Rejection of Christ—a Common, 2
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II. To show the reasonableness of the expectation, that we should give the Son of God a welcome reception.
Here full evidence must strike every mind at first sight. Is there not infinite reason that infinite beauty and excellence—should be esteemed and loved? Is it not most reasonable, that supreme authority—should be obeyed, and the highest character respected and revered? Is it not most reasonable that the most amazing display of love and mercy—should meet with the most affectionate returns of gratitude from the party obliged?
Shall the Creator die for his creatures, the Sovereign die for his rebellious subjects, the great Lawgiver transfer the penalty of his own law upon himself, in order to remove it from obnoxious criminals? Shall he die in extremities of torture, and write his love in characters of blood? Oh shall he do all this—and is it not infinitely reasonable that his creatures, that his rebellious subjects, that obnoxious criminals should be transported with wonder, joy, and gratitude; and that such miracles of love should engross their thoughts, their affections, and conversation?
If we form our expectations from what we find in fact among mankind in other cases—then surely we may expect that the Son of God would meet with such a reception in our world! The thousandth part of this kindness—would excite gratitude between man and man; and he would be counted a monster, who would not be moved with it. And shall kindness from worm to worm, from sinner to sinner, excite love and gratitude? And shall not the infinite mercy of God towards rebellious creatures inflame their love and gratitude? Is this the only species of kindness that must pass unnoticed? Is Jesus the only Benefactor who must be forgotten?
Is it not reasonable, and would not everyone expect—that the perishing sinners—would willingly accept of so mighty and gracious a Saviour? that the guilty would stretch out an eager hand to receive a pardon? that the diseased would apply to the physician? that inexcusable offenders should repent of their causeless offences against the best of beings? and that needy, dependent creatures should embrace the offer of happiness?
Can anything be more reasonably expected than this? Is it not as reasonable as to expect that creatures who love themselves, will seek their own happiness; or that the miserable would accept of deliverance?
In short, no man can deny the reasonableness of this expectation! No man can deny its reasonableness, without asserting that the highest excellency should be despised, the highest authority rejected, the richest goodness despised; and that rebellion andingratitude are virtues; and self-destruction a duty!
That is, no man can deny this—without being a monster, abjuring his reason—and embracing the most extravagant and impious absurdities in its stead!
I am afraid I shall not be able to gain the temper and practice of all of you to my side in this affair—but I am sure if you are men, and believe the gospel, that I have already brought over your judgement and conscience. Your judgement and conscience declare: that if it is reasonable for a child to reverence a tender, affectionate parent; if it is reasonable that you should love your life, or your own happiness; then certainly it is infinitely reasonable that you should give such a reception as has been mentioned to the blessed Jesus. Happy for us, happy for the world, if we could as easily prove that the expectation is as much founded upon actualfacts—as upon reason. But, alas! here the evidence turns against us. In such a wicked disordered world as this, it would be a very deceitful method of reasoning, to infer that things are—because they should be. This introduces what comes next under consideration, namely,
III. And lastly, To show how different a reception the Son of God generally meets with in our world—from what might reasonably be expected.
Here a most melancholy scene opens! And oh! that it may please our blessed Spirit to affect our hearts deeply with the survey of it! Forgive me if I make my address as pungent and particular as I can, and speak directly to the conscience of each of you. The severity of case really requires plain dealing, because without it you are not likely to be convinced, and, without conviction, you can never return, nor be saved.
Let me put you all upon a serious search—as to what kind of reception you have given to Jesus Christ. You have lived all your days under his gospel; you profess his religion; you own him as the Author of your hopes; what kind of treatment have you given him in these circumstances? It is high time for you to inquire into your behaviour!
Are not some of you sensible that you have never received him as a Saviour in a desperate case? No, you have never even seen your case to be indeed desperate. Your proud hearts have not been brought so low. You have not had such an affecting view of your guilt and depravity, and the imperfections of your best works, and of the holiness and justice of God and his law—as to make you sensible that you were undone and helpless in yourselves, that your own righteousness could by no means recommend you to God, and that you must perish forever—unless Jesus Christ, out of mere mercy, would undertake to save you! And unless you have had an affecting sense of your undone and hopeless condition—you have certainly never received him as a Saviour!
Again, Is it not evident that Jesus Christ has had but little share in your thoughts and affections? Do not the things of this perishing world gain the pre-eminence? Have you not a thousand thoughts of a thousand trifles—for every one affectionate thought of Jesus, the darling of his Father? Have you not been generally thoughtless of him all your lives? Take the time that is nearest to you as a specimen, which surely you have not yet forgot. Recollect now how many affectionate thoughts you have had of him the week past, or even upon this sacred morning, when you had this solemn worship immediately in view. May not even this short review convince you that you are guilty of the most absurd and unreasonable thing in the world! A thing which appears so improbable in an abstract view, that one would hardly believe you would venture upon it; I mean neglecting the Son of God, who has visited our world upon such designs of love?
Again, Is Jesus Christ the favourite subject of your conversation? Is his dear name the sweetest sound your lips can pronounce? And do you love to sit with his few friends in our guilty world, and talk over the wonder of his love—until your hearts burn within you, like the disciples on the way to Emma us? Out of the abundance of the heart—the mouth speaks; and were he uppermost in your hearts—he would have a proper share in your conversation.
Or if you should mingle in a company (and such company is everywhere to be found) where prudence would not allow you to dwell upon this darling subject, would the restraint be painful to you, and would his love, like a smothered fire in your hearts, struggle to break out and vent itself—vent itself at least in some retired corner in his presence, if you could not enjoy the pleasure of letting it flame out in the society of his creatures?
But, alas! is not this the reverse of your true character? Are you not disgusted, or struck silent as soon as the conversation takes this pious turn? With horror I think of it—to converse concerning Jesus Christ is generally deemed needless, impertinent, or ostentatious, by creatures who profess themselves disciples, redeemed by his blood! And does not this horrid guilt fasten upon some of you?
Farther, Are not your hearts destitute of his love? If you deny the charge, and profess that you love him—then where are the inseparable fruits and effects of his love? Where are your eager desires and pantings after him? Where is your delight to converse with him in his ordinances? Where your concern, your zeal, your earnest endeavours to secure his favour? Where is your conscientious observance of his commandments? For he himself has made this the test of your love to him, "You my friends—IF you do whatever I command you." John 15:14. And again, "If a man loves me—he will keep my Words." John 14:23.
Does not the evidence, from this inquiry, turn against you? Are you not convicted in your consciences, that if these are theinseparable fruits of love—then you are entirely destitute of it? Is it not evident to yourselves, that your own pleasure, your own worldly interest, your honour or ease—is the general rule of your conduct, without any regard to his will?
Inquire farther, Have you learned to entrust your souls in his hands, to be saved by him—entirely in his own way? Or do you not depend, in part at least, upon your own imaginary goodness? Do you not wonder and startle at the doctrine of salvation by grace alone? Does it not appear strange to you, to be told, that after all your good works—that God will deal with you entirely as guilty sinners, void of all goodness, and have no regard at all to your supposed merit, in the distribution of his mercy—but entirely to the righteousness of Jesus Christ? Are you not utter strangers to that exploit of faith—which casts a poor, guilty, depraved soul, void of all goodness, upon the mere mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, who justifies the ungodly? For this purpose the Son of God came into the world; and you do not give him a proper reception—but wickedly reject him as well as the Jews, unless you thus entrust yourselves to him—to be saved by him—in his way.
The evidence grows upon me as I proceed; and I cannot but wonder that you do not perceive it yourselves. Can anything be more plain—than that you make light of Christ! that you choose to have as little to do with him as possible! that you have no delight in his service! Do not your own consciences now tell you—that there are this and that, and a thousand things, that you have more pleasure in? Do not your hearts fly away from him, whenever they are urged to approach him? When you are a little awakened with a sense of your guilt and danger, and ready with eager eyes to look about for a Saviour, alas! how naturally do you relapse into carelessness and carnal security! How soon do you drop your purpose of seeking after him with unwearied endeavours, until you find him! how ready are you to take up with anything in his stead! A little sorrow and reformation are substituted in his place. You would rather get ease to your consciences from any quarter—than from him. Like Judas, you sell him for a few pieces of silver; that is, you would rather part with him than give up your over-eager pursuit of earthly things!
A thousand such facts might be easily produced—which sadly prove that the blessed Jesus does not meet with that reception from multitudes among us which his character demands. Indeed their not being easily convicted of sin—is an evidence they are guilty; for if they had a real regard for him—they would be concerned to inquire how the case stands, or how their hearts are disposed towards him. And a little honest inquiry would soon lead them into the truth.
And now I have a few questions to propose to such of you as are guilty of neglecting the Son of God, or have never given him that reception that might justly be expected of you; questions of the utmost importance, which I beg you would put home to your own hearts!
The first question is—Do you not think that by thus neglecting the Lord Jesus—that you contract the most aggravated guilt? It is the Son of God, his only Son, his well-beloved Son, whom you neglect! And must not the Father resent it? Do you not touch hishonor in a very tender point? and will he not muster up all the forces of omnipotence to avenge the affront! Since you neglect him, whom the Father loves; him, whom all the heavenly multitudes adore; him, whom all godly men upon earth treat with the highest honour; since you neglect a person of infinite glory and dignity, your rightful Sovereign and only Saviour—then how deep is your guilt! What a horrid exploit of wickedness this! neither heathen nor devils can sin up to such a pitch! Devils cannot, because no Saviour was ever provided for them, or offered to them! And heathen cannot, because a Saviour was never revealed to them. You stand without a rival by your horrid pre-eminence in guilt!
To you may be applied the Words of Jesus; as well as to the unbelieving Jews: "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin;" that is, they would not have had sin of so aggravated a nature; but now they have no cloak for their sin, John 15:22; they are utterly inexcusable! For they have both seen and hated both me and my Father! John 15:24.
The second question I would ask you is—Must not your punishment be peculiarly aggravated, since it will be proportioned to your guilt? To be punished not only for sins against the law of nature—but against revelation; against the gospel of grace, against the love of a crucified Saviour—how dreadful must this be! He who despised Moses' law died without mercy, says Paul: of how much sorer punishment (sorer than dying without mercy! Oh terrible!) Do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy—who has trodden under foot the Son of God! Hebrews 10:29. You may make light of this now—but oh! it will not prove light in the outcome!
Here let me mention a most alarming consideration: The love that God bears to his Son—is the great source of all our hopes: it is because he loves him—that he accepts of his atonement for our sins; it is because he loves him—that he forgives and loves believing sinners for his sake; it is because he loves the head—that he shows such favour to the members. But as to such as reject or neglect the Son, even the love which the Father has for him, becomes a source of peculiar terror, and prompts him to signal vengeance.
"If he infinitely loves his Son—then he must infinitely resent it to see him neglected and slighted by others. If he loves him—he will avenge the affront offered him; and the more he loves him, the more severely he must resent and avenge it."
How wretched, then, is their condition, upon whom even the love of God for his Son—calls aloud for vengeance! and how signal will the punishment be, that the Father's love for his Son will inflict upon the despisers of him!
The third question I would propose to you is—How do you expect to escape this signal vengeance, if you still continue to neglect the Lord Jesus? Answer the apostle's question—if you can. "How shall we escape—if we neglect so great salvation?" Hebrews 2:3. You cannot expect that Jesus will be your Saviour—while you treat him thus: and if he refuses to save you—then to whom will you turn? What angel or saint can save—those whom he is determined to destroy? If he is against you—who can be for you? Remember the text: the Father sent his Son last into the world. He comes last, and therefore if you reject him—there is no other Saviour. You must take him—or none! Take him—or perish forever!
I would lastly ask you—If your guilt and danger be so great, and if in your present condition you are ready every moment to be engulfed in everlasting destruction; does it befit you to be so easy and careless, so mirthful and merry? If your bodies were sick—you would be pensive and sad, and use means for their recovery; if your estates were in danger—you would be anxious until they were secured; if you were condemned to die for a crime against civil government— you would be solicitous for a pardon. In short, it is natural for man to be pensive, anxious, and sad—in circumstances of danger. And it is shocking to the common sense of mankind, to see one thoughtless and mirthful in such circumstances!
Can you be easy—under such a load of guilt? Can you be careless—under a sentence of condemnation? Can you be negligent—when the possibility of deliverance is set before you? I would not willingly see you sorrowful and dejected: but when your case calls for it; when your temporal sorrow may be medicinal, and save you from everlasting pain; when it is necessary in your dreadful circumstances, then I cannot form a kinder wish for you, than that your hearts may be pierced and broken with penitential sorrows!
You have, in your manner, commemorated the birth of a Saviour this Christmas; that is, you have danced and caroused, and sinned—to his honour! But now I come after, and demand in his name another kind of reception for him! I call you to the sorrowful work of repentance, for your ill treatment of him. Instead of such mirth and extravagance, would it not have been more proper for you to have listened to James' advice? "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness!" "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God;" that mighty hand which can crush ten thousand worlds, and which is lifted up against you to revenge the quarrel of his beloved Son!
Can you return home this evening as thoughtless and merry as usual? Well, your mad career will soon be at an end: your vanity and trifling will soon be over. Perhaps, as Jeremiah denounced to the false prophet, "This year you shall die!" Jer. 28:16. And oh! Death will engulf you in everlasting sorrows!
Therefore what would you now think of making one honest trial, before it be too late, to obtain a saving interest in that Saviour whom you have hitherto neglected? Oh! will you not make trial, whether the disaffection of your hearts towards him, inveterate as it is—may yet be subdued by divine grace? Oh! will you not make trial, whether he, who prayed with his dying breath, even for his murderers—will not have mercy upon you? Oh! will you not make trial, whether the virtue of his blood is not still sufficient to cleanse you from all sin? Oh! will you give up the matter as desperate, before you make a thorough trial?
Your case is indeed very discouraging—but it is not yet hopeless; if I thought it was, I would not say one word to you about it—totorment you before the time. But I can assure you upon the best authority, of Jesus Christ himself—that if you now give him that reception which his character requires—that he will receive you into favour as though you had never offended him, and make you forever happy! Therefore, come, you poor, guilty, perishing sinners—fly to the arms of his mercy, which are opened wide to embrace you! Cry for the attractive influence of his grace, which alone can enable you to come to him, and let there be joy in heaven this day—over repenting sinners upon earth!
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