BOOK 5. THE MESSAGE.
CHAPTER 3.
5.3.3. Of Christ's Reception of sinners.
Of Christ's Reception of sinners.
For Christ's reception of sinners; I cannot limit this only to one year of Christ's ministry, but I shall only mention it this year. Now this will appear, 1. In the doctrine of Christ. 2. In the practice of Christ.
1. In his doctrine, Christ lays it down expressly, Matth. xi. 28. "Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." It is no more, but come and welcome. The gospel shuts none out of heaven, but those that by unbelief lock that door against their own souls. Again, "All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me, and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out," John vi. 37. Here is laid down the full intent and purpose of God and Christ, to pardon and receive sinners. The Father is willing, and the Son is willing.
(a). The Father is willing, John vi. 39. "This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose none." The Father is engaged, in that, first, he sent Christ on that errand, to receive sinners. Secondly, in that he gave unto Christ all "that he would have to be saved by Christ, with a charge to lose none." Sinners were given unto Christ, by his Father, as so many jewels to look to, and to save.
(b). The Son is willing, for "He that cometh unto me (saith Chridt) I will in no wise east out." Christ is so willing to receive sinners, as that he sets all his doors open, he keeps open house, and he casts out none that will but come in: and why so? "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me," John vi. 38.
(i). "I came down from heaven it was a great journey from heaven to earth, and this great journey I undertook, for no other purpose but to save sinners. Great actions (as one says well) must needs have great ends: now this was the greatest thing that ever was done, that the Son of God should come down from heaven; and what was the end, but the reception and salvation of sinners? Luke xix. 10. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost:" Had not Christ come down, sinners could not have gone up unto heaven, and therefore that they might ascend, he descends.
(ii). "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." His Father had sent him on purpose to receive, and to save sinners; and to this purpose he is called the "apostle of our profession," -- Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house; his Father could not send him on any errand, but he was sure to do it: his Father's mission was a strong demonstration, that Christ was willing to receive those sinners that would but come to him.
Again, John vii. 37. "Jesus stood and cried, saying. If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." The very pith, heart, and marrow of the gospel is contained in these words: the occasion of them was thus: on that last day of the feast of tabernacles, the Jews were wont with great solemnity to draw water out of the fountain of Siloam, at the foot of mount Sion, and to bring it to the altar, singing out of Isa. xii. 3. "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Now Christ takes them at this custom, and recalls them from earthly to heavenly waters, alluding to that of Isaiah lv. 1, 3. "Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, -- Incline your ears, and come unto me: hear, and your souls shall live." The Father saith, Come, the Son saith, Come, the Spirit saith, Come; yea, "The Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him drink of the water of life freely," Rev. xxii. 17. All the time of Christ's ministry, we see him tiring himself in going about from place to place, upon no other errand than this, to cry at the markets, "Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters? If any sinners love life, if any will go to heaven, let him come to me, and I will show them the way to my Father's bosom, and endear them to my Father's heart."
Again, hitherto tend all those arguments of God and Christ, to draw souls to themselves. Thus God draws arguments;
(a). From his equity, Ezek. xviii. 25. "Hear now, O house of Israel, is not my way equal?" Or, are not your ways unequal? q.d. I appeal to your very consciences, is this equal. That sinners should go on in sin, and trespass against him that is so willing to receive and save poor sinners?
(b). From our ruin, in case we go on in sin, Ezek. xviii. 31. "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart, and a new spirit, for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"
(c). From his own dislike and displeasure at our ruin, verse 32. "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God, wherefore turn your souls, and live ye."
(d). From his mercy and readiness to pardon sinners, Isa. lv. 7. " Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
(e). From the freeness of his love, Hos. xiv. 4. "I will love him freely" And, John iii. l6. "God so loved the world," so fully, so fatherly, so freely, that he gave his only begotten Son, etc. And "I will give unto him that is athrist of the fountain of the waters of life freely," Rev. xxi. 6.
(f). From the sweetness of his name, Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. "The Lord, the Lord merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin."
(g). From the benefits that would follow, Isa. xlviii. 18, 19 . "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandment, then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea, thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof."
(h). From his oath, Ezek. xxxiii. 1l. "As I live saith the Lord, I desire not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live." O, happy creatures (saith Tertullian) for whom God swears! O unbelieving wretches, if we will not trust God swearing!
(i). From his expostulations, Ezek. xxxiii. 11. "Turn, yea, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Micah vi. 3. O my people, what have I done to thee? And wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me, Isa. v. 3. "What could I have done more for my vineyard than I have done? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes."
(j). From his appeals, Micah vi. 2. "Judge now, O ye inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. -- And hear, O ye mountains, the Lord s controversy, and, ye strong foundations of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel."
(k). From his groans, Dent. v. 29. "Oh, that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep my commandments always, that it might be well with them and their children forever, Deut. xxxii. 29. And oh! that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end."
(l). From his loathness to give men up, Hos. xi. 8. "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, O Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? My heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together." O the goodness of God.
And as God the Father, so God the Son draws arguments to win souls to himself.
(a). From his coming; it was the very purpose and design of his coming down from heaven to save sinners, 1 Tim. i. 15. "This is a faithful saying, (says Paul) and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world, to save sinners."
(b). From his fair demeanour and behaviour towards sinners: this was so open and notorious, that; it was turned to his disgrace and opprobrium, Matth. xi. 19. "Behold a friend of publicans and sinners." and the Scribes and Pharisees murmured at him, and his disciples, saying, "Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?" Luke v. 30.
(c). From, his owning of sinners, and answering for them in this respect. "And Jesus answering, said unto them. They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance," Luke v. 31, 32.
(d). From his rejoicing at sinners conversion; indeed we never read of Christ's laughter, and we seldom read of Christ's joy; but when it is at any time recorded, it is at the conversion of a poor soul: he had little else to comfort himself in, being a man of sorrows: but in this he rejoiced exceedingly, Luke x. 21. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in Spirit;" it was in that hour when he saw an handful of the fruit of his disciples ministry, as an earnest of the many thousands that should afterwards come in, John xi. 15. "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there," (said Christ when Lazarus was dead.) But why was he glad? It follows, "to the intent ye may believe." He rejoiced if any of his got faith, a little more faith, more and more faith.
(e). From his grief in cast of sinners not repenting; witness his tears over Jerusalem, and those speeches of his, Luke xix. 41, 42. "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying. If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace; but now they are hid from thine eyes." Look, as it is with a man carrying to be buried, his wife weeps, his children weep, his friends weep; so our Saviour follows Jerusalem to the grave, and when he can do no more for it, he rings out this doleful passing bell, "O that thou hadst known, etc.
(f). From, his wishes, groanings, Matth. xxiii. 37. "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as an hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!" In this argument, before we pass it, observe we the several passages. Here is, first the groan. Oh! this aspiration argues a compassionate pang of grief, it ran to the very heart of Christ that Jerusalem had neglected their souls salvation, Oh Jerusalem! Secondly, Here is an ingemination, or a double calling on Jerusalem, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!" The name doubled expresseth great affection in the speaker; as when David doubled the name of Absalom, it is said, "The king was much moved," and so he cried, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom," 2 Sam. xviii. 33. Thirdly, Here is the monstrous sin wherewith the Lord charges Jerusalem, "Thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee." Jerusalem was the very slaughter-house of the prophets, insomuch that very few of the prophets had been murdered elsewhere; and so, comparatively, Christ speaks, "It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem," Luke xiii. 33. Fourthly, Here Christ's willingness to save Jerusalem, which he discovers;
(i). In his frequent applications to it; How often? q.d. not once nor twice, nor thrice, but many and many a time have I come to Jerusalem, and spoke to Jerusalem, and wooed Jerusalem, "How often?"
(ii). In the acting, exercising, and putting forth of his will; how often "would I have gathered thy children together?" The will of Christ was serious, though not absolute: I know his divine will, absolutely considered, could not have been resisted; but this was not his absolute will, but only a will of divine complacency. There is voluntas absoluta, efficax, decernens, and infallibiliter producens effectum volitum, and voluntas conclitionata, revelata, approbationis, and simplicis complacentiae, August. Tract. 15. in Job. And so he would not have the death of any, but that all should live; or he speaks here of his human ministerial will (say some) and not of his divine: many a sermon had he preached, and many an exhortation had he dropped; and every sermon, and every exhortation, proclaimed his willingness, "I would, yea that I would, have gathered thy children together."
(iii). In resemblance of his willingness, Christ would have gathered Jerusalem's children, "As the hen gathers her chickens under her wings." In the metaphor Christ's care is admirably displayed.
- As the hen with her wings covers the unfeathered chickens.
- As the hen provides for their food, not eating herself till they are filled.
- As the hen defends her chickens from the ravenous birds, so that to blood she will fight in their defence: so hath Christ's care been for Jerusalem. "No bird (saith Austin) expresseth such tender love to her young ones, as the hen doth." No fowls so discover themselves to be mothers, as hens do; other birds we know to be mothers when we see them in their nests, but no other way; only the hen discovers herself to be a mother, when her chickens do not follow her; for then her feathers stand up, her wings hang down, she clucketh mournfully, and goeth feebly; now, in respect of this singular love, Christ compares himself to an hen; "As an hen gathers her chickens, so would I have gathered Jerusalem.
- In that he adds so dolefully, "but ye would not;" I would, but ye would not, q.d. In me no care so great as to save your souls, in you no care so little as your soul's salvation; I strove towards you in acts of love, and you strove towards me in acts of ingratitude: I would have done you good, but you would not receive it, I would, yea, how often would I, but ye would not.
2. Christ's reception of sinners appears yet more in his practice. How welcome were all sorts of sinners unto him? He casts out none that acknowledge him for the Messiah; he turned none away that gave up their souls to be saved by him in his own way. This he manifests. (a). Parabolically. (b). Really.
(a). Parabolically, especially in those three parables, of the lost groat, and of the lost sheep, and of the lost son, I shall instance in this last, which may well serve for all the rest, Luke xv. 20. "When the prodigal was yet afar off, his father saw him: and had compassion on him, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." In these words observe,
- His father sees him before he sees his father; no sooner a sinner thinks of heaven, but the Lord spies him, and takes notice of him.
- The Lord sees him while he was yet a great way off; he was but in the beginning of his way; his father might have let him alone till he had come quite home to his house, and it had been a singular mercy to have bid him welcome then; but he takes notice of him yet a great way off; sinners may be far off from God, in their own apprehensions, and yet the Lord even draws near, whiles thus they apprehend.
- His father had pity or compassion on him; the Lord's bowels even yearn, and work, and stir within him at the sight of his returning prodigals; when Ephraim had bemoaned himself, Jer. xxxi. 18, 19. "Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; why then cries God, verse 20. "Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still, therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord."
- "His father ran:" there is much in this. As,
- It had been mercy though his father had stood still, till his son had come.
- What a mercy is this that his father will go, and give his son the meeting.
- But, above all Oh, what abundant mercy call we this, that the father will not go, but run? If he would needs meet his son, might he not have walked towards him in a slow pace? O no, if a sinner will but come, or creep towards Christ, mercy will not go a foot pace, but run to meet him; bowels full of mercy out-pace bowels pinched with hunger: God's mercy is over his works, and so it is over all our needs, and over all our sins.
- He ran, "and fell on his neck," (i.e.) he hugged and embraced him; O wonder! who would not have been loth to have touched him? Was he not in his loathsome stinking rags! Smelt he not of the hogs and swine he lately kept? Would not some dainty stomachs have been ready to have cast all up upon such embracements? We see mercy is not nice, Ezek. xvi. 6. "When I passed by (saith God) I saw thee polluted in thy blood, and I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, live that very time of her blood, was the time of love; then the Lord "spread his skirt over her, and covered her nakedness, and sware unto her, and entered into a covenant with her, and she became his," ver. 8. 6. He ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; who would have brooked a person in so filthy a pickle? What? Kiss those lips that had been so lately lapping in the hog's trough? Those lips that had so often kissed those base and beggarly, and abominable harlots? One would think he should rather have kicked, than kissed them. There is a passage somewhat like this, and "Esau ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him," Gen. xxxiii. 4. Before he had thought to have killed him, but now he kissed him; it is not to tell how dear the father was to his prodigal son, when "he ran and fell on his neck, and embraced and kissed him." The scope of the parable is this, That Christ is willing and glad to receive sinners, Ezek. xxxiii. 11. "Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O house of Israel!"
(b). Christ manifests this willingness in his practice really. Amongst many instances, I shall insist only on one, a notable instance of this year: one of the Pharisees named Simon, invited Christ to eat with him, Luke vii. 37. Into whose house when he had entered, a certain woman that was a sinner abiding there in the city, heard of it; a widow she was, and, prompted by her wealth and youth to an intemperate life, she came to Jesus in the Pharisee's house; and no sooner come, but she lays her burden at Jesus feet, and presents him with a broken heart, and weeping eye, and an alabaster box of ointment, verse 38. "She stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with the hairs of her head; and she kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment."
(i). "She stands at his feet, a sign of her humility; O what a change! She that was before married to a noble personage, a native of the town and castle of Magdal, from whence she had her name of Magdalene; and she that now was a widow, and therefore now took her liberty of pride and lust; who so proud and vile as Mary Magdalene? At this time, she comes in remorse, and regret for her sins, and throwing away her former pride, she stoops, and waits, and humbly stands at Jesus feet.
(ii). "She stood at his feet behind him;" a blushing sign of faith: it comprehends in it a tacit confession of her sins? She knew herself unworthy of Christ's presence, she durst not look him in the face, but believingly she waits behind him! Her shame speaks her repentance, and her waiting on him, and not flying from him, speaks her faith.
(iii). "She stood at his feet behind him weeping," her grief burst out in tears, she heeds not the feast or feaster, though usually they are accompanied with joy, and mirth, and music; and such feast attended with such vanities, she many a time had probably observed, yet now she comes in trembling to this feast, and falling down before Christ, she weeps, and weeps bitterly for her sins.
(iv). "She began to wash his feet with tears;" her tears were not feigned but fruitful; she wept a shower of tears: one considering her tears, cries out, Terra rigat coelum , The very earth bedews heaven; her eyes that before were abused to lust, are now fountains of tears, she pours out a flood, great enough to wash the feet of her blessed Jesus: this was the manner of the Jews, to eat their meat lying down, and leaning on their elbows: or if many eat together, leaning on the bosoms of one another: Thus at the passover, it is said. That "there was leaning on Jesus bosom, one of his disciples whom Jesus loved," John xiii. 23. And in this posture, Jesus sitting or lying at meat, Mary had the conveniency to weep on his feet, which he had cast behind his fellow; and, O how she weeps amain! The tears so trickled, that she begins to wash Christ's feet; she not only waters them, but washes them. That which Jeremiah wished, Jer. ix. 1. "O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears!" Mary fulfils, for her head is waters, and her eyes are fountains; rivers of tears run down her eyes. Oh! she had pierced Christ with her sins, and now she weeps over him whom she had pierced; crying out as we may imagine, O my sins! and, O my Christ! O foul sins! and O sweet Jesus!"
(v). "She wipes his feet with the hairs of her head her hair added to her beauty, sometimes in curling, rings, or unseemly shed; she made it a snare for men, but now she consecrates it to her Lord, and makes it a towel to wipe Christ's feet withal: O here is a worthy fruit of serious repentance, the apostle calls it "an holy revenge," 2 Cor. vii. 11.
(vi). She kissed his feet, in token of her new choice, and new love, and new affections: her kisses had been formerly to wantons, but now she bestows them on the feet of Christ.
(vii). "She anointed them with ointment," which expression was so great an ecstasy of love, and sorrow, and adoration, that to anoint the feet of the greatest monarch, was long unknown, and in all the pomp of Roman prodigality, it was never used till Otho taught it Nero. When Simon observed this sinner so busy in the expresses of her religion, he thought within himself, that Christ was no prophet, that he did not know her to be a sinner; for, although the Jews religion did permit harlots to live and to enjoy the privileges of the nations, save that their oblations were refused, yet the Pharisees, who pretended to a greater degree of sanctity than others, would not admit them to civil usages, or the benefits of ordinary society; and, hence, Simon made an objection within himself, which Jesus knowing, (for he understood his thoughts as well as his words) first he makes her apology, and then his own; the scope giving us to understand that Christ was hot of the same superciliousness with the Pharisees, but that repenting sinners should be welcome to him; and this welcome he published first to Simon, Luke vii. 47. "Her sins which are many are forgiven;" and then to the woman, verse 48. "Thy sins are forgiven thee, verse 50. Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace."
Use. I have been long on the proof: but a word of use, and I have done. What, is Christ most willing to receive sinners? O then be exhorted, Who would not come to Jesus Christ? Methinks, now all sinners of all sorts should say, Though I have been a drunkard, a swearer, an unclean person, yet now I hear Christ is willing to receive sinners, and therefore I will go to Jesus Christ. This is my exhortation, O come unto Christ, come unto Christ? Behold here in the name of the Lord, I stand, and make invitation to poor sinners; Oh, will not ye come. How will you answer it at the great day, when it shall be said, The Lord Jesus made a tender and offer of mercy to you, and you would not accept of it: Oh, come to Christ, and believe on Christ: as Christ is willing to receive you, so be you willing to give up your souls to him. The motives to this I may lay down in these particulars.--
1. The doctrine of Christ, "Come unto me, -- and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." All the arguments of God and Christ, of which you have heard, the practice of Christ while he was upon the earth, and the heart of Christ now in heaven: lay these together, and apply them to your own souls; Oh what work will they make!
2. The calls of God and Christ, as they are frequent in the scriptures: consider that text, "Ho, every one that thirsts come ye to the waters," Isa.lv. 1. (Ho) He begins proclamation-wise: we usually say, vocations, interjections speak very affectionate motion towards the distressed. Certainly Christ's love is a very affectionate love: he lays his mouth to the ears of those that are spiritually deaf, and cries aloud. (Ho) every one, Christ invites all: "As many as ye shall find, bid them to the marriage," Matth. xxii. 9. As the heavens are general in their influence, not one grass on the ground but is bedewed: so are Christ's invitations to his feast: not one man in all the world but he is invited: "(Ho, every one that thirsteth) so the apostle." Let him that is athirst; come; and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely, Rev. xxii. 17. A thirst and a will is one and the same; it is your will that makes up the match: if you will but sit down at God's table, if you will but have the honey-comb with the honey, if you will drink his wine with his milk; if you will drink, yea, drink abundantly of the flagons of the wine of his kingdom; why, then, "Come ye to the waters, come unto me and drink." Christ's arms are spread abroad to receive sinners; he calls and knocks, and calls and waits, and calls and beseeches: every word here hath such sweetness and dearness in it as it plainly speaks him free and willing to receive you, if you will but come
3. The wooings of Christ is to gain your hearts: consider him bowing the heavens, and coming down, and laying aside his robes of majesty: consider him going about from place to place on no other errand, but to gain your hearts, and win your souls: and, who ever spake such effectual words as Christ spake when he was upon earth; Who ever gave such precious jewels to a bride, as Christ gave to his spouse? Who ever put on such an apparel as Christ did when he woed his church? The prophet wonders at it. "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah! -- Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine fat!" Isa. lxiii. 1, 2. Who ever gave such a love-token as Christ gave when he laid down his life? Oh, consider him living or dying, and say, "Never love like to this." Ah, poor sinner! see your Jesus hanging on the cross, dropping out his last blood, breathing out his last breath, stretching out his dying arms to encircle sinners; and come, oh, come and throw yourselves into his bleeding arms! away with all prejudicate opinion! who will say, Christ is not willing to save him, and not blaspheme eternal love? Speak truth, corrupt hearts, speak truth, say not Christ is unwilling, but you are unwilling; I would, but ye would not.
4. The weepings of Christ if he cannot prevail. Thus we find him in the gospel expressing himself, not only in words, but in tears. And when he was come near Jerusalem, he beheld the city, and wept over it. Luke xix. 41. Christ coming to the city, and seeing it, and foreseeing the desolation that should come upon it, his bowels yearned within him towards the people, and he mourned secretly within himself, q.d. O Jerusalem, thou hast had many priests to advise thee, and many prophets to instruct thee in the ways of life, but now these days are gone and past; nay, the great prophet of the world is come to woo thee, but yet thy heart is hardened, and thou wilt not receive the things belonging to thy peace, and therefore I will turn my preaching into mourning and sighing, "Oh that thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day the thing's belonging to thy peace." -- And then his heart even breaks, and he weeps again, "but now they are hid from thine eyes!" Sinners, suppose Christ should come and weep over you, as he did over Jerusalem, saying, "O ye sinful souls had but you known, even you in this your day the things belonging to your peace!" And, suppose you should see one tear trickling down after another: what, Christ to weep for you, over you? methinks, if you had hearts of stone, it should melt your hearts: surely it is no light matter that makes Christ weep; children weep often, but wise men seldom, yet here the wisest of men weeps for them that would not weep for themselves: Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem!