about to leave them saith he My occasions call me to go away from you and not only so but it is expedient for you it is for your Benefit and Advantage and though I be personally absent from you yet I will send one unto you that shall supply my absence even the Comforter and after a little short time I will come again to you I will not stay long from you so he saith afterwards Verse 16. A little while and you shall not see me and a little while and you shall see me because I go to the Father And Verse 22. Therefore now have you Sorrow but I will see you again and your hearts shall rejoyce Within a little while I will come to you I will make all the haste I can to you Thus Christ speaks to his Disciples and Servants to comfort their Hearts being sorrowfull upon his going away Brethren Was there any thing or could there be any thing that was nearer or dearer to the hearts of the Disciples than the presence of Christ The presence of Jesus Christ was more to them than any Comforts of this World more to them than their Estates and Callings and Gain and Trade for you know they left their Ships and their Nets and Callings and all to follow Christ nay Christ was more near and dear to them than their nearest Relations that they had in the World for 't is said they left not only their Callings their Trades and Ships and Nets but they left their Fathers and away they went after Christ yea they left all that ever they had as Peter himself saith Matthew 19.27 28 29. saith he We have left all to follow thee Not only their Callings their Trade and Gains not only their Parents and Relations But we have left All to follow thee Yea Brethren Jesus Christ was more dear and precious to them than their very lives for you know what Christ was speaking to them about his going away Mat. 26. and telling them that some of them would deny him saith Peter Though I dy with thee I will not deny thee saith he I will dy first I will lose my life first and 't is said all of them said after the like manner they loved Christ more than their very lives and yet now you see what Christ said to them though his Presence was so near and dear unto them yet saith Christ I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away it is expedient for you that I leave you though I be so near and dear unto you So that here is the Point grounded upon these Words That it is a most certain Truth That it is expedient for the Disciples and Servants of Christ sometimes to be deprived of those Comforts that seem to be nearest and dearest to them in this World it is expedient for them The Word that is here translated expedient it signifieth most profitable more profitable for you or better for you better for you that I go away than that I stay with you more Profitable for you so the Word is sometimes translated and so it properly signifieth expedient that is profitable so saith the Apostle 1 Corinthians 6.12 All things are lawfull for me but all things are not expedient The Word is profitable so it is in the Margin All things are not profitable So Chap. 10. in the last Verse saith the Apostle Even as I please all Men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved it is the same word only t is there translated profit or profitable 't is expedient or profitable for you that I go away and sometimes 't is translated good or better so Luke 17.2 3. Saith Christ It were better for him that a Mill-stone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the Sea than that he should offend one of these little ones The word is expedient So again Mat. 5.29 30. Saith Christ 'T is better for you to go into Life maimed with one Eye or one Hand than having both your Eyes and hands to go into Hell 'T is better the word is expedient So that here is the meaning of it It is expedient for you that I go away that is 't is most profitable for you 't is better for you that I go away from you than that you do enjoy my personal presence Now for the opening and handling of this Point and Truth I shall briefly speak to these three things 1. Give you the Demonstrations of it by some particular Instances That it is most expedient or profitable sometimes for the Servants of Christ to be deprived of their nearest and dearest Comforts that they do enjoy In which I shall give you some particulars 2. I shall shew the Ground why or whereupon It is so expedient or profitable for them to be deprived of their dearest and nearest Comforts they can enjoy in this World 3. And then shew you this That to enjoy the presence of the Comforter the Spirit of God is more expedient for the Saints in this World than to enjoy the personal presence of Christ I shall not be able to go through this Point at this time but for the 1. To give you some Demonstrations by some particular Instances That it is expedient for the Servants of Christ sometimes to be deprived of their nearest and dearest Comforts that they have in this World I shall Instance now in some particulars As 1. It may be expedient for the Servants of Christ sometimes to be deprived of their outward Estates in the World Brethren to have a competent measure of Estate in the World is a comfortable thing Those that have great Estates do not know and understand the temptations of a poor estate therefore saith the holy man Agur Pro. 30.9 though he would not be rich yet Lord give me not poverty It is a great mercy to be comfortably provided for in the World yet for all that it is most
in the Text. Though I think that is not the proper signification or intendment of it in this place For observe it It is not so proper to say That the Spirit when he comes shall Reprove the World of Righteousness he may reprove them of Sin and rebuke them for Sin but not of Righteousness nor for Righteousness nor of Judgement That is one signification of the word to Reprove or Rebuke 2. Sometimes the word signifies to make manifest or to make evident to make apparent so you shall find it John 3.20 21. Every one that doth evil hateth the Light Neither cometh to the Light lest his deeds should be reproved or made manifest and it is expounded in the next verse made manifest But he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God it is the same Word here in the Text. But this cannot be the meaning of this Word in the Text that he shall make manifest Sin and make manifest Righteousness and make manifest Judgment though there be a Truth in that yet this cannot be the full intendment of this word in this place 3. There is another signification of it and that is to convince and so 't is in the Margin He shall convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment and so I remember it is John 8.46 saith Christ there Which of you doth convince me of Sin It is the same Word he doth not say which of you charges me with Sin for they did charge him with Sin enough and they did reprove and rebuke him for Sin they said he was a Blasphemer therefore that cannot be the meaning of the Word to charge or reprove him of Sin but which of you can convince me of Sin to make it apparent without gain-saying that I am guilty of any Sin And so I think that place Tit. 1.9 holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the Gain-sayers And so I shall take it in this sense all along when the Comforter is come he shall assist you in your Ministry so as he shall thereby convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment II. What doth he mean by the World Not the whole Universe the Fabrick of Heaven and Earth no that cannot be the meaning of it but it is to be understood of Men the World of Men of sinful Men Men that are guilty of Sin and more particularly by the World we may understand the unbelieving World a company of unbelievers Now unbelievers they may some of them be elected and are elected and shall be brought to believe in Christ in time through the Gospel and some of them are not elected and shall never be brought to believe in Christ Now which of these doth Christ here mean when he speaks of the World whether he means only those Unbelievers that are elected and shall be brought on to believe so some think or whether he means the Unbelievers of the World that were never elected and shall never be brought to believe in Christ so others Truly I see nothing to the contrary but we may include both namely Unbelievers that are not elected the Holy Ghost shall come and convince them of Sin though they shall go no further there may be convictions where no conversion follows and this is the work of the Spirit to convince of Sin and he shall also convince Unbelievers that are elected convince them effectually so as they shall be brought on to conversion and I think especially and chiefly our Saviour here meaneth those Unbelievers in the World that are elected though I would not exclude the other but those especially that are elected and shall be brought on through conviction and conversion to salvation for Christ doth speak these Words by way of Comfort to the Disciples that the Spirit shall come and assist them in their Ministry it is some comfort indeed if any be convinced but that is not so much comfort as to be convinced and effectually wrought upon to salvation and this comfort Christ doth hold forth as an Antidote against their sadness and sorrow upon his going away And then he shall convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment I shall not now come to speak particularly to open these in particular to you but only thus much in short to shew you how the World was convinced by the Apostles Ministry immediately after Christs Ascension into Heaven the World was then convinced the World of the unbelieving Jews was convinced of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Look but into that Sermon Acts 2. which was preached upon the occasion of the falling down of the Holy Ghost the coming of the Comforter which Christ promiseth here you shall see there how the Jews were convinced both of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment by the coming of the Holy Ghost upon them in that very Sermon verse 23. There he convinces them of Sin In murdering and crucifying the Lord of Glory they were so far from believing on Christ as their Saviour that they did murder him whereas saith the Apostle in another place If so be they had known and so believed in Christ they would not have crucifyed the Lord of Glory but saith he Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucifyed and slain He tells them plainly that they were guilty of murdering the Son of God and they were so convinced at this Word that they did not gainsay it but were pricked in their hearts thus they were convinced of Sin that they did not believe in Christ but instead of believing they murdered him and then they were convinced also of Righteousness namely of Christs Righteousness that Christ was a Righteous Person whom they crucifyed and slew verse 22. Ye Men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a Man approved of God by Signs and Wonders and Miracles which God did by him in the midst of you as your selves know the Apostle here holds forth that he was a Righteous Person and they crucifyed a Righteous Person and what had they to say against this No they were silent they laid their hands upon their mouth and afterwards their hands come upon their heart and they were pricked at the heart and now they were convinced of the Righteousness of Christ and also of Judgment that now God had given all power to execute Judgment into the hand of Christ unto this Son of man whom they crucified and slew So verse 24. Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it he overcame Death and overcame the Devil that had the power of Death and at Verse 31. he seeing this before spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in Hell This Jesus hath God raised up
whereof we all are witnesses Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost having received all Power and Authority and Dominion and Government over all Principalities and Powers c. By this means he convinced them of Judgment for the Prince of this World is judged Christ is exalted at the Right hand of God and they had nothing to say against what the Apostle spake but their hearts were pricked and now Men and Brethren what shall we do to be saved Thus you see the intendment and scope of Christ in these Words is to comfort the Hearts of his Disciples against his going away and now saith Christ I will send the Comforter unto you and when he is come he shall so assist you in your Ministry that you shall be able to Convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment your Ministry shall be made effectual operative and saving and this he delivereth as an Antidote against their sorrow for his going away from them And here is the Point that I shall briefly take up to speak to at this present if the Lord please Doct. That it is a matter of unspeakable Joy and Consolation unto the faithful Servants of Christ that their Ministry is made effectual through the power of the Spirit of Christ for the saving of poor Souls Christ gives them this very thing as an Antidote as a Comfort and Cordial against their sorrow which their hearts are filled with for his going away from them saith he the Comforter shall come to you and be with your Ministry and make your Ministry effectual and powerful and saving to the Souls of many persons in the World and this he gives as an Antidote against their sorrow And truly I might have said it is a matter of the greatest Comfort that any thing in the World can afford to the faithful Servants of Christ that their Ministry is made effectual to the furtherance of the Salvation of Souls he speaks of it you see as a Comfort suitable to their sorrow that is able to weigh down their sorrow that though they were so filled with sorrow at Christs departure from them yet saith Christ you shall have that that is as comfortable to you as my bodily presence can be you shall have the co-working of the Spirit with you in your Ministry to make it effectual for the furtherance of the salvation of poor Souls For the opening of this Point I shall speak to these four things that are implyed and wrapt up in it 1. That the Ministry of the Gospel is the Means of the conversion and salvation of Souls This is implyed here They shall go out to preach and this should be for their Comfort that they should be instrumental for the conversion and salvation of Souls 2. That it is through the power of the Spirit that the Ministry of the Gospel comes to be effectual for the conversion and salvation of Souls Therefore saith Christ I will send the Comforter to you the Holy Ghost and he shall convince the World of Sin he shall make the Word that you preach efficacious to further the salvation of Souls 3. That as the Ministry of the Gospel alone of it self cannot so neither will the Holy Ghost work efficaciously and savingly to the conversion and salvation of Souls without the Ministry of the Gospel Christ doth not say the Spirit alone shall work effectually and convertingly and savingly no but with your Ministry It was therefore spoken for their Comfort the Spirit shall come along with your Ministry and shall work effectually and convincingly and savingly 4. It is matter of exceeding great and unspeakable Consolation and Joy to the faithful Servants of Christ that their Ministery through the Operation of the Spirit is made efficacious and effectual for the convincing and converting and saving of any Soul Briefly to run over these things 1. That the Ministration of the Gospel is the ordinary Means of the Conversion and Salvation of Souls And therefore hence it is that the Gospel is called sometimes the Word of Salvation Acts 13.26 To you is this Word of Salvation sent the Word of Salvation that is the Gospel and sometimes 't is called the Gospel of Salvation Ephes 1.13 The Gospel of your Salvation saith he and sometimes 't is called Salvation it self Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation If we neglect the Gospel we cannot escape damnation The Gospel is called Salvation beause 't is the Instrument and the means of conversion and salvation And hence it is that people are said to be begotten and born again unto God by the Gospel Saith Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 4.15 Though you have ten thousand Instructors in Christ yet you have not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel I have begotten you saith he to be Children of God by the Gospel So Paul writing to Philemon concerning Onesimus at the 10th verse saith he Receive him for I have begotten him in my bonds Paul was then a prisoner and Onesimus ran away from his Master Philemon and came to Paul and he was an instrument to beget him again to God by the Gospel so saith the Apostle to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.1 2. The Gospel by which you are saved And so the Apostle James calls it the Word of Truth whereby Souls are begotten to God Cap. 1.8 And so Peter also saith Ye are born again by the incorruptible seed the Word namely the Word of the Gospel So that the Holy Ghost doth testify to us that the Gospel is the Means of the Conversion and Salvation of Souls Question And why so I pray Whence is the Gospel the means of the Conversion and Salvation of Souls Answer In a word it is from hence namely Because God hath so ordained it and appointed it It pleased God saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.21 by the foolishness of Preaching to save those that believe God hath appointed and ordained the Gospel and the preaching of it to be a means for the Conversion and Salvation of Souls It pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching not that the Apostle calls it foolishness but he speaks after the manner of the World after the account and esteem that the World had of the preaching of the Gospel As now Cannot we as well read a Chapter at home and edify our selves at home by reading of a Chapter or reading some good Sermons better than we can Hear And thereforeâ— is it not a simple weak foolish thing for us to spend our time so But saith the Apostle count it foolishness if you will It pleased God to ordain by this way of foolishness as the World counts it It pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe 'T is that that God ordains and appoints and institutes for that end and that 's the reason it is a means of
the Apostle Do we make void the Law of Faith God forbid saith he Rom. 3.31 No Brethren the Righteousness which God doth require for our Salvation is a most exact compleat Righteousness to every tittle of the Law One Iota or Tittle of the Law shall never perish Heaven and Earth shall fail first We cannot be saved by any Righteousness short of a most exact and compleat conformity to every tittle of the Law Well What Righteousness then is it Answer I answer in a word It is the Righteousness of Jesus Christ in our Nature I say it is that Righteousness that Jesus Christ fulfilled in our humane Nature he was made of a Woman and made under the Law and being made under the Law he was in our Nature perfectly to fulfill the whole Law every tittle of it and so he did and therefore you may observe from his very conception to his death he was perfectly conformable to the whole will of God in his very conception he was conceived and born without sin saith the Angel to the Virgin Mary That holy thing that shall be born of thee he was holy in his very Conception Conceived by the Holy Ghost and he was a Lamb without spot we were all conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity but Christ was without sin in his very conception and that is much for the comfort of Believers to think Our nature is stained and polluted by sin how shall we be accepted of God why here is the humane nature of Christ without spot and we shall be accepted for his sake and Christ in the whole Course of his life was altogether without sin he knew no sin as 't is expressed 2 Cor. 5.21 He knew no sin that is no sin of his own he had sin enough laid upon him imputed to him but he had no sin of his own there was no guile found in his mouth he did always those things that pleased the Father John 28.29 he never spake one idle word no but saith he Whatever I spake I had it by Commmandment from my Father he was blameless in his whole life and therefore when he came to lay down his life to resign up himself to his Father he appeals to his Father whether he had not done all the Work he had given him to do I have finished the Work saith he which thou gavest me to do and now I come to thee Nay Brethren he was righteous and holy not only to his death but also in his death he was obedient and conformable to the will of God therefore 't is said Phil. 2.8 He became obedient to the very death Thus I say Christ was perfectly righteous Now it is this Righteousness of Christ in our nature that the Spirit convinces the World of that a soul must look to be accepted and saved only for the sake of this Righteousness of Christ Well Brethren let me clear it to you by two or three Arguments for truly these things may be matter of temptation to us sometimes when we set upon believing in Christs Righteousness The Soul may say May I venturâ— my soul upon the Righteousness of another may I not possibly miscarry am I sure that God will accept of me for the Righteousness of another Well to give you two or three Arguments briefly upon Scripture Ground to prove to you that if ever we be accepted of God it must be through the Righteousness of Christ 1. The Holy Ghost doth plainly and expresly hold forth this to us in Scripture See a few Scriptures for it Isa 42.21 The Lord is well pleased for his Righteousness sake A very gracious and blessed word The Lord is well pleased for his own Righteousness sake not for that which is our own for you know Gods Righteousness and our own Righteousness are two distinct things and contrary but the Lord is well pleased for his own Righteousness sake the Righteousness of his own Son and that is his own Righteousness the Lord is well pleased for that Isa 45.24 Which is a Prophecy concerning Christ Surely shall one say In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength even to him shall men come and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed and then in the next verse In the Lord shall all the Seed of Israel be justified and shall glory In the Lord and in him alone have I Righteousness and Strength in Christ have I Righteousness there is all my Righteousness shall the soul say Jer. 23.6 A Prophecy concerning Christ too Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise up unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper This is plainly spoken concerning Christ now mark what follows at verse 6. In his days Juda shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness The very name that Christ shall be called by is The Lord our Righteousness I might give you Scriptures also out of the new Testament take but one place 1 Cor. 3.30 He is made of God unto us Wisdom and Righteousness God himself hath appointed and ordained Jesus Christ to be unto us Righteousness and therefore we may be confident of it that it is through the Righteousness of Christ that we must come to be accepted of God and saved and not by our own Righteousness 2. Take this further Ground and that is because The best Righteousness of the best Saints that are or ever have been in the World all will fall short of Righteousness Take the best Saint and the best Righteousness of the best Saint the best duties that ever the most holy Saint did perform yet all will fall short of righteousness Therefore the Church is not afraid nor ashamed to acknowledge Isa 64.6 All our Righteousnesses for so it is in the plural number All our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags loathsome and abominable in the eyes of the Lord. You see the best of Saints have a knowledge of their sinfulness Saith Paul Rom. 7. he speaks largely to it there verse 23. I see a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind against the Law and Will of God and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin So Eccles 7.20 There is not a righteous man upon the earth that liveth and sinneth not And the Apostle John speaks a plain and bold word 1 John 1.8 10. If any man saith he hath no sin he is a liar and the truth is not in him and he deceiveth himself So then our own Righteousness will not do that is imperfect and defective therefore if ever we be saved by Righteousness it must be by the Righteousness of another which is a most perfect Righteousness and what Righteousness can there be perfect but the Righteousness of the Son of God in our nature the Righteousness of an Angel would not serve our turn it must be the Righteousness of one in our nature and this must be the
the Father is the fountain of the Deity but the Father communicates to the Son in regard of the Personality now Jesus Christ hath all fulness as Mediator to communicate and give out not to keep it to himself and hold it to his own proper use only But look now as it is with the Fountain the Sea hath not its water for it self but to communicate unto rivers so God hath made the Sun to be light not to be light to it self only but to communicate and give light to the World why now there is a full supply in Jesus Christ he being filled with all fulness from the Father for this end to give out to others to communicate From his fulness we have all received Grace for Grace he is full of grace and truth Ay but to what end is he full of grace and truth that we might receive from his fulness grace for grace and therefore saith the Psalmist When he ascended on high he led Captivity Captive and received gifts for men even for the rebellious He received them for men for rebellious men for enemies unto God to give out and communicate of grace as he was Mediator and therefore now Jesus Christ gives out grace freely and largely because it is for that very end he had all fulness given to him so that now there is a full supply to be had for all that come to Christ Christ will fully supply all that come to him to drink of the water of life and he hath never a whit the less And O Brethren that you were fully perswaded of this truth that he is the fulness of all grace that so we might know whether to go to be supplyed in all our spiritual wants for we are ready to go to other things rather than to Christ to our Prayers and Duties and the like but these are to be used only as Conduits to convey suppply to us but not as the supply but to look unto Christ who hath all supplies that we may go unto him to supply us who only is able to supply us and fill us to the full with all grace whatsoever we stand in need of and then again we shall not only have a full supply but we shall have a supply freely Christ will not ask any thing at all of any that comes to him but they shall be supplyed freely from his fulness as if you should go to a fountain of water and be filled there 's none will require or demand any thing of you so the Sun it communicates it's light without money or without price so it is here when we are sensible of our own unworthiness and have nothing to carry and nothing to give no money nor no price to carry in our hand yet may we come to Christ for he is a full fountain and gives out the water of life freely I shall demonstrate that Jesus Christ doth give out freely as well as fully not only fully but also freely to all that do come unto him for this water of life that so we may be established in this truth 1. Because If it were not so there 's no creature neither man nor woman could ever come to drink of this water if it were not free as well as full For no sinful creature hath any thing to give that is worth one drop of this water of life it hath no ability to give any thing and therefore if it were not free none should partake of it Who hath first given unto the Lord and it shall be recompenced him who he means none For of him and through him and from him are all things to whom be glory for ever And you have the Prophet David encouraging his people to be liberal in contributing towards the building of the Temple and they were so insomuch as Davids heart was refreshed therewithal saith David All that we do give or can communicate though the people have given very liberally yet saith he all is thine own All that Gold and Silver that we gave for the building of the Temple is all the Lords own â—â—ey had nothing of their own it was the Lords And so when the Lord gives out any Spiritual good thing why what hast thou to give unto the Lord yea nothing at all for what hast thou that thou hast not received not the least drop of good but it is from the Lord if my life should ly on it for a drop of living water to be fetcht in of my self it could not be or if it were to be had with a good wish saith the Apostle I can neither do nor will any thing nay saith he I am not able to think a good thought therefore if my life did ly on it for one good thought I should not obtain it 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Yea when we have done all that we are commanded to do or suffer yet this will not purchase one drop of it Luke 17.10 So Rom. 8.18 For I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us And therefore I say that it must needs be free else never a man or woman could be able to partake of one draught or dramme of this water of life if it were not free 2. Again Because of that delight pleasure and complacency that Jesus Christ doth take in giving out this water of life There is never an hungry man takes more delight in eating of his meat than Jesus Christ doth in communicating of this water of life an hungry man shall not need to be bidden to eat his meat and saith Jesus Christ My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and so he invites all to come unto him And you Women who know how to give suck to your little children they being brought to you and making means the mother having a full breast shall she need to be hired to suckle her children yea she is pained till she be delivered of her fulness Isa 66.11 So â—t is with Jesus Christ he hath full breasts alwayes and 't is delighting to him to communicate Indeed I told you before the Head is the fountain of the animal parts and the head freely gives out to the senses and if there be an obstruction to any of the rest of the members then it causes pain in the head Why Jesus Christ he is the head of the body and he doth as freely and with as much desire and delight and readiness communicate unto any of his members even as the head is ready to communicate unto the body And so you that keep shops what keep you shop for is it not that you desire to part with your commodities freely for a price and never any Shopkeeper is more free and ready to part with any of his commodities for a price than Jesus Christ is to give out his water
leaves spreading till it hath spread all over and the grain of mustard seed it grows and springs up further and further till it become a tree for the fowls in the air to lodge in so our inward man is renewed day by day as it will spring up increase and grow more and more though yet he that hath drunk of the Spirit hath not the full perfection of it at once but may desire more yet notwithstanding he hath so much as he shall never be dry again that is wholly destitute but shall grow up and increase and spring And let me add only a third thing Answer 3. You will say The Saints have not a full draught and full supply because they complain I answer that though here they be in a state of imperfection and stand in need of a daily supply being sensible of their own defects and weaknesses Yet every believing soul hath drunk so much of the water of life as now he hath right and title unto the Inheritance of Glory where there is such fulness of joy as he shall be satisfied and shall not be able to desire any more Psal 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore They shall have joy as much as they can hold every vessel shall be filled with glory so full as it can hold no more they shall enjoy as much as ever they are able to hold or containe every vessel shall be full of glory The beginnings of eternal life are here and though possibly they may be made to drink tears here in abundance yet notwithstanding they have the beginnings of eternal life and glory and when they come once to enjoy the consummation of it they shall not be able to desire one draught one jot more so He that believeth on me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water springing up unto eternal life So much for that Objection Now for the Application of the Point Vse 1. You see what Christ saith in the Text That man that comes unto me shall drink My drift in this Application shall be to press this Invitation of Jesus Christ Be it known unto you Men and Women young men and old and children that are capable of knowledge Know it that Jesus Christ doth invite every one of you that stands before him in this Ordinance to come unto him and draw water out of this Well of salvation It is a strong invitation that whosoever comes to him shall drink of this water of life Let me say unto you as Moses said unto the Children of Israel Deut. 32.46 And he said unto them Set your hearts unto all the Words that I testify among you this day Set your hearts to this Invitation of Jesus Christ to the Word that is now sounding in your ears for it is your life Jesus Christ doth bring eternal life to your doors to your hearts do not look upon them as if they were words of course and wind as if there were no truth or reality in them Brethren I suppose now if a friend should invite you to a Dinner or a Supper you would believe that he were real and you are ready to accept of his invitation because you think he means as he saith Why so now be it known unto you that Jesus Christ doth make an invitation to all here every one in the Congregation this day to come unto him and you shall have a supply of this water of life Suppose now that Jesus Christ were here present speaking these words as he did with his own mouth in the hearing of thousands and suppose now that if Jesus Christ were here in his bodily presence do you not think you should believe and give entertainment to what he spake behold Jesus Christ now speaks in his Word to all that are here present as he spake to all that were present then and makes proclamation saying Is any man athirst is there any that do desire this water of life that do desire to have their sins pardoned and forgiven them that do desire to be freed from condemnation that do desire to be adopted Sons and Daughters of God to have peace with God to have comfort and consolation in life and death and to have everlasting eternal glory when life shall be no more Know Jesus Christ holds forth all this whatsoever is requisite to eternal life Jesus Christ doth invite you to this and holds forth and promiseth to give a full draught of it to all that ever will come to him Therefore let no poor soul lay impediments and blocks in its own way to hinder him from coming unto Jesus Christ Objection But may one say I am afraid that I should presume if I should come unto Christ and therefore I dare not venture Answer O! let not any soul think so nor say so to hinder any of your souls from coming Know it that if Jesus Christ had made no invitation to you to come then you might very well say it 's presumption indeed for me to come but Jesus Christ invites thee himself in his Word and Promises that if you do come you shall have of this water of life and that freely Suppose a great rich man should invite a poor man to his Table and he comes being invited will ye say this is presumption when he spake to him himself and if he should not come 't is rather a slighting and despising his favour and love Why Jesus Christ holds forth a free invitation tenders it and promises it to any one soul that will come unto him upon his invitation and therefore let nothing stave thee off seeing he hath made a full and free invitation unto every one to come indeed Objection But alas I do not know that I am invited Christ invites me what me I am altogether unworthy to be invited to partake of this water of life alas so poor a creature so ignorant and so blind and so without strength as I am unable to perform any duty no strength and nothing at all to commend me unto the Lord or why the Lord should give me the least drop of the water of life and therefore certainly it is not to me Jesus Christ doth not invite me Answer I say Let not this Impediment ly in thy way because we have no strength or ability to do or to please or to serve him in any way why alas do you think now that Jesus Christ calls for any price invites people and then they must bring money in their hands No Brethren you are much mistaken Jesus Christ doth invite to come without money or without any price Whoever you be though you be never so weak and unable to perform any duty or service and never did any thing for the Lord yet you should come And Brethren the more unfit we are in our selves and the less we have of our selves and the more sensible we are of our own
clearing of this do you not think that Jesus Christ saith true or that he is to be believed in what he speaks never an one surely but will say that Jesus Christ is to be believed and that they do believe that he speaks truth why then Jesus Christs invitation is to every one in this Congregation to come unto him and therefore why should any stand back and hold off from coming unto Christ If the Lord would perswade your hearts to come unto Christ it would be the happiest day that ever your eyes saw in this World if the Lord would perswade your hearts hereto you should find that Jesus Christ would be as good as his word that you shall drink of this water of life and partake of it for ever and ever and shall never see death eternal death Objection There is one thing more Possibly you will say I do not very well understand how I may come to Christ in a way of faith and believing how or which way doth the soul come to Christ in a way of faith and believing as that the soul shall certainly have of this water of life and that Christ will give of this water of life Answer To open this a little This same coming to Christ I would speak it as plainly as possibly I could and not as a riddle or fancy or notion 'T is an hearkening to Christ in a Word of Promise and the soul is therein to venture it self and rely on or upon him in that Word which he holds forth and when the soul doth venture and close with all this is now a coming unto Christ when the Lord gives out an invitation a gracious Promise which holds out mercy and eternal life and in the hearing of it the Lord perswades the soul of the truth and reality of it it is perswaded to trust in it to rely upon it and to expect an accomplishment and performance of it And because I would not speak it as mine own words alone I speak it as the Virgin Mary did when the Angel came to her Luke 1.38 Then said Mary Behold the Servant of the Lord be it unto me according to thy Word This was now a believing a trusting and a relying on the Word of the Lord she was a Virgin and the Angel answered her in that as she had no more to say but to rely upon the Word of Promise Behold the Handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy Word whence was it it was from this speech the holy confidence and expectation of the fulfilling of that promise to her And so effectual calling is an hearkening unto the Lords call the soul being perswaded to receive the Word closing with returning answer to the Word then the soul is effectually called So also there is an ineffectual Call unto which the soul doth not answer but looks upon the Word of the Lord by his Servants as words of wind and words of course but as this same accepting of this gracious invitation and promise which he holds forth is effectual calling why so the neglecting of these I say is a refusing to hear him that speaks from Heaven Take heed that you do not refuse him that speaks from Heaven that is now when the Lord speaks in his invitation by gifts and outward calling this invitation being propounded and made and men make light of it is an ineffectual calling so now when upon the invitation of the call of the Lord in his promise there is an yielding obedience unto that call in faith it 's called the obedience of Faith Rom. 16.26 When the soul doth yield unto the Lord in the voice of the Promise close withal and receive and embrace it looking upon it as worthy of all acceptation receiving it with both hands as it were when the soul doth thus venture to rely upon the Word venturing it self upon the Lord in his Promise that if I perish I will perish there I will venture my self upon the Lords Word and Faithfulness This is effectual Calling 2 Tim. 1.12 I know saith Paul in whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he will keep that good thing which I have committed unto him against that day I have committed my soul concernments unto him and I trust them in his armes When the soul doth venture thus upon the gracious Word of invitation doth receive it and committeth it self unto the Lord in it this is a closing with Christ and the anwer of the heart unto the Lords call and this is a coming unto Christ So that when you venture upon the Lord in his Word you close with him in it it is soon said yea soon done the soul may come and close with Christ in the Promise and that soon too so pass from death unto life Therefore ask your own hearts in the Presence of the Lord seeing Jesus Christ doth make such a gracious Invitation for to come unto him and venture upon him in his Word whether it can be free and ready to say now Lord let it be according to thy Word to me say in this manner as in the presence of the Lord Lord upon this gracious invitation of thine in the Gospel I desire to rest and hope upon the faithfulness of thy Word and to accept thereof and trust in it Can you say it in the presence of the Lord you whosoever you are that seem to be afar off though possibly you might have had some glimmering hopes hoping sometimes that the Lord would be merciful to you and presently fearing your eternal condition Well I speak it to you that are old men and women and possibly old sinners that have lived in sin all your lives long and possibly are even hopeless in your selves and ready to cast out words of despair and so in a hopeless condition in your selves to you the Lord this day calls to come in unto him and to hearken to this invitation and if you now come unto him you shall have of the water of life And you young Men and Maids I would leave out none who are capable of partaking of this water of life consider the Question again Are you willing to be saved Let your hearts speak it out between the Lord and your own souls upon this Word of thy grace unto which thou hast invited me this gracious Promise I do now commit my soul to thee and rely upon this thy Word of Grace and rely upon thy faithfulness to accomplish it to me and have your souls thus answered unto the Lord let it be unto me according to thy Word let me say it in the name of the Lord unto you This day is salvation come unto thy soul this day hath Jesus Christ given eternal life unto thy soul this day the Lord hath taken thee into Covenant with himself and hath vouchsafed thee to be his And I speak it in the authority which Jesus Christ hath given me in his word even every one that thus comes to Christ