The Compassion of Christ to Weak Believers 2
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The insensible world can lie secure, while this grand concern lies in the most dreadful suspense. But the tender-hearted believer is not capable of such fool-hardiness: he shudders at the thought of everlasting separation from that God and Saviour whom he loves. He loves him, and therefore the fear of separation from him, fills him with all the anxiety of bereaved love. This to him, is the most painful ingredient of the punishment of hell. Hell would be a sevenfold hell to a lover of God, because it is a state of banishment from him whom he loves! He could forever languish and pine away under the consuming distresses of widowed love, which those who love him cannot feel. And has God kindled the sacred flame in his heart—only in order to render him capable of the more exquisite pain? Will he exclude from his presence—the poor creature that clings to him, and languishes for him? No! the flax that does but smoke with his love—was never intended to be fuel for hell; but God will blow it up into a flame, and nourish it until it mingles with the seraphic ardours in the region of perfect love!
The weak believer seems sometimes driven by the tempest of lusts and temptation from off the rock of Jesus Christ. But he makes towards it on the stormy billows, and labours to lay hold upon it, and recover his station there; for he is sensible there is no other foundation of safety; but that without Christ he must perish forever.
It is the habitual disposition of the believer's soul—to depend upon Jesus Christ alone. He retains a kind of inclination or tendency towards him—like the compass needle turns towards the north pole; and, if his heart is turned from its course, it trembles and quivers until it gains its favourite point again, and fixes there. Sometimes, indeed, a consciousness of guilt renders him shy of his God and Saviour; and after such base ingratitude he is ashamed to go to him: but at length necessity as well as inclination constrains him, and he is obliged to cry out, "Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life!" John 6:68. "In you alone I find rest to my soul; and therefore to you I must fly, though I am ashamed and confounded to appear in your presence!"
In short, the weakest Christian upon earth sensibly feels that his comfort rises and falls—as he lives nearer to or farther from his God. The love of God has such a habitual predominance even in his heart, that nothing in the world, nor even all the world together, can fill up God's place. No, when God is gone—heaven and earth together cannot replenish the mighty void.
The weakest Christian upon earth, longs to be delivered from sin—from all sin, without exception: and the body of death hanging about him is the burden of his life.
The poor languishing Christian has his hope—all the little hope that he has—built upon Jesus Christ. This smoking flax sends up some exhalations of love towards heaven. The poor creature that often fears he is altogether a slave to sin—honestly, though feebly, labours to be holy, to be holy as an angel, yes, to be holy as God is holy. He has a heart that feels theattractive charms of holiness, and he is so captivated by it, that sin can never recover its former place of dominion in his heart. No! the tyrant is forever dethroned, and the believer would rather die than yield himself a devoted slave to sin's usurped tyranny again.
Thus I have delineated to you, in the plainest manner I could, the CHARACTER of a weak Christian. Some of you, I am afraid, cannot lay claim even to this low character. If so, you may be sure you are not true Christians, even of the lowest rank. You may be sure you have not the least spark of true religion in your hearts—but are utterly destitute of it.
But some of you, I hope, can say, "Well, after all my doubts and fears, if this is the character of a true, though weak Christian, then I may humbly hope that I am one. I am indeed confirmed in it, that I am less than the least of all other saints upon the face of the earth—but yet I see that I am a saint; for thus has my heart been exercised, even in my dark and languishing hours. This secret uneasiness and pining anxiety, this thirst for God—for the living God, this tendency of soul towards Jesus Christ, this implacable enmity to sin, this panting and struggling after holiness: these things have I often felt!"
And have you indeed? Then away with your doubts and jealousies; away with your fears and despondencies! There is at least an immortal spark kindled in your hearts, which the united power of men and devils, of sin and temptation, shall never be able to quench! No, it shall yet rise into a flame, and burn with seraphic ardours forever!
For your farther encouragement, I proceed,
II. To illustrate the CARE and COMPASSION of Jesus Christ for such poor weaklings as you.
This may appear a needless task to some: for who is there that does not believe it? But to such would I say, it is no easy thing to establish a trembling soul in the full belief of this truth. It is easy for one that does not see his danger, and does not feel his extreme need of salvation, and the difficulty of the work—to believe that Christ is willing and able to save him. But oh! to a poor soul, deeply sensible of its condition, this is no easy matter. Besides, the heart may need be more deeply affected with this truth, though the understandingshould need no farther arguments of the speculative kind for its conviction; and to impress this truth is my present design.
For this purpose I need but read and paraphrase to you a few of the many kind declarations and assurances which Jesus has given us in his word, and relate the happy experiences of some of his saints there recorded, who found him true and faithful to his word.
The Lord Jesus Christ seems to have a peculiar tenderness for the poor, the mourners, the broken-hearted; and these are peculiarly the objects of his mediatorial office. "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favour has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory." Isaiah 61:1-3.
Thus says the LORD, in strains of majesty that become him, "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that? Could you build a dwelling place for me? My hands have made both heaven and earth, and they are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken!" Had he spoken uniformly in this majestic language to us guilty worms, the declaration might have overwhelmed us with awe—but could not have inspired us with hope. But he advances himself thus high—on purpose to let us see how low he can stoop. Hear the encouraging sequel of this his majestic speech: "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word!" Isaiah 66:1-2.
He loves to dwell upon this subject, and therefore you hear it again in the same prophecy: "Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy,"—what does he say? "I dwell in the high and holy place." Isaiah 57:15, This is said of his character; this is a dwelling in some measure worthy the inhabitant. But oh! will he stoop to dwell in a lower mansion, or pitch his tent among mortals? Yes, he dwells not only in his high and holy place—but also, "with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts!"
He charges Peter to feed his lambs—as well as his sheep; that is, to take the tenderest care even of the weakest in his flock. John 21:15. And he severely rebukes the shepherds of Israel, "Because," says he, "You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the broken bones. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with force and cruelty." Ezekiel 34:4.
But what an amiable reverse is the character of the great Shepherd and Sustainer of souls! "Behold," says Isaiah, "The Sovereign LORD is coming in all his glorious power. He will rule with awesome strength. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes!" How justly may we tremble at this proclamation of the approaching God! for who can stand when he appears? But how agreeably are our fears quenched in what follows! If he comes to take vengeance on his enemies—he also comes to show mercy to the lowest of his people. "He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young!" Isaiah 40:10, 11. That is, he shall exercise the tenderest and most compassionate care towards the lowest and weakest of his flock.
"The LORD looked down," says the Psalmist, "from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked to the earth from heaven;" not to view the grandeur and pride of courts and kings, nor the heroic exploits of conquerors—but "to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die!" He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This was written for the generation to come. Psalm 102:19-20. It was written for your encouragement, my brethren. Over three thousand years ago, this encouraging passage was entered into the sacred records for the support of poor desponding souls today—to the ends of the earth.
Oh, what an early provident care does God show for his people! There are none of the seven churches of Asia so highly commended by Christ as that of Philadelphia; and yet in commending her, all he can say is, "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me!" Rev. 3:8.
Oh, how acceptable is a little strength to Jesus Christ, and how ready is he to improve it! "He gives power to those who are tired and worn out", says Isaiah, "He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless!" Isaiah 40:29.
Hear farther what words of grace and truth flowed from the lips of Jesus. "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls!" Matthew 11:28-29.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away!" John 6:37.
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!" John 7:37.
"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life!" Revelation 22:17
Oh, what strong consolation is here! What exceeding great and precious promises are these! I might easily add to the catalogue—but these may suffice.
Let us now see how his people in every age have ever found these promises made good.
Here David may be consulted, and he will tell you, pointing to himself, "This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles!" Psalm 34:6.
Paul, in the midst of affliction, calls God "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles!" 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4. "God," says he, "who comforts those that are cast down—has comforted us." 2 Corinthians 7:6. What a sweetly emphatic declaration is this! "God, the comforter of the humble—has comforted us!" (This is the literal translation of the text.) He is not only the Lord Almighty, the King of kings, the Creator of the world—but among his more magnificent characters he assumes this title, the Comforter of "the humble."
Such Paul found him in an hour of temptation, when he had this supporting answer to his repeated prayer for deliverance, "My grace is sufficient for you—for my power is made perfect in weakness!" 2 Corinthians 12:9. Since this was the case, since his weakness was more than supplied by the strength of Christ, and was a foil to set it off, Paul seems quite regardless what infirmities he laboured under. "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong!" He could take no pleasure in feeling himself weak: but the mortification was made up by the pleasure he found in leaning upon this almighty support. His wounds were painful to him: but, oh! the pleasure he found in feeling the divine physician dressing his wounds, in some measure swallowed up the pain!
It was probably his experience, as well as inspiration, that dictated to the apostle that amiable character of Christ, that he is "A merciful and faithful high priest. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:17, 18. And, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." Hebrews 4:15.
But why need I multiply arguments? Go to his cross—and there learn his love and compassion, from his groans and wounds, and blood, and death! Would he hang there in such agony for sinners—if he were not willing to save them, and nourish every good principle in them? There you may have much the same evidence of his compassion, as Thomas had of his resurrection: you may look into his hands, and see the print of the nails; and into his side, and see the scar of the spear; which loudly proclaims his readiness to pity and help you!
And now, poor, trembling, doubting souls—you should raise up your drooping head, and take courage! May you not venture your souls into such compassionate and faithful hands? Why should the bruised reed shrink from him, when he comes not to tread it down—but raise it up!
As I am really solicitous that impenitent hearts among us should be pierced with the medicinal anguish, and sorrow of conviction, and repentance. I am truly solicitous that every honest soul, in which there is the least spark of true piety, should enjoy the pleasure of it. It is indeed to be lamented that those who have a title to so much happiness, should enjoyso little of it! It is very incongruous that they should go bowing their head in their way towards heaven—as if they were hastening to the place of execution! and that they should serve so good a Master—with such heavy hearts! Oh lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees! "Comfort, comfort my people! says your God." "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Trust in your all-sufficient Redeemer; trust in him—though he should slay you!
And do not indulge causeless doubts and fears concerning your sincerity. When they arise in your minds, examine them, and search whether there is any sufficient reason for them; and if you discover there is not, then reject them and set them at defiance, and entertain your hopes in spite of them, and say with the Psalmist, " Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God!" Psalm 42:11
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