Chapter IV: Part 4

We may observe farther, that if our LORD was present at a marriage feast, then, to deny marriage to any order of men, is certainly a “doctrine of devils.” “Marriage (says the Apostle) is honourable in all.” Our LORD graced a marriage feast with his first public miracle. It was an institution of GOD himself, even in paradise: and therefore, no doubt, lawful for all christians, even for those who are made perfect in holiness through the faith of JESUS CHRIST. But then, we may learn the reason why we have so many unhappy marriages in the world; it is because the parties concerned do not call JESUS CHRIST by prayer, nor ask the advice of his true disciples when they are about to marry: No; CHRIST and religion are the last things that are consulted: and no wonder then if matches of the devil’s making (as all such are, which are contracted only on account of outward beauty, or for filthy lucre’s sake) prove most miserable, and grievous to be borne.

I cannot but dwell a little on this particular, because I am persuaded the devil cannot lay a greater snare for young christians, than to tempt them unequally to yoke themselves with unbelievers: as are all who are not born again of GOD. This was the snare wherein the sons of GOD were entangled before the flood, and one great cause why God brought that flood upon the world. For what says _Moses_, _Genesis_ vi. 2, 3. “The sons of GOD (the posterity of pious _Seth_) saw the daughters of men, (or the posterity of wicked _Cain_) that they were fair, (not that they were pious) and they took them wives of all which they chose:” not which GOD chose for them. What follows? “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh;” that is, even the few righteous souls being now grown carnal by their ungodly marriages, the whole world was altogether become abominable, and had made themselves vessels of wrath fitted for destruction. I might instance farther, the care the ancient patriarchs took to chuse wives for their children out of their own religious families; and it was one great mark of _Esau_’s rebellion against his father, that he took unto himself wives of the daughters of the _Canaanites_, who were strangers to the covenant of promise made unto his fathers. But I forbear. Time will not permit me to enlarge here. Let it suffice to advise all, whenever they enter into a marriage state, to imitate the people of _Cana_ in _Galilee_, to call CHRIST to the marriage: He certainty will hear and chuse for you; and you will always find his choice to be the best. He then will direct you to such yoke-fellows as shall be helps meet for you in the great work of your salvation, and then he will also enable you to serve him without distraction, and cause you to walk, as _Zachary_ and _Elizabeth_, in all his commandments and ordinances blameless.

But to proceed. Who these persons were that called our LORD and his disciples to the marriage, is not certain. Some (because it is said, that the mother of JESUS was there) have supposed that they were related to the Virgin, and that therefore our LORD and his disciples were invited on her account. However that be, it should seem they were not very rich, (for what had rich folks to do with a despised JESUS of _Nazareth_, and his mean followers?) because we find they were unfurnished with a sufficient quantity of wine for a large company, and therefore, “when they wanted wine, the mother of JESUS,” having, as it should seem by her applying to him so readily on this occasion, even in his private life, seen some instances of his miraculous power, “saith unto him, They have no wine.” She thought it sufficient only to inform him of the wants of the host, knowing that he was as ready to give as she to ask. In this light the blessed Virgin’s request appears to us at the first view; but if we examine our LORD’s answer, we shall have reason to think there was something which was not right; for JESUS saith unto her, verse 4. “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” Observe, he calls her woman, not mother; to shew her, that though she was his mother, as he was man, yet she was his creature, as he was GOD. “What have I to do with thee?” Think you that I must work miracles at your bidding? Some have thought that she spoke as though she had an authority over him, which was a proud motion, and our LORD therefore checks her for it. And if JESUS CHRIST would not turn a little water into wine, whilst he was here on earth, at her command, how idolatrous is that church, and how justly do we separate from her, which prescribes forms, wherein the Virgin is desired to command her Son to have compassion on us!

But notwithstanding the holy Virgin was blameable in this respect, yet she hath herein set rich and poor an example which it is your duty to follow. You that are rich, and live in cieled houses, learn of her to go into the cottages of the poor; your LORD was not above it, and why should you? And when you do visit them, like the virgin-mother, examine their wants; and when you see they have no wine, and are ready to perish with hunger, shut not up your bowels of compassion, but bless the LORD for putting it in your power to administer to their necessities. Believe me, such visits would do you good. You would learn then to be thankful that GOD has given you bread enough, and to spare. And I am persuaded, every mite that you bestow on feeding the hungry and cloathing the naked disciples of JESUS CHRIST, will afford you more satisfaction at the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, than all the thousands squandered away in balls and assemblies, and such-like entertainments.

You that are poor in this world’s goods, and thereby are disabled from helping, yet you may learn from the Virgin, to pray for one another. She could not turn the water into wine, but she could entreat her son to do it: and so may you; and doubt not of the LORD’s hearing you; for GOD has chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith: and by your fervent prayers, you may draw down many a blessing on your poor fellow creatures. O that I may ever be remembered by you before the throne of our dear LORD JESUS! But what shall we say? Will our LORD entirely disregard this motion of his mother? No; though he check her with, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” yet he intimates that he would do as she desired by-and-by: “Mine hour is not yet come.” As though he had said, The wine is almost, but not quite out; when they are come to an extremity, and sensible of the want of my assistance, then will I shew forth my glory, that they may behold it, and believe on me.

Thus, Sirs, hath our LORD been frequently pleased to deal with me, and, I doubt not, with many of you also. Often, often when I have found his presence as it were hidden from my soul, and his comforts well nigh gone, I have went unto him complaining that I had no visit and token of his love, as usual. Sometimes he has seemed to turn a deaf ear to my request, and as it were said, “What have I to do with thee?” which has made me go sorrowing all the day long; so foolish was I, and faithless before him: for I have always found he loved me notwithstanding, as he did _Lazarus_, though he stayed two days after he heard he was sick. But when my hour of extremity has been come, and my will broken, then hath he lifted up the light of his blessed countenance afresh; he has shewed forth his glory, and made me ashamed for disbelieving him, who often hath turned my water into wine. Be not then discouraged, if the LORD does not immediately seem to regard the voice of your prayer, when you cry unto him. The holy Virgin we find was not; no, she was convinced his time was the best time, and therefore, verse 5. “saith unto the servants, (O that we could follow her advice!) whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”

And now, behold the hour is come, when the eternal Son of GOD will shew forth his glory. The circumstance of the miracle is very remarkable; verse 6. “And there were set six water-pots of water, after the manner of the purifying of the _Jews_, containing two or three firkins a-piece.” The manner of this purifying we have an account of in the other Evangelists, especially St. _Mark_, who informs us, that the pharisees, and all the _Jews_, except they wash their hands oft, eat not; and when they come from the market, except they wash they eat not. This was a superstitious custom; but, however, we may learn from it, whenever we come in from conversing with those that are without, to purify our hearts by self-examination and prayer; for it is hard to go through the world, and to be kept unspotted from it.

Observe further, verse 7. “JESUS saith unto them,” not to his own disciples, but unto the servants of the house, who were strangers to the holy JESUS, and whom the virgin had before charged to do whatsoever he said unto them; “Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them to the brim. And he saith unto them, draw out now, and bear to the governor of the feast. And they bear it.” How our LORD turned the water into wine we are not told. What have we to do with that? Why should we desire to be wise above what is written? It is sufficient for the manifestation of his glorious godhead, that we are assured he did do it. For we are told, verse 9, 10. “When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and when they have well drunk, that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”

To explain this passage, you must observe, it was the custom of the _Jews_, nay even of the heathens themselves, (to the shame of our christian baptized heathens be it spoken) at their public feasts to chuse a governor, who was to oversee and regulate the behaviour of the guests, and to take care that all things were carried on with decency and order. To this person then did the servants bear the wine; and we may judge how rich it was by his commendation of it, “Every man at the beginning, &c.” Judge ye then, whether JESUS did not shew forth his glory, and whether you have not good reason, like the disciples here mentioned, to believe on him?

Thus, my brethren, I have endeavoured to make some observations on the miracle itself. But alas! this is only the outward court thereof, the veil is yet before our eyes; turn that aside, and we shall see such mysteries under it, as will make our hearts to dance for joy, and fill our mouths with praise for evermore!

But here I cannot help remarking what a sad inference one of our masters of _Israel_, in a printed sermon, has lately drawn from this commendation of the bridegroom. His words are these. “Our blessed Saviour came eating and drinking, was present at weddings, and other entertainments, (though I hear of his being only at one;) nay, at one of them (which I suppose is that of which I am now discoursing) worked a miracle to make wine, when it is plain there had been more drank than was absolutely necessary for the support of nature, and consequently something had been indulged to pleasure and chearfulness.”¹

¹ See Dr. _Trap_’s sermon against being righteous over-much,
page 17.

I am sorry such words should come from the mouth and pen of a dignified clergyman of the Church of _England_. Alas! how is she fallen! or at least, in what danger must her tottering ark be, when such unhallowed hands are stretched out to support it! Well may I bear patiently to be stiled a blasphemer, and a setter forth of strange doctrines, when my dear LORD JESUS is thus traduced; and when those who pretend to preach in his name, urge this example to patronize licentiousness and excess. It is true (as I observed at the beginning of this discourse) our blessed Saviour did come eating and drinking; he was present at a wedding, and other entertainments; nay, at one of them worked a miracle to make wine, (you see I have been making some observations on it) but then it is not plain there had been more wine drank than was absolutely necessary for the support of nature; much less does it appear, that something had been indulged to pleasure and ♦chearfulness.

♦ “charfulness” replaced with “chearfulness”

The governor does indeed say, “When men have well drunken,” but it no where appears that they were the men. Is it to be supposed, that the most holy and unspotted Lamb of GOD, who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and who, when at a Pharisee’s house, took notice of even the gestures cf those with whom he sat at meat; is it to be supposed, that our dear Redeemer, whose constant practice it was to tell people they must deny themselves, and take up their crosses daily; who bid his disciples to take heed, lest at any time their hearts might be over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness; can it be supposed, that such a self-denying JESUS should now turn six large water-pots of water into the richest wine, to encourage excess and drunkenness in persons, who, according to this writer, had indulged to pleasure and chearfulness already? Had our LORD sat by, and seen them indulge, without telling them of it, would it not be a sin? But to insinuate he not only did this, but also turned water into wine, to increase that indulgence; this is making CHRIST a minister of sin indeed. What is this, but using him like the Pharisees of old, who called him a glutton, and a wine-bibber? Alas! how may we expect our dear LORD’s enemies will treat him, when he is thus wounded in the house of his seeming friends? Sirs, if you follow such doctrine as this, you will not be righteous, but I am persuaded you will be _wicked over-much_.

But GOD forbid you should think our LORD behaved so much unlike himself in this matter. No, he had nobler ends in view, when he wrought this miracle. One, the evangelist mentions in the words of the text, “to shew forth his glory,” or to give a proof of his eternal power and godhead.

Here seems to be an allusion to the appearance of GOD in the tabernacle, which this same evangelist takes notice of in his first chapter, where he says, “The Word (JESUS CHRIST) was made flesh, and dwelt (or, as it is rendered in the margin, tabernacled) amongst us.” Our dear LORD, though very GOD of very GOD, and also most perfect and glorious in himself as man, was pleased to throw a veil of flesh over this his great glory, when he came to make his soul an offering for sin. And that the world might know and believe in him as the Saviour of all men, he performed many miracles, and this in particular; for thus speaks the evangelist, “This first,” &c.

This then was the chief design of our LORD’s turning the water into wine. But there are more which our LORD may be supposed to have had in view, some of which I shall proceed to mention.

_Secondly_, he might do this to reward the host for calling him and his disciples to the marriage. JESUS CHRIST will not be behind-hand with those who receive him or his followers, for his name’s sake. Those who thus honour him, he will honour. A cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose its reward. He will turn water into wine. Though those who abound in alms-deeds, out of a true faith in, and love for JESUS, may seem as it were to throw their bread upon the waters, yet they shall find it again after many days. For they who give to the poor out of this principle, lend unto the LORD; and look, whatsoever they lay out, it shall be repaid them again. Even in this life, GOD often orders good measure pressed down and running over, to be returned into his servants bosoms. It is the same in spirituals. To him that hath, and improves what he hath, for the sake of CHRIST and his disciples, shall be given, and he shall have abundance. Brethren, I would not boast; but, to my master’s honour and free grace be it spoken, I can prove this to be true by happy experience. When I have considered that I am a child, and cannot speak, and have seen so many of you come out into the wilderness to be fed, I have often said within myself, what can I do with my little stock of grace and knowledge among so great a multitude? But, at my LORD’s command, I have given you to eat of such spiritual food as I had, and before I have done speaking, have had my soul richly fed with the bread which cometh down from heaven. Thus shall it be done to all such who are willing to spend and be spent for CHRIST or his disciples; for there is no respect of persons with GOD.

_Thirdly_, Our LORD’s turning the water, which was poured out so plentifully, into wine, is a sign of the plentiful pouring out of his Spirit into the hearts of believers. The holy Spirit is in scripture compared unto wine; and therefore the prophet calls us to buy wine as well as milk, that is, the spirit of love, which fills and gladdens the soul as it were with new wine. The apostle alludes to this, when he bids the _Ephesians_ “not to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.” And our LORD shews us thus much by chusing wine; to shew forth the strength and refreshment of his blood, in the blessed sacrament. I know these terms are unintelligible to natural men, they can no more understand me, than if I spake to them in an unknown tongue, for they are only to be spiritually discerned. To you then that are spiritual do I speak, to you who are justified by faith, and feel the blessed Spirit of JESUS CHRIST working upon your hearts, you can judge of what I say; you have already (I am persuaded) been as it were filled with new wine by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit. But alas! you have not yet had half your portion; these are only earnests, and in comparison but shadows of good things to come; our LORD keeps his best wine for you till the last; and though you have drank deep of it already, yet he intends to give you more: He will not leave you, ’till he has filled you to the brim, ’till you are ready to cry out, LORD, stay thine hand, thy poor creatures can hold no more! Be not straitened in your own bowels, since JESUS CHRIST is not straitened in his. Open your hearts as wide as ever you will, the Spirit of the LORD shall fill them. CHRIST deals with true believers, as _Elijah_ did with the poor woman, whose oil increased, to pay her husband’s debts; as long as she brought pitchers, the oil continued. It did not cease till she ceased bringing vessels to contain it. My brethren, our hearts are like those pitchers; open them freely by faith, and the oil of GOD’s free gift, the oil of gladness, the love of GOD through CHRIST, shall be continually pouring in; for believers are to be filled with all the fulness of GOD.

_Fourthly_, Our LORD’s turning water into wine, and keeping the best until last, may shew forth the glory of the latter days of his marriage feast with his church. Great things GOD has done already, whereat millions of saints have rejoiced, and do yet rejoice. Great things GOD is doing now, but yet, my brethren, we shall see greater things than these. It is meet, right, and our bounden duty, to give thanks unto GOD, even the Father; for many righteous men have desired to see the things which we see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which we hear, and have not heard them. But still there are more excellent things behind. Glorious things are spoken of these times, “when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” There is a general expectation among the people of GOD, when the partition-wall between _Jew_ and _Gentile_ shall be broken down, and all _Israel_ be saved. Happy those who live when GOD does this. They shall see _Satan_, like lightning, fall from heaven. They shall not weep, as the _Jews_ did at the building of the second temple. No, they shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. For all the former glory of the christian church shall be nothing in comparison of that glory which shall excel. Then shall they cry out with the governor of the feast, “thou hast kept thy good wine until now!”

_Fifthly_, and lastly, This shews us the happiness of that blessed state, when we shall all sit together at the marriage supper of the Lamb, and drink of the new wine in his eternal and glorious kingdom!

The rewards which JESUS CHRIST confers on his faithful servants, and the comforts of his love wherewith he comforts them, whilst pilgrims here on earth, are often so exceeding great, that was it not promised, it were almost presumption for them to hope for any reward hereafter. But, my brethren, all the manifestations of GOD that we can possibly be favoured with here, when compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us, are no more than a drop of water when compared with an unbounded ocean. Though CHRIST frequently fills his saints even to the brim, yet their corruptible bodies weigh down their souls, and cause them to cry, “Who shall deliver us from these bodies of death?” These earthly tabernacles can hold no more: But, blessed be GOD, these earthly tabernacles are to be dissolved; this corruptible is to put on incorruption; this mortal is to put on immortality: and when GOD shall cause all his glory to pass before us, then shall we cry out, LORD, thou hast kept thy good wine until now. We have drank deeply of thy spirit; we have heard glorious things spoken of this thy city, O GOD! but we now find, that not the half, not the thousandth part hath been told us. O the invisible realities of the world of faith! Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of the greatest saint to conceive how CHRIST will shew forth his glory there! St. _Paul_, who was carried up into the third heavens, could give us little or no account of it. And well he might not――for he heard and saw such things as is not possible for a man cloathed with flesh and blood to utter. Whilst I am thinking, and only speaking of those things unto you, I am almost carried beyond myself. Methinks, I now receive some little foretastes of that new wine which I hope to drink with you in the heavenly kingdom for ever and ever.

And wherefore do you think I have been saying these things? Many, perhaps, may be ready to say, To manifest thy own vain-glory. But it is a small matter with me to be judged of man’s judgment. He that judgeth me is the LORD. He knows that I have spoken of his miracle, only for the same end for which he at first performed it, and which I at first proposed, that is, “to shew forth his glory,” that you also may be brought to believe on him.

Did I come to preach myself, and not CHRIST JESUS my LORD, I would come to you, not in this plainness of speech, but with the enticing words of man’s wisdom. Did I desire to please natural men, I need not preach here in the wilderness. I hope my heart aims at nothing else, than what our LORD’s great fore-runner aimed at, and which ought to be the business of every gospel minister, that is, to point out to you the God-man CHRIST JESUS. “Behold then (by faith behold) the Lamb of GOD, who taketh away the sins of the world.” Look unto him, and be saved. You have heard how he manifested, and will yet manifest his glory to true believers; and why then, O sinners, will you not believe in him? I say, O sinners, for now I have spoken to the saints, I have many things to say to you. And may GOD give you all an hearing ear, and an obedient heart!

The LORD JESUS who shewed forth his glory above 1700 years ago, has made a marriage feast, and offers to espouse all sinners to himself, and to make them flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone. He is willing to be united to you by one spirit. In every age, at sundry times, and after divers manners, he hath sent forth his servants, and they had bidden many, but yet, my brethren, there is room. The LORD therefore now has given a commission in these last days to others of his servants, even to compel poor sinners by the cords of love to come in. For our master’s house must and shall be filled. He will not shed his precious blood in vain. Come then, come to the marriage. Let this be the day of your espousals with JESUS CHRIST, he is willing to receive you, though other lords have had dominion over you. Come then to the marriage. Behold the oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; let me hear you say, as _Rebecca_ did, when they asked her, whether she would go and be a wife to _Isaac_; O let me hear you say, we will come. Indeed you will not repent it. The LORD shall turn your water into wine. He shall fill your souls with marrow and fatness, and cause you to praise him with joyful lips.

Do not say, you are miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and therefore ashamed to come, for it is to such that this invitation is now sent. The polite, the rich, the busy, self-righteous Pharisees of this generation have been bidden already, but they have rejected the counsel of GOD against themselves. They are too deeply engaged in going, one to his country house, another to his merchandize. They are so deeply wedded to the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, that they, as it were with one consent, have made excuse. And though they have been often called in their own synagogues, yet all the return they make, is to thrust us out, and thereby in effect say, they will not come. But GOD forbid, my brethren, that you should learn of them; no, since our LORD condescends to call first, (because if left to yourselves you would never call after him) let me beseech you to answer him, as he answered for you, when called upon by infinite offended justice to die for your sins, “Lo! I come to do thy will, O GOD!” What if you are miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, that is no excuse; faith is the only wedding garment which CHRIST requires; he does not call you because you already are, but because he intends to make you saints. It pities him to see you naked. He wants to cover you with his righteousness. In short, he desires to shew forth his glory, that is, his free love through your faith in him. Not but that he will be glorified, whether you believe in him or not; for the infinitely free love of JESUS CHRIST will be ever the same, whether you believe it, and so receive it, or the contrary. But our LORD will not always send out his servants in vain, to call you; the time will come when he will say, None of those which were bidden, and would not come, shall taste of my supper. Our LORD is a GOD of justice, as well as of love; and if sinners will not take hold of his golden sceptre, verily he will bruise them with his iron rod. It is for your sakes, O sinners, and not his own, that he thus condescends to invite you: suffer him then to shew forth his glory, even the glory of the exceeding riches of his free grace, by believing on him, “For we are saved by grace through faith.” It was grace, free grace, that moved the Father so to love the world, as to “give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life!” It was grace, that made the Son to come down and die. It was grace, free grace, that moved the Holy Ghost to undertake to sanctify the elect people of GOD: and it was grace, free grace, that moved our LORD JESUS CHRIST to send forth his ministers to call poor sinners this day. Let me not then, my brethren, go without my errand. Why will you not believe in him? Will the devil do such great and good things for you as CHRIST will? No indeed, he will not. Perhaps, he may give you to drink at first of a little brutish pleasure; but what will he give you to drink at last? a cup of fury and of trembling; a never-dying worm, a self-condemning conscience, and the bitter pains of eternal death. But as for the servants of JESUS CHRIST, it is not so with them. No, he keeps his best wine till the last. And though he may cause you to drink of the brook in the way to heaven, and of the cup of affliction, yet he sweetens it with a sense of his goodness, and makes it pleasant drink, such as their souls do love. I appeal to the experience of any saint here present, (as I doubt not but there are many such in this field) whether CHRIST has not proved faithful, ever since you have been espoused to him? Has he not shewed forth his glory, ever since you have believed on him?

And now, sinners, what have you to object? I see you are all silent, and well you may. For if you will not be drawn by the cords of infinite and everlasting love, what will draw you? I could urge many terrors of the LORD to persuade you; but if the love of JESUS CHRIST will not constrain you, your case is desperate. Remember then this day I have invited all, even the worst of sinners, to be married to the LORD JESUS. If you perish, remember you do not perish for lack of invitation. You yourselves shall stand forth at the last day, and I here give you a summons to meet me at the judgment seat of CHRIST, and to clear both my master and me. Would weeping, would tears prevail on you, I could wish my head were waters, and my eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep out every argument, and melt you into love. Would any thing I could do or suffer, influence your hearts, I think I could bear to pluck out my eyes, or even to lay down my life for your sakes. Or was I sure to prevail on you by importunity, I could continue my discourse till midnight, I would wrestle with you even till the morning watch, as _Jacob_ did with the angel, and would not go away till I had overcome. But such power belongeth only unto the LORD, I can only invite; it is He only can work in you both to will and to do after his good pleasure; it is his property to take away the heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh; it is his spirit that must convince you of unbelief, and of the everlasting righteousness of his dear Son; it is He alone must give faith to apply his righteousness to your hearts; it is He alone can give you a wedding garment, and bring you to sit down and drink new wine in his kingdom. As to spirituals we are quite dead, and have no more power to turn to GOD of ourselves, than _Lazarus_ had to raise himself, after he had lain stinking in the grave four days. If thou canst go, O man, and breathe upon all the dry bones that lye in the graves, and bid them live; if thou canst take thy mantle and divide yonder river, as _Elijah_ did the river _Jordan_; then will we believe thou hast a power to turn to GOD of thyself: But as thou must despair of the one, so thou must despair of the other, without CHRIST’s quickening grace; in him is thy only help; fly to him then by faith; say unto him, as the poor leper did, “LORD, if thou wilt,” thou canst make me willing; and he will stretch forth the right-hand of his power to assist and relieve you: He will sweetly guide you by his wisdom on earth, and afterwards take you up to partake of his glory in heaven.

To his mercy therefore, and Almighty protection, do I earnestly,
humbly, and most affectionately commit you: the LORD bless
you and keep you; the LORD lift up the light of his blessed
countenance upon you, and give you all peace and joy in
believing, now and for evermore!

SERMON XXXVII.

The Duty of searching the Scriptures.

JOHN v. 39.

_Search the Scriptures._

WHEN the Sadducees came to our blessed LORD, and put to him the question, “whose wife that woman should be in the next life, who had seven husbands in this,” he told them “they erred, not knowing the scriptures.” And if we would know whence all the errors, that have over-spread the church of CHRIST, first arose, we should find that, in a great measure, they flowed from the same fountain, ignorance of the word of GOD.

Our blessed LORD, though he was the eternal GOD, yet as man, he made the scriptures his constant rule and guide. And therefore, when he was asked by the lawyer, which was the great commandment of the law, he referred him to his Bible for an answer, “What readest thou?” And thus, when led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, he repelled all his assaults, with “it is written.”

A sufficient confutation this, of their opinion, who say, “the Spirit only, and not the Spirit by the Word, is to be our rule of action.” If so, our Saviour, who had the Spirit without measure, needed not always have referred to the written word.

But how few copy after the example of CHRIST? How many are there who do not regard the word of GOD at all, ♦but throw the sacred oracles aside, as an antiquated book, fit only for illiterate men?

♦ “bot” replaced with “but”

Such do greatly err, not knowing what the scriptures are, or for what they are designed.

I shall, therefore,

_First_, Shew, that it is every one’s duty to search them.

And, _Secondly_, Lay down some directions for you, to search
them with advantage.

I. I am to shew, that it is every person’s duty to search the Scriptures.

By the Scriptures, I understand the law and the prophets, and those books which have in all ages been accounted canonical, and which make up that volume ♦commonly called the Bible.

♦ “commmonly” replaced with “commonly”

These are emphatically stiled the _Scriptures_, and, in one place, the “Scriptures of Truth,” as though no other books deserved the name of true writings or scripture in comparison of them.

They are not of any private interpretation, authority, or invention, but holy men of old wrote them, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The foundation of GOD’s revealing himself thus to mankind, was our fall in _Adam_, and the necessity of our new birth in CHRIST JESUS. And if we search the scriptures as we ought, we shall find the sum and substance, the _Alpha_ and _Omega_, the beginning and end of them, is to lead us to a knowledge of these two great truths.

All the threats, promises and precepts, all the exhortations and doctrines contained therein, all the rites, ceremonies and sacrifices appointed under the _Jewish_ law; nay, almost all the historical parts of holy scripture, suppose our being fallen in _Adam_, and either point out to us a Mediator to come, or speak of him as already come in the flesh.

Had man continued in a state of innocence, he would not have needed an outward revelation, because the law of GOD was so deeply written in the tables of his heart. But having eaten the forbidden fruit, he incurred the displeasure of GOD, and lost the divine Image, and, therefore, without an external revelation, could never tell how GOD would be reconciled unto him, or how he should be saved from the misery and darkness of his fallen nature.

That these truths are so, I need not refer you to any other book, than your own hearts.

For unless we are fallen creatures, whence those abominable corruptions which daily arise in our hearts? We could not come thus corrupt out of the hands of our Maker, because he being goodness itself could make nothing but what is like himself, holy, just, and good. And that we want to be delivered from these disorders of our nature, is evident, because we find an unwillingness within ourselves to own we are thus depraved, and are always striving to appear to others of a quite different frame and temper of mind than what we are.

I appeal to the experience of the most learned disputer against divine revelation, whether he does not find in himself, that he is naturally proud, angry, revengeful, and full of other passions contrary to the purity, holiness, and long-suffering of GOD. And is not this a demonstration that some way or other he is fallen from GOD? And I appeal also, whether at the same time that he finds these hurtful lusts in his heart, he does not strive to seem amiable, courteous, kind and affable; and is not this a manifest proof, that he is sensible he is miserable, and wants, he knows not how, to be redeemed or delivered from it?

Here then, GOD by his word steps in, and opens to his view such a scene of divine love, and infinite goodness in the holy scriptures, that none but men, of such corrupt and reprobate minds as our modern deists, would shut their eyes against it.

What does GOD in his written word do more or less, than shew thee, O man, how thou art fallen into that blindness, darkness, and misery, of which thou feelest and complainest? And, at the same time, he points out the way to what thou desirest, even how thou mayest be redeemed out of it by believing in, and copying after the Son of his love.

As I told you before, so I tell you again, upon these two truths rest all divine revelation. It being given us for no other end, but to shew us our misery, and our happiness; our fall and recovery; or, in one word, after what manner we died in _Adam_, and how in CHRIST we may again be made alive.

Hence then arises the necessity of searching the scriptures: for since they are nothing else but the grand charter of our salvation, the revelation of a covenant made by GOD with men in CHRIST, and a light to guide us into the way of peace; it follows, that all are obliged to read and search them, because all are equally fallen from GOD, all equally stand in need of being informed how they must be restored to, and again united with him.

How foolishly then do the disputing infidels of this generation act, who are continually either calling for signs from heaven, or seeking for outward evidence to prove the truth of divine revelation? Whereas, what they so earnestly seek for is nigh unto, nay, within them. For let them but consult their own hearts, they cannot but feel what they want. Let them but consult the lively oracles of GOD, and they cannot but see a remedy revealed for all their wants, and that the written word does as exactly answer the wants and desires of their hearts, as face answers to face in the water. Where then is the scribe, where is the wise, where is the solidity of the reasoning of the disputers of this world? Has not GOD revealed himself unto them, as plain as their own hearts could wish? And yet they require a sign: but there shall no other sign be given them. For if they believe not a revelation which is every way so suited to their wants, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead.

But this discourse is not designed so much for them that believe not, as for them, who both know and believe that the scriptures contain a revelation which came from GOD, and that it is their duty, as being chief parties concerned, not only to read but search them also.

I pass on, therefore, in the

_Second_ place, to lay down some directions, how you may search them with advantage.

_First_, Have always in view, the end for which the scriptures were written, even to shew us the way of salvation, by JESUS CHRIST.

“Search the scriptures,” says our blessed LORD, “for they are they that testify of me.” Look, therefore, always for CHRIST in the scripture. He is the treasure hid in the field, both of the Old and New Testament. In the Old, you will find him under prophesies, types, sacrifices, and shadows; in the New, manifested in the flesh, to become a propitiation for our sins as a Priest, and as a Prophet to reveal the whole will of his heavenly Father.

Have CHRIST, then, always in view when you are reading the word of GOD, and this, like the star in the east, will guide you to the Messiah, will serve as a key to every thing that is obscure, and unlock to you the wisdom and riches of all the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD.

_Secondly_, Search the scriptures with an humble child-like disposition.

For whosoever does not read them with this temper, shall in no wise enter into the knowledge of the things contained in them. For GOD hides the sense of them, from those that are wise and prudent in their own eyes, and reveals them only to babes in CHRIST: who think they know nothing yet as they ought to know; who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and humbly desire to be fed with the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby.

Fancy yourselves, therefore, when you are searching the scriptures, especially when you are reading the New Testament, to be with _Mary_ sitting at the feet of the holy JESUS; and be as willing to learn what GOD shall teach you, as _Samuel_ was, when he said, “Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth.”

Oh that the unbelievers would pull down every high thought and imagination that exalts itself against the revealed will of GOD! O that they would, like new-born babes, desire to be fed with the pure milk of the word! then we should have them no longer scoffing at Divine Revelation, nor would they read the Bible any more with the same intent the _Philistines_ brought out _Sampson_, to make sport at it; but they would see the divine image and superscription written upon every line. They would hear GOD speaking unto their souls by it, and, consequently, be built up in the knowledge and fear of him, who is the Author thereof.

_Thirdly_, Search the scriptures, with a sincere intention to put in practice what you read.

A desire to do the will of GOD is the only way to know it; if any man will do my will, says JESUS CHRIST, “He shall know of my doctrine, whether it be of GOD, or whether I speak of myself.” As he also speaks in another place to his disciples, “To you, (who are willing to practise your duty) it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD, but to those that are without, (who only want to raise cavils against my doctrine) all these things are spoken in parables, that seeing they may see and not understand, and hearing they may hear and not perceive.”

For it is but just in GOD to send those strong delusions, that they may believe a lie, and to conceal the knowledge of himself from all such as do not seek him with a single intention.

JESUS CHRIST is the same now, as formerly, to those who desire to know from his word, who he is that they may believe on, and live by; and to him he will reveal himself as clearly as he did to the woman of _Samaria_, when he said, “I that speak to thee am he,” or as he did to the man that was born blind, whom the _Jews_ had cast out for his name’s sake, “He that talketh with thee, is he.” But to those who consult his word with a desire neither to know him, nor keep his commandments, but either merely for their entertainment, or to scoff at the simplicity of the manner in which he is revealed, to those, I say, he never will reveal himself, though they should search the scriptures to all eternity. As he never would tell those whether he was the _Messiah_ or not, who put that question to him either out of curiosity, or that they might have whereof to accuse him.

_Fourthly_, In order to search the scriptures still more effectually, make an application of every thing you read to your own hearts.

For whatever was written in the book of GOD, was written for our learning. And what CHRIST said unto those aforetime, we must look upon as spoken to us also: for since the holy scriptures are nothing but a revelation from GOD, how fallen man is to be restored by JESUS CHRIST: all the precepts, threats, and promises, belong to us and to our children, as well as to those, to whom they were immediately made known.

Thus the Apostle, when he tells us that he lived by the faith of the Son of GOD, adds, “who died and gave himself for me.” It is this application of JESUS CHRIST to our hearts, that makes his redemption effectual to each of us.

And it is this application of all the doctrinal and historical parts of scripture, when we are reading them over, that must render them profitable to us, as they were designed for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, and to make every child of GOD perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work.

I dare appeal to the experience of every spiritual reader of holy writ, whether or not, if he consulted the word of GOD in this manner, he was not at all times and at all seasons, as plainly directed how to act, as though he had consulted the Urim and Thummim, which was upon the high-priest’s breast. For this is the way GOD now reveals himself to man: not by making new revelations, but by applying general things that are revealed already to every sincere reader’s heart.

And this, by the way, answers an objection made by those who say, “The word of GOD is not a perfect rule of action, because it cannot direct us how to act or how to determine in particular cases, or what place to go to, when we are in doubt, and therefore, the Spirit, and not the word, is to be our rule of action.”

But this I deny, and affirm on the contrary, that GOD at all times, circumstances, and places, though never so minute, never so particular, will, if we diligently seek the assistance of his Holy Spirit, apply general things to our hearts, and thereby, to use the words of the holy JESUS, will lead us into all truth, and give us the particular assistance we want: But this leads me to a

_Fifth_ direction how to search the scriptures with profit: Labour to attain that Spirit by which they were written.

For the natural man discerneth not the words of the Spirit of GOD, because they are spiritually discerned; the words that CHRIST hath spoken, they are spirit, and they are life, and can be no more understood as to the true sense and meaning of them, by the mere natural man, than a person who never had learned a language can understand another speaking in it. The scriptures, therefore, have not unfitly been compared, by some, to the cloud which went before the _Israelites_, they are dark and hard to be understood by the natural man, as the cloud appeared dark to the _Egyptians_; but they are light, they are life to christians indeed, as that same cloud which seemed dark to _Pharaoh_ and his house, appeared bright and altogether glorious to the _Israel_ of GOD.

It was the want of the assistance of this Spirit, that made _Nicodemus_, a teacher of _Israel_, and a ruler of the _Jews_, so utterly ignorant in the doctrine of regeneration: for being only a natural man, he could not tell how that thing could be; it was the want of this Spirit that made our Saviour’s disciples, though he so frequently conversed with them, daily mistake the nature of the doctrines he delivered; and it is because the natural veil is not taken off from their hearts, that so many who now pretend to search the scriptures, yet see no farther than into the bare letter of them, and continue entire strangers to the spiritual meaning couched under every parable, and contained in almost all the precepts of the book of GOD.

Indeed, how should it be otherwise, for GOD being a spirit, he cannot communicate himself any otherwise than in a spiritual manner to the hearts of men; and consequently if we are strangers to his Spirit, we must continue strangers to his word, because it is altogether like himself, spiritual. Labour, therefore, earnestly for to attain this blessed Spirit; otherwise, your understandings will never be opened to understand the scriptures aright: and remember, prayer is one of the most immediate means to get this Holy Spirit. Therefore,

_Sixthly_, Let me advise you, before you read the scriptures, to pray, that CHRIST, according to his promise, would send his Spirit to guide you into all truth; intersperse short ejaculations whilst you are engaged in reading; pray over every word and verse, if possible; and when you close up the book, most earnestly beseech GOD, that the words which you have read, may be inwardly engrafted into your hearts, and bring forth in you the fruits of a good life.

Do this, and you will, with a holy violence, draw down GOD’s Holy Spirit into your hearts; you will experience his gracious influence, and feel him enlightening, quickening, and inflaming your souls by the word of GOD; you will then not only read, but mark, learn, and inwardly digest what you read: and the word of GOD will be meat indeed, and drink indeed unto your souls; you then will be as _Apollos_ was, powerful in the scriptures; be scribes ready instructed to the kingdom of GOD, and bring out of the good treasures of your heart, things both from the Old and New Testament, to entertain all you converse with. One