6. That which we most highly value, we think we cannot buy too dear: Christ and salvation are freely given, and yet the most of men go without them, because they cannot enjoy the world and them together. They are called but to part with that which would hinder them from Christ, and they will not do it. They are called but to give God his own, and to resign all to his will, and let go the profits and pleasures of this world, when they must let go either Christ or them, and they will not. They think this too dear a bargain, and say they cannot spare these things: they must hold their credit with men; they must look to their estates. How shall they live else? They must have their pleasure, whatsoever becomes of Christ and salvation; as if they could live without Christ better than without these: as if they were afraid of being losers by Christ, or could make a saving match by losing their souls to gain the tworld. Christ hath told us over and over, that if we will not forsake all for him, we cannot be his disciples. Far are these men from forsaking all, and yet will needs think that they are his disciples indeed. 2 Do 7. That which men highly esteem, they would help their friends too, as well as themselves. not those men make light of Christ and salvation, that can take so much care to leave their children portions in the world, and do so little to help them to heaven! That provide outward necessaries so carefully for their families, but do so little to the saving of their souls? Their neglected children and friends will witness, that either Christ, or their children's souls, or both, were made light of. 8. That which men highly esteem, they will so diligently seek after, that you may see it in the success, if it be a matter within their reach. You may see how many make light of Christ, by the little knowledge they have of him, and the little communion with him, and communication from him; and the little, yea, none, of his special grace in them, Alas! how many ministers can speak it to the sorrow of their hearts, that many of their people know almost nothing of Christ, though they hear of him daily! Nor know they what they must do to be saved. If we ask them an account of these things, they answer as if they understood not what we say to them, and tell us they are no scholars, and therefore think they are excusable for their ignorance. O if these men had not made light of Christ, and their salvation, but had bestowed but half so much pains to know and enjoy him, as they have done to understand the matters of their trades and callings in the world, they would not have been so ignorant as they are: they make light of these things, and therefore will not be at the pains to study or learn them. How will these despisers of Christ and salvation be able one day to look him in the face, and to give an account of these neglects? Thus much I have spoken in order to your conviction. Do not some of your consciences by this time smite you, and say, "I am the man that have made light of my salvation?" If they do not, it is because you make light of it still, for all that is said to you. But because, if it be the will of the Lord, I would fain have this damning distemper cured, and am loath to leave you in such a desperate condition, if I knew how to remedy it, I will give you some considerations, which may move you, if you be men of reason and understanding, to look better about you; and I beseech you to weigh them, and make use of them as we go, and lay open your hearts to the work of grace, and sadly bethink you what a case you are in, if you prove such as make light of Christ. Consider, 1. Thou makest light of him that made not light of thee who didst deserve it. Thou wast worthy of nothing but contempt. As a man, what art thou but a worm to God? As a sinner, thou art far viler than a toad: yet Christ was so far from making light of thee and thy happiness, that he came down into the flesh, and lived a life of suffering, and offered himself a sacrifice to the justice which thou hadst provoked, that thy miserable soul might have a remedy. It is no less than miracles of love and mercy that he hath showed to us: and yet shall we slight them after all? Angels admire them, whom they less concern, and shall redeemed sinners make light of them? What barbarous, yea, worse than devilish ingratitude is this? The devils never had a Saviour offered them, but thou hast, and dost thou yet make light of him? 2. Consider the work of man's salvation by Jesus Christ, is the masterpiece of all the works of God, wherein he would have his love and mercy to be magnified. As the creation declareth his goodness and power, so doth redemption his goodness and mercy; he hath contrived the very frame of his worship so, that it shall much consist in the magnifying of this work; and after all this, will you make light of it? "His name is Wonderful." "He did the work that none could do." "Greater love could none show than his." How great was the evil and misery that he delivered us from? The good procured for us? All are wonders, from his birth to his ascension, from our new birth to our glorification, all are wonders of matchless mercy: and yet do you make light of them! 3. You make light of matters of greatest excellency and moment in the world. You know not what it is that you slight: had you well known, you could not have done it. As Christ said to the woman of Samaria, "Hadst thou known who it is that speakest to thee, thou wouldst have asked of him the waters of life." "Had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." So had you known what Christ is, you would not have made light of him; had you been one day in heaven, and but seen what they possess, and seen also what miserable souls must endure that are shut out, you would never surely have made so light of Christ again. O sirs, it is no trifles or jesting matters that the Gospel speaks of. I must needs profess to you, that when I have the most serious thoughts of these things myself, I am ready to marvel that such amazing matters do not overwhelm the souls of men: that the greatness of the subject doth not so overmatch our understandings and affections, as even to drive men beside themselves, but that God hath always somewhat allayed it by the distance: much more that men should be so stupid as to make light of them. O Lord, that men did but know what everlasting I wonder how you can glory and everlasting torments are; would they then hear us as they do? Would they read and think of these things as they do? I profess I have been ready to wonder, when I have heard such weighty things delivered, how people can forbear crying out in the congregation: much more, how can they rest till they have gone to their ministers, and learned what they should do to be saved, that this great business might be put out of doubt. O that heaven and hell should work no more on men! O that everlastingness should work no more! O how can you forbear, when you are alone, to think with yourselves what it is to be everlastingly in joy or in torment ! I wonder that such thoughts do not break your sleep; and that they come not in your mind when you are about your labour! almost do any thing else! quietness in your minds! How you can eat, or drink, or rest, till you have got some ground of everlasting consolations! Is that a man or a corpse that is not affected with matters of this moment? That can be readier to sleep than to tremble, when he heareth how he must stand at the bar of God? That can follow his worldly business, and make nothing of the great business of salvation or damnation; and that when they know it is hard at hand! Truly, sirs, when I think of the weight of the matter, I wonder at the very best of God's saints upon earth that they are no better, and do no more in so weighty a case. I wonder at those whom the world accounteth more holy than needs, and scorns for making too much ado, that they can put off Christ, and their souls with so little: that they pour not out |