GOSPEL GLASS, ETC.
THE SINS OF PROFESSORS. Lewis Stuckley
CHAPTER 6 THE DELAYS OF PROFESSORS IN CLOSING WITH CHRIST.
IV. How many do delay in their coming to Christ! And O! what indignities are herein put upon Christ! How long doth he stand at the doors of sinners ere they let him in. "My head," saith Christ, "is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night." [Song 5:2] Though he limit sinners to a day, "Today, if ye will hear his voice," [Ps 95:7; Heb 3:7,15; Heb 4:7] etc. Though "our life be even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away," [James 4:14] ready every moment to expire; though we must needs perish and be damned if we believe not in him before we die—"He that believeth not shall be damned" [Mark 16:16]—though "now is the accepted time;" [2 Cor 6:2] though the Spirit may never invite more—"My Spirit shall not always strive with man" [Gen 6:3]—though we are not sure of one day of grace more; yet how do many hazard their eternity rather than they will yet be beholden to Christ for life and salvation? Though they may have his righteousness, his redemption, his Spirit, his image, his heaven his glory, his love, his honor, his inheritance, by coming to him, yet what trifling delays are men’s hearts filled with! Though they are actually condemned by the law for their capital offenses, for high treason against the majesty of heaven, and pardons be offered freely by Jesus Christ unto them, if they will but accept of him and them, yet so is Christ fallen in the account of them who yet are nominal Christians, that they will hazard their souls rather than they will yet be so much beholden to Christ. This desperate enmity against Christ and his offers is the condemning sin. "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." [John 3:19] All other sins were nothing to this! What! when God hath limited thee to a day, wilt thou—darest thou—carelessly misspend that one day when thou art not sure of another? Believe it, your trifling delays are more hideous sins—do more stain your souls and provoke God, than drunkenness and natural lusts in such as never had one of your calls. How darest thou, having so many ways transgressed against this God, having provoked him to wrath by so frequent breaches of his holy law, to add to all these iniquities thy trifling delays of coming unto Christ that thou mayest be pardoned? How darest thou, when lying under the wrath of a justly incensed God, send away Christ, as Felix did Paul, with "Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season I will call for thee:" [Acts 24:25] when, wretch, is that convenient season? Is it then, when thou hast served the devil some weeks, months or years longer? when thou hast spent all the flower of thy time and strength in the service of hell? Must then Christ have the dregs of thy time? Must he have nothing but Satan’s leavings? O! doubtless, for these delays is Christ’s wrath ready to be poured out upon this nation to the uttermost. "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!" [2 Thess 1:8] By delaying to hearken to Christ’s calls and invitations thou tellest Christ to his face that he is not altogether lovely, that he is not the fairest of ten thousand, that there is somewhat in sin’s service and the devil’s that is more desirable than can be had in Christ’s. And canst thou imagine such blasphemy, (viz.: To tell Christ to his face that thou valuest thy lusts above the enjoyment of him) is not provoking? O! if these come over fully to Christ, if Christ’s patience be extended yet longer, and they be at length won to him, how will they befool themselves that they came into Christ’s service no sooner? Nimis sero teamavi. "O! I have loved thee too late. Oh the joy, the unspeakable joy I have lost! Oh! the peace that I might have had! Oh the assurance of God’s love that my soul might have been filled with! Oh the experiences of the grace of God, that I might have had if I had come in to Christ on Christ’s first call and entreaty! Oh the opportunities of service that I might have had, when the marrow was in my bones—when I was young and fresh for duty! Oh! how good it had been if I had borne Christ’s yoke (sooner) in my youth? O the many sins that I have been guilty of! Oh! how long withstood I the grace of God, and grieved the Spirit of God! Oh! what a burden was I to Christ’s ministers, and much more to Christ himself?" But God alone knows how soon his Spirit shall cease striving with these poor souls, and how long they shall be within a capacity of obeying the heavenly call. The Jews have a rule, that if a man vows any service to God before he dies he must do it presently, because he may die presently. Death and hell are described coming on horseback in full speed. Ask thyself therefore Jeremiah’s question, "Can I outrun or escape these horsemen?" However, through the great and wonderful averseness there is in men’s hearts from Christ, they stay and linger like Lot in Sodom, that if God do not work a miracle upon them and for them, they will perish in the flames. They know what the foolish virgins lost by their delays; all is one—no coming to Christ as long as possibly they can make any shift to live without him, and until an Almighty power exert itself upon their souls, to make them willing of a Christ. One hath a wife, another a yoke of oxen—all of them some business or other to detain them for the present from Christ. They do not utterly deny to come, but at present they have such employments as that they have no present freedom to wait upon him. The Son of God must dance attendance on them; they must be banqueting with the devil within, and Christ must stand without, yea, wait their leisure, till they receive him in. There are several sorts of these delaying professors.
1. Some (and they the worst sort) from their great love to their lusts, and to the comforts and sensualities of this life, which they fear when they are under Christ’s yoke they shall be bereaved of, delay coming to Christ. Sin hath so rooted itself in their hearts and affections, that they are loath to take a final farewell thereof—loath to mortify their earthly members: sin is so prevalent with them, that they had rather part from their right eye, hand and foot, than part from their sins; hence they choke their convictions what they can, admit of any pleasures and diversions, to wear out the impressions made on their consciences, that they may still lodge sin in their bosoms, and not come to Christ; hence they labor to quench the Spirit of God, and through the prevails of spiritual sloth, will not use the means whereby they may be fully converted to Christ. They pretend they are fully desirous of Christ, only they doubt whether Christ is willing to receive them; but that which lieth at the bottom is this: they are loath to leave their darling lusts, and loath to pray and search their hearts, and to do what God desires and expects at their hands, in order to conversion. You may imagine God is highly provoked hereby: for God to send his Son unto you, the best jewel that ever lay in his bosom, and for you to neglect and undervalue him, and prefer swinish lusts before him—this is a plain argument that you never saw sin aright in its nature and effects, and that you do not credit God in his discoveries of the glory of his Son.
You do not believe you are so miserable without a Christ as indeed you are; you slight the greatest gift that ever God conferred upon the children of men; you make void the great counsels of God—all the thoughts of his wisdom and grace in contriving such a way, as by Jesus Christ, to save you from the wrath to come; you also frustrate the expectations of God, for "surely (saith God) they will reverence my Son;" [Matt 21:37; Mark 12:6] whereas by your trifling delays, you tell God and men that you believe not any advantage you shall have by the Son of God! You think it will be to your loss to receive in the Lord of glory. He tells you "Ye shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house, and ye shall drink of the rivers of his pleasures." [Ps 36:8] He tells you "he hath gathered his myrrh with his spices; he hath wine, milk and honey." [Song 5:1] You cry out, "I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on," [Song 5:3] etc. "A little more slumber, a little more folding of the hands to sleep." [Prov 6:10; Prov 24:33] You are told of "joys unspeakable and full of glory; of peace that passeth all understanding; of eternal life by knowing Christ." [1 Pet 1:8; Phil 4:7] You are told you can never be reconciled unto God, but by Christ; that he must end all controversies between Christ and your souls; that "he is able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God by him;" [Heb 7:25] that "his word is more desirable than gold, yea, than much fine gold." [Prov 19:10] But all this prevails not with you. "When I have a convenient season," [Acts 24:25] etc. Yet I cannot, "I pray have me excused." [Luke 14:18-19] He tells you "If ye believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins;" [John 8:24] and that "he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him," [John 3:36] yet delays still. He tells you "Blessed is the man that heareth me, and whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord." [Prov 8:34-35] "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." [ Rev 3:20] "I am the word of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." [John 6:35] He tells you "of strangers and enemies you shall become children," and yet this seems a light matter, to be so near related to the King of kings. Is not this your great provocation, to refuse so great an honor and dignity? He assures you "there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ." [Rom 8:1] And shall he not condemn wretches that slight the pardons that are offered to them? These must expect a double wrath. "Of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy," [Heb 10:29] etc.
2. Others, in imitation of the old Adam, believe the devil before God, credit his suggestions beyond all God’s discoveries. O! what a black-grained sin is this? Saith the devil, "You have sinned against light, and therefore Christ will not favor you" Saith God, "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and I will abundantly pardon." [Isa 55:7] Saith the devil, "You have sinned more than others, you have provoked God exceedingly, and therefore never hope for saving benefit by Christ’s death." Saith God, "Cease to do evil, learn to do well. Come now and let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." [Isa 1:16-18] Saith the devil, "You have sinned not only against the law, but against the gospel, you have neglected Christ." Saith God, "Every sin against the Son of man shall be forgiven." [Matt 12:32; Luke 12:10] Saith the devil, "You have no right to Christ, it is in vain to come." Saith God, "Whosoever believeth shall not perish." [John 3:16] Saith the devil, "Your day of grace is past." Saith God, "Today, whilst it is called today, hear his voice." [Heb 3:13] Saith the devil, "God never intended you good, you are a vessel of dishonor." Saith God, "As I live I desire not the death of a sinner, but that he turn and live." [Ezek 18:32] Now I pray consider, whether God takes it kindly at your hands, that you should lay more weight on the father of lies than on "the faithful God, who hath promised and cannot lie;" [Deut 7:9; Titus 1:2] who must cease to be God in that very moment wherein he ceaseth to be true. You perhaps deceive yourselves with the Pharisees’ comforts. "You are not as these harlots, as these publicans, no drunkards," etc., but little think that you put the lie upon God. You believe the enemy more than the friend. O! what a provocation is this!
3. Others through the pride of their hearts will not come as yet unto Christ. They have no mind to "submit to the righteousness of faith." He is judged a proud man (without a jury sitting on him) who when condemned will not submit, will not stoop so low as to accept of a pardon. I must indeed correct myself, men are willing to be justified; but they would have their duties to purchase their peace and the favor of God; they scorn to be beholden to Christ. Thousands will die and be damned rather than they will have a pardon upon the sole account of Christ’s merits and obedience. O the cursed pride of the heart! When will men cease to be wiser than God? To limit God? When will men be contented with God’s way and method of saving them by the blood of the everlasting covenant? How dare men thus to prescribe to the infinitely wise God? Is it not enough for thee that thy destruction is of thyself? But must thy salvation be of thyself too? Is it not enough that thou hast wounded thyself? But will die forever, rather than be beholden to a plaister of free grace! Wilt be damned unless thou mayest be thine own savior? God is willing ("so God loved the world that he gave his Son" [John 3:16]). Art thou so proud as that thou wilt not be beholden to God? Thou wilt deserve, or have nothing. What shall I say? Poor thou art, and yet proud, thou hast nothing but wretchedness and misery, and yet thou art talking of a purchase. This is a provocation. God resisteth the proud [James 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5], especially the spiritually proud. He that is proud of his clothes and parentage is not so contemptible in God’s eyes, as he that is proud of his abilities, and so scorns to submit to God’s methods for his salvation by Christ, and his righteousness alone.
4. Others, through their ignorance and weakness, stay off from Christ, in hopes of working that which cannot be wrought without a Christ. Were their hearts so humbled and melted, as such and such are, could they see all their sins subdued, were their hearts more fitted and prepared for to lodge so great a friend, they would then close with the promises with Christ; whereas they should come to Christ; as soon as they apprehend they are poor, blind, and naked; for them he calls and invites. But alas! a sight of their wants is a bar to their coming. They would have the fruits first, and then the tree; have their hearts purified, and then come to Christ ("who is appointed by God to be sanctification to them"). God comes by his spirit to convince them of their sinful nature and weakness, on purpose that they, seeing their necessity of Christ, might fly to him, as their city of refuge, and they are driven farther off by the sight of their sins and unworthiness. Whereas they should come to Christ as to a magazine and storehouse and wait on him, in the use of means, for the broken heart, the pure heart, and all other spiritual mercies, which their souls are yet destitute of, but they will not. "O faithless generation! How long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?" [Mark 9:19] Christ is put to the utmost of his patience to bear out with unbelief.
5. Others, through some kind of seeming modesty and tenderness, delay in their coming to Christ. They are afraid of abusing the holiness and justice of God, if they should hope for any privilege in the blood of Christ, and mercies of God. "What mercy! mercy for me? me a proud wretch, an unclean wretch, an enemy to God, a slighter of his spirit! I deserve nothing but hell. What! heaven for me? I have affronted the majesty of the great God. And what! This God bestows a Christ on me? Who can believe, that the just God, who turned down the glorious angels to hell for one transgression, will save me, who have committed more sins in number than the hairs on my head, than the sands on the sea shore? And what mercy for me? Shall I have a Christ? Will Christ accept of me, who have wronged his Father and him for so many years together?" O! how long doth many an awakened soul hang in doubts and fears, ere it will venture upon Christ’s graciousness alone; and then when the soul hath long stood out, the fears increase. "I have refused Christ so long, to all my former transgressions I have added this, my putting off Christ and salvation when freely tendered, and therefore, sure I may not now come." And now if Christ offers them mercy, still they are fearful, they cannot believe that Christ is serious and real. O! by these jealousies of Christ you provoke him not a little. You are ready to say, this is too good news to be true. What is this but to say the gospel is false, it is no true and faithful word, it is not to be received with all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save the greatest of sinners, blasphemers and persecutors of Christ? This is the great sin that made Christ weep. You seldom find Christ weeping over the idolaters of the world; I find him not weeping over Sodom and Gomorrah; but if Jerusalem refuse Christ, this makes him weep indeed; "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, O if thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day, the things that concern thy peace!" [Luke 19:42] Christ became "a man of sorrows," was "acquainted with griefs," [Isa 53:3] etc., in hopes he should "see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied." [Isa 53:11] It troubles Christ to see thee to go about to make God a liar in his Son, and to be denied thy loves and affections, for whose sake he submitted to his Father’s frowns. O! this sin of unbelief hath great unkindness in it, and therefore no wonder if Christ upbraids for it. A man is properly upbraided, when as the kindness that hath been done to him, is revealed to him, together with his ungratefulness. But what shall I say? So far are souls from coming to Christ, that they do seldom bewail this sin, and seldom seek to God for power against it, and though men pretend they cannot come to Christ, yet the truth is, they will not (so Mr. Fenner, in his "Wilful Impenitency" hath abundantly proved). The immediate cause of your not coming is not a natural deficiency, but a moral opposition of spirit against Christ.
