ChristtheMediator

byA.W.Pink

TableofContents

TheFullnessofChrist

TheRadianceofChrist

TheCondescensionofChrist

TheHumanityofChrist

ThePersonofChrist

TheSubsistenceofChrist

TheServitudeofChrist

TheDespisementofChrist

TheCrucifixionofChrist

TheRedemptionofChrist

TheSaviorhoodofChrist

TheLordshipofChrist

TheFriendshipofChrist

TheHelpfulnessofChrist

TheCallofChrist

TheRestofChrist

TheYokeofChrist

TheQuintessenceofChrist

TheLeadershipofChrist

TheExampleofChrist

TheFullnessofChrist

ItisfittingthatweshouldcontemplatetheexcellenciesofChristtheMediator,for"thelightoftheknowledgeofthegloryofGod"istobeseen"inthefaceofJesusChrist"(2Cor.4:6).ThefullestrevelationthatGodisandwhatHeis,ismadeinthepersonofChrist."NomanhathseenGodatanytime;theonlybegottenSon,whichisinthebosomoftheFather,hehathdeclared"(1John1:18).ButthisknowledgeofGodisnotamerematterofintellectualapprehension,whichonemancancommunicatetoanother. But it is a spiritual discernment, imparted by theHoly Spirit.Godmustshineinourheartstogiveusthatknowledge.

When thematerialisticPhilip said, "Lord, showus the Father," theLord Jesus replied, "he that hath seenmehath seen the Father" (John14:9).Yes,Hewas"thebrightnessofHisglory,andtheexpressimageofHisperson" (Heb. 1:3). In theeternal, incarnateWord"dwellethall thefullnessoftheGodheadbodily"(Col.2:9).Amazingandgloriousfact,itisintheperfectionofmanhoodthatthefullnessoftheGodheadisinChristrevealedtoourfaith.WecouldnotascendtoGod,soHedescendedtous.AllthatmencaneverknowofGodispresentedtotheminthepersonofHis incarnate Son. Hence, "That I may know him" (Phil. 3:10) is theconstantlongingofthemostmatureChristian.

ItisourdesigntodeclaresomepartofthatgloryofourLordJesusChristwhich is revealed inScripture,andproposedas theobjectofourfaith, love, delight, admiration and adoration. But after our utmostendeavors and most diligent inquiries we have to say, "How little aportion" (Job 26:14) of Him we understand. His glory isincomprehensible, His praises unutterable. Some things a divinelyilluminatedmindcanconceiveof,butwhatweexpress,incomparisontowhat the glory is in itself, is less than nothing.Nevertheless, that viewwhich the Spirit grants from the Scriptures concerning Christ and Hisgloryistobepreferredaboveallotherknowledgeorunderstanding.Soitwasdeclared,byhimwhowasfavoredtoknowHim,"Yeadoubtless,andI count all thingsbut loss for the excellencyof theknowledgeofChristJesusmyLord"(Phil.3:8).

JohnOwenhaswellsaid:

TherevelationmadeofChrist intheblessedGospel isfarmoreexcellent,moreglorious,morefilledwithraysof Divine wisdom and goodness than the wholecreation,andthejustcomprehensionofit,ifattainable,can contain or apprehend. Without the knowledgehereof,themindofman,howeverpridingitselfinotherinventionsanddiscoveries, iswrappedup indarknessandconfusion.This thereforedeserves the severest ofour thoughts, the best of our meditations, and ourutmostdiligenceinthem.ForifourfutureblessednessshallconsistinlivingwhereHeis,andbeholdingofHisglory;whatbetterpreparationcantherebeforit,thanin a constant previous contemplationof that glory, intherevelationthatismadeintheGospeluntothisveryend, that by a view of it we may be graduallytransformedintothesameglory.

Thegrandestofallprivilegeswhichbelieversarecapableof,eitherinthisworld or the next, is to behold the glory (the personal and officialexcellencies) of Christ; now by faith, then by sight. Equally certain, nomanwilleverbeholdthegloryofChristbysightinheaven,whodoesnotnowbeholditbyfaith.Wherethesoulhasnotbeenpreviouslypurifiedby

graceand faith, it is incapableofgloryand theopenvision.Thosewhopretendtobegreatlyenamoredbyortoardentlydesirethatwhichtheyneversaworexperienced,onlydoteontheirimaginations.Thepretendeddesiresofmany(especiallyondeathbeds)tobeholdthegloryofChristinheaven,butwhohadnovisionofitbyfaithwhiletheywereinthisworld,arenothingbutself-deceivingdelusions.

Thereisnotruerestforthemindnorsatisfactionfortheheartuntilwe rest in Christ (Matthew 11:28-30). God has proposed to us the"mysteryofgodliness," that is, thepersonofHis incarnateSonandHismediatorialwork,as thesupremeobjectofour faithandmeditation. Inthis"mystery"wearecalledupontobeholdthehighestexhibitionofthedivinewisdom,goodness, andcondescension.TheSonofGodassumedmanhoodbyunionwithHimself,therebyconstitutingthesamepersonintwonatures,yetinfinitelydistinctasthoseofGodandman.TherebytheInfinite became finite, the Eternal temporal, and the Immortalmortal,yetcontinuedstillinfinite,eternalandimmortal.

ItcannotbeexpectedthatthosewhoaredrownedintheloveoftheworldwillhaveanytrueapprehensionofChrist,oranyrealdesireforit.Butforthosewhohave"tastedthattheLordisgracious"(1Pet.2:3),howfoolishwewouldbeifwegaveallourtimeandstrengthtootherthings,to the neglect of diligent searching of Scripture to obtain a fullerknowledgeofHim.

Man is "born to trouble as the sparks fly upward," but the sameScriptures reveal a divinely appointed relief from all the evils towhichfallenman is heir—so that wemay not faint under them, but gain thevictoryoverthem.

Listentothetestimonyofonewhopassedthroughafardeeperseaoftrialthanthegreatmajorityofmen:

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;weareperplexed,butnot indespair; persecuted,butnotforsaken;castdown,butnotdestroyed . . .Forwhichcause we faint not: but though our outward manperish,yet the inward is reneweddaybyday.For our

lightaffliction,whichisbutforamoment,workethforus a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory:whilewelooknotatthethingswhichareseen.. .butthe thingswhicharenot seenare eternal (2 Cor. 4:8;4:16-18).

Itisbeholdingbyfaiththingswhich"arenotseen"bytheeye(whichthe spiritually poverty-stricken occupants of palaces and millionairemansions know nothing of), the things that are spiritual and eternal,whichalleviatestheChristian’safflictions.Oftheseunseen,eternalthingsthesupernalgloriesofChristaretheprincipal.HewhocancontemplateHim who is "the Lord of glory," will, when "all around gives way," beliftedoutofhimselfanddeliveredfromtheprevailingpowerofevil.

Notuntilthemindarrivesatafixedjudgmentthatallthingsherearetransitoryandreachonlytooutwardman—thateverythingunderthesunis but "vanity and vexation of spirit," and there are other thingsincalculablybettertocomfortandsatisfytheheart—nottillthenwillweever be delivered from spending our lives in fear, distress, and sorrow.Christ alone can satisfy the heart. AndwhenHe does truly satisfy, thelanguageof thesoul is, "Whomhave I inheavenbut thee?and there isnoneuponearththatIdesirebesidethee"(Ps.73:25).

How slight and shadowy, how petty and puerile are those thingsfromwhichthetrialsofmenarise!Theyallgrowfromtheonerootoftheover-valuation of temporal things.Money cannot purchase joy of soul.Healthdoesnot insurehappiness.Abeautifulhomewillnot satisfy theheart. Earthly friends, no matter how loyal and loving, cannot speakpeace to a sin-burdened conscience, nor impart eternal life. Envy,covetousness, discontent, receive their deathwoundwhenChrist, in allHis loveliness, is revealed as the "chiefest among ten thousand" (Song5:10).

TheRadianceofChrist

The law had "a shadow of good things to come" (Heb. 10:1). Abeautiful illustrationofthis is intheclosingversesofExodus34,whereMoses descends from the mount with a radiant face. The key to thepassage is found innoting theexactposition itoccupies in thisbookofredemption.ItcomesafterthelegalcovenantwhichJehovahmadewithIsrael; it comes before the actual setting up of the tabernacle and theShekinahglory filling it.Thispassage is interpreted in2Corinthians3.Exodus 34 supplies both a comparison and a contrast with the newdispensationoftheSpirit,ofgrace,oflifemoreabundant.Butbeforethatdispensation was inaugurated God saw fit for man to be tested underLaw,todemonstratewhatheisasafallenandsinfulcreature.

Man’s trial under the Mosaic economy demonstrated two things:first, that he is "ungodly"; second, that he is "without strength" (Rom.5:6).Butthesearenegativethings.Romans8:7mentionsathirdfeatureofman’sterriblestate,namely,thatheis"enmityagainstGod."ThiswasmanifestwhenGod’sSontabernacledforthirty-threeyearsonthisearth."Hecameuntohisown,andhisownreceivedHimnot"(John1:11).Notonlyso,butalsoHewas"despisedandrejectedofmen."Nay,more,theyhated Him "without a cause" (John 15:25). Nor could their hatred beappeased until they had condemned Him to a malefactor’s death andnailedHimtothecross.RememberitwasnotonlytheJewswhoputtodeaththe Lord of glory, but also theGentiles. Therefore the Lord said,whenlookingforwardtoHisdeath,"Nowisthejudgmentofthisworld"(John 12:31), not of Israel only. There the probation or testing ofmanended.

Manisnotnowunderprobation;heisundercondemnation:"Asitiswritten, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none thatunderstandeth,thereisnonethatseekethafterGod.Theyareallgoneoutof the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none thatdoeth good, no, not one" (Rom. 3:10-12). Man is not on trial; he is aculprit under sentence. No pleading will avail; no excuses will beaccepted.ThepresentissuebetweenGodandthesinneris,willmanbowtoGod’srighteousverdict?

ThisiswheretheGospelmeetsus.Itcomestousastothosewhoarealready lost, to those who are "ungodly," "without strength," "enmity

againstGod."ItannouncestoustheamazinggraceofGod,theonlyhopeforpoorsinners.ButgracewillnotbewelcomeduntilthesinnerbowstothesentenceofGodagainsthim.That iswhybothrepentanceandfaithare demanded from the sinner. These twomust not be separated. Paulpreached "repentance toward God. and faith toward our Lord JesusChrist"(Acts20:21).Repentanceisthesinner’sacknowledgementofthatsentence of condemnation underwhich he lives. Faith is acceptance ofthegraceandmercyextendedtohimthroughChrist.Repentance isnotturningoveranewleafandvowingtomendourways.RatheritissettingtomysealthatGodistruewhenHetellsmeIam"withoutstrength,"thatinmyselfmycaseishopeless,thatIamnomoreableto"dobetternexttime"thanIamtocreateaworld.Notuntilthisisreallybelieved(notasthe result of experience, but on the authority of God’sWord) shall wereallyturntoChristandwelcomeHim—notasaHelper,butasaSavior.

Asitwasdispensationally,soit isexperimentally.Theremustbe"aministration of death" (2 Cor. 3:7) before there is a "ministration ofspirit" or life (2 Cor. 3:8): there must be "the ministration ofcondemnation"before"theministrationofrighteousness"(2Cor.3:9).A"ministration of condemnation and death" falls strangely on our ears,does it not? A "ministration of grace" we can understand: but a"ministrationofcondemnation"isnotsoeasytograsp.Butthislatterwasman’s first need.Hemust be shownwhat he is in himself—a hopelesswreck,utterlyincapableofmeetingtherighteousrequirementsofaholyGod—beforehe is ready tobeadebtor tomercyalone.Werepeat:as itwasdispensationally,soitisexperimentally.ItwastohisownexperiencethattheapostlePaulreferredwhenhesaid,"ForIwasalivewithoutthelaw once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died"(Rom. 7:9). In his unregenerate days he was, in his own estimation,"alive," yet it was "without the law," apart frommeeting its demands."But when the commandment came," when the Holy Spirit wroughtwithinhim,whentheWordofGodcameinpowertohisheart,then"sinrevived."Hewasmadeawareofhisawfulcondition,andthenhe"died"tohis self-righteouscomplacency.Hesaw that, inhimself,his casewashopeless.Yes,theappearingoftheglorifiedMediatorcomesnotbefore,butafter,thelegalcovenant.

"AndhewastherewiththeLordfortydaysandfortynights;hedidneither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables thewordsofthecovenant,thetencommandments"(Ex.34:28).Ourpassageabounds in comparisons and contrasts. The "forty days" here at oncerecalls the "forty days" inMatthew 4. Here it wasMoses; there it wasChrist. Here it was Moses on the mount; there it was Christ in thewilderness. Here it wasMoses favored with a glorious revelation fromGod; there itwasChrist being temptedof thedevil.Here itwasMosesreceiving the Law at the mouth of Jehovah; there it was Christ beingassailedbythedeviltorepudiatethatLaw.Wescarcelyknowwhichisthegreaterwonderofthetwo:thatasinfulmanwasraisedtosuchaheightof honor as to spend a season in thepresence of the great Jehovah, orthattheLordofglory.Shouldstoopsolowastobeforsixweekswiththefoulfiend.

"Anditcametopass,whenMosescamedownfrommountSinaiwiththetwotablesoftestimonyinMoses’hand,whenhecamedownfromthemount,thatMoseswistnotthattheskinofhisfaceshownwhilehetalkedwithhim"(Ex.34:29).BlesseditistocompareandcontrastthisseconddescentofMoses fromthemountwithwhat isbeforeus in chapter32.There the face of Moses is diffused with anger (v. 19); here he comesdown with countenance radiant. There he beheld a people engaged inidolatry; here he returns to a people abashed. There we behold himdashingthetablesofstonetotheground(v.19);herehedepositsthemintheark(Deut.10:5).

ThiseventalsoremindsusofaNewTestamentepisode,verysimilar,yet dissimilar. It was on the mount that the face of Moses was maderadiant,anditwasonthemountthatourLordwastransfigured.Buttheglory of Moses was only a reflected one, whereas that of Christ wasinherent. The shining ofMoses’ face was the consequence of his beingbrought into the immediate presence of the glory of Jehovah; thetransfiguration ofChristwas the outshining ofHis ownpersonal glory.The radiance ofMoseswas confined to his face, but of Christwe read,"His raimentwaswhiteas the light" (Matthew17:2).Moses "knewnot"thattheskinofhisfaceshone;Christdid,evidentfromHiswords,"Tellthevisiontonoman"(Matthew17:9).

Verse 29 brings out what is the certain consequence of intimatecommunionwiththeLord,andinatwofoldway.First,nosoulcanenjoyrealfellowshipwithGodwithoutbeingaffectedbyittoamarkeddegree.Moses had been absorbed in the communications received and incontemplatingHisglory.Hisownpersoncaughtandretainedsomeofthebeamsofthatglory.Soitisstill(Ps.34:5,R.V.),"TheylookeduponHim,and their faces were radiant." It is communion with the Lord thatconformsustoHisimage.WeshallnotbemoreChristlikeuntilwewalkmorefrequentlyandmorecloselywithHim."Butweall,withopenfacebeholdingas inaglassthegloryoftheLord,arechangedintothesameimagefromglorytoglory,evenasbytheSpiritoftheLord"(2Cor.3:18).

ThesecondconsequenceofrealcommunionwithGodisthatwewillbe lessoccupiedwithourselves.ThoughMoses’ faceshonewith"a lightnot seen on land or sea," he did not know it. This illustrates a vitaldifference between self-righteous Pharisaism and true godliness; theformer produces complacency and pride, the latter leads to self-abnegationandhumility.ThePharisee (therearemanyofhis tribe stillonearth)boastsofhisattainments,advertiseshisimaginaryspirituality,andthanksGodheisnotasothermen.Buttheonewho,bygrace,enjoysmuchfellowshipwiththeLordlearnsofHimwhowas"meekandlowlyinheart,"andsays,"Notuntous,OLORD,notuntous,butuntothynamegive glory" (Ps. 115:1). Engaged with the beauty of the Lord, he isdeliveredfromself-occupation,andis thereforeunconsciousof theveryfruitoftheSpiritbeingbroughtforthinhim.ButthoughheisnotawareofhisincreasingconformitytoChrist,othersare.

"AndwhenAaronandall thechildrenof IsraelsawMoses, behold,theskinofhis faceshone;andtheywereafraid tocomenighhim"(Ex.34:30).Thisshowsus the thirdeffectofcommunionwithGod. Thoughthe individual himself is unconscious of the glory manifested throughhim,othersrecognizeit.ThusitwaswhentwoofChrist’sapostlesstoodbeforetheJewishSanhedrin:"NowwhentheysawtheboldnessofPeterand John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men,theymarveled;andtheytookknowledgeofthem,thattheyhadbeenwithJesus"(Acts4:13,italicsadded).WecannotkeepcompanyverylongwiththeHolyOnewithoutHis imprint being left upon us. Themanwho is

thoroughlydevotedtotheLorddoesnotneedtowearsomebadgeinhiscoatlapel,nortoproclaimthatheis"livingalifeofvictory."Itisstilltruethatactionsspeaklouderthanwords.

"AndwhenAaronandall thechildrenof IsraelsawMoses, behold,theskinofHisfaceshone;andtheywereafraidtocomenighhim."Thetypical meaning of this is given in 2 Corinthians 3:7, "But if theministration of death,written and engraven in stones,was glorious, sothat thechildrenof Israelcouldnotstedfastlybehold the faceofMosesforthegloryofhiscountenance."Concerningthis,EdDennetthassaid:

Why,then,weretheyafraidtocomenearhim?Becausetheveryglory thatshoneuponhis facesearched theirheartsandconsciences—beingwhattheywere,sinners,and unable of themselves to meet even the smallestrequirements of the covenant which had now beeninaugurated. It was of necessity a ‘ministration’ ofcondemnation and death, for it required arighteousnessfromthemwhichtheycouldnotrender,and inasmuch as they must fail in the rendering it,wouldpronouncetheircondemnation,andbringthemunder the penalty of transgression, which was death.The glory which they thus beheld upon the face ofMoses was the expression to them of the holiness ofGod—thatholinesswhichsoughtfromthemconformityto its own standards, and which would vindicate thebreaches of that covenant which had now beenestablished. They were therefore afraid because theyknew in their inmost souls that they could not standbeforeHimfromwhosepresenceMoseshadcome.

TypicallythecovenantJehovahmadewithMosesandIsraelatSinai,andthetablesofstoneonwhichthetencommandmentswereengraved,foreshadowedanewcovenant.

ForIwilltakeyoufromamongtheheathen,andgatheryououtofallcountries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinklecleanwateruponyou,andyeshallbeclean:fromallyourfilthiness,and

fromallyouridols,willIcleanseyou.AnewheartalsowillIgiveyou,andanewspiritwillIputwithinyou:andIwilltakeawaythestonyheartoutofyourflesh,andIwillgiveyouanheartofflesh.AndIwillputmyspiritwithinyou,andcauseyou towalk inmystatutes,andyeshallkeepmyjudgments,anddothem.AndyeshalldwellinthelandthatIgavetoyourfathers;andyeshallbemypeople,andIwillbeyourGod(Ezek.36:24-28).

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a newcovenantwiththehouseofIsrael,andwiththehouseofJudah...Afterthosedays,saiththeLORD,Iwillputmylawintheirinwardparts,andwrite in their hearts . . . And they shall teach nomore everyman hisneighbor,andeverymanhisbrother, saying,Know theLORD: for theyshallallknowme,fromtheleastofthemuntothegreatestofthem,saiththeLord(Jer.31:31-34).

Spiritually, this is made good for Christians even now. Under thegracious operations of the Spirit of God our hearts have been madeplasticandreceptive.Paulreferstothisatthebeginningof2Corinthians3.

The saints at Corinth had been manifested to be Christ’s epistleministered by us,writtennotwith ink, butwith theSpirit of the livingGod,notonstone tables,buton fleshy tablesof theheart.Theirheartsbeingmade impressionablebyDivineworking,Christ couldwriteuponthem,usingPaul as apen, andmakingeverymark in the power of theSpirit of God. Butwhat iswritten is the knowledge ofGod as revealedthroughtheMediatorinthegraceofthenewcovenant,sothatitmightbetrueintheheartsofthesaints—"TheyshallallknowMe."ThenPaulgoesontospeakofhimselfasmadecompetentbyGodtobeanewcovenantministry,"notoftheletter,butofthespirit."(C.A.Coates).

"AndMoses called unto them; andAaron and all the rulers of thecongregation returned unto him; and Moses talked with them. Andafterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them incommandmentall that theLORDhadspokenwithhiminMountSinai.And tillMoseshaddonespeakingwith them,heputavailonhis face"(Ex.34:31-33).Doesnotthisexplaintheirfearastheybeheldtheshineof

Moses’ face?Notewhatwas in his hands!He carried the two tables ofstoneonwhichwerewrittenthetenwordsoftheLaw,the"ministrationof condemnation." The nearer the light of the glory came, while it wasconnectedwith therighteousclaimsofGodupon them, themorecausetheyhad to fear.ThatholyLaw condemned them, forman in the fleshcould not meet its claims. "However blessed it was typically, it wasliterallyaministryofdeath, forMoseswasnotaquickening spirit,norcouldhegivehisspirittothepeople,norcouldthegloryofhisfacebringthemintoconformitywithhimselfasthemediator.Hencetheveilhadtobeonhisface"(C.A.Coates).

The dispensational interpretation of this is given in 2 Corinthians3:13:"AndnotasMoses,whichputavailoverhisface,thatthechildrenofIsraelcouldnotstedfastlylooktotheendofthatwhichisabolished."Here the apostle treats of Judaism as an economy. Owing to theirspiritualblindness Israelwasunable todiscern thedeep significanceoftheministryofMoses,orthepurposeofGodbehindit,thattowhichallthe types and shadows pointed. The "end" of 2 Corinthians 3:13, isparallel with Romans 10:4, "For Christ is the end of the law forrighteousnesstoeveryonethatbelieveth."

Theveilon Israel’sheart is self-sufficiency,whichmakes themstillrefusetosubmittoGod’srighteousness.ButwhenIsrael’sheartturnstothe Lord the veil will be taken away. What a wonderful chapter<0234001>Exodus34willbetothemthen!FortheywillseethatChrististhespiritofitall.Whattheywillsee,weareprivilegedtoseenow.Allthishadan"end"onwhichwecan, through infinitegrace, fixoureyes.The"end"wasthegloryoftheLordastheMediatorofthenewcovenant.Hehascomeoutofdeathandgoneuponhigh,andthegloryofallthatGodisingraceisshininginHisface(C.A.Coates).

"ButwhenMoseswent in before the LORD to speakwith him, hetookthevailoff,untilhecameout.Andhecameout,andspakeuntothechildren of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children ofIsrael saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: andMoses put the vail upon his face again, until hewent in to speakwithhim"(v.34-35).MosesunveiledinthepresenceoftheLordisabeautifultypeofthebelieverofthisdispensation.TheChristianbeholdstheglory

ofGodshininginthefaceofJesusChrist(2Cor.4:6).Therefore,insteadof being stricken with fear, he approaches with boldness. God’s Lawcannot condemn him, for its every demand has been fully met andsatisfiedbyhisSubstitute.Hence,insteadoftremblingbeforethegloryofGod,we"rejoiceinhopeofthegloryofGod"(Rom.5:2).

ThereisnoveilnoweitheronHisfaceorourhearts.HemakesthosewhobelieveonHimtoliveintheknowledgeofGod,andinresponsetoGod,forHeisthequickeningSpirit.AndHegivesHisSpirittothosewhobelieve.WehavetheSpiritofthegloriousManinwhosefacethegloryofGodshines.Isitnotwonderful?Onehastoask,Dowereallybelieveit?But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, aretransformedaccordingtothesameimagefromglorytoglory,evenasbytheLordtheSpirit(2Cor.3:18).IfwehadnotHisSpiritweshouldhavenolibertytolookonthegloryoftheLord,ortoseeHimastheSpiritofthesemarveloustypes.Butwehavelibertytolookonitall,andthereistransforming power in it. Saints under the new covenant ministry aretransfigured.

Thisisthe‘surpassingglory’whichcouldnotbeseenorknownuntilitshoneinthefaceofHimofwhomMosesinExodus34issodistinctlyatype.Thewholetypicalsystemwastemporary,but its ‘spirit’abides, forChristwastheSpiritofitall.Nowwehavetodowiththeministryofthenewcovenantsubsistsandaboundsinglory(C.A.Coates).

TheauthorityofPaul’sapostleshiphadbeencalledintoquestionbycertainJudaizers.Inthefirstversesof2Corinthians3heappealstotheChristians there as the proof of his God-commissioned ministry. Hedefines the character of hisministry (v. 6) to show its superiority overthat of his enemies.He andhis fellow gospelerswere "ministers of thenewtestament"orcovenant.Hethendrawsaseriesofcontrastsbetweenthetwocovenants,JudaismandChristianity.Whatpertainedtotheoldiscalled "the letter," and that relating to the new "the spirit." One wasmainlyconcernedwithwhatwasexternal,theotherwaslargelyinternal;theoneslew,theothergave life,oneof the leadingdifferencesbetweentheLawandtheGospel.

In what follows, the apostle, while allowing the Law was glorious,

shows that the Gospel is still more glorious. The old covenant was a"ministration of death," for the Law could only condemn. Therefore,thoughaglorywasconnectedwithit,yetitwassuchthatmaninthefleshcouldnotbehold(v.7).Thenhowmuchmoreexcellentwouldbe,mustbe, the glory of the new covenant, seeing it was "aministration of thespirit" (v. 8). Compare verse 3 for proof of this. If there were a gloryconnectedwithwhat "concluded all under sin" (Gal. 3:22),muchmoreglorious that ministration must be which announced a righteousness"untoallanduponallthemthatbelieve"(Rom.3:22).Itismoreglorioustopardonthantocondemn;togivelifethantodestroy(v.9).Thegloryoftheformercovenantthereforepalesintonothingnessbeforethelatter(v.10), further seen from the fact Judaism is "done away," whereasChristianity"remaineth"(v.11).CompareHebrews8:7-8.

The apostle draws still another contrast (v. 12) between the twoeconomies,namelytheplainnessorperspicuityoveragainsttheobscurityandambiguityoftheirrespectiveministries(vv.12-15).Theapostleused"greatplainnessofspeech,"whiletheteachingoftheceremoniallawwasby shadows and symbols. Moreover, the minds of the Israelites wereblinded, so that there was a veil over their eyes. Therefore, when thewritingsofMoseswere read theywere incapableof lookingbeyond thetype to theAntitype.This veil remainsupon them to this day, andwillcontinueuntiltheyturntotheLord(vv.15-16).LiterallythecovenantofSinaiwasaministrationofcondemnationanddeath,andthegloryof ithad tobeveiled.But ithadan"end" (v. 13)which Israel couldnot see.They will see that end in a coming day. But in the meantime we arepermittedtoreadtheoldcovenantwithoutaveil,andtoseethatChrististhe"spirit"ofitall.

Thelanguageofverse17issomewhatobscure:"NowtheLordisthatSpirit,"whichdoesnotmean thatChrist is theHolySpirit.The "spirit"here is the same as in verse 6, "not of the letter, but of the spirit" (cf.Romans 7:6). The Mosaic system is called "the letter" because it waspurely objective and possessed no inward principle or power. But theGospeldealswiththeheart,andsuppliesthespiritualpower(Rom.1:16).Moreover,Christisthespirit,thelife,theheartandcenterofalltheritualandceremonialismofJudaism.He is thekey to theOldTestament, for

"inthevolumeofthebook"itiswrittenofHim.SoalsoChrististhespiritand life of Christianity. He is "a quickening spirit" (1 Cor. 15:45). And"wheretheSpiritof theLord is, there is liberty."Apart fromChrist, thesinner,beheJeworGentile,isinbondage;heistheslaveofsinandthecaptiveofthedevil.ButwheretheSonmakesfree,Hefreesindeed(John8:32).

Finally, the apostle contrasts the two glories, the glory connectedwiththeoldcovenant—theshiningonMoses’faceatthegivingoftheLawwiththegloryof thenewcovenant, inthepersonofChrist. "Butweall,withopen[unveiled]facebeholdingasinaglassthegloryoftheLord,arechangedintothesameimagefromglorytoglory,evenasbytheSpiritoftheLord."Notehere,first,"weall."MosesalonebeheldthegloryoftheLord in themount; everyChristiannowbeholds it. Second, "with openface," with freedom and with confidence; whereas Israel was afraid togazeontheradiantandmajesticalfaceofMoses.Third,weare"changedintothesameimage."Thelawhadnopowertoconvertorpurify;buttheministry of the Gospel, under the operation of the Spirit, has atransforming power. Those who are saved by it and who are occupiedwith Christ as set forth in theWord (the "mirror"), are, little by little,conformedtoHisimage.Ultimately,whenwe"seehimasheis"(1John3:2),weshallbe"likehim"—full,perfectly,eternally.

TheCondescensionofChrist

ForTheSakeOfAccuracy,adistinctionshouldbedrawnbetweenthecondescension and the humiliation of Christ, though most writersconfoundthem.ThisdistinctionismadebytheHolySpirit(Phil.2:7-8).First, He "made himself of no reputation": second, He "humbledhimself." The condescension ofGod the Son consisted inHis assumingour nature, the Word becoming flesh. His humiliation lay in theconsequent abasement and sufferings He endured in our nature. Theassumption of human nature was not, of itself, a part of Christ’shumiliation,forHestillretaineditinHisgloriousexaltation.ButforGodtheSontotakeintounionwithHimselfacreatednature,animateddust,

wasanactofinfinitecondescension.

Who, being in the formofGod, thought it not robbery tobeequalwith God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him theformofaservant,andwasmadeinthelikenessofmen:andbeingfoundin fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient untodeath, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highlyexaltedhim,andgivenhimanamewhichisaboveeveryname(Phil.2:6-9).

These verses trace the path of theMediator from highest glory todeepest humiliation, and back again to His supreme honor. What awondrouspathwasHis!AndhowterriblethatthisdivinedescriptionofHispathshouldhavebecomethebattlegroundoftheologicalcontention.Atfewpointshastheawfuldepravityofman’sheartbeenmorehorriblydisplayedthanbytheblasphemiesventedupontheseverses.

A glance at the context (Phil. 2:1-5) at once shows the practicaldesign of the apostle was to exhort Christians to spiritual fellowshipamongthemselves—tobelikeminded,toloveoneanother,tobehumbleand lowly, toesteemothersbetter thanthemselves.Toenforce this, theexampleofourLordisproposedintheverseswenowconsider.WearetohavethesamemindinusthatwasinHim;themind,spirit,habit,ofself-abnegation,themindofself-sacrifice,andofobediencetoGod.WemusthumbleourselvesbeneaththemightyhandofGod,ifwearetobeexaltedbyHiminduetime(1Pet.5:6).TosetbeforeustheexampleofChristinitsmostvividcolors,theHolySpirittakesusbacktothepositionwhichourMediatoroccupiedineternity.Heshowsusthatsupremedignityandglory was His, then reminds us of those unfathomable depths ofcondescensionandhumiliationintowhichHedescendedforoursakes.

"WhobeingintheformofGod."Firstofall,thisaffirmstheabsoluteDeityoftheSon,fornomerecreature,nomatterhowhighinthescaleofbeing, could ever be "in the form of God." Three words are usedconcerning the Sons’ relation to theGodhead. First,He subsists in the"form" of God, seen in Him alone. Second, He is "the image of theinvisibleGod"(Col.1:15),whichexpressiontellsofHismanifestationofGodtous(cf.2Corinthians4:6).Third,Heisthe"brightnessofhisglory

and the express image of his person" (Heb. 1:3), or more exactly, the"effulgency (outshining) of His glory and the exact Expression of Hissubstance" (Bagster Interlinear). These perhaps combine both conceptssuggestedbyformandimage,namely,thatthewholenatureofGodisinChrist,thatbyHimGodisdeclaredandexpressedtous.

"Whobeing,"orsubsisting(it ishardlycorrect tospeakofadivineperson"existing."Heisself-existent;Healwayswasin"theformofGod.""Form"(theGreekwordisonlyfoundelsewhereintheNewTestamentinPhilippians2:7,Mark16:12)iswhatisapparent."TheformofGod"isanexpression which seems to denote His visible glory, His displayedmajesty,Hismanifestedsovereignty.FrometernitytheSonwasclothedwithalltheinsigniaofdeity,adornedwithalldivinesplendor."TheWordwasGod"(John1:1).

"ThoughtitnotrobberytobeequalwithGod."Almosteverywordinthis verse has been the occasion of contention. But we have sufficientconfidence in the superintending providence of God to be satisfied thetranslators of our authorized version were preserved from any seriousmistakeonasubjectsovitallyimportant.AsthefirstclauseofourversereferstoanobjectivedelineationofthedivinedignityoftheSon,sothissecondclauseaffirmsHissubjectiveconsciousness.Theword"thought"isused(hereintheaoristtense)toindicateadefinitepointintimepast.Thewordrendered"robbery"denotesnotthespoilorprize,buttheactoftakingthespoil.TheSondidnotreckonequalitywiththeFatherandtheHolySpiritanactofusurping.

"ThoughtitnotrobberytobeequalwithGod."Thisisonlyanegativeway to say thatChrist considered equalitywithGod aswhat justly andessentially belonged to Him. It was His by indisputable right. Christesteemed such equality as no invasion of Another’s prerogative, butregardedHimselfasbeingentitledtoalldivinehonors.BecauseHeheldthe rank of one of the Three coeternal, coessential, and co-gloriouspersonsof theGodhead, theSon reckonedHis full andperfect equalitywith the other two was His unchallengeable portion. In Verse 6 is nodoubtalatentreferencetoSatan’sfall.He,though"theanointedcherub"(Ezek.28:14),was infinitelybelowGod, yethe graspedat equalitywithHim."Iwillascendabovetheheightsoftheclouds,Iwillbelikethemost

High"(Isa.14:14).

HowevertheGreekwordfor"robbery"istranslated,itisevidenttheemphatictermofthisclauseis"equal."Forifitsignifiesarealandproperequality,thentheprooffortheabsolutedeityoftheSaviorisirrefutable.How,then,istheexactsignificanceofthistermtobedetermined?Notbyhaving recourse to Homer, nor any other heathen writer, but bydiscoveringthemeaningofitscognate.Ifwecanfixthepreciserenderingoftheadjective,thenwemaybesureoftheadverb.Theadjectiveisfoundin several passages (Matthew 20:12; Luke 6:34; John 5:18; Acts 11:17;Revelation21:6).Ineachpassagethereferenceisnottoa likenessonly,buttoarealandproperequality!Thustheforceofthisclauseisparallelwith,"IandmyFatherareone"(John10:30).

"MyFather is greater than I" (John 14:28)must not beallowed tonegate John 10:30. There are no contradictions in HolyWrit. Each ofthesepassagesmaybegivenitsfullforcewithouttherebeinganyconflictbetweenthem.Thesimplewaytodiscovertheirperfectconsistencyistoremember, thatScriptureexhibitsourSavior in twochiefcharacters:asGodtheSon,thesecondPersonoftheTrinity;andasMediator,theGod-man,theWordbecomeflesh.Intheformer,Heisdescribedaspossessingall theperfectionsofdeity; inthe latter,as theServantof theGodhead.Speaking of Himself according to His essential Being, He couldunqualifiedly say, "I and Father are one,"—one in essence or nature.Speaking ofHimself according toHismediatorial office,He could say,"MyFatherisgreaterthanI,"notessentially,buteconomically.

Each expression used (Phil. 2:6) is expressly designed by theHolySpirittomagnifythedivinedignityofChrist’sperson.HeisthePossesserof a glory equal with God’s, with an unquestioned right to that glory,deeming it no robbery to challenge it.His glory is not an accidental orphenomenal one, but a substantial and essential one, subsisting in thevery"formofGod."Betweenwhat is Infiniteandwhat is finite,what isEternal and what is temporal, He who is the Creator and what is thecreature,itisutterlyimpossiblethereshouldbeanyequality."Towhomthenwillyelikenme,orshallIbeequal?saiththeHolyOne"(Isa.40:25),is God’s own challenge. Thus, for any creature to deem himself "equalwithGod"wouldbethehighestrobberyandsupremestblasphemy.

"ButmadeHimselfofno reputation."Themeaningof thewords isexplained in those which immediately follow. So far was the Son fromtenaciouslyinsistinguponHispersonalrightsasamemberoftheblessedTrinity, He voluntarily relinquished them. He willingly set aside themagnificent distinctions of the Creator, to appear in the form of acreature,yes,inthelikenessofafallenman.HeabdicatedHispositionofsupremacy, and enteredoneof servitude.Thoughequal inmajesty andglorywithGod,He joyfully resignedHimself to the Father’swill (John6:38). Incomparable condescension was this. He who was by inherentrightintheformofGod,sufferedHisglorytobeeclipsed,Hishonortobelaidinthedust,andHimselftobehumbledtoamostshamefuldeath.

"AndtookuponHimtheformofaservant."Insodoing,HedidnotceasetobeallthatHewasbefore,butHeassumedsomethingHehadnotbeen previously. There was no change in His divine nature, but theunitingtoHisdivinepersonofahumannature."HewhoisGod,cannomore be not God, than hewho is not God, can beGod" (John Owen).None of Christ’s divine attributes were relinquished, for they are asinseparable from His person as heat is from fire, or weight fromsubstance. But His majestic glory was, for a season, obscured by theinterposing veil of human flesh.Nor is this statement negated by John1:14—"we beheld His glory" (explained by Matthew 16:17), in contrastfromtheunregeneratemassesbeforewhomHeappearedas"arootoutofadryground,"having"noformnorcomeliness"(Isa.53:2).

ItwasGodHimselfwhowas "manifest in the flesh" (1 Tim. 3:16).TheOneborn inBethlehem’smangerwas "ThemightyGod" (Isa.9:6),and heralded as, "Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Let there be nouncertaintyonthispoint.HadHebeen"emptied"ofanyofHispersonalexcellency,hadHisdivineattributesbeenlaidaside,thenHissatisfactionor sacrifice would not have possessed infinite value. The glory of Hisperson was not in the slightest degree diminished when He becameincarnate,thoughitwas(inmeasure)concealedbythelowlyformoftheservant He assumed. Christ was still "equal with God" when Hedescended to earth. Itwas "TheLord of glory" (1 Cor. 2:8)whommencrucified.

"And took upon Him the form of a servant." That was the greatcondescension,yetisitnotpossibleforustofullygrasptheinfinityoftheSon’s stoop. IfGod "humblethHimself to behold the things that are inheaven, and in the earth!" (Ps. 113:6) how much more so to actuallybecome"flesh"andbeamongstthemostlowly.HeenteredintoanofficewhichplacedHimbelowGod(John14:28; 1Corinthians 11:3).Hewas,for a season, "made lower than the angels" (Heb. 2:7); He was "madeunderthelaw"(Gal.4:4).Hewasmadelowerthantheordinaryconditionofman,forHewas"areproachofmen,anddespisedofthepeople"(Ps.22:6).

Whatpointallthisgivesto,"Letthismindbeinyou,whichwasalsoin Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5). How earnestly the Christian needs to seekgracetobecontentwiththelowestplaceGodandmenassignhim;tobereadytoperformthemeanestservice;tobeanddoanythingwhichbringsglorytoGod.

TheHumanityofChrist

ItHasBeenTrulySaid:

Right views concerning Christ are indispensable to aright faith, and a right faith is indispensable tosalvation.Tostumbleatthefoundation,is,concerningfaith, tomakeshipwreckaltogether; for as Immanuel,Godwithus,isthegrandObjectoffaith,toerrinviewsof His eternal Deity, or to err in views of His sacredhumanity,isalikedestructive.Therearepointsoftruthwhicharenotfundamental,thougherroneousviewsonany one point must lead to God-dishonoringconsequencesinstrictproportiontoitsimportanceandmagnitude; but there are certain foundation truths toerrconcerningwhichistoinsurefortheerroneousandtheunbelieving, theblacknessofdarkness forever" (J.C.Philpot,1859).

ToknowChristasGod,toknowHimasman,toknowHimasGod-man, and this by a divine revelation of His person, is indeed to haveeternallifeinourhearts.NorcanHebeknowninanyotherwaythanbydivine and special revelation. "Butwhen it pleasedGod,who separatedmefrommymother’swombandcalledmebyhisgrace,torevealhisSonin me" (Gal. 1:15-16). An imaginary conception of His person may beobtainedby diligently studying the Scriptures, but a vital knowledge ofHimmustbecommunicatedfromonhigh(Matthew16:17).AtheoreticalandtheologicalknowledgeofChristiswhatthenaturalmanmayacquire,butasaving,soul-transformingviewofHim(2Cor.3:18)isonlygivenbytheSpirittotheregenerate(1John5:20).

"Butmadehimselfofnoreputation,andtookuponhimtheformofaservant,andwasmadeinthelikenessofmen"(Phil.2:7).Thefirstclause(andtheprecedingverse)wasbeforeusinthelasttwochapters.Thetwoexpressions we consider here balance with (and thus serve to explain)those in verse 6. The last clause of v. 7 is an exegesis of the oneimmediately preceding. "Made in the likeness of men" refers to thehuman nature Christ assumed. The "form of a servant" denotes theposition or state whichHe entered. So, "equal with God" refers to thedivine nature, the "form of God" signifies His manifested glory in HispositionofLordoverall.

The humanity of Christ was unique. History supplies no analogy,nor can His humanity be illustrated by anything in nature. It isincomparable,notonly toour fallenhumannature,butalsotounfallenAdam’s. The Lord Jesus was born into circumstances totally differentfromthoseinwhichAdamfirstfoundhimself,butthesinsandgriefsofHis people were on Him from the first. His humanity was producedneitherbynaturalgeneration(asisours),norbyspecialcreation,aswasAdam’s.ThehumanityofChristwas,undertheimmediateagencyoftheHoly Spirit, supernaturally "conceived" (Isa. 7:14) of the virgin. It was"prepared"ofGod(Heb.10:5);yet"madeofawoman"(Gal.4:4.).

TheuniquenessofChrist’shumanityalsoappearsinthatitneverhadaseparateexistenceofitsown.TheeternalSonassumed(atthemomentof Mary’s conception) a human nature, but not a human person. Thisimportant distinction calls for careful consideration. By a "person" is

meant an intelligent being subsisting by himself. The second person ofthe Trinity assumed a human nature and gave it subsistence by unionwithHisdivinepersonality.Itwouldhavebeenahumanperson,ifithadnotbeenunitedtotheSonofGod.ButbeingunitedtoHim,itcannotbecalled a person, because it never subsisted by itself, as other men do.Hence the force of "that holy thingwhich shall be born of thee" (Luke1:35).Itwasnotpossible foradivinepersontoassumeanotherperson,subsistingofitself,intounionwithHimself.Fortwopersons,remainingtwo, to become one person, is a contradiction. "A body hast thouprepared me" (Heb. 10:5). The "me" denotes the divine Person, the"body,"thenatureHetookuntoHimself.

ThehumanityofChristwasreal."Forasmuchthenas the childrenarepartakersoffleshandblood,healsoHimselflikewisetookpartofthesame...Whereforeinallthingsitbehovedhimtobemadelikeuntohisbrethren"(Heb.2:14,17).Heassumedacompletehumannature,spirit,soul,andbody.ChristdidnotbringHishumannaturefromheaven(assome have strangely and erroneously concluded from 1 Corinthians15:47), but it was composed of the very substance of His mother. InclothingHimselfwith fleshandblood,Christ also clothedHimselfwithhumanfeelings,soHedidnotdifferfromHisbrethren,sinonlyexcepted.

"Whilewe always contend thatChrist isGod, let us never lose theconvictionHe ismostcertainlyaman.He isnotGodhumanized,norahuman deified; but, as to His Godhead, pure Godhead, equal andcoeternalwiththeFather;astoHismanhood,perfectmanhood,madeinallrespectsliketherestofmankind,sinaloneexcepted.Hishumanityisreal,forHewasborn.Helayinthevirgin’swomb,andinduetimewasborn.Thegatebywhichweenterourfirstlifehepassedthroughalso.Hewas not created, nor transformed, butHis humanity was begotten andborn. As He was born, so in the circumstances of His birth, he iscompletelyhuman.Hewasasweakand feebleasanyotherbabe.He isnot even royal, but human. Those born in marble halls of old werewrappedinpurplegarments,andwerethoughtbythecommonpeopletobeasuperiorrace.ButthisBabewaswrappedinswaddlingclothesandhadamangerforacradle,sothatthetruehumanityofHisbeingwouldcomeout."

AsHegrowsup,theverygrowthshowshowcompletelyhumanHeis.Hedoesnotspringintofullmanhoodatonce,butHegrowsinwisdomand stature, and in favor with God and man.When he reaches man’sestate,Hegets thecommonstampofmanhooduponHisbrow. "In thesweatofthybrowshaltthoueatbread"isthecommonheritageofusall,andHereceivesnobetter.Thecarpenter’sshopmustwitnesstothetoilsofaSavior,andwhenHebecomesthepreacherandtheprophet,stillwereadsuchsignificantwordsasthese—"Jesus,beingwearysatthusonthewell." We find Him needing to betake Himself to rest in sleep. Heslumbersat the stemof thevesselwhen it is tossed in themidstof thetempest.Brethren,ifsorrowbethemarkofrealmanhood,and"manisbornunto trouble as the sparks fly upward," certainly Jesus Christ hasthetruestevidenceofbeingaman.IftohungerandtothirstbesignsthatHewas no shadow, andHismanhood no fiction, you have these. If toassociate with His fellow-men, and eat and drink as they did, will beproof to yourmind that He was none other than aman, you seeHimsittingata feastoneday,atanother timeHegracesamarriage-supper,and on another occasionHe is hungry and "hath not where to layHishead"(C.H.Spurgeon).

They who deny Christ’s derivation of real humanity through Hismotherunderminetheatonement.Hisveryfraternity(Heb.2:11),asourKinsman-Redeemer, depended on the fact that He obtained HishumanityfromMary.WithoutthisHewouldneitherpossessthenaturalnorthelegalunionwithHispeople,whichmustlieatthefoundationofHis representative character as the "last Adam." To be our Goel(Redeemer), His humanity could neither be brought from heaven norimmediately created byGod, butmust be derived, as ourswas, from ahumanmother.Butwith thisdifference:Hishumanitynever existedinAdam’scovenanttoentailguiltortaint.

ThehumanityofChristwasholy.Intrinsicallyso,becauseitwas"oftheHolyGhost"(Matthew1:20);absolutelyso,becausetakenintounionwithGod,theHolyOne.ThisfactisexpresslyaffirmedinLuke1:35,"thatholything,"whichiscontrastedwith,"butweareallasanuncleanthing"(Isa.64:6),and thatbecauseweare "shapen in iniquity"andconceived"insin"(Ps.51:5).ThoughChristtrulybecamepartakerofournature,yet

Hewas "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26).ForthisreasonHecouldsay,"Fortheprinceof thisworldcometh,andhath nothing in me" (John 14:30). There was nothing in His purehumanitywhichcouldrespondtosinorSatan.

Itwas truly remarkablewhenmanwasmade in the image of God(Gen. 1:26). But bow in wonderment and worship at the amazingcondescension of God being made in the image of man! How thismanifeststhegreatnessofHisloveandtherichesofHisgrace!ItwasforHis people and their salvation that the eternal Son assumed humannatureandabasedHimselfeventodeath.HedrewaveiloverHisglorythat He might remove our reproach. Surely, pride must be foreverrenouncedbythefollowersofsuchaSavior.

Inasmuchas"themanChristJesus"(1Tim.2:5)livedinthisworldforthirty-threeyears,Hehasleft"anexample,thatyeshouldfollowhissteps" ( 1 Peter 2:21). He "did no sin," nor should we (1 Cor. 15:24)."Neither was guile found in hismouth," nor should it be in ours (Col.4:6). "When he was reviled, He reviled not again," nor must Hisfollowers. He was weary in body, but not in well-doing. He sufferedhungerandthirst,yetnevermurmured.He"pleasednothimself"(Rom.15:3), nor must we (2 Cor. 5:15). He always did those things whichpleased the Father (John8:29). This toomust ever be our aim (2Cor.5:9).

ThePersonofChrist

WeEnterWithFearAndTremblinguponthishighandholysubject.Christ’snameiscalled"Wonderful"(Isa.9:6),andeventheangelsofGodarecommanded toworshipHim(Heb. 1:6).There isnosalvationapartfromatrueknowledgeofHim(John17:3)."WhosoeverdenieththeSon[eitherHistrueGodhead,orHistrueandholyhumanity]...hathnottheFather" (1 John 2:23). They are thrice-blessed to whom the Spirit ofTruth communicates a supernatural revelation of the Being of Christ

(Matthew16:17).Itwillleadthemintheonlypathofwisdomandjoy,forinHim "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3)until they are taken to be where He is and behold His supernal gloryforever (John 17:24). An increasing apprehension of the TruthconcerningthepersonofChristshouldbeourconstantaim.

"Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God wasmanifestintheflesh"(1Tim.3:16).Inviewofsuchadivinedeclarationasthis,itisbothuselessandimpiousforanymantoattemptanexplanationofthewondrousanduniquepersonoftheLordJesus.Hecannotbefullycomprehendedbyanyfiniteintelligence."NomanknoweththeSon,buttheFather"(Matthew11:27).Nevertheless,itisourprivilegetogrow"intheknowledgeofourLordandSaviorJesusChrist"(2Pet.3:18).Sotooitis the duty of His servants to hold up the person of the God-man asrevealedinHolyScriptures,aswellastowarnagainsterrorswhichcloudHisglory.

The one born in Bethlehem’s manger was "the mighty God" (Isa.9:6),"Immanuel"(Matthew1:23),"thegreatGodandourSavior"(Titus2:13).HeisalsothetrueMan,withaspirit,asoulandabody,fortheseareessentialtohumannature.Nonecouldberealmanwithoutallthree.Nevertheless,thehumanityofChrist(thatholything,Luke1:35)isnotadistinctperson,separate fromHisGodhead, for itneverhada separateexistencebeforetakenintounionwithHisdeity.HeistheGod-man,yet"one Lord" (Eph. 4:5). As such He was born, lived here in this world,died, rose again, ascended to heaven, and will continue thus for alleternity.AssuchHeisentirelyunique,andtheObjectoflastingwondertoallholybeings.

Theperson ofChrist is a composite one.Two separatenatures areunited in one peerless Person; but they are not fused into each other,instead, they remain distinct and different. The human nature is notdivine,norhasitbeen,intrinsically,deified,foritpossessesnoneoftheattributes of God. The humanity of Christ, absolutely and separatelyconsidered,isneitheromnipotent,omniscient,noromnipresent.Ontheother hand,His deity is not a creature, and has none of the propertieswhichpertaintosuch.TakingtoHimselfahumannaturedidnoteffectany change inHis divine being. Itwas a divine personwhowedded to

Himself a holy humanity, and though His essential glory was partlyveiled, yet it never ceased to be, nor didHis divine attributes cease tofunction.AstheGod-man,Christ is the"onemediator"(1Tim.2:5).HealonewasfittedtostandbetweenGodandmenandeffectareconciliationbetweenthem.

ItneedstobemaintainedthatthetwonaturesareunitedintheonepersonofChrist,butthateachretainsitsseparateproperties,justasthesoul and body of men do, though united. Thus, in His divine nature,Christ has nothing in common with us—nothing finite, derived ordependent.But inHishumannature,Hewasmade inall things like toHisbrethren,sinexcepted.InthatnatureHewasbornintime,anddidnot exist from all eternity. He increased in knowledge and otherendowments.IntheonenatureHehadacomprehensiveknowledgeofallthings; in the other, He knew nothing but by communication orderivation.IntheonenatureHehadaninfiniteandsovereignwill;intheother,Hehadacreaturewill.Thoughnotopposedtothedivinewill, itsconformitytoitwasofthesamekindwiththatinperfectcreatures.

ThenecessityforthetwonaturesintheonepersonofourSaviorisself-evident.ItwasfittingthattheMediatorshouldbebothGodandman,that He might partake of the nature of both parties and be a middlepersonbetweenthem, fillingupthedistanceandbringingthemneartoeachother.OnlythuswasHeabletocommunicateHisbenefitstous;andonly thus could He discharge our obligations. As Witsius, the Dutchtheologian (1690) pointed out: "None but God could restore us to trueliberty. If any creature could redeem us we should be the peculiarpropertyofthatcreature:butitisamanifestcontradictiontobefreeandyetatthesametimebetheservantofanycreature.SotoononebutGodcould give us eternal life: hence the two are joined together—‘The trueGod,andeternallife’(1John5:20)."

ItwasequallynecessarythattheMediatorbeMan.Hewastoenterour Law-place, be subject to the Law, keep it, andmerit by keeping it."But when the fullness of the timewas come, God sent forthHis Son,made of awoman,madeunder the law" (Gal. 4:4).Note the order.Hemust firstbe "madeof awoman,"beforeHe couldbe "madeunderthelaw."Butmore,HehadtoendurethecurseoftheLaw,sufferitspenalty.

Hewastobe"madesin"forHispeople,andthewagesofsinisdeath.ButthatwasimpossibletoHimuntilHetookuponHimanaturecapableofmortality. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh andblood,Healsohimselflikewisetookpartofthesame;thatthroughdeathhemightdestroyhimthathadthepowerofdeath,thatis,thedevil"(Heb.2:14).

Thus, the person of the God-man is unique. His birth had noprecedent and His existence no analogy. He cannot be explained byreferringHim to a class, nor canHe be illustrated by an example. TheScriptures,whilefullyrevealingalltheelementsofHisperson,yetneverpresent in one formula an exhaustive definition of that person, nor aconnectedstatementoftheelementswhichconstituteitandtheirmutualrelationships.The "mystery" is indeedgreat.How is itpossible that thesamepersonshouldbeat thesame time infiniteandfinite,omnipotentandhelpless?Healtogethertranscendsourunderstanding.Howcantwocomplete spirits coalesce inoneperson?Howcan twoconsciousnesses,twounderstandings,twomemories,twowills,constituteoneperson?Noonecanexplain it.Norarewecalledupontodoso.Bothnaturesact inconcert in one person. All the attributes and acts of both natures arereferredtooneperson.ThesamepersonwhogaveHislifeforthesheep,possessedglorywiththeFatherbeforetheworldwas!

ThisamazingPersonalitydoesnotcenterinHishumanity,norisitacompound one originated by the power of the Holy Spirit when Hebrought those two natures together in thewomb of the virginMary. ItwasnotbyaddingmanhoodtoGodheadthatHispersonalitywasformed.TheTrinityiseternalandunchangeable.Anewpersonisnotsubstitutedfor the second member of the Trinity; neither is a fourth added. ThepersonofChristisjusttheeternalWord,whointime,bythepoweroftheHolySpirit,throughtheinstrumentofthevirgin’swomb,tookahumannature(notat that timeaman,but the seedofAbraham) intopersonalunionwithHimself.ThePersoniseternalanddivine;Hishumanitywasintroducedinto it.ThecenterofHispersonality isalways intheeternalandpersonalWord,orSonofGod.

ThoughnoanalogyexistsbywhichwemayillustratethemysteriouspersonofChrist, there is amost remarkable type inExodus 3:2-6. The

"flameoffire"inthemidstofthe"bush,"wasanemblemofthepresenceof God indwelling the Man Christ Jesus. Observe that the One whoappearedtheretoMosesistermed,first,"theangeloftheLORD,"whichdeclares the relation of Christ to the Father, namely, "the angel(messenger)of thecovenant."Butsecondly, thisangelsaiduntoMoses,"IamtheGodofAbraham," that iswhatHewasabsolutely inHimself.The fire—emblem ofHimwho is a "consuming fire"—placed itself in abush (a thing of the earth), where it burned, yet the bush was notconsumed.A remarkable foreshadowing thiswas of the "fullness of theGodhead,"dwelling inChrist (Col.2:9).That this is themeaningof thetype is clear, whenwe read of "The goodwill of him that dwelt in thebush"(Deut.33:16).

The great mystery of the Trinity is that one Spirit should subsisteternallyasthreedistinctPersons:themysteryofthepersonofChrististhat two separate spirits (divine andhuman) should constitute but oneperson.ThemomentwedenytheunityofHispersonweenterthebogsoferror.ChrististheGod-man.ThehumanityofChristwasnotabsorbedbyHis deity, but preserves its own characteristics. Scripture does nothesitatetosay,"Jesusincreasedinwisdomandstature,andinfavorwithGod and man" (Luke 2:52). Christ is both infinite and finite, self-sufficientanddependentatthesametime,becauseHisPersonembraces,twodifferentnatures,thedivineandthehuman.

In the incarnation the second Person of the Trinity established apersonalunionbetweenHimselfandahumanspirit,soul,andbody.Histwonaturesremainedandremaindistinct,andtheirpropertiesoractivepowersareinseparablefromeachnaturerespectively.

Theunionbetweenthemisnotmechanical,asthatbetweenoxygenand nitrogen in our air; neither is it chemical, as between oxygen andhydrogenwhenwater is formed;neither is itorganic,as that subsistingbetween our hearts and brains; but it is a union more intimate, moreprofound, andmoremysterious than anyof these. It ispersonal. Ifwecannot understand the nature of the simpler unions, why should wecomplainbecausewecannotunderstandthenatureofthemostprofoundofallunions?(A.A.Hodge,towhomwearealsoindebtedforanumberofotherthoughtsinthisarticle).

"IsthereathingbeneaththesunThatstriveswithTheemyhearttoshare?Otearitthence,andreignalone,TheLordofeverymotionthere.Thenshallmyheartfromearthbefree,WhenithasfoundreposeinThee.

TheSubsistenceofChrist

The Ground We Now Tread upon is quite unknown even to themajorityofGod’speople(sogreathasbeenthespiritualandtheologicaldeterioration of the last century—though it was familiar to the better-taughtsaintsof thePuritans’ timesandof thosewhofollowed.ThattheSon of God is coequal with the Father and the Spirit, and that nearly2,000yearsagotheWordbecamefleshandwasmadeinthelikenessofmen,isstillheldfirmly(andwillbe)byalltrulyregeneratedsouls.Thatitis the union of the divine and human natures inHiswondrous personwhich fitsHim forHismediatorial office, is also apprehendedmore orlessclearly.ButthatisaboutasfarasthelightofnearlyallChristianscantakethem.ThattheGod-mansubsistedinheavenbeforetheworldwasisablessedtruthwhichhasbeenlosttothelastfewgenerations.

A thoughtful reader who ponders a verse such as John 6:62 mustsurely be puzzled. "What and if ye shall see the Son ofman ascend upwhere he was before?’’Mark it well that our Redeemer there spoke ofHimselfnotastheSonbeforeHebecameincarnate.But ignorantaswemay be of this precious truth, Old Testament saints were instructedtherein,asevidentfromPsalm80,whereAsaphprays,"Letthyhandbeuponthemanofthyrighthand,uponthesonofmanwhomthoumadeststrong for thyself" (v. 17). Yes, theMan Christ Jesus, taken into unionwithHimself by the second person of the Trinity, subsisted before theFatherfromalleternity,andwastheobjectoftheOldTestamentsaints’faith.

Whenfirstpresented,thelaststatementappearstobemysticismrunwild,ordownrightheresy. Itwouldbe ifwehad said that the soul andbody of the Son of Man had any existence before He was born atBethlehem.ButthisisnotwhatScriptureteaches.WhatthewrittenWordaffirms is that the Mediator (Christ in His two natures) had a realsubsistence before God from all eternity. First, He was "foreordainedbeforethefoundationoftheworld"(1Pet.1:20).HewaschosenbyGodtobetheHeadofthewholeelectionofgrace(seeIsaiah42:1).Butmore;itwasnotonlypurposedbyGodthattheMediator(theManChristJesuswedded to the eternal Word, John 1:1, 14) should have an historicalexistencewhenthe"fullnessoftime"(Gal.4:4)hadarrived,butHehadanactualsubsistencebeforeHimlongbeforethat.Buthowcouldthisbe?

In seeking the answer, it will help us to contemplate somethingwhich,thoughnotstrictlyanalogous,onalowerplaneservestoillustratetheprinciple.Hebrews11:1recordsthat"faithisthesubstanceofthingshoped for." The Greek word for "substance"more properly signifies "areal subsistence." It is opposed to what is only an image of theimagination, it istheantithesisoffantasy.Faithgivesarealsubsistencein the mind and heart of things which are yet to be, so that they areenjoyednowandtheirpowerisexperiencedinthesoul.FaithlaysholdofthethingsGodhaspromisedsothattheybecomeactuallypresent.

If faith possesses the power to add reality to what as yet has nohistoricalactuality;iffaithcanenjoyinthepresentthatwhoseexistenceis yet future, how much more was God able to give the Mediator acovenantsubsistenceendlessagesbeforeHewasborn. Inconsequence,Christ was the Son of Man in heaven, secretly before God, before Hebecame theSonofManopenly in thisworld.AsChristdeclaredofHisFatherinthelanguageofprophecy,"Intheshadowofhishandhathhehidme,andmademeapolishedshaft:inhisquiverhathhehidme(Isa.49:2).Notethattheverseswhichfollowrefertotheeverlastingcovenant.The"quiver"ofGodisafineexpressiontodenotethesecrecyandsecurityinwhichthepurposeofGodwasconcealed.

Manypassagesspeakofthiswondroussubject.Perhapstheclearest,andtheonewiththemostdetail,isProverbs8.Theterm"wisdom"(v.12)isoneofthenamesofChrist(see1Corinthians1:24).That"wisdom"has

referencetoapersonisclear(v.17),andtoadivineperson(v.15).Thewholepassage (vv. 13-36)hasChrist inview,but inwhat characterhasnotbeenclearlydiscerned.Whileitisevidentthatwhatissaid(vv.15-16,32-36)couldonlyapplytoadivineperson,itshouldbeequallyplainthatsomeoftheterms(vv.23-24ff.)cannotbepredicatedoftheSonofGod.ContemplatedonlyascoeternalandcoequalwiththeFather,itcouldnotbesaidthatChristwasever"broughtforth."

Fromall the termsused inProverbs8:13-36 it shouldbe apparentthat some are impossible to understand of Christ’s deity (separatelyconsidered),asothersof themcannotbeofHishumanityonly.But thedifficulties disappear oncewe see that thewhole passage contemplatestheMediator,theGod-maninHistwonatures.TheManChristJesus,asunitedtothesecondPersonoftheGodhead,was"possessed"(v.22),bythe Triune God from all eternity. Let us note some things about thismarvelouspassage:

"The Lord possessedme in the beginning of his way,before his works of old" (v. 22). The speaker is theMediator,whohadacovenantsubsistencebeforeGodere the universe came into being. The Man ChristJesus,takenintounionwiththeeternalSon,was"thebeginning"of theTriuneGod’s "way." It isdifficult tospeakofeternalmattersasfirst,second,andthird,yetGod set them forth in the Scriptures for us, and it ispermissible to use such distinctions to aid ourunderstanding. The first act or counsel of God hadrespectto theManChrist Jesus.Hewasappointed tobe not only the Head of His Church, but also "thefirstbornofallcreation"(Col.1:15).ThepredestinationoftheManChristJesusuntothegraceofdivineunionand glorywas the first ofGod’s decrees: "in the head[Gr.]ofthebook"itwaswrittenofhim(Heb.10:7;cf.Isa.42:1;Rev.13:8).

Thepersonof theGod-manMediatorwas the foundationof all thedivine counsels (cf. Ephesians 3:11; 1:9-10).Hewas ordained to be thecornerstone, on which all creation was to rest. As such, the Triune

Jehovah "possessed" or "embraced"Him as a treasury inwhich all thedivinecounselswerelaidup,asanefficientAgentfortheexecutionofallHisworks.As such,He isboth "thewisdomofGod"and"thepowerofGod" executively, being a perfect vehicle through which to expressHimself. As such, He was "the beginning" of God’s way. The "way" ofGod,signifiestheoutworkingofHiseternaldecrees,theaccomplishingofHispurposesbywiseandholydispensations(cf.Isaiah55:8-9).

"Iwassetupfromeverlasting"(v.23).ThiscouldnotbespokenoftheSonHimself,forasGodHewasnotcapableofbeing"setup."YethowcouldHebesetupastheGod-manMediator?Bymediatorialsettlement,bycovenant-constitution,bydivinesubsistencebeforethemindofGod.Fromthewombofeternity,inthe"counselofpeace"(Zech.6:13),beforeallworlds,JesusChristwasinHisofficialcharacter"setup."BeforeGodplanned to create any creature, He first set up Christ as the greatArchetypeandOriginal.TherewasanorderinGod’scounselsaswellascreation,andChristhas"thepre-eminence"inallthings.

TheHebrewverbfor"setup"is"anointed,"andshouldhavebeensotranslated.ThereferenceistotheappointingandinvestingofChristwiththemediatorialoffice,whichwasdoneintheeverlastingcovenant.Alltheglory ourLord possesses asMediatorwas then granted toHim, on thecondition ofHis obedience and sufferings. ThereforewhenHe finishedHisworkHeprayed,"GlorifythoumewiththineownselfwiththeglorywhichIhadwiththeebeforetheworldwas"(John17:5).Theglorywhichis there expressly in view is that exaltedplacewhichhadbeengiven toHim as the Head of all creation. In the timeless transactions of theeverlastingcovenant,intheuniquehonorwhichhadbeenaccordedHimasthe"Beginning"ofGod’s"way,"the"firstbornofallcreation,"Hehadthisglory.FortheopenmanifestationofitHenowprayed—answeredatHisascension.

"Whentherewerenodepths, Iwasbrought forth"(v24)."Broughtforth"outof thewombofGod’sdecrees;"broughtforth" intocovenant-subsistencebefore thedivinemind;"brought forth"as the Imageof theinvisible God; "brought forth" as the Man Christ Jesus, after whoselikeness Adam was created. Though Adam was the first man by openmanifestationonearth,ChristhadthepriorityasHesecretlysubsistedin

heaven.AdamwascreatedintheimageandafterthelikenessofChristasHeactually,butsecretly,subsistedinthepersonoftheSonofGod,who,inthefullnessoftime,wasbornopenly.

"ThenIwasbyhim,asonebroughtupwithhim"(v.30).Geseniussays that theHebrewverbhere is connectedwithonewhichmeans "toprop, stay, sustain," and hence "such as onemay safely lean on." It isrendered "nurse" inRuth4:16and2Samuel4:4.Asmencommittheirchildrentoanursetocherishandtrain,soGodcommittedHiscounselsto Christ. The Hebrew word for "brought up" also signifies a "master-builder" (RV). Christ took the fabric of the universe upon Himself, tocontrive the framingof itwith themost exquisite skill. It is akin to theHebrewword "amen,"which has the same letters as the verb towhichGesenius refers, only with different vowel points. How blessedly itdescribes Him who could be relied upon to carry out the Father’spurpose!

"AndIwasdailyhisdelight,rejoicingalwaysbeforehim"(v30).

It isnotabsolutelythemutualeternaldelightoftheFatherandtheSon, arising from the perfection of the sameDivine excellency in eachperson that is intended.But respect is plainlyhadunto the counsels ofGodconcerningthesalvationofmankindbyHimwho isHis"Wisdom"and"Power"untothatend.Thecounselof"peace"wasbetweenJehovahand the Branch (Zech. 6:13), or the Father and the Son as He was tobecome incarnate. For therein was He "foreordained before thefoundation of the world" (1 Pet. 1:20) namely, to be a Savior andDeliverer,bywhomallthecounselsofGodweretobeaccomplished,andthis by His own will and concurrence with the Father. And such afoundationwas laid of the salvation of theChurch in those counsels ofGod,astransactedbetweentheFatherandtheSon,thatitissaid(Titus1:2),"eternallife"was"promisedbeforetheworldbegan"(J.Owen).

TheServitudeofChrist

GodHasManyServants,notonlyonearth,butalsoinheaven.Theangels are "all ministering spirits" (Heb. 1:14) who, "do hiscommandments,hearkeninguntothevoiceofhisword"(Ps.103:20).Butwhat we now contemplate is not any servant of God or fromGod, butsomething infinitely more blessed and amazing, the Divine ServantHimself. What a remarkable phenomenon, an anomaly in any otherconnection.Yes,whatamountstoacontradictioninterms,forsupremacyandsubordination,Godhoodandservanthood,areopposites.Yet this isthesurprisingconjunctionHolyWritsetsbeforeus:thattheMostHighabasedHimself,theLordofgloryassumedtheformofamenial,theKingofkingsbecameasubject.MostofusatleastweretaughtfromchildhoodthattheSonofGodtookuntoHimselfournatureandwasbornasaBabeatBethlehem.Perhapsourfamiliaritywiththistendedtobluntoursenseofwondermentatit.LetuspondernotsomuchthemiracleormysteryoftheDivineIncarnation,butthefactitself.

"Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted andextolled,andbeveryhigh"(Isa.52:13).Therearefourthingshere:First,the note of exclamation, "Behold"; Second, the subject, the divine"servant"; Third, the perfection of His work, "shall deal prudently";Fourth, the reward bestowed upon Him, "He shall be exalted andextolled."Theopening"behold"isnotonlyacallforustofocusourgazeuponandadoringlyconsidertheOnebeforeus,butalsoandprimarilyasanexclamationornoteofwonderment.WhatanamazingspectacletoseetheMakerofheavenandearthintheformofaServant,theGiveroftheLawHimselfbecomesubjecttoit.WhatanastonishingphenomenonthattheLordofGloryshouldtakeuponHimsuchanoffice.Howthisoughttostirour souls. "Behold!"wonderat it, be filledwithholy awe, and thenconsiderwhatourresponseoughttobe.

"Behold, my servant." None other than the Father Himself ownsChristinthisoffice.Thisismostblessed,foritisinsharpcontrastfromthe treatment He received at the hands of men. It was because theMessiah appeared in servant form that the Jews despised and rejectedHim. "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary . . . And they wereoffendedathim"(Mark6:3).Apparentlytheholyangelswerenonplussedat such an incredible sight, for they received, and needed, the divine

order, "Let all the angels of God worship him" when He brought Hisfirstbegotten into the world (Heb. 1:6). "Let," as though they wereuncertain, as well they might be now that their Maker had assumedcreatureform;"alltheangelsofGod,"noneexcepted,thehighestaswellasthelowest,archangel,cherubim,seraphim,principalities,andpowers;"worship him," render homage and praise unto Him, for far fromHisself-abasementhavingtarnishedHispersonalglory,itenhancedit.

HowblessedtoheartheFathertestifyingofHisapprobationof theOnewhohadenteredBethlehem’smanger,biddingtheangelsnottobestaggered by so unparalleled a sight, but to continue worshiping thesecond Person in theHoly Trinity even thoughHe nowwore amenialgarb.NorhastheHolySpiritfailedtorecordtheirobedience,forHehastoldus thatwhile theshepherdswerekeepingwatchover their flockbynight,acelestialmessengerannouncedtheSavior’sbirth,"Andsuddenlytherewaswiththeangelamultitudeof theheavenlyhostpraisingGod,and saying,Glory toGod in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwilltowardmen"(Luke2:13-14).HowjealoustheFatherwasofHisincarnateSon’s honor! It was evidenced again when He condescended to bebaptized in the Jordan, for "The heavens were opened unto him," theSpiritofGoddescendedlikeadoveandabodeuponHim,andtheFatherdeclared,"ThisismybelovedSon,inwhomIamwellpleased"(Matthew3:16-17)."Behold,myservant"Hesaystous.

"Shall deal prudently." Here we need to be on our guard, lest weinterpretcarnally.Inthejudgmentoftheworld,to"dealprudently"istoact tactfully. Nine times out of ten tact is nothing more than acompromise of principle. Measured by the standards of unregenerate"policy," Christ acted very imprudently. He could have spared Himselfmuch suffering had He been "less extreme" and followed the religioustide of His day. He could have avoidedmuch opposition hadHe beenmilderinHisdenunciationsofthePhariseesorwithheldthoseaspectsofthe truth which aremost distasteful to the naturalman. Had He beenmore tactful as this evil generation considers things, He had neveroverthrown the tablesof themoneychangers in the templeand chargedsuchunholytraffickerswithmakingHisFather’shouse"adenofthieves,"foritwasthenHebeganto"makesomuchtroubleforHimself."Butfrom

thespiritualviewpoint,fromtheangleofeverhavingtheFather’sgloryinview, from the sideof seeking the eternal goodofHis own,Christ ever"dealtprudently."NoneotherthantheFathertestifiestothefact.

InsteadofillustratingwhereChristdealt"prudently,"wehavesoughttodisposeofageneralmisconceptionandwarnagainstinterpretingthatexpressioninafleshlymanner,itistruetheChristianmay,inrashnessoractingwithazealthatisnotaccordingtoknowledge,bringuponhimselfmuch unnecessary trouble; yet if he is faithful to God anduncompromisinginhisseparationfromtheworld,heiscertaintoincurthe hatred and opposition of the ungodly. He must expect religiousprofessors to tellhimhehasonlyhimself toblame, thathis lackof tacthasmadethingssounpleasantforhim.Christ’sdealingprudentlymeansHeactedwisely.Henevererred,neveractedfoolishly,neverdidanythingwhichneededtobecorrected;butthewisdomfromwhichHeactedwasnot of thisworld, butwas "fromabove," and thereforewas "pure, thenpeaceable,gentle"(James3:17).Oformoreofsuchprudence—obtainedbycommunionwithChrist,drinkinginofHisSpirit.

"Heshallbeexaltedandextolledandbeveryhigh."ThistellsoftherewardgivenChristforHiswillingnesstobecomea"servant"andforHisfaithfulnessindischargingthatoffice.IttellsusfirstoftheFather’sownvaluation of His Son’s condescension and of the recompense He hasmade theOnewho became obedient unto death. "WhereforeGod hathhighly exalted him. and given him a namewhich is above every name:thatatthenameofJesuseverykneeshouldbow,ofthingsinheaven,andthingsinearth,andthingsundertheearth;andthateverytongueshouldconfess that JesusChrist is Lord to the glory ofGod the Father" (Phil.2:9-11).TheperfectServanthasbeen exalted to theThrone, seated "ontherighthandoftheMajestyonhigh"(Heb.1:3),"angelsandauthoritiesand powers beingmade subject unto him" (1 Pet. 3:22). It tells also ofChrist’s exaltation in the affections ofHis people. Nothing endears theRedeemermore to theirhearts than the realization that itwas for theirsakesHe"becamepoor"andabasedHimself. "Worthy is theLamb thatwas slain to receive power, and riches, andwisdom, and strength, andhonor,andglory,andblessing"(Rev.5:12)istheirunitedtestimony.

TheDespisementofChrist

"HeIsDespisedandrejectedofmen"(Isa.53:3), formspartoneofthe Messianic predictions. God made known long beforehand thetreatment His Son would receive when He became incarnate. TheprophecyofIsaiahwas inthehandsof theJews700yearsbeforeJesuswas born at Bethlehem; yet, so exactly did it describe what befell Himthatitmightwellhavebeenwrittenbyoneoftheapostles.HereisoneoftheincontrovertibleproofsofthedivineinspirationofScriptures,foronlyOnewhoknewtheendfromthebeginningcouldhavewrittenthishistorybeforehand.

ItmighthavebeensupposedthatthecomingtoearthoftheLordofglorywouldmeetwithawarmwelcomeandreverentreception;andmoreso inviewofHisappearing inhuman form,andHisgoingaboutdoinggood.SinceHecamenottojudge,buttosave,sinceHismissionwasoneofgraceandmercy,sinceHeministeredtotheneedyandhealedthesick,willnotmengladlyreceiveHim?Manywouldnaturallythinkso,but inso doing they overlook the fact that the Lord Jesus is "theHolyOne."None but those who have the principle of holiness in their hearts canappreciate ineffable Purity. Such an assumption as just mentionedignores the solemn fact ofhumandepravity: theheart of fallenman is"desperatelywicked"(Jer.17:9).HowcantheHolyOneappearattractivetothosewhoarefullofsin!

Nothingsoclearlyevidences theconditionof thehumanheart,norso solemnly demonstrates its corruption, as its attitude toward Christ.MuchisrecordedagainstmanintheOldTestament(seePsalm14:1-4);yet, dark as its picture is of fallen human nature, it fades intoinsignificancebeforewhattheNewTestamentsetsbeforeus."Thecarnalmind is enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7); never was this so frightfullypatent as when He was manifested in flesh. "If I had not come, andspokenuntothem,theyhadnothadsin:butnowtheyhavenoclokefortheirsin" (John15:22).TheappearingofChrist fullyexposedman,andbringstolightasnothingelsehasthedesperatewickednessofhisheart.Let us consider three questions: Who was (and still is) "despised and

rejectedofmen"?Why isHe sogrievously slighted? Inwhatway isHescorned?

Whowassounwelcomehere?First,theOnewhopresseduponmenthe absolute sovereignty of God. Few things are so distasteful to theproud human heart as the truth that God does as He pleases, withoutconsulting with the creature; that He dispenses His favors entirelyaccording toHis imperialwill. Fallenmanhas no claims uponHim, isdestituteofanymerit,andcandonothingwhatevertowinGod’sesteem.Fallenmanisaspiritualpauper,entirelydependentupondivinecharity.InbestowingHismercies,GodisregulatedbynothingbutHisown"goodpleasure." "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?"(Matthew 20:15) is His unanswerable challenge; yet, as the contextshows,manwickedlymurmursagainstthis.

The Lord Jesus came to glorifyHis Father, thereforewe findHimmaintainingHis crown-rights and emphasizingHis sovereignty. InHisFirstmessage, in theCapernaumsynagogue,Hepointedout thereweremany widows in Israel during the days of Elijah. But when there wasgreat famine throughout the land, the prophetwas not sent to any butone at Zarephath; and though there weremany lepers in Israel in thetimeofElisha,nonewerehealed,exceptbydistinguishingmercyshowntoNaaman,theSyrian.Thesequelwas,"Alltheyinthesynagogue,whentheyheard these things,were filledwithwrath, and rose up and thrusthimoutofthecity,andledhimuntothebrowofthehillwhereontheircitywasbuilt,thattheymightcasthimdownheadlong"(Luke4:28-29).ForpressingthetruthofGod’sabsolutesovereignty,Christwas"despisedandrejectedofmen."

Who was so unwelcome here? Second, the One who upheld God’sLaw.Initisthedivineauthorityexpressed,andcompletesubjectiontoitisrequiredfromthecreature:thusChristpressedthedemandsofGod’sLaw uponman. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or theprophets: I amnot come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17); "Allthingswhatsoeveryewouldthatmenshoulddotoyou,doyeevensotothem:forthisisthelawandtheprophets"(Matthew7:12).Butfallenmenresentrestraints,andwant tobea lawunto themselves.Their languageconcerningGodandHisChristis,"Letusbreaktheirbandsasunderand

castawaytheircordsfromus"(Ps.2:3).BecausetheLordJesusenforcedthe requirements of the Decalogue He was "despised and rejected ofmen." A solemn illustration of this occurs when he spoke to the Jews,"DidnotMoses give you the law, andyetnoneof youkeepeth the law.Whygoyeabouttokillme?"(John7:19).Whatwastheirresponse?"Thepeopleansweredandsaid,Thouhastadevil"(v.20).

Whowassounwelcomehere?Third,theOnewhodenouncedhumantradition in the religious sphere. Despite the fall, man is essentially areligiouscreature.The imageofGod inwhichhewasoriginally createdhas not been completely destroyed. Theworld over, blacks andwhites,redsandyellows,payhomagetogodsoftheirowndevising;therearefewthingsonwhichtheyaremoretenderthantheirsacerdotalsuperstitions.Hewhocondemns,orevencriticizes,thedevoteesofanyformororderofworship,willbegreatlydisliked.ChristdrewuponHimselfthehatredofIsrael’sleadersbyHisdenunciationoftheirinventions.Hechargedthemwith "making theWord of God of none effect through their tradition"(Mark7:13).WhenHecleansedthetemple,thechiefpriestsandscribeswere"soredispleased"(Matthew21:15).

Whowas so unwelcome here? Fourth, theOnewho repudiated anempty profession. Nothing so infuriated the Jews as Christ’s exposureanddenunciationof theirvainpretensions.SinceHewasomniscient, itwas impossible to imposeuponHim; inflexibly righteous,Hecouldnotaccept deceptions; absolutely holy, He must insist upon sincerity andreality.Whentheydeclared"Abrahamisourfather,"Heanswered,"Ifyewere Abraham’s children, ye would do theworks of Abraham." Whenthey added, "we have one Father, evenGod,"He replied, "If GodwereyourFather,yewouldloveme...yeareofyourfather,thedevil,andthelustsof your fatheryewill do."This so riled them that they exclaimed,"SaywenotwellthatthouareaSamaritan,andhastadevil"(John8:48).

On another occasion, the Jews asked Him, "How long dost thoumakeustodoubt?IfthoubetheChrist,tellusplainly"(John10:24).Heatonceexposedtheirhypocrisybysaying,"Itoldyou,andyebelievednot...Butyebelievenot,becauseyearenotofmysheep...Mysheephearmyvoice,andIknowthem,andthey followme" (John10:25-27).Theyweresoangrythey"tookstonesagaintostonehim."Menwillnottolerate

One who pierces their religious disguise, exposes their shams, andrepudiatestheirfairbutemptyprofession.Itisthesametoday.

Who was so unwelcome here? Fifth, the One who exposed anddenouncedsin.ThisexplainswhyChristwasnotwantedhere.Hewasaconstant thorn in their sides.Hisholinesscondemned theirunholiness.Menwishtogotheirownway,topleasethemselves,togratifytheirlusts.Theywant to be comfortable in theirwickedness, therefore they resentthatwhichsearchestheheart,piercestheconscience,rebukestheirevil.Christ was absolutely uncompromising. He would not wink atwrongdoing,butunsparinglydenouncedit,inwhomeverHefoundit.Heboldly affirmed, "For judgment I am come into this world" i.e., todiscover men’s secret characters, to prove they are blind in spiritualthings, todemonstrate they lovedarkness rather than light.HispersonandpreachingtestedeverythingandeveryonewithwhomHecameintocontact.

Why was (and is) Christ "despised and rejected of men?" First,becauseHerequiredinwardpurity.Hereisthegreatdifferencebetweenall human religions and divine: the former concern themselves withexternal performances; the latter with the source of all conduct. "Manlookethontheoutwardappearance,buttheLORDlookethontheheart"(1 Sam. 16:7). Christ’s exposition and enforcement of this truth madeHimunpopularwiththeleaders.

Woeuntoyou,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites! foryemakecleanthe outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full ofextortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which iswithin the cupandplatter, that theoutsideof themmaybe clean also.Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like untowhitedsepulchres,whichindeedappearbeautifuloutward,butarewithinfull of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye alsooutwardlyappearrighteousuntomen,butwithinyearefullofhypocrisyandiniquity"(Matthew23:25-28).

WhywasChrist"despisedandrejectedofmen?"Second,becauseHedemanded repentance. "Repent ye, andbelieve thegospel" (Mark 1:15),wasHisdemandingcall.Thatorderisunchanging,foritisimpossibleto

believe theGospel till the heart be contrite. Repentance is taking sideswith God against ourselves. It is the unsparing judgment of ourselvesbecauseofourhigh-handedrebellion.Itisaceasingtoloveandtoleratesin, and to excuse ourselves for committing it. It is amourning beforeGod because of our transgressions of His holy Law. Therefore, Christtaught,"Exceptyerepent,yeshallalllikewiseperish"(Luke13:3),forHewouldnotcondoneevil.HecametosaveHispeoplefromtheirsins,andnotinthem.

WhywasChrist"despisedandrejectedofmen?"

Third, because He insisted on the denial of self. This is on twoprincipalpoints,namely, indulgingandexaltingof self.All fleshly lustsare to be unsparingly mortified, and self-righteousness is allowed noplace in the gospel scheme. This was unmistakably plain in our Lord’steaching:"Ifanymanwillcomeafterme,lethimdenyhimself,andtakeup his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). Yet nothing is morecontrary to thedesiresof thenaturalman,andChrist’s insistenceuponthese terms of discipleship causes Him to be despised and rejected ofmen.

HowisChrist"despisedandrejectedofmen?"Indifferentways,andinvaryingdegrees:professedlyandpractically,inwordsandinworks.Itis most important to clearly recognize this, for Satan deceives a greatmany souls at thispoint.Hedeludes them into supposing thatbecausethey are not guilty of what pertains to the avowed infidel and blatantatheist, therefore they are innocent of the fearful sin of slighting anddefyingtheLordJesus.Myreader,thesolemnfactremainsthattherearemillionsofpeopleinChristendomwho,thoughnotatheistsandinfidels,yet despise and reject the Christ of God. "They profess that they knowGod; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient,and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16). That verse clearlyenunciatestheprinciple.

Christ’sauthorityis"despised"bythosewhodisregardHispreceptsand commandments. Christ’s yoke is "rejected" by those who aredetermined to be lord over themselves. Christ’s glory is "despised" bythosewhobearHisnameyethavenoconcernwhethertheirwalkhonors

Himorno.Christ’sGospel is "rejected" by thosewho on the one handaffirmthatsinnersmaybesavedwithoutrepentingofandturningawayfromtheirsins,andontheotherhandbythosewhoteachheavenmaybewonbyourowngoodworks.

There are somewho intellectually rejectChrist, by repudiatingHisclaims,denyingthatHeisGodtheSon,assumedaholyandimpeccablehumanity,anddiedavicariousdeathtosaveHispeoplefromtheirsins.OthersvirtuallyandpracticallyrejectChrist.Therearethosewhoprofessto believe in the existence of God, ownHis power, and talk about Hiswondroushandiwork;yettheyhavenotHisfearuponthemandarenotinsubjectiontoHim.SotherearemanywhoclaimtotrustinthefinishedworkofChrist,yettheirdailywalkisnodifferentfromthatofthousandsofrespectableworldlings.TheyprofesstobeChristians;yetarecovetous,unscrupulous, untruthful, proud, self-willed, uncharitable; in a word,utterlyunchristian.

TheCrucifixionofChrist

"TheyCrucifiedHim.. .andsittingdowntheywatchedHimthere"(Matthew27:35-36).ThereferenceistoRomansoldiers,asisclearfromJohn 19:23, and confirmedbyMatthew27:54.Theywere authorized tocarry out thedeath sentencepassedbyPilate, and into their hands thegovernorhaddeliveredtheSavior(vv.26-27).Withcoarsescurrilitytheyexecutedthetask.Addinginsulttoinjury,theyexposedtheLordJesustothe indignities of a mock coronation: robing Him in scarlet, crowningHimwiththorns,hailingHimasKingoftheJews.Givingfullexpressiontotheirenmity,theyspatuponHim,smoteHimwithareed,andmockedHim.RestoringtoHimHisraiment,theyconductedHimtoGolgothaandaffixed Him to the cross. Having gambled for His garments, they satdowntowatchHimtofrustrateanyattemptatrescueHisfriendsmightmake,andtowaituntillifewasextinct.Letusnotethreethings:

First,thecircumstances.ThereligiousleadersofIsraelhadtakentheinitiative,forthere"assembledtogetherthechiefpriests,andthescribes,andtheeldersofthepeople,untothepalaceofthehighpriest,whowascalled Caiaphas. And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty,andkillhim" (Matthew26:3-4).Howmanyof the foulest crimeswhichhave blackened the pages of history were perpetrated by ecclesiasticaldignitaries.Yetthecommonpeoplewereinfullaccordwiththeirleaders,for"themultitude"(Mark15:8)requestedPilatetoadheretohiscustomofreleasingaprisonertothem.WhenhegavethemthechoicebetweenChrist and Barabbas, they preferred the latter; and when the governoraskedwhatwastheirpleasureconcerningtheformer,theycried,"Crucifyhim" (Mark 15:13). It was to "content the people" that Pilate releasedBarabbas(v.15).WhenPilatereasonedwiththem"allthepeoplesaid,hisblood be on us and on our children" (Matthew 27:25). And Pilate, theadministrator of the Roman law, which boasted of justice, acceded totheirunjustdemands.

Second, the scene. It was the outskirts of Jerusalem, a city morememorable than either Rome, London, or New York; the residence ofDavid, the royal city, the seat of Israel’s kings. The city witnessed the

magnificence of Solomon’s reign, and here the temple stood. Here theLordJesushad taughtandwroughtmiracles, and into this cityHehadridden a few days earlier seated upon an ass as the multitudes cried,"HosannatothesonofDavid:Blessedishethatcomethinthenameofthe Lord;Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9)—so fickle is humannature. Israel had rejected their King and therefore He was conductedbeyond the bounds of the city, so that He "suffered without the gate"(Heb.13:12).TheactualplaceofthecrucifixionwasGolgotha,signifying"theplaceof a skull."Nature had anticipated the awful deed, since thecontourof thegroundresembledadeath’shead.Lukegives theGentilename"Calvary" (Luke23:33), for the guilt of thatdeath restedonbothJewandGentile.

Third, the time. This was as significant and suggestive as thehistorical and topographical associations of the place itself. Christ wascrucifiedon the fourteenthofNisan,orabout thebeginningofApril. ItwasthefirstofIsrael’sgreatnationalfeasts,themostimportantseasonintheJewishyear. Itwas thePassover,a solemncelebrationof thatnightwhenallthefirstbornsonsoftheHebrewsweresparedfromtheangelofdeath in the land of Egypt. At this season great multitudes throngedJerusalem,foritwasoneofthethreeannualoccasionswheneverymaleIsraelitewascommandedtoappearbeforeJehovahinthetemple(Deut.16:16).Thus,hugecrowdshadjourneyedtherefromallpartsoftheland.It was in no obscure corner nor in secret that the Great Sacrifice wasoffereduptoGod.AndthefourteenthofNisanwasthedayappointedforit, for theLord Jesuswas the antitypical Lamb. "Christ our passover issacrificed forus" (1Cor.5:7).OnnootherdaycouldHebeslain.Atanearlier date they "sought to take him: but noman laid hands on him,becausehishourwasnotyetcome"(John7:30).

"Theycrucifiedhim . . .andsittingdowntheywatchedhim there."Mydivisionsaresimple:whattheysaw;whatIsee;whatdoyousee?

WhatTheySaw

They behold themost amazing eventof all history, themost awe-inspiring spectacle men ever saw, the most tragic and yet the mostglorious deed ever performed. They beheld God incarnate taken by

wickedhandsandslain—andatthesametimetheRedeemervoluntarilylayingdownHislifeforthosewhohaveforfeitedeveryclaimuponHim.Tothesoldiersitwasanordinaryevent,theexecutionofacriminal;andthus it is with most who hear the Gospel. It falls on their ears as areligiouscommonplace.TotheRomansoldiers,atleastforawhile,ChristappearedonlyasadyingJew;thusitiswiththemultitudetoday.

TheybeheldtheincomparableperfectionsoftheCrucifiedOne.Howimmeasurablydifferent themienof thesufferingSavior fromwhat theyhadwitnessed from others in similar circumstances!No cursing ofHislot, no reviling of His enemies, no maledictions upon themselves. Thevery reverse.His lips are engaged inprayer. "Father",He says, "forgivethem;fortheyknownotwhattheydo"(Luke23:34).Howamazedtheymust have been as they heard the Blessed One on the tree making"intercessionforthetransgressors"(Isa.53:12).Thetwothievescrucifiedwith Himmocked the Redeemer (Matthew 27:44); but at the eleventhhouroneofthemwas"grantedrepentanceuntolife"(Acts11:18).Turningto Jesus, he said, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thykingdom"(Luke23:42).TheLorddidnotdeclinehisappealandsay,"youhavesinnedbeyondthereachofmercy";butanswered,‘Verily,Isayuntothee,Todayshaltthoubewithmeinparadise"(v.43).Theywitnessedanunparalleleddisplayofsovereigngracetooneofthegreatestofsinners.

Theybeheldmostmysteriousphenomena.Theysatdownto"watchHim,"butafterawhile theywereno longerable todoso.Atmidday itsuddenly becamemidnight. "From the sixth hour [after sunrise] therewasdarknessoverallthelanduntotheninthhour"(Matthew27:45).Itwasasthoughthesunrefusedtoshineonsuchascene,asthoughnatureitselfmournedoversuchasight.Duringthosethreehoursatransactiontook place between Christ andGodwhichwas infinitely too sacred forfiniteeyestogazeupon,amysterywhichnomortalmindcanfullyenter.AssoonastheSaviorcommittedHisspiritintothehandsoftheFather,"Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to thebottom,andtheearthdidquakeandtherocksrent;andthegraveswereopened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose" (Matthew27:51-52).Thiswasnoordinarysufferer;itwastheCreatorofheavenandearth,andheavenandearthexpressedtheirsympathy.

They beheld and heardwhat was blessed to their conviction andconversion.PharaohwitnessedamostremarkabledisplayofGod’spowerintheplagueswhichHesentuponEgypt,but far frominclininghimtorepentancehecontinued tohardenhisheart.Thus italways iswith theunregenerate while they are left to themselves; neither the mostastonishing tokens of God’s goodness nor the most awe-inspiring ofjudgmentsmeltthem.ButGodwaspleasedtosoftenthecallousheartsoftheseRomansoldiersandilluminetheirheathenminds."Nowwhenthecenturion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw theearthquake,andthosethingsthatweredone,theyfearedgreatly,saying,TrulythiswastheSonofGod"(Matthew27:54).

We regard this as another of themiracles at Calvary—amiracle ofamazinggrace.AndweexpecttomeetinheaventhemanwhohammeredthenailsintotheSavior’shandsandthrustthespearintoHisside—God’sanswertoChrist’sprayer,"Father,forgivethem."SothereishopeforthevilestsinnerifhewillsurrendertotheLordshipofChristandtrustinHisblood.

WhatISee

Iseeanunveilingofthecharacterofman."Nowallthingsthatarediscovered[margin]aremademanifestbythelight:forwhatsoeverdothmakemanifestislight"(Eph.5:13).Christis"thetruelight"(John1:9)—the essential, divine, all-revealing light; consequently all men and allthings stood exposed in His presence. The worst things predicated inScriptureoffallenhumannaturewereexemplifiedinthedaysofChrist.Godsaysthattheheartofmanis"desperatelywicked"(Jer.17:9),anditwassodemonstratedbythetreatmentofHisbelovedSon.ScarcelywasHebornintothisworldthanmenmadeadeterminedefforttoslayHim.ThoughHe constantly went about doing good, relieving the distressed,andministering to the souls and bodies of the needy, He was so littleappreciatedthatHehadtosay,"Thefoxeshaveholesandthebirdsoftheair have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head"(Matthew 8:20). On one occasion "they besought him that he woulddepartoutoftheircoasts"(Matthew8:34).

Not only was Christ unwelcome here, but also men hated Him

"without a cause" (John 15:25). He gave them every reason to admireHim, but they had an inveterate aversion forHim. TheWord declares,"the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7). Multitudes gothrough the formofpayinghomage toGod,butofa "god"of theirownimagination.TheyhatethelivingGod,andwereitpossiblewouldridtheuniverseofHim.ThisisclearfromtheirtreatmentofChrist,forHewasnone other than "Godmanifest in flesh" (1 Tim. 3:16). They hated andhoundedHimtodeath,andnothingshortofdeathbycrucifixionwouldappeasethem.AtCalvarytherealcharacterofmanwasrevealed,andthedesperatewickednessofhisheartlaidbare.

I see an unveiling of sin. Sin! That "abominable thing," which theLordhates(Jer.44:4),isregardedsolightlybythosewhocommitit.Sin!Itcausedour firstparents tobebanished fromEdenand is responsibleforallthewoeintheworld.Sin!Itproducesstrifeandbloodshedandhasturnedthis"landoftheliving"intoamammothcemetery.Sin!Ahideousmonsterwesomuchdislikehearingaboutandwhichwearesoreadytoexcuse.Sin!Satanemploysallhissubtleartstorenderitattractive,andsetsitforthinthemostappealingcolors.Oneofthegreatdesignsoftheincarnation was to bring to light the hidden things of darkness. Thepresence here of the Holy One served as a brilliant light in a long-neglected room, revealing its squalor and filth. "If I had not come andspokenuntothem,theyhadnothadsin:butnowtheyhavenoclokefortheirsin"(John15:22).

Christ here spoke comparatively. Evil as man had shown himselfthroughhistory,thecomingofImmanueltoearthbroughtsintoahead.All that had gone before was a trifling thing when compared to themonstrouswickednessdoneagainstLoveincarnate.InthetreatmenttheSon of God received at the hands ofmenwe see sin in its true colors,strippedofalldisguise,exposedinallitshideousreality,initstruenatureas rebellion against God. At Calvary we behold the climax of sin, thefearful,horriblelengthstowhichitiscapableofgoing.WhatgerminatedinEdenculminated in thecrucifixion.The first sinoccasioned spiritualsuicide, the second fratricide (Cainmurdered his brother): but here atCalvaryitresultedinDeicide,theslayingoftheLordofglory.Wealsoseethe fearful wages of sin—death and separation from God. Since Christ

hungthereastheSinbearer,Hereceivedthepunishmentduetothem.

IseeanunveilingofthecharacterofGod.TheheavensdeclareHisglory and the firmament shows His handiwork, but nowhere are Hisperfectionsmore prominently displayed than at the cross. Here is Hisineffableholiness.TheholinessofGodisthedelightHehasinallthatispureandlovely;thereforeHisnatureburnsagainstwhateverisevil.GodhatessinwhereveritisfoundandHemadenoexceptionofChristwhenHe saw it imputed on His beloved Son. There God "laid on him theiniquityofusall"(Isa.53:6).HedealtwithHimaccordingly,pouringoutHisholywrathuponHim.Godis"ofpurereyesthantobeholdevil,andcanstnotlookoniniquity"(Hab.1:13);thereforeHeturnedHisbackonthe Sinbearer. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" thesufferingSaviorcried,thenansweredHisownquery,"Thouartholy"(Ps.22:1,3).

IseeGod’sinflexiblejustice.ThepronouncementofHisLawis,"thesoul that sinneth it shall die." No deviation from it can be made, forJehovah has expressly declaredHe "will by nomeans clear the guilty"(Ex. 34:7). But will He not make an exception of the One whom HetestifiesistheLamb"withoutblemishandwithoutspot"(1Pet.1:19)?No!ForthoughChristwassinlessbothbynatureandaction,becausethesinsofHis people had been laid uponHim,God "spared not his own Son"(Rom.8:32).Because sinwas transferred toHim, punishmentmust bevisited upon Him. Therefore, God cried, "Awake O sword, against myshepherd,andagainstthemanthatismyfellow,saiththeLORDofhosts:smite the shepherd" (Zech. 13:7). Godwould not abate one iota ofHisrighteous demand or allow sentiment to sully the fair face of Hisgovernment.He claims to bepar excellence the Judgewho is "withoutrespectofpersons."Howfully thatwasdemonstratedatCalvarybyHisrefusal toexemptthepersonofHisBeloved, theOne inwhomHissouldelighted(Isa.42:1),whenHeoccupiedtheplaceoftheguilty.

I see God’s amazing grace. "God commendeth his love toward us[Hispeople],inthat,whilewewereyetsinners,Christdiedforus"(Rom.5:8).HadHesopleased,GodcouldhaveconsignedthewholeofAdam’sracetoeverlastingwoe.Thatiswhateachofusrichlydeserves.AndwhyshouldHenotdoso?Bynaturewearedepravedandcorrupt;bypractice

incorrigiblerebels,withno love forHimnor concern forHisglory.ButoutofHisowngoodnessHedeterminedtosaveapeoplefromtheirsins,toredeemthembyChrist "to thepraiseof thegloryofhisgrace" (Eph.1:6).Hedetermined to pluck themas brands from the burning so theymight be the eternal monuments of His mercy. Because it was whollyoutside their power to make atonement for their fearful crimes, HeHimselfprovidedanall-sufficientsacrificeforthem.Heis"theGodofallgrace" (1 Pet. 5:10) and He has given innumerable tokens of this. Butnowhere were the "riches of His grace" so lavishly and wondrouslydisplayedasatCalvary.

SeehereGod’smanifoldwisdom.TheWorddeclares,"Thereshallinnowiseenterintoitanythingthatdefileth,neitherwhatsoeverworkethabomination" (Rev. 21:27); then how is it possible that I can ever gainadmittance into the heavenly Jerusalem? How can it be that one socompletely devoid of righteousness could ever receive divineapprobation? The Law says, "The soul that sinneth it shall die." I havesinnedandbrokentheLaw,howthencanIescapeitspenalty?SinceIamaspiritualpauperhowcanthenecessaryransombeprocured?Theseareproblemsthatnohumanintelligencecansolve.NoristheknottobecutbyanappealtothebaremercyofGod,forHismercyisnotanattributewhich overrides His justice and integrity. But at the Cross the divineperfectionsshoneoutingloriousunityliketheblendingofthecolorsinthe rainbow. There "Mercy and truth met together; righteousness andpeacehavekissedeachother" (Ps.85:10).God’s justicewassatisfiedbyChristandthereforeHismercyflowsfreelytoallwhorepentandbelieve.ThewisdomofGodappearsincreationandprovidence,butnowheresograndlyasatthecross.

I see myself. What? Yes, as I turn my gaze to the cross I beholdmyself,andsodoeseveryonewholookswiththeeyeoffaith.Christhungthere as the Surety of His people, and there cannot be representationwithout identification.Christ identifiedwiththosewhosesinsHebears,believers identified withHim. In the sight of God they are one. Christtook my place, and faith appropriates that fact. In the person of mySubstitute I satisfied every requirement ofGod’s Law. In the person ofChristIpaidthefullpricewhichdivinejusticedemanded.Intheperson

of Christ I stand approved before God, for I am clothed with Hismeritoriousperfections(Isa.61:10).ThewholeransomedChurchofGodcan sayofChrist, "Hewaswounded forour transgressionsandbruisedforouriniquities"(Isa.53:4),"Whohisownselfbareoursinsinhisownbodyonthetree"(1Pet.2:24).Andfaithindividualizesitanddeclares,"IamcrucifiedwithChrist...wholovedme,andgavehimselfforme"(Gal.2:20).Hallelujah!WhataSavior.

WhatDoYouSee?

YoubeholdOnewhomyoudespise and reject, if you are unsaved.Perhapsyoudenyit,sayingmyattitudeismerelynegative.Youerr.Ifyouarenot the friendofChrist youareHis enemy.There is no third class."He that is not with me is against me" (Matthew 12:30) is His ownverdict, and from that there is no appeal. You have despised Hisauthority,floutedHislaws,treatedHisclaimswithcontempt.YourejectHisyokeandscepterandrefusetoberuledbyHim;thusyouunitewiththosewhocastHimoutandhoundedHimtodeath.

You behold One who is presented as Savior. Yes, despite yourwickedtreatmentofHimhitherto,HeissetbeforeyouintheGospelasOnewillingandabletoheal thewoundssinhasmadeand tosaveyoursouls from eternal death. If you will throw down the weapons of yourwarfare against Him, surrender to His Lordship, and trust in Hisredeemingblood,Hewillacceptyounow."HimthatcomethtomeIwillinnowisecastout"(John6:37).

YoubeholdtheOnewhoistobeyourJudgeifyourefusetoacceptHim as Savior. Come toHim now as a repentant sinner, as a spiritualpauper, casting yourself upon His grace, and He will pardon youriniquitiesandgiveyouaroyalwelcome."Comeuntome,allyethatlaborandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest"(Matthew11:28)isHisowninvitationwithpromise.But continue to turnyourbackuponHimandonedayHewillsaytoyou,"Depart fromme,yecursedintoeverlastingfire,preparedforthedevilandhisangels"(Matthew25:41).

TheRedemptionofChrist

OurRighteousRedeemer—doessuchatitlehaveastrangesoundtothe reader? Is that adjective unfamiliar in such a context? The greatmajorityofusprobablyarefarmoreaccustomedtosuchexpressionsas"ourlovingRedeemer"and"ourgraciousRedeemer,"oreven"ourmightyRedeemer." We employ the term here not because we are striving fororiginality.No,rathersuchanappellationisrequiredbytheteachingofScripture.Infact,ifwecarefullyobservewheretheHolySpirithasplacedHis emphasis it is incumbent on us that we should conform ourterminologythereto.Seehowmanypassagesyoucanrecallwhereeither"loving"or"gracious"isusedasanadjectiveinconnectionwithChrist.Ifmemory fails, consult a concordance, and you will be surprised thatneitherof themoccursasingle time!Nowtry theword"righteous"andseehowmanypassagesrefertotheLordJesusassuch.

Christ is referred to as "my righteous servant" (Isa. 53:11); as "arighteous Branch" (Jer. 23:5); and in the next verse as "The Lord OurRighteousness";as"thesunofrighteousness"(Mal.4:2):asa"righteousman"(Luke23:47);as"therighteous judge"(2Tim.4:8).He is seenasthe antitypicalMelchizedek or "King of righteousness" (Heb. 7:2-3); asour"advocatewiththeFather,""JesusChristtherighteous"(1John2:1).In addition, the same Greek word "dikaios" is rendered "just" in thefollowing passages: Pilate’swife sent a warning to her husband, "Havethounothing to dowith this just [righteous]man" (Matthew27:19); inthesamechapterPilatehimselfdeclared,"Iaminnocentofthebloodofthis just person" (v. 34).He is called "the just" (Acts 3:14; James 5:6);and"the justone"(Acts7:52;22:14);while in1Peter3:18are thewell-knownwords, "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for theunjust"—actually rendered "the righteous for the unrighteous" (ARV).WhenZechariahpredictedHisentryintoJerusalem,ridingonanass,hesaid, "Behold, thy king cometh to thee, he is just"; inRevelation 19:11,whereHe is depicted on a white horse, it is said, "in righteousness hedothjudgeandmakewar."

Inallofthesepassages,theFather’s"fellow"andequalisviewedinHisofficialcharacter,as theGod-manMediator.Equallyevident is that

the verses intimate the Lord Jesus is righteous in His person, in theadministration ofHis office, in the discharge of the Great CommissiongivenHim.BeforeHisincarnationitwasannounced"righteousnessshallbe the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins" (Isa.11:5); and Christ affirmed by the spirit of prophecy, "I have preachedrighteousnessinthegreatcongregation"(Ps.40:9).Therewasnofaultorfailure in His performing of the honoured and momentous taskcommitted to Him, as His own words to the Father prove: "I haveglorifiedtheeontheearth.Ihavefinishedtheworkwhichthougavestmeto do" (John 17:4). God’s owning of Christ as "my righteous servant"signifiesthatHeexcellentlyexecutedtheworkentrustedtoHim.AstheHolySpiritdeclares,He"wasfaithful tohimthatappointedhim"(Heb.3:2). When the Father rewarded Him He said, "Thou lovestrighteousness,andhatestwickedness"(Ps.45:7).

Further, Christ is the righteous Redeemer of His people becausetheirrighteousnessisinHim.Hewroughtoutaperfectrighteousnessforthem. Upon their believing in Him, it is imputed or reckoned to theiraccount;thereforeHeisdesignated"TheLordOurRighteousness"(Jer.23:6).Christwasrighteousnotasaprivateperson,notforHimselfalone,butforussinnersandoursalvation.HeactedasGod’srighteousServantand as His people’s righteous sponsor. He lived and died that all theinfinitemeritsofHisobediencemightbemadeovertothem.InjustifyingHis sinful people God neither disregarded nor dishonored His law;insteadHe"established"it(Rom.3:31).TheRedeemerwas"madeunderthelaw"(Gal.4:4).Itsstrictnesswasnotrelaxednorwasoneiotaof itsrequirementsabatedinconnectionwithHim.ChristrenderedtotheLawapersonal,perfect,andperpetualobedience:thereforeHedid"magnifythe law, andmake it honorable" (Isa. 42:21). Consequently God is notonly gracious but "just" at the verymomentHe is "the justifier of himwhich believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26), because Jesus satisfied everyrequirementofrighteousnessonbehalfofallwhotrustinHim.

IntherighteousRedeemerwefindtheanswertothequestion,"Howcan thosewho have no righteousness of their own andwho are utterlyunable to procure any, become righteous before God?" How can man,whoisamassofcorruption,drawnighuntotheineffablyHolyOne,and

look up into His face in peace? He can do so by coming to God asunrighteous,acknowledginghisinabilitytoremoveunrighteousness,andofferingnothingtopalliateHim.Becausewewereunabletoreachuptothe holy requirements or righteousness of the Law, God brought Hisrighteousnessdown tous: "Ibringnearmy righteousness" (Isa.46:13).ThatrighteousnesswasbroughtneartosinnerswhentheWordbecamefleshandtabernacledamongmen;itisbroughtneartousintheGospel,"for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith’(Rom.1:17).ThisrighteousnessGodimputestoallwhobelieveandthendealswiththemaccordingtoitsdeserts.

"Forhe[God]hathmadehim[Christ]tobesinforus,whoknewnosin;thatwemightbe[notputintoacapacityofacquiringarighteousnessof our own, but]made the righteousness ofGod in him" (2 Cor. 5:21).Here is the double imputation of our sins to Christ and of Hisrighteousness to us. We are not said to be made righteous, but"righteousness"itself;andnotrighteousnessonly,but"therighteousnessof God" the utmost that language can reach. In the samemanner thatChristwas"madesin,"wearemade"righteousness.’’Christdidnotknowactualsin,butinHismediatorialinterpositiononourbehalfHewasdealtwith as a guilty person. Likewise we are destitute of all legalrighteousness; yet upon receiving Christ, we are viewed by the divinemajesty as righteous creatures. Both were by imputation; an amazingexchange! So as to exclude the idea that any inherent righteousness isinvolved, it is said, "wearemade the righteousnessofGod inHim."AsthesinimputedtoChristisinherentinus,sotherighteousnessbywhichwearejustifiedisinherentinHim.

Thedivineplanof redemption fully satisfies theclaimsof theLaw.There was nothing in all its sacred injunctions which Christ did notperform,nothinginitsawfulthreateningswhichHedidnotsustain.Hefulfilled all its precepts by an unspotted purity of heart and a perfectintegrity of life. He exhausted the whole curse when He hung on thecross, abandoned by God, for the sins of His people. His obedienceconferredhigherhonorupontheLawthanitcouldpossiblyhavereceivedfrom an uninterrupted compliance by Adam and his posterity. TheperfectionsofGod,whichweredishonoredbyourrebellion,areglorified

inourredemption.InredemptionGodappearsinflexiblyjustinexactingvengeance, and inconceivably rich in showing mercy. "The sword ofjustice and the scepter of grace has each its due exercise, each its fullexpression" (JamesHervey).The interests of holiness are also secured,for where redemption is received by faith it kindles in the heart anintensehatredofsinandthedeepestloveandgratitudetoGod.

TheSaviorhoodofChrist

"MyThoughtsarenotyourthoughts,neitherareyourwaysmyways,SaiththeLORD"(Isa.55:8).Solemnlythesewordsmanifest theterriblehavocsinhaswroughtinfallenmankind.TheyareoutoftouchwiththeirMaker; naymore, they are "alienated from the life of God through theignorancethat is inthem,becauseoftheblindnessoftheirheart"(Eph.4:18).Asaconsequence, thesoulhas lost its anchorage, everythinghasbeen thrown out of gear, and human depravity has turned all thingsupside down. Instead of subordinating the concerns of this life to theinterests of the life to come, man devotes himself principally to thepresentandgiveslittleornothoughttotheeternal.Insteadofputtingthegoodofhissoulaheadoftheneedsofthebody,manisoccupiedchieflyaboutfoodandraiment.Insteadofman’sgreataimbeingtopleaseGod,ministeringtoselfhasbecomehisprimebusiness.

Man’s thoughtsought tobegovernedbyGod’sWord, andhiswaysregulatedbyGod’srevealedwill.But theconverse is true.So the thingswhichareofgreatpriceinthesightofGod(1Pet.3:4)aredespisedbythefallen creature, and "that which is highly esteemed among men isabomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15).Man has turned thingstopsyturvy,sadlyinevidencewhenheattemptstohandledivinematters.The perversity which sin has caused appears in our reversing God’sorder.TheScripturespeaksofman’s"spiritandsoulandbody"(1Thess.5:23), but when the world refers to it, it says "body, soul, and spirit."Scripture declares that Christians are "strangers and pilgrims" in thisscene; but nine times out of ten, even good men talk and write of"pilgrimsandstrangers."

This tendency toreverseGod’sorder ispartof fallenman’snature.UnlesstheHolySpiritinterposesandworksamiracleofgrace,itseffectsarefatal tothesoul.Nowheredowehaveamoretragicexampleof thisthanintheevangelisticmessagenowbeinggiven,thoughscarcelyanyoneseems aware of it. That something is radicallywrongwith theworld iswidelyrecognized.ThatChristendomisinasadstatemanyarepainfullyconscious—thaterroraboundsoneveryside,thatpracticalgodlinessisatalowebb,thatworldlinesshasdevitalizedmanychurches,isapparenttoincreasingnumbers.But few seehowbad things are, few perceive thatthingsarerottentotheveryfoundation;yetsuchisthecase.

God’struewayofsalvationislittleknowntoday.TheGospelwhichisbeing preached, even in orthodox circles, is often an erroneous gospel.Even thereman has reversedGod’s order. Formany years it has beentaught that nothing more is required for a sinner’s salvation than to"acceptChristashispersonalSavior."Later,heoughttobowtoHimasLord,consecratehislifetoHim,andserveHimfully.Butevenifhefailsto do so, heaven is sure for him.He will lack peace and joy now, andprobablymisssomemillennial crown;buthavingreceivedChristashispersonal Savior, he has been delivered from wrath to come. This is areversalofGod’sorder.Itisthedevil’slie,andonlythedaytocomewillshowhowmanyhavebeenfatallydeceivedbyit.

Weareaware this is strong language,and itmaycomeasa shock;buttestitbythislight:EverypassageoftheNewTestamentwherethesetwotitlesoccurtogethersay"LordandSavior,"andnever"Savior"(Luke1:46-47).UnlessJehovahhadfirstbecomeher"Lord,"mostcertainlyHewould not have been her "Savior." No one who seriously ponders thematter has any difficulty perceiving this. How could a thrice-holy GodsaveonewhoscornedHisauthority,despisedHishonor,andfloutedHisrevealedwill.It is infinitegracethatGodisreadytobereconciledtouswhenwethrowtheweaponsofourrebellionagainstHim;butitwouldbeanactofunrighteousness,puttingapremiumuponlawlessness,wereHetopardonthesinnerbeforehewasfirstreconciledtoHisMaker.

The saints of God are bidden to make their "calling and electionsure" (2 Pet. 1:10) (and this, by adding to their faith the other gracesenumerated in vv. 5-7). They are assured that if they do so they shall

never fall, for so an entrance shall be ministered to them abundantly"intotheeverlastingkingdomofour[1]Lordand[2]SaviorJesusChrist"(2Pet. 1:11). But particularly note theorder inwhichChrist’s titles arementioned: it is not "our Savior and Lord," but "Lord and Savior."HebecomestheSaviorofnoneuntiltheheartandwillunreservedlyreceiveHimasLord.

"For if after theyhave escaped thepollutions of theworld throughthe knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are againentangledtherein,andovercome,thelatterendisworsewiththemthanthebeginning"(2Pet.2:20).Heretheapostlereferstothosewhohadahead knowledge of the Truth, and then apostatized. There had been areformationoutwardlyintheirlives,butnoregenerationoftheheart.Forawhiletheyweredeliveredfromthepollutionoftheworld,butwithnosupernatural work of grace having been wrought in their souls, thelustings of the flesh proved too strong. Theywere again overcome andreturnedtotheirformermanneroflifelikethe"dogtoitsvomit"orthe"sowtoitswallowinginthemire."Theapostasyisdescribedas,"toturnfromtheholycommandmentdelivereduntothem,"whichreferredtotheterms of discipleship made known in the Gospel. But what we areparticularly concerned about is theHoly Spirit’s order: these apostateshad been favored with the "knowledge of (1) the Lord and (2) SaviorJesusChrist."

God’speopleareexhortedto"growingrace,andintheknowledgeofourLordandSaviorJesusChrist"(2Pet.3:18).HereagainGod’sorderisthe opposite ofman’s.Nor is thismerely a technical detail, concerningwhich amistake is of littlemoment. No, the subject is basic, vital andfundamental, and error at this point is fatal. Those who have notsubmittedtoChristasLord,butwhotrustinHimasSavioraredeceived.

The same principle is illustrated in passages where other titles ofChristoccur.TaketheopeningverseoftheNewTestament(Matthew1:1)whereHeispresentedas"JesusChrist,[1]thesonofDavid,[2]thesonofAbraham."Waiving thedispensational signification of these titles, viewthem from the doctrinal and practical viewpoint, which should be ourfirstconsideration."SonofDavid"brings inthethrone,emphasizesHisauthority, and demands allegiance to His scepter. And "son of David"

comesbefore"sonofAbraham!"Again,wearetoldthatGodhadexaltedJesus tohis own right hand "to be [1] a Prince and [2] a Savior" (Acts5:31). The concept embodied in the title "Prince" is that of supremedominionandauthority,"Theprinceofthekingsoftheearth"(Rev.1:5).

In the Book of Acts we quickly discover that the message of theapostles was altogether different—not only in emphasis, but also insubstance—from the preaching of our times. On the day of PentecostPeter declared, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall besaved" (Acts2:21), and remindedhishearers thatGodhadmade Jesus"bothLordandChrist"(Acts2:36),notChristandLord.ToCorneliusandhishouseholdPeterpresentedChristas"Lordofall"(Acts10:36).WhenBarnabas came toAntioch,he "exhorted themall, thatwithpurpose ofheart they should cleave unto the Lord" (Acts 11:23); also Paul andBarnabas"commendedthemtotheLord,onwhomtheybelieved"(Acts14:23).AtthegreatsynodinJerusalem,Peterremindedhisfellowsthatthe Gentiles would "seek after [not only a Savior, but] the Lord" (Acts15:17).TothePhilippianjailorandhishouseholdPaulandSilaspreached"thewordoftheLord"(Acts16:32).

The apostles not only emphasized the Lordship of Christ, but alsotheymadesurrendertoitessentialtosalvation.Thisisclearfrommanyotherpassages:"Andbelieverswerethemoreaddedto[notChrist,but]theLord" (Acts5:14); "Andall thatdweltatLyddaandSaronsawhim,and turned to the Lord" (Acts 9:35); "Andmany believed in the Lord"(Acts 9:42); "Andmuchpeoplewas addedunto theLord" (Acts 11:24)."Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, beingastonished at the doctrine of the Lord" (Acts 13:12); "AndCrispus, thechief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house"(Acts18:8).

Few today have a right conception ofwhat a scriptural and savingconversion is. The call to it is set forth in Isaiah 55:7, "Let thewickedforsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let himreturn [having in Adam departed] unto the LORD, and He will havemercy upon him." The character of conversion is described in 1Thessalonians 1:9, "Ye turned toGod from idols to serve the livingandtrueGod."Conversion,then,isaturningfromsinuntoholiness,fromself

unto God, from Satan unto Christ. It is the voluntary surrender ofourselves to theLordJesus,notonlybya consent of dependenceuponHismerits,butalsobyawillingreadinesstoobeyHim,givingupthekeysof our hearts and laying them at His feet. It is the soul declaring, "OLORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us[namely, the world, the flesh, and the devil]: but by thee only will wemakementionofthyname"(Isa.26:13).

Conversion consists in our being recovered from our presentsinfulness to themoral imageofGod,or,which is the same thing, to areal conformity to the moral law. But a conformity to the moral lawconsists inadispositionto loveGod supremely, live toHimultimately,anddelight inHimsuperlatively,andto loveourneighborasourselves:andapracticeagreeingthereto.Andthereforeconversionconsistsinourbeing recovered fromwhatwe are by nature to such a disposition andpractice(JamesBellamy,1770).

Note the searchingwords inActs3:26, "Untoyou firstGod havingraiseduphisSonJesus,senthimtoblessyouinturningawayeveryoneof you from his iniquities." This is Christ’s way of blessing men—convertingthem.HowevertheGospelmayinstructandenlightenmen,solong as they remain the slaves of sin, it has conferred upon them noeternal advantage. "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselvesservantstoobey,hisservantsyearetowhomyeobey;whetherofsinuntodeath,orofobedienceuntorighteousness?"(Rom.6:16).

ThereisaveryrealdifferencebetweenbelievinginthedeityofChristandsurrenderingtoHislordship.ManyarefirmlypersuadedthatJesusis the Son of God; they have no doubtHe is theMaker of heaven andearth.Butthatisnoproofofconversion.ThedemonsownedHimasthe"Son of God" (Matthew 8:29). What we press here is not the mind’sassenttotheGodhoodofChrist,butthewill’syieldingtoHisauthority,so that the life is regulated by His commandments. There must be asubjectingofourselvestoHim.Theoneisuselesswithouttheother."Hebecametheauthorofeternalsalvationuntoallthemthatobeyhim"(Heb.5:9).

Yet in the face of the clear teaching of Holy Writ, when unsaved

peopleareconcernedabouttheirfuturedestiny,andinquire,"Whatmustwedotobesaved?"theanswertheyareusuallygivenis,"AcceptChristasyourpersonalSavior."Littleeffort ismadetopressuponthem(asPauldidthePhilippianjailor)theLordshipofChrist.Manyablind leaderoftheblindgliblyquotes, "Butasmanyas receivedhim, to themgaveHepower to become the sons of God" (John 1:12). Perhaps the leaderobjects, "But nothing is said there about receiving Christ as Lord."Directly, no; nor is anything said there about receiving Christ "as apersonalSavior"!ItisawholeChristwhichmustbereceived,ornoneatall.

ButiftheobjectorwillcarefullyponderthecontextofJohn1:12,hewill quickly discover that it is asLordChrist is presented, and as suchmust be receivedbyus. In theprevious verse, "He cameuntohis own,andhis own receivedhimnot." Inwhat character does that viewHim?Clearly, as the Owner and Master of Israel; and it was as such they"receivedhimnot."ConsiderwhatHedoesforthosewhodoreceiveHim:"tothemgavehepower[therightorprerogative]tobecomethesonsofGod."Whobut theLordof lords isvestedwithauthority to giveothersthetitletobesonsofGod!

In an unregenerate state, no sinner is subject to Christ as Lord,thoughhemaybefullyconvincedofHisdeity,andemploy"LordJesus"when referring to Him. When we say that no unregenerate person "issubjecttoChristasLord,"wemeanthatHiswillisnottheruleoflife;toplease, obey, honor, and glorify Christ is not the dominant aim,disposition,andstrivingoftheheart.Farfromthisbeingthecase,hisrealsentimentis,"WhoistheLORD,thatIshouldobeyHisvoice?"(Ex.5:2).Thewhole trendof his life is saying, "Iwill nothave thisman to reignover me" (see Luke 19:14). Despite all religious pretensions, the realattitude of the unregenerate toward God is, "Depart from us; for wedesire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that weshould serve [be in subjection to] him?" (Job 21:14-15). Their conductintimates,"ourlipsareourown:whoislordoverus?"(Ps.12:4).InsteadofsurrenderingtoGodinChrist,everysinnerturns"tohisownway"(Isa.53:6),livingonlytopleaseself.

When theHolySpirit convicts of sin,He causes thatperson to see

what sin really is. He makes the convicted one understand that sin isrebellionagainstGod,arefusaltosubmittotheLord.TheSpiritcauseshim to realize that he has been an insurrectionist against Him who isexaltedaboveall.Heisnowconvictednotonlyofthissin,orthatidol,butalso isbroughttorealizehiswhole lifehasbeena fightingagainstGod;thathehasknowingly,willfully,andconstantlyignoredanddefiedHim,deliberatelychoosingtogohisownway.TheworkoftheSpiritinGod’select isnotsomuchtoconvinceeachof themtheyare lostsinners(theconscience of the natural man knows that, without any supernaturaloperationof theSpirit!); it is to reveal theexceeding"sinfulnessof sin"(Rom.7:13),bymakingusseeandfeelthatallsinisaspeciesofspiritualanarchy,adefianceoftheLordshipofGod.

WhenamanhasreallybeenconvictedbythesupernaturaloperationoftheHolySpirit,thefirsteffectonhimiscompleteandabjectdespair.His case appears to be utterly hopeless.He now sees he has sinned sogrievouslythatitappearsimpossibleforarighteousGodtodoanythingbutdamnhimforeternity.Heseeswhatafoolhehasbeeninheedingthevoiceoftemptation,fightingagainsttheMostHigh,andinlosinghisownsoul.HerecallshowoftenGodhasspokentohiminthepast—asachild,asa youth, asanadult,uponabedof sickness, in thedeathof a lovedone,inadversities—andhowherefusedtolistenanddeliberatelyturnedadeafear.Henowfeelshehassinnedawayhisdayofgrace.

Butthegroundmustbeplowedandharrowedbeforeitisreceptivetoseed.Sotheheartmustbepreparedbytheseharrowingexperiences,thestubbornwillbroken,beforeitisreadyforthehealingoftheGospel.Buthow very few ever are savingly convicted by the Spirit! The Spiritcontinues His work in the soul, plowing still deeper, revealing thehideousness of sin, producing a horror of andhatred for it. The sinnernextreceivesthebeginningofhope,whichresultsinanearnestinquiry,"WhatmustIdotobesaved?"ThentheSpirit,whohascometoearthtoglorify Christ, presses upon that awakened soul the claims of HisLordship(i.e.Luke14:26-33)andmakesusrealizethatChristdemandsourhearts, lives,andall.ThenHegrantsgracetothequickenedsoultorenounceallotherlords,toturnawayfromallidolsandtoreceiveChristasProphet,Priest,andKing.

Nothing but the sovereign and supernaturalwork of the Spirit canbringthistopass.ApreachermayinduceamantobelievewhatScripturesaysabouthislostcondition,persuadehimtobowtothedivineverdict,andthenacceptChristashispersonalSavior.Nomanwantstogotohell,andfireisassuredintellectuallythatChriststandsreadyasafireescape,onthesolecondition thathe jump intoHisarms("restonHis finishedwork"), thousands will do so. But a hundred preachers are unable tomakeanunregeneratepersonrealizethedreadfulnatureofsin,orshowhimthathehasbeenalifelongrebelagainstGod,orchangehisheartsothathenowhateshimselfandlongstopleaseGodandserveChrist.OnlytheSpiritcanbringmantotheplacewhereheiswillingtoforsakeeveryidol,cutoffahinderingrighthandorpluckoutanoffendingrighteye.

Probablysomewillsay,"Buttheexhortationsaddressedtosaintsinthe epistles show that it isChristians, andnot the unsaved,who are tosurrendertoChrist’sLordship(Rom.12:1).Suchamistakeonlyservestodemonstrate the gross spiritual darkness which has enveloped evenorthodox Christendom. The exhortations of the epistles simply signifythat Christians are to continue as they began, "As ye have thereforereceived Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him" (Col. 2:6). All theexhortationsmaybesummedupintwowords:"CometoChrist,""AbideinHim";andwhatisabidingbutcomingtoChristconstantly(1Pet.2:4)?The saints (Rom. 12:1) had already been bidden to "yield" themselves"untoGod"(Rom.6:13).Whileweareonearthwewillalwaysneedsuchadmonitions.ThebacksliddenchurchatEphesuswastold,"Repent,anddothefirstworks"(Rev.2:5).

Andnowa pointedquestion: IsChrist yourLord?DoesHe in factoccupythethroneofyourheart?DoesHeactuallyruleyourlife?Ifnot,thenmost certainlyHe is not your Savior. Unless your heart has beenrenewed,unlessgracehas changedyou froma lawless rebel toa lovingsubject,thenyouareyetinyoursins,onthebroadroadtodestruction.

TheLordshipofChrist

"ButSanctifyinyourheartsChristasLord"(1Pet.3:15,RV).Inviewof the context it is striking tonote that itwasPeterwhom theSpiritofGodfirstmovedtowritethesewords.Ashedidso,hisheart,nodoubt,was filled with sorrow and deep contrition. He says, "If ye suffer forrighteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror,neitherbetroubled"(v.14).Onanever-to-beforgottenoccasion,hehadbeenafraidofthe"terror"ofthewicked.InPilate’spalacethefearofmanbroughthimasnare.Butinourtextheannouncesthedivineremedyfordeliverancefromthefearofman.

"ButsanctifyinyourheartsChristasLord."Inthelightofitssetting,thismeans,firstofall,tolettheaweofthelordshipofChristpossessyourhearts. Dwell constantly on the fact that Christ is Lord. BecauseHe isLord, all power in heaven and earth is His; therefore He is Master ofeverysituation,sufficientforeveryemergency,abletosupplyeveryneed.WhenaChristiantremblesinthepresenceofhisenemies,itisbecausehedoubtsorhaslostsightofthefaithfulnessandpowerofChrist.

"ButsanctifyinyourheartsChristasLord."Themotiveforobeyingthispreceptshouldnotbeourownpeaceandcomfort,butHishonorandglory.Toguardagainstthefeatofman,thesaintistocultivatethefearoftheLord,thatChristmaybemagnified.TheLordJesusisglorifiedwhenHis persecuted people preserve a calm demeanor and immovablefortitude in the face of all opposition. But this is possible only as ourheartsareoccupiedwithHim,andparticularlywithHislordship.

"But sanctify in your hearts, Christ as Lord." These words have awiderapplication.HowlittleprofessingChristiansdwellonthelordshipofChrist!HowsadlyinadequatearetherealChristian’sviewsofthatOnewhohasanamewhichisaboveeveryname!"ThatImayknow[obtainabetterknowledgeof]him"(Phil.3:10),shouldbethedailylongingofourhearts,andtheearnestprayerofourlips.Notonlydoweneedtogrowin"grace"butalsoin"theknowledgeofourLordandSaviorJesusChrist"(2Pet.3:18).

How little we really know the Christ of God. "No man knoweth[perfectly]theSon,buttheFather"(Matthew11:27);yetmuchhasbeenrevealed concerning Him in the Scriptures. How little we study those

Scriptures with the definite object of seeking a better, deeper, fullerknowledge of the Lord Jesus! How circumscribed is the scope of ourstudies!ManyformtheirconceptionsofChristfromthefirstfourbooksoftheNewTestamentandrarelyreadbeyondthosebooks.

ThegospelstreatofChrist’slifeduringthedaysofHishumiliation.TheyviewHimintheformofaServant,whocamenottobeministeredunto,but tominister.True,Matthew’sGospelsets forth thekingshipofHimwhowas here as Jehovah’s Servant; yet it is as the rejectedKing.Truealso,John’sGospelportraysthedivinegloriesoftheincarnateSon;yetastheOnewhowasunknownintheworldwhichHehadmade,andasrejectedbyHisowntowhomHecame(John1:10-11).Itisnotuntilwepassbeyond the gospels thatwe find the lordship of Jesus ofNazarethreallymademanifest.

OnthedayofPentecost,Petersaid,"LetallthehouseofIsraelknowassuredly,thatGodhathmadethatsameJesus,whomyehavecrucified,bothLordandChrist" (Acts2:36).ThehumbledOne isnowvictorious.Hewhowasborninlowlinesshasbeenexalted"faraboveallprincipality,andpower,andmight,anddominion,andeverynamethatisnamed,notonlyinthisworld,butalsointhatwhichistocome"(Eph.1:21).HewhosufferedHisfacetobecoveredwiththevilespitofmenhasbeengivenanamemoreexcellentthantheangels(Heb.1:4).Hewhommancrownedwiththornshasbeen"crownedwithgloryandhonor"(Heb.2:9).Hewhohung, inapparenthelplessnessupona crosshas takenHis seat "on therighthandoftheMajestyonhigh"(Heb.1:3).

The epistles, in contrast to the gospels, were all written from theviewpoint of an ascended Christ. They treat of a glorified Savior. Howmuchwe loseby theirneglect!Why is it thatwhenChristcomes toourminds our thoughts turn back to the "days ofHis flesh"?Why are ourheartssolittleoccupiedwiththeheavenlyChrist?WhydowemeditatesolittleuponHisexaltation,HisseatandsessionatGod’srighthand?Isitnotbecausewereadtheepistlessoinfrequently?

Many Christians find the epistles somuchmore difficult than thegospels. Of course they do, because they are so unfamiliar. Enter astrangecityanditslayout,streetsandsuburbsareunknown.Itishardto

findyourwayabout.Soitiswiththeepistles.TheChristianmustliveinthemtobecomeacquaintedwiththeircontents.

ItisintheepistlesalonethatthedistinctivecharacterofChristianityissetforth;notinthegospels;theActsistransitionary;andmostoftheRevelationbelongs to the future.Theepistlesalone treatof thepresentdispensation.Butpresent-daypreachingrarelynoticesthem.Christians,in their private reading of theWord, seldom turn to them. But in theEpistles only is Christianity expounded—Christianity has to do with arisen,glorified,andenthronedChrist.Thus,ifweareto"SanctifyinyourheartsChristJesusasLord,"wemustspendmuchtimeintheepistles.

TheFriendshipofChrist

HowMany Have Ever Heard a sermon or read an article on thissubject? How many of God’s people think of Christ in this blessedrelationship?ChrististhebestFriendtheChristianhas,anditisbothhisprivilegeanddutytoregardHimassuch.Ourscripturalsupportisinthefollowingpassages:"Thereisafriendthatstickethcloserthanabrother"(Prov.18:24),whichcanrefertononeotherthantheLordJesus;"Thisismybeloved,andthisismyfriend,OdaughtersofJerusalem"(Song5:16).ThatisthelanguageofHisSpouse,thetestimonyoftheChurch,avowingthis most intimate relationship. Add to these the witness of the NewTestamentwhenChristwas termed "a friend of publicans and sinners"(Luke7:34).

Many and varied are the relationships in which Christ stands to abeliever,andheistheloserifHeisignoredinanyofthem.ChristisGod,Lord,Head,SavioroftheChurch.OfficiallyHeisourProphet,Priest,andKing; personally He is our Kinsman-Redeemer, our Intercessor, ourFriend.That titleexpresses thenearunionbetween theLordJesusandbelievers.Theyareasifbutonesoulactuatedthem;indeed,oneandthesamespiritdoes,for"hethatisjoineduntotheLordisonespirit"(1Cor.6:17)."ChriststandsinanearerrelationthanabrothertotheChurch:HeisherHusband,herBosom-friend"(JohnGill)."Wearemembersofhis

body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Eph. 5:30). But even thoserelationshipsfallshortoffullyexpressingthenearness,spiritualoneness,andindissoluablenessoftheunionbetweenChristandHispeople.ThereshouldbethefreestapproachestoHimandthemostintimatefellowshipwithHim.TodenyChristthatistoignorethetactHeisourbestFriend.

"There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." ThatendearingtitlenotonlyexpressesthenearrelationbetweenHimandHisredeemedbutalsotheaffectionwhichHebearsthem.Nothinghas,does,orcan,dampen,orquenchitsoutflow."Havinglovedhisownwhichwereintheworld,helovedthemuntotheend"(John13:1).Thatblessedtitletells of the sympathy He bears His people in all their sufferings,temptations,andinfirmities."Inalltheirafflictionhewasafflicted...inhisloveandinhispityheredeemedthem;andhebarethem,andcarriedthem all the days of old" (Isa. 63:9). What demonstrations of Hisfriendship!ThattitlealsotellsofHisdeepconcernforourinterests.Hehasourhighestwelfareatheart;accordinglyHehaspromised,"Iwillnotturn away from them, to do them good" (Jer. 32:40). Consider moredefinitelytheexcellenciesofourbestFriend:

Christ is an ancient Friend.Old friendswe prize highly. The LordJesuswasourFriendwhenwewereHisenemies!We fell inAdam,butHedidnotceasetoloveus;ratherHebecamethelastAdamtoredeemusand"laydownhislifeforhisfriends"(John15:13).HesentHisservantsto preach the Gospel unto us, but we despised it. Even when we werewandering in theways of follyHe determined to save us, andwatchedoverus.Inthemidstofoursinningandsportingwithdeath,Hearrestedus by His grace, and by His love overcame our enmity and won ourhearts.

Christ is a constant Friend; One that "loveth at all times" (Prov.17:17).HecontinuestobeourFriendthroughallthevicissitudesoflife—no fair-weather friendwho failsuswhenweneedHimmost.He isourFriendinthedayofadversity,equallyasmuchasinthedayofprosperity.WasHenotsotoPeter?Heis"averypresenthelpintrouble"(Ps.46:1),andevidencesitbyHissustaininggrace.NordoourtransgressionsturnawayHiscompassionfromus;eventhenHeactsasafriend."Ifanymansin,wehaveanadvocatewiththeFather,JesusChrist therighteous" (1

John2:1).

ChristisafaithfulFriend.Hisgraceisnotshownattheexpenseofrighteousness, nor doHismercies ignore the requirements of holiness.ChristalwayshasinviewboththegloryofGodandthehighestgoodofHis people. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Prov. 27:6). A realfriendperformshisdutybypointingoutmy faults. In this respect, too,Christdoes"showhimselffriendly"(Prov.18:24).OftenHesaystoeachofus,"Ihavea fewthingsagainst thee" (Rev.2:14)—andrebukesusbyHisWord,convictsourconsciencebyHisSpirit,andchastensusbyHisprovidence"thatwemightbepartakersofhisholiness"(Heb.12:10).

ChristisapowerfulFriend.Heiswillingandabletohelpus.Someearthly friendsmayhave thedesire tohelpus in thehour of need, butlackthewherewithal:notsoourheavenlyFriend.Hehasboththehearttoassistandalsothepower.HeisthePossessorof"unsearchableriches,"andallthatHehasisatourdisposal."TheglorywhichthougavestmeIhavegiventhem"(John17:22).WehaveaFriendatcourt,forChristusesHis influence with the Father on our behalf. "He ever liveth to makeintercessionforus"(Heb.7:25).NosituationcanpossiblyarisewhichisbeyondtheresourcesofChrist.

ChristisaneverlastingFriend.Hedoesnotdesertusinthehourofcrisis. "Though Iwalk through the valleyof the shadowof death, Iwillfear no evil, for thou art withme" (Ps. 23:4).Nor does death sever usfrom this Friend who "sticketh closer than a brother," for we are withHimthatveryday inparadise.Deathwillhaveseparatedus fromthoseonearth,but"absentfromthebody"weshallbe"presentwiththeLord"(2Cor.5:8).AndinthefutureChristwillmanifestHimselfasourFriend,saying"EnterthouintothejoyofthyLord."

Since Christ is such a Friend to the Christian, what follows?Friendshipshouldbeansweredwithfriendship!Negatively,thereshouldbe no coldness, aloofness, trepidation, hesitancy on our part; butpositively,afreeavailingourselvesofsuchaprivilege.WeshoulddelightourselvesinHim.SinceHeisafaithfulFriendwemaysafelytellHimthesecrets of our hearts, forHe will never betray our confidence. ButHisfriendshipalsoimposesdefiniteobligations—topleaseHimandpromote

Hiscause,anddailyseekHiscounsel.

TheHelpfulnessofChrist

OneOfTheApostle’spurposesinwritingtheepistletotheHebrewsis tostrengthenthe faithof thosewhoweresorelytriedandwavering—andbyparityofreasonallwhoareweakingrace."Forinthathehimselfhathsufferedbeingtempted,heisabletosuccorthemthataretempted"(Heb.2:18).Themethodhe followed inprosecutingthatendwas tosetforththetranscendentexcellencyofChrist,withHisgoodwilltothesonsofmen.Heexhibitsat length theperfectionsofHisperson,Hisoffices,andHiswork.HedeclaresthatHeistheSonofGod,whohasbeenmadetheHeirofallthings;thatHeisthebrightnessoftheFather’sgloryandthe express image of His person. Full demonstration wasmade of Hisimmeasurablesuperioritytoangels,yetsoinfinitewasHiscondescensionand so greatHis love to those givenHimby theFather thatHe took aplacelowerthanthatoccupiedbycelestialcreatures;yet,"inallthings...to be made like unto his brethren" (Heb. 2:17). In His offices He isrevealedasthesupremeProphet,thefinalspokesmanofDeity(Heb.1:1-2),asagloriousking(Heb.1:8),as"amercifuland faithfulhighpriest"(Heb.2:17);inHisworkasmaking"reconciliation[lit."propitiation"]forthesinsofthepeople"(Heb.2:17),aseverlivingtomakeintercessionforthem(Heb.7:25),as"bringingmanysonsuntoglory"(Heb.2:10).

So amazing was the grace of this august Being that He not onlypartookofthenatureofthoseHecameheretosave,butalsoHeenteredfully into their circumstances, became subject to their infirmities, wastemptedinallrespectsastheyare(inwardcorruptionexcepted).HeshedHispreciousbloodanddiedashamefuldeathintheirsteadandontheirbehalf;andallofthistomanifesttherealityandabundanceofHismercyuntosinners,firetheirhearts,anddrawouttheaffectionsofbelieverstoHim.TheapostlepointsoutoneoftheblessedconsequencesoftheSon’shavingbecomeincarnateandentered into fellowshipwithHis sufferingpeople.First,theLordofglorycamedownintotherealmoftemptation.Scripture is always to be understood in its widest possible latitude;

therefore "tempt" is signifying put to the proof, subjected to trials andtroubles, solicited to evil. Christ was tempted by God, by men, by thedevil. Second, He "suffered" while being tempted. Those temptationswere not mere make-believe, but real and painful. It could not beotherwise,fornotonlydidHepartakeofallhumansensibilities,butalsoHis holiness felt acutely every form of evil. Third, the remembrance ofHissufferingsmakesHimthemoremindfulofours.

"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able tosuccor them that are tempted." Let us consider first the timeliness andpreciousness of those words to those to whom they were originallyaddressed.TheHebrewssaintswereJewswhohadbeenconvenedinthedaysofChristandunderthepreachingoftheapostles,andtheywereinpeculiarlytryingcircumstances.Theirunconvertedcountrymenregardedthem as apostates from Moses, and therefore from Jehovah Himself.They would have no fellowship with them, but instead regarded themwiththeutmostcontemptandtreatedthemmostcruelly.Thisresultedingreat distress and privation, so that they "endured a great fight ofafflictions," were "made a gazingstock both by reproaches andafflictions,"evento"thespoilingoftheirgoods"(Heb.10:32-34),becauseoftheircontinuedloyaltytoChrist.Hencetheywerestronglytemptedtoabandon the Christian profession, resume their former place underJudaism,andtherebyescape further trouble.Nowitwas tobelievers insuchasituationthatour textwasaddressed.Theapostle reminds themthatChristHimselfwasseverelytempted,thatHewassubjectedtoworsetrials than ours; yet He endured the same and emerged a victoriousOvercomer. Then he assured them that the Savior was able to sustain,comfort,andstrengthenthem.

ThereareChristianstodaywhoareincircumstancessimilartothoseof the oppressed Hebrews. The world hates them, and does so inproportion to their fidelity and conformity to Christ. Some are treatedharshly by ungodly relatives. Some suffer at the hands of gracelessprofessors. Others experience divine chastisement or perplexingprovidences, or are passing through the waters of bereavement or apainfulsickness.AtsuchtimesSatanisparticularlyactive,launchinghisfiercest attacks, tempting them in various ways. Here is relief—real,

present, all-sufficient relief.Turnyourheart and eye to theSavior, andconsiderhowwellqualifiedHe is to succoryou.He is clothedwithourhumanity,andthereforecapableofbeing"touchedwiththefeelingofourinfirmities."TheexperiencethroughwhichHepassedfitHimtopityus.Heknowsall about your case, fully understands your trials and gaugesthe strength of your temptation.He is not an indifferent spectator, butfullofcompassion.HeweptbythegraveofLazarus—andHeisthesametoday as yesterday. He is faithful in responding to the appeals of Hispeople.

"He is able to succor" nomatterwhat form the temptationor trialtakes. "Succour" is a comprehensive word: it means "to befriend," "toassist those in need," "to strengthen the weak." But the Greek term iseven more striking and beautifully expressive: it signifies to hasten inresponse to a cry of distress, literally to "run in to the call" of another.Chrysostom interpreted it, "He gives out His hand unto them with allreadiness."Ablessed illustration isseen in thecaseofChrist stretchingforth His hand to catch hold of Peter as he began to sink in the sea(Matthew14:30-31).ThatwastheSaviorsuccouringoneofHisown.ThesametenderbenevolencewasyetmorefullyexemplifiedwherewebeholdHimas thegoodSamaritan tending thewounded traveler (Luke 10:33-35)."Heisable."TheGreekwordimpliesbothfitnessandawillingnesstodoa thing.Christ is alike competent and ready toundertake forHispeople.ThereisnounwillingnessinHim.Thestraitnessisalwaysinus."He is able to save them to theuttermost that comeuntoGodbyhim"(Heb.7:25)signifiesreadinessaswellasability.

During His sojourn on this earth, was He not ever ready to healdiseasedbodies?AnddoyouthinkthatHeisnowunwillingtoministertodistressedsouls?Perishthethought.Hewasalwaysatthedisposalofthemaimed,theblind,thepalsied,yes,oftherepellentlepertoo.Hewaseverprepared, uncomplainingly, to relieve suffering, though it cost Himsomething—"there went virtue out of him" (Luke 6:19)—and thoughmuch unbelief was expressed by those He befriended. As it was thenapartofHismissiontohealthesick,soitisnowapartofHisministrytobindupthebrokenhearted.WhataSaviorisours!ThealmightyGod,theall-tenderMan.OnewhoisinfinitelyaboveusinHisoriginalnatureand

present glory, yetOnewho became flesh and blood, lived on the sameplane as we do, experienced the same troubles, and suffered as we,though farmore acutely. Then howwell qualifiedHe is to supply youreveryneed!CastallyourcareuponHim,knowingthatHecaresforyou.

Whateveryourcircumstances,thesuccouringSaviorisall-sufficientandenterssympathetically intoyourcondition.Heknewwhat itwas tobeweary(John4:6)andexhausted(Mark4:36-38).Heknewwhatitwastosufferhungerandthirst.Areyouhomeless?HehadnotaplacetolayHis head. Are you in straitened circumstances? He was cradled in amanger. Are you grief-stricken? He was the Man of sorrows. Are youmisunderstood by fellow believers? So was He by His own disciples.Whatever your lot, He can enter fully into it. He experienced all themiseries of mankind, and has not forgotten them. Are you assailed bySatan? So was He. Do blasphemous thoughts at times torment yourmind? The devil temptedHim idolatrously toworship him. Are you insuch desperation as to think of making an end of yourself? SatanchallengedHimtocastHimselfdownfromthepinnacleofthetemple.He"wasinallpointstemptedlikeasweare,sinexcepted."

Angels may pity, but they can have no fellow feeling. But Christ’scompassion(tosufferwith)movesHimtosuccor.InsomeinstancesHedoes so before the temptation comes, and in a variety of ways. Hepreparesforitbyforewarningofthesame;aswithIsraelbeingafflictedinEgypt (Gen. 15:13), andPaul (Acts9:16)—inour caseby causingHisprovidences topresage the temptation;by fittingus for them,asChristwasanointedwiththeSpiritbeforethedeviltemptedHim;orbymeltingtheheartwithasenseofHisgoodness,whichmovesustosay,

"HowthencanIdothisgreatwickedness?"(Gen.39:9).

He succours under temptation; in some cases by the powerfulapplicationofapreceptorpromise,whichasacableholdstheheartfastamid the storm; by a providential interposition which prevents ourexecuting the evil intention, or by removing the temptation itself; bygivingus toprove thesufficiencyofHisgrace (2Cor. 1:2).Hesuccoursafter temptation, by giving us a spirit of contrition (Luke 22:61-62),moving us to confess our sins. As angels ministered to Him after His

conflictwithSatan,soHeministerstous.Thennomatterhowdireyoursituation or acute your suffering, apply to Christ for relief anddeliverance,andcountuponHishelp.Itiswhenthechildismostillthatthemothercomesandsitsbesideit(Isa.66:13).

TheCallofChrist

"ComeUntoMe,allyethatlaborandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyou rest.Takemy yokeupon you, and learnofme; for I ammeek andlowlyinheart:andyeshallfindrestuntoyoursouls.Formyyokeiseasy,andmyburdenislight"(Matthew11:28-30).

Familiar as the sound of those words are to professingChristians,there is a pressing need for their careful examination. Few portions ofGod’sWordhave received such superficial treatment.That theseversescallforprayerfulmeditationsomewilladmit,butfewrealizethatsucha"simple passage" demands protracted study. Many take it for grantedtheyalreadyunderstanditsmeaning,hencetheymakenodiligentinquiryinto thesignificanceof its terms.Themere fact a verse is so frequentlyquotedisnoproofthatwereallyseeitsimport;yet,suchfamiliarityhasprecludedcareful examination and renders it farmore likelywedonotrightlygraspitstruth.

There isavastdifferencebetweenbeingacquaintedwiththesoundof a verse of Holy Writ and entering into the sense of it. Our age ismarkedbyindustrialloafingandmentalslackness.Workisdetestedandhowquickly a taskmaybedisposedof, rather thanhowwell itmaybedone,istheorderoftheday.Thesamedilatoryspiritmarkstheproductsofboththepulpitandtheprintedpage;hencethesuperficial treatmentthis passage commonly receives.No regard is paid to its context or nolaborious attemptmade to ascertain its coherence (the relation of oneclause to another); no painstaking examination and exposition of itsterms.

If ever a passage of Scripture were mutilated and its meaning

perverted,itisthisone.Onlyafragmentofitusuallyisquoted,withthepartmostunpalatabletothefleshomitted.Aparticularcallistwistedintoa promiscuous invitation by deliberately ignoring the qualifying termsthere used by the Savior. Even when the opening clause is quoted, noattempt is made to show what is involved in "come to Christ," so thehearerislefttoassumehealreadyunderstandsitsmeaning.ThespecialofficesinwhichtheSonofGodisportrayed,namelyasLordandMaster,as Prince and Prophet, are ignored, and another substituted. Theconditional promise made by Christ is falsified by making it anunconditional one, as thoughHis "rest" could be obtainedwithoutourtakingHis"yoke"uponus,andwithoutour"learning"ofHim.

Such charges may be resented bitterly by a large number ofchurchgoerswho do notwish to hear anyone criticized. But if they arepreparedtoremain"ateaseinZion,"iftheyarecontentwhethertheybedeceivedornot,iftheyhavesuchconfidenceinmenthattheyarewillingto receive themost valuable things of all secondhand, if they refuse toexamine their foundations and search their hearts, then we must "letthem alone" (Matthew 15:14). But there are still some who prize theirsoulssohighlytheyconsidernoeffort toogreat toascertainwhetherornottheypossessasavingknowledgeofGod’struth;whetherornottheytruly understand the terms ofGod’s salvation;whether or not they arebuildingonanunshakablefoundation.

Takeacloserlookatthepassage.Itopenswith,"ComeuntoMe...andIwillgiveyourest"andcloseswith,"andyeshallfindrestuntoyoursouls." It is not (as some have supposed) two different restswhich arespokenof,butthesameinbothcases;namely,spiritualrest,savingrest.Norare twodifferentaspectsof this restportrayed;but ratherone restviewedfromtwodistinctviewpoints.Intheformer,divinesovereigntyisinview,"Iwillgive"; inthe latter,humanresponsibility isenforced,"yeshall find." In the opening clauseChrist affirms thatHe is theGiver ofrest; in what follows He specifies the terms upon which He dispensesrest;ortoexpressitanotherway,theconditionswhichwemustmeetifwearetoobtainthatrest.Therestisfreelygiven,yetonlytothosewhocomplywiththerevealedrequirementsofitsBestower.

"ComeuntoMe."Who issues this call?Christ, you reply.True,but

Christ in what particular character? Did Christ speak as King,commanding His subjects; as Creator, addressing His creatures; asPhysician,invitingthesick;orasLord,instructingHisservants?ButdoyoudrawadistinctioninyourmindbetweenthepersonofChristandtheoffice of Christ? Do you not distinguish sharply between His office asProphet,asPriest, andasKing?Haveyou foundsuchdistinctionsbothnecessary and helpful? Then why do people complain when we callattention to the varied relations which our Lord sustains, and theimportanceofnotingwhichoftheserelationsHeisactinginatanytime.Attention to suchdetails oftenmakes all thedifferencebetweena rightandwrongunderstandingofapassage.

Toanswerourquery inwhatparticularcharacterChrist issued thiscall,itisnecessarytolookattheversespreceding.Attentiontocontextisoneof thevery firstconcerns for thosewhowouldcarefullyponderanyparticularpassage.Matthew11openswithJohntheBaptisthavingbeencast into prison, from which he sent messengers to Christ to acquaintHim with his perplexity (vv. 2-3). Our Lord publicly vindicated Hisforerunnerandmagnifiedhisuniqueoffice(vv.4-15).HavingpraisedtheBaptistandhisministry,ChristwentontoreprovethosewhohadbeenprivilegedtoenjoybothitandthatofHisown,becausetheydidnotprofitfromit,buthaddespisedandrejectedboth.Sodepravedwerethepeopleof that day, they accused John of being demon-possessed and chargedChristwithbeingagluttonandawinebibber(vv.16-19).

Oneof themost solemnpassages inHolyWrit (vv. 20-24) recordssomeofthemostfearfulwordswhicheverfellfromthelipsoftheSonofGod.HeunbraidedthecitieswheremostofHismightyworksweredonebecause"theyrepentednot"(v.20).NotethatChristrefusedtoglossoverthe perversity of the people; instead,He charged themwith their sins.AndletAntinomiansobservethat,sofarfromtheChristofGodignoringhuman responsibility or excusing men’s spiritual impotency, He heldthemstrictlyaccountableandblamedthemfortheirimpenitency.

WilfulimpenitencyisthegreatdamningsinofmultitudesthatenjoytheGospel, andwhich (more thananyother) sinnerswillbeupbraidedwith to eternity. The great doctrine that both John the Baptist, ChristHimself, and the apostles preached, was repentance: the great thing

designed to both in the "piping" and in the "mourning" was to prevailwithpeopletochangetheirmindsandways.toleavetheirsinsandturntoGod;butthistheywouldnotbebroughtto.Hedoesnotsay,becausetheybelievednot, for somekindof faithmanyof themhad, thatChristwasa"TeachercomefromGod;"butbecausethey"repentednot"—theirfaithdidnotprevailtothetransformingoftheirheartsandthereformingoftheirlives.ChristreprovedthemfortheirothersinsthatHemightleadthem to repentance, but when they repented not, He upbraided themwith that as their refusal tobehealed.Heupbraided themwith it, thattheymightupbraidthemselves,andmightatlengthseethefollyofit,asthat which alone makes the sad case a desperate one and the woundincurable(MatthewHenry).

The particular sin for which Christ upbraided them was that ofimpenitence. The special aggravation of their sin was that they hadwitnessedmostofChrist’smiraculousworks,forinthosecitiestheLordhad for some time resided and performed many of His miracles ofhealing. Some places enjoy the means of grace more plentifully thanothers.Justascertainpartsof theearthreceiveamuchheavierrainfallthan others, certain countries and towns have been favoredwith purerGospelpreachingandmoreoutpouringsoftheSpiritthanothers.GodissovereigninthedistributionofHisgifts,bothnaturalandspiritual,and"untowhomsoevermuchisgiven,ofhimshallmuchberequired"(Luke12:48).Thegreaterouropportunitiesthegreaterourobligations;andthestronger the inducements we have to repent the more heinous isimpenitence,andtheheavierreckoningwillbe.ChristnotesHis"mightyworks"amongus,andwillyetholdustoanaccountofthem.

"Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!" (Matthew11:21).Christcameintotheworldtodispenseblessing.ButifHispersonisdespised,Hisauthorityrejected,andHismerciesslighted,thenHehasterriblewoesinreserve.Buthowmanychurchattendershearanythingatallaboutthis?Oftenthepulpiteerhasdeliberatelytakenthelineofleastresistance and sought only to please the pew, withholding what wasunpalatable or unpopular. Souls are deceived if a sentimental Christ issubstitutedfortheScripturalChrist,ifHis"Beatitudes"(Matthew5)areemphasizedandHis"woes"(Matthew23)areignored.

In still further aggravation of their sin of impenitence, our LordaffirmedthatthecitizensofChorazinandBethsaidawereworseatheartthantheGentilestheydespised.Heassertedthat ifTyreandZidonhadenjoyed suchprivileges as they, theywould have "repented long ago insackclothandashes."SomeoftheblessingsChristendomdespiseswouldbewelcomeinmanypartsofheathendom.

Wearenotcompetenttosolveeverydifficulty,orfullytounderstandthewhole of this subject; it suffices that Christ knew the hearts of theimpenitentJews tobemorehardened inrebellionandenmity,andlesssusceptibleofsuitableimpressionsfromHisdoctrineandmiracles,thanthose of the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon would have been; andtherefore their final condemnation would be proportionably moreintolerable(ThomasScott).

Ontheonehandthispassagedoesnotstandalone(seeEzekiel3:6-7);ontheother,therepentancespokenofbyChristisnotnecessarilyonewhichleadstoeternalsalvation.

StillmoresolemnaretheawfulwordsofChrist(Matthew11:23-24),whereHeannouncedthedoomofhighlyfavoredCapernaum.Becauseoftheunspeakableprivilegesenjoyedbyitsinhabitants,theyhadbeenliftedheavenwards.Butbecausetheirheartsweresoearthboundtheyscornedsuch blessings; therefore they would be "brought down to hell." Thegreatertheadvantagesenjoyed,themorefearfulthedoomofthosewhoabuse them; the higher the elevation, the more fatal a fall from it.Honorable Capernaum is then compared with dishonorable Sodom,which, because of its enormities, God had destroyed with fire andbrimstone.ItwasinCapernaumtheLordJesushadresidedchieflyuponentry into His public ministry, and where so many of His miracles ofhealingwereaccomplished.Yetsoobduratewereitsinhabitants,sowedtotheirsins,theyrefusedtoapplytoHimforthehealingof theirsouls.Had suchmightyworks been done byHim in Sodom its peoplewouldhavebeenaffectedandtheircityremainasalastingmonumentofdivinemercy.

"But I say unto you, that it shall bemore tolerable for the land ofSodom in the day of judgment, than for thee" (v. 24). Yes,my reader,

thoughyoumayhearnothingaboutitfromthepulpit,thereisa"dayofjudgment"awaiting theworld. It is, "thedayofwrathandrevelationoftherighteous judgmentofGod,whowillrendertoeverymanaccordingtohisdeeds"; it is theday"whenGodshall judge thesecretsofmenbyJesusChristaccordingtomygospel"(Rom.2:5,16);"ForGodshallbringeveryworkintojudgment,witheverysecretthing,whetheritbegood,orwhether it be evil" (Eccl. 12:14); "TheLord knowethhow to deliver thegodly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day ofjudgmenttobepunished"(2Pet.2:9);Thepunishment thenmetedoutwill be in proportion to the opportunities given and rejected; theprivilegesvouchsafedandscorned;thelightgrantedandquenched.Mostintolerable will be the doom of those who have abused the greatestadvancementsheavenwards.

"AtthattimeJesusansweredandsaid,Ithankthee,OFather,Lordofheavenandearth,becausethouhasthidthesethingsfromthewiseandprudent, and hast revealed them unto babes" (Matthew 11:25). Theconnection between this and the preceding verses is most instructive.TheretheLordJesusintimatesthatthemajorityofHismightyworkshadproducednogoodeffectuponthosewhosawthem,thattheirbeholdersremained impenitent. So little influence had His gracious presenceexerteduponCapernaum,whereHespentmuchofHistime,thatitsfatewouldbeworse thanSodom’s.Christ looksaway fromearth toheaven,andfindsconsolationinthesovereigntyofGodandtheabsolutesecurityofHiscovenant.Fromupbraidingtheimpenitenceofmen,ChristturnedtorenderthankstotheFather.Ontheword"answered,"MatthewHenrysaid, "It is calledananswer thoughnootherwords are found recordedbut His own, because it is so comfortable a reply to the melancholyconsiderationsprecedingit,andisaptlysetinthebalanceagainstthem."

Awordofwarningisneededatthispoint,forwearesuchcreaturesofextremes.InearlierparagraphswereferredtothosewhosubstitutedasentimentalChristforthetrueChrist;yetthereadermustnotinferfromthisthatwebelieveinastoicalChrist,hard,cold,devoidof feeling.Notso. The Christ of Scripture is perfect Man as well as God the Son,possessed of human sensibilities; yes, capable of much deeper feelingthananyofus,whosefacultiesarebluntedbysin.TheLordJesuswasnot

unaffectedbygriefwhenHepronouncedthedoomofthosecities,nordidHe view them with fatalistic indifference as He found comfort in thesovereigntyofGod.ScripturemustbecomparedwithScripture:HewhoweptoverJerusalem(Luke19:41)wouldnotbeunmovedasHeforesawtheintolerablefateawaitingCapernaum.ThefactthatHewas"theManofsorrows"precludesanysuchconcept.

A similar warning is needed by hyper-Calvinists with fatalisticstoicism:

It seems plain then, that those who are indifferentabout the eventof theGospel,who satisfy themselveswiththisthought,thattheelectshallbesaved,andfeelno concern for unawakened sinners, make a wronginference from a true doctrine, and know not whatspirittheyareof.Jesusweptforthosewhoperishedintheirsins.Paulhadgreatgriefandsorrowofheartforthe Jews, though he gave them this character, "thattheypleasednotGod,andwerecontrarytoallmen."Itwellbecomesus,whileweadmiredistinguishinggraceto ourselves, tomourn over others: and inasmuch assecretthingsbelongtotheLord,andweknownotbutsome,ofwhomwehaveatpresentbutlittlehopes,mayat last be brought to the knowledge of the Truth, weshouldbepatient and forebearingafter thepattern ofourheavenlyFather,andendeavorbyeveryproperandprudent means to stir them up to repentance,remembering that they cannot be more distant fromGodthanbynaturewewereourselves(JohnNewton).

AsperfectManandas"ministerofthecircumcision"(Rom.15:8)theLordJesusfeltacutelyanylackofresponsetoHisarduousefforts.ThisisclearfromHislament,"Ihavelaboredinvain,Ihavespentmystrengthfor nought" (Isa. 49:4). But observe how He comforted Himself. "Yetsurelymy judgment iswiththeLORD,andmywork [or "reward"]withmyGod"(Isa.49:4).Thus,bothinthelanguageofprophecyandhereinMatthew11:25-26,theLordJesussoughtrelieffromthediscouragementsof the Gospel by retreating into the divine sovereignty. "We may take

greatencouragementinlookingupwardtoGod,whenroundaboutusweseenothingbutwhatisdiscouraging.Itissadtoseehowregardlessmostmen are of their ownhappiness, but it is comfortable to think that thewiseandfaithfulGodwill,however,effectuallysecuretheinterestsofHisownglory"(MatthewHenry).

ChristalludedheretothesovereigntyofGodinthreedetails.First,by owning His Father as "Lord of heaven and earth," that is, as soleProprietor thereof. It is well to remember, especially when it appearsSatanismasterofthislowersphere,thatGodnotonly"doethaccordingtoHiswillinthearmyofheaven,"butalso"amongtheinhabitantsoftheearth," so that "none can stay his hand" (Dan. 4:35). Second, byaffirming,"Thouhasthid these things fromthewiseandprudent."Thethingspertaining to salvationareconcealed from the self-sufficientandself-complacent, leaving them innature’sdarkness.Third,bydeclaring,"and hast revealed themunto babes." By the effectual operation of theHolySpiritadivinediscoveryismadebythosewhoarehelplessintheirown esteem. "Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight,"expressedtheSavior’sperfectacquiescence.

"AllthingsaredelivereduntomeofmyFather:andnomanknoweththeSon, but theFather;neither knoweth anyman theFather, save theSon, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him" (Matthew 11:27).This verse supplies the immediate connecting-link between thesovereignty of divine grace mentioned (vv. 25-26) and thecommunicationofthatgracethroughChrist(vv.28-30).Thesettlementsof divine grace were made and secured in the everlasting covenant;communication of it is by and through Christ as the Mediator of thatcovenant.First,hereisthegrandcommissiontheMediatorreceivedfromthe Father: all things necessary to the administration of the covenantweredelivereduntoChrist(cf.Matthew28:18;John5:22,17:2).Second,here is the inconceivable dignity of the Son: lest a false inference bedrawn from the preceding clause, the essential and absolute deity ofChrist is affirmed. Inferior in office, Christ’s nature and dignity is thesameastheFather’s.AsMediator,ChristreceivesallfromtheFather,butas God the Son He is, in every way, equal to the Father in Hisincomprehensible Person. Third, here the work of the Mediator is

summedupinonegranditem:thatofrevealingtheFathertothosegiventoHim.

Thus the context of Matthew 11 reveals Christ in the followingcharacters: as the Upbraider of the impenitent; as the Pronouncer ofsolemn"woe"uponthosewhowereunaffectedbyHismightyworks;asthe Announcer of the day of judgment, declaring that the punishmentawaiting thosewho scorned gospelmercies should bemore intolerablethanthatmetedouttoSodom;astheAffirmerofthehighsovereigntyofGodwhoconcealsand reveals the thingspertaining to salvation;as theMediatorofthecovenant;astheSoncoequalwiththeFather;andastheOnebywhomtheFatherisrevealed."Comeuntome,allyethatlaborandare heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Havingexaminedthecontextofthesewords,sothatwemightthebetterseetheirconnection and the particular characters in which Christ is portrayed,consider thepersonsaddressed, theoneswhowere invited to theRest-giver. This point brings some differences among commentators. Somegive a narrower scope to this call of Christ, and some a wider. Notehowever,thatalloftheleadingearlierexpositorsrestrictedthisparticularcalltoaspecialclass:

He now kindly invites to Himself those whom Heacknowledges to be fit for becoming His disciples.ThoughHeisreadytoreveal theFathertoall,yet thegreat part are careless about coming toHim, becausethey are not affected by a conviction of theirnecessities. Hypocrites give themselves no concernabout Christ because they are intoxicated with theirownrighteousness,andneitherhungernorthirstafterHisgrace.Thosewhoaredevoted to theworld setnovalueonaheavenlylife.ItwouldbevainthereforeforChristtoinviteeitheroftheseclasses,andthereforeHeturnstothewretchedandafflicted.Hespeaksofthemas"laboring"orbeingundera"burden,"anddoesnotmean generally those who are oppressed with griefsandvexations,butthosewhoareoverwhelmedbytheirsins,whoarefilledwithalarmatthewrathofGodand

are ready to sink under so weighty a burden (JohnCalvin).

The character of the persons invited: all that labor and are heavyladen.Thisisawordinseasontohimthatisweary(Isa.50:4).Thosethatcomplainoftheburdenoftheceremonial law,whichwasanintolerableyoke,andwasmademuchmore soby the traditionof theelders (Luke11:46);letthemcometoChristandtheyshallbemadeeasy...Butitisrathertobeunderstoodoftheburdenofsin,boththeguiltandthepowerof it. All those, and those only, are invited to rest in Christ that aresensibleofsinasaburdenandgroanunderit,thatarenotonlyconvictedof theevilof sin—theirownsin—butarecontrite in soul for it; thatarereallysickofsin,wearyoftheserviceoftheworldandtheflesh,thatseetheirstatesadanddangerousbyreasonofsin,andareinpainandfearabout it: as Ephraim (Jer. 31:18-20), the prodigal (Luke 15:17), thepublican(Luke18:13),Peter’shearers(Acts2:37),Paul(Acts9),thejailor(Acts 16:29-30). This is a necessary preparative for pardon and peace(MatthewHenry).

Whoare thepersonshere invited?Theyare thosewho"labor"(theGreek expresses toil with weariness) and are "heavy laden." Thismustherebelimitedtospiritualconcerns,otherwiseitwilltakeinallmankind,eventhemosthardenedandobstinateopposersofChristandtheGospel.Referring to the self-righteous religionists, this writer went on to say,"Youavoidgross sins,youhaveperhapsa formofgodliness.Theworstyouthinkthatcanbesaidofyouis,thatyouemployallyourthoughtsandeverymeansthatwillnotbringyouunderthelashofthelaw,toheapupmoney,tojoinhousetohouseandfieldtofield;oryouspendyourdaysinacompleteindolence,walkinginthewayofyourownhearts,andlookingnofurther:andhereyouwillsayyoufindpleasure,andinsistonit,thatyouareneitherwearynorheavyladen...thenitisplainthatyouarenotthe persons whom Christ here invites to partake of His rest (JohnNewton).

The persons invited are not "all" the inhabitants of mankind, butwith a restriction: "all ye that labor and areheavy laden,"meaningnotthosewho labor in the serviceof sinandSatan, are ladenwith iniquityandinsensibleofit:thosearenotwearyofsinnorburdenedwithit,nor

dotheywantordesireanyrestfortheirsouls;butsuchwhogroan,beingburdenedwiththeguiltofsinontheirconsciencesandarepresseddownwiththeunsupportableyokeoftheLawandtheloadoftheirtrespasses,and have been laboring till they areweary, in order to obtain peace ofconscienceandrestfortheirsoulsbytheobservanceofthesethings,butinvain.TheseareencouragedtocometoHim,laydowntheirburdensatHisfeetandlooktoHim,andlayholdbyfaithonHisperson,bloodandrighteousness(JohnGill).

In more recent times many preachers have dealt with the text(Matthew 11:28) as though the Lord Jesus was issuing an indefiniteinvitation, regardingHis termsas sufficiently general andwide in theirscopetoincludesinnersofeverytype.Theysupposedthatthewords,"yethat laborandareheavy laden,"refer to themiseryandbondagewhichthefallbroughtuponthehumanrace,asitsunhappysubjectsvainlyseeksatisfaction in the things of time and sense, and endeavor to findhappinessinthepleasuresofsin."Theuniversalwretchednessofmanisdepictedonbothitssides—theactiveandthepassiveformsofit"(FaussetandBrown).Theyarelaboringforcontentmentbygratifyingtheir lusts,onlytoaddtotheirmiseriesbybecomingmoreandmoretheburdenedslavesofsin.

It is true theunregenerate "labor in the very fire" and they "wearythemselvesforveryvanity"(Hab.2:13);itistruethey"laborinvain"(Jer.51:58), and "what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind?"(Ecclesiastes 5:16). It is true they "spend money for that which is notbread,"and"laborforthatwhichsatisfiethnot"(Isa.55:2),for"theeyeisnotsatisfiedwithseeing,northeearfilledwithhearing"(Eccl.1:8).Itisequallytruethattheunregenerateareheavyladen,"apeopleladenwithiniquity"(Isa.1:4),yettheyaretotallyinsensibletotheirawfulstate."Thelaborofthefoolishwearietheveryoneofthem,becauseheknowethnothowto go to the city" (Eccl. 10:15).Moreover, "Thewickedare like thetroubled sea, when it cannot rest, whosewaters cast upmire and dirt.Thereisnopeace,saithmyGod,tothewicked"(Isa.57:20-21).Theyhaveneither peace of conscience nor rest of heart. But it is quite anothermattertoaffirmthesearethecharactersChristinvitedtocomeuntoHimforrest.

Weprefertheviewtakenbytheolderwriters.Overacenturyagoalatitudinarianspiritbegantocreepin,andeventhemostorthodoxwereoften,unconsciously,affectedbyit.Thoseinthepewsweremoreinclinedtochafeagainstwhattheyregardedasthe"rigidity"and"narrowness"oftheir fathers;andthose in thepulpithad to tonedown thoseaspectsoftruthwhichweremostrepellenttothecarnalmind,iftheyweretoretaintheir popularity. Side by side with modern inventions, an increasedmeansfortravel,andthedisseminationofnews,camewhatwastermed"abroaderoutlook"and"amorecharitablespirit."Posingasanangeloflight,Satansucceeded inArminianizingmanyplacesof truth;andevenwhere thiswasnotaccomplished,highCalvinismwaswhittleddown tomoderateCalvinism.

Thesearesolemnfactswhichnostudentofecclesiasticalhistorycandeny. Christendom has not fallen into its present condition all of asudden; rather its present state is the outcome of a long and steadydeterioration. The deadly poison of error was introduced here a little,therealittle,withthequantityincreasedaslessoppositioncameagainstit. As the acquiring of "converts" absorbed more and more of theattentionandstrengthof theChurch, the standardofdoctrine lowered,sentimentdisplacedconvictions,andfleshlymethodswereintroduced.Inacomparativelyshort timemanyof thosesentout to"the foreign field"wererankArminians,preaching"anothergospel."Thisreacteduponthehomeland, and soon the interpretations of Scripture given out frompulpits moved into line with the "new spirit" which had captivatedChristendom.

While we do not affirm that everything modem is evil or thateverythingancientwasexcellent,thereisnodoubtthatthegreaterpartofthe boasted "progress" inChristendomof the nineteenth and twentiethcenturieswasaprogressdownwardandnotupward—awayfromGodandnottowardHim,intothedarknessandnotthelight.Thereforeweneedto examinewithdouble caution any religious viewswhichdeviate fromthecommonteachingsofthegodlyReformersandPuritans.Weneednotbeworshipersofantiquityassuch,butweneedtoregardwithsuspicionthose "broader" interpretations of God’s Word which have becomepopularinrecenttimes.

WeshouldpointoutsomeofthereasonswhywedonotbelievethatChristwasmakingabroadcastinvitationthatwasissuedpromiscuouslyto the light-headed, gay-hearted, pleasure-crazy masses which had noappetitefortheGospelandnoconcernforeternalinterests.Thiscallwasnotaddressedtothegodless,careless,giddyandworldlymultitudes,butrather to thosewhowere burdenedwith a sense of sin and longed forreliefofconscience.

First,theLordJesusreceivednocommissionfromheaventobestowrestofsouluponall,butonlyupontheelectofGod."ForIamcomedownfromheaven,nottodomineownwill,butthewillofhimthatsentme.AndthisistheFather’swillwhichhathsentme,thatofallwhichhehathgivenme I should losenothing, but should raise it up again at the lastday"(John6:38-39).That,necessarily,regulatedallHisministry.

Second, theLordJesusalwayspracticedwhatHepreached.ToHisdisciplesHesaid,"Givenotthatwhichisholyuntothedogs,neithercastyeyourpearlsbeforeswine,lesttheytramplethemundertheirfeet,andturnagainand rendyou" (Matthew7:6).Canwe, then, conceive of ourholy Lord inviting the unconcerned to come unto Him for that whichtheirheartsabhorred?HasHesetHisministerssuchanexample?Surely,the word He would have them press upon the pleasure-intoxicatedmembersofourgenerationis,"Rejoice,Oyoungman,inthyyouth;andletthyheartcheertheeinthedaysofthyyouth,andwalkinthewaysofthine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for allthesethingsGodwillbringtheeintojudgment"(Eccl.11:9).

Third, the immediate context is entirely out of harmony with thewider interpretation. Christ pronounced most solemn "woes" on thosewhodespisedandrejectedHim(Matthew11:20-24),drawingconsolationfromthesovereigntyofGodand thankingHimbecauseHehadhiddenfromthewiseandprudentthethingswhichbelongeduntotheireternalpeacebuthadrevealed themuntobabes (vv.25-26). It is these"babes"He invites to Himself; and we find Him presented as the OnecommissionedbytheFatherandastheRevealerofHim(v.27).

It must not be concluded that we do not believe in an unfetteredGospel,or thatweareopposed to thegeneralofferofChrist to allwho

hear it. Not so. His marching orders are far too plain for anymisunderstanding; his Master has bidden him "preach the Gospel toeverycreature,"sofarasDivineprovidenceadmits,andthesubstanceoftheGospelmessage is that Christ died for sinners and stands ready towelcome every sinner willing to receive Him on His terms. The LordJesus announced the design of His incarnation in sufficiently generaltermsastowarrantanymantrulydesiringsalvationtobelieveinHim."Iamnotcometocall therighteous,butsinners to repentance" (Matthew9:13).Manyarecalledeventhoughbutfewarechosen(Matthew20:16).ThewaywespelloutourelectionisbycomingtoChristas lostsinners,trustinginHisbloodforpardonandacceptancewithGod.

In his excellent sermon on these words before us, John Newtonpointedoutthat,whenDavidwasdrivenintothewildernessbytherageofSaul,"everyonethatwas indistress,andeveryonethatwas indebt,andeveryonethatwasdiscontented,gatheredthemselvesuntohim;andhebecameacaptainoverthem"(1Sam.22:2).ButDavidwasdespisedbythosewho, likeNabal (1 Sam. 25:10), lived at their ease. They did notbelieveheshouldbeakingoverIsrael,thereforetheypreferredthefavorofSaul,whomGodhadrejected.ThusitwaswiththeLordJesus.Thougha divine person, invested with all authority, grace, and blessings—anddeclaringthatHewouldbetheKingofallwhoobeyedHisvoice—yetthemajoritysawnobeautythattheyshoulddesireHim,feltnoneedofHim,andsorejectedHim.OnlyafewwhowereconsciouslyburdenedbelievedHisWordandcametoHimforrest.

What did our Lord signify whenHe bade all the weary and heavyladen "come untoMe?" First, it is evident that somethingmore than aphysical act or coming to hearHim preachwas intended. ThesewordswerefirstaddressedtothosealreadyinHispresence.ManywhoattendedHisministryandwitnessedHismiraclesnevercametoHiminthesenseintended. The same holds true today. Something more than a bareapproach through theordinances—listening topreaching, submitting tobaptism,partakingoftheLord’sSupper—isinvolvedincomingtoChrist.ComingtoChrist inthesenseHeinvitedisagoingoutof thesoulafterHim, a desire forHim, a seeking afterHim, a personal embracing andtrustingHim.

Coming to Christ suggests first, and negatively, a leaving ofsomething,forthedivinepromiseis,"Hethatcoverethhissinsshallnotprosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy"(Prov.28:13).ComingtoChrist,then,denotesturningourbacksupontheworld and turning our hearts untoHim as our onlyHope. Itmeans toabandon every idol and surrender ourselves to His Lordship; it isrepudiatingourownrighteousnessanddependency,andtheheartgoingout toHim in loving submissionand trustful confidence. It isanentiregoingoutofselfwithallitsresolutionstocastourselvesuponHismercy;it is thewill yielding itself toHis authority, to be ruled byHim and tofollowwhereHeleads.Inshort,itisthewholesoulofaself-condemnedsinner turning unto a whole Christ, exercising all our faculties,responding toHis claims upon us, and prepared to unreservedly trust,unfeignedlylove,anddevotedlyserveHim.

Thus, coming to Christ is the turning of the whole soul to Him.Perhapsthiscallsforamplification.Therearethreeprincipalfacultiesinthe soul: the understanding, the affections, and the will. Since each ofthesewereoperativeandaffectedbyouroriginaldeparturefromGod,sotheyareandmustbeactiveinourreturntoChrist.OfEveitisrecorded,"When thewomansaw that the treewasgood for food, and that itwaspleasanttotheeyes,andatreetobedesiredtomakeonewise,shetookofthefruitthereof"(Gen.3:6).First,she"sawthatthetreewasgoodforfood," she perceived the fact mentally, a conclusion drawn from herunderstanding.Second,"andthat itwaspleasant to theeyes."Thatwasthe response of her affections to it. Third, "and a tree to be desired tomakeonewise."Herewasthemovingofherwill."Andtookofthefruitthereofanddideat,"wasthecompletedaction.

Soit isinthesinner’scomingtoChrist.First there isapprehensionbytheunderstanding.ThemindisenlightenedandbroughttoseeadeepneedofChrist andHis suitability tomeet thoseneeds.The intelligenceseesHe is "good for food," theBreadof life for thenourishmentofoursouls. Second, there is themoving of the affections. Before,we sawnobeauty inChrist thatweshoulddesireHim,butnowHe is "pleasant totheeyes"ofoursouls. It is theheart turningfromthe loveofsinto theloveofholiness,fromselftotheSavior.Third,incomingtoChristthereis

anexerciseofthewill, forHesaidtothosewhowouldnotreceiveHim,"Ye will not come to me that ye might have life" (John 5:40). ThisexerciseofthewillisayieldingofourselvestoHisauthority.

NonewillcometoChristwhiletheyremaininignoranceofHim.TheunderstandingmustacceptHissuitabilityforsinnersbeforethemindcanturnintelligentlytoHimasHeisrevealedintheGospel.NeithercantheheartcometoChristwhileithatesHimorisweddedtothethingsoftimeandspace.TheaffectionsmustbedrawnouttoHim."Ifanymanlovenotthe Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema" (1 Cor. 16:22). EquallyevidentisitthatnomanwillcometoChristwhilehiswillisopposedtoHim: it is the enlightening of his understanding and the firing of hisaffectionswhichsubdueshisenmityandmakesthesinnerwillinginthedayofGod’spower(Ps.110:3).Observethattheseexercisesofthethreefaculties of the soul correspond in character to the threefold office ofChrist:theunderstandingenlightenedbyHimasProphet;theaffectionsmoved byHis work as Priest; and the will bowing to His authority asKing.

InthedaysonearththeLordJesusstoopedtoministertotheneedsofmen’sbodies,andnotafewcameuntoHimandwerehealed.InthatwemayseeanadumbrationofHimastheGreatPhysicianofsoulsandwhat isrequiredofsinners if theyaretoreceivespiritualhealingatHishand.ThosewhosoughtoutChristtoobtainbodilyreliefwerepersuadedof His mighty power, His gracious willingness, and of their own direneed.Butnotethatthen,asnow,thispersuasionintheLord’ssufficiencyand His readiness to nourish varied in different cases. The centurionspokewithfullassurance,"Speakthewordonly,andmyservantshallbehealed" (Matthew 8:8). The leper expressed himself more dubiously,"Lord, if thouwilt, thou canstmakeme clean" (Matthew8:2).Anotherusedfainterlanguage,"Ifthoucanstdoanything,havecompassionandhelp us" (Mark 9:22); yet even there the Redeemer did not break thebruised reed nor quench the smoking flax, but graciously wrought amiracleonhisbehalf.

Butobservethat ineachof thesecasestherewasapersonal,actualapplication toChrist;and itwas thisveryapplicationwhichmanifestedtheirfaith,eventhoughitwasassmallasagrainofmustardseed.They

werenot contentwithhavingheardofHis fame,but improved it.Theysought Him out for themselves, acquainted Him with their case, andimploredHiscompassion.So itmustbewith those troubledabout soulconcerns.Savingfaithisnotpassive,butoperative.Moreover,thefaithofthose who sought Christ for physical relief refused to be deterred bydifficulties. In vain the multitudes charged the blind man to be quiet(Mark 10:48). Knowing that Christ was able to give sight, he cried somuchthemore.EvenwhenChristappearedtomanifestagreatreserve,thewomanrefusedtoleavetillherrequestwasgranted(Matthew15:27).

TheRestofChrist

"ComeUntoMe,allyethatlaborandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyou rest" (Matthew 11:28). In amessage on these words John Newtonpointedout:

ThedispensationoftheGospelmaybecomparedtothecitiesofrefugeinIsrael.ItwasaprivilegeandhonortothenationingeneralthattheyhadsuchsanctuariesofDivine appointment, but the real value of them wasknownand feltbyonlya few.Thosealonewhofoundthemselves in that case forwhich theywere providedcouldrightlyprize them.Thus it iswith theGospelofChrist:itisthehighestprivilegeandhonorofwhichaprofessing nation can boast, but it can be trulyunderstood and esteemed by none except weary andheavyladensouls,whohavefelttheirmiserybynature,are tired of the drudgery of sin, and have seen thebrokenLawpursuingthemliketheavengerofbloodofold. This is the only consideration which keeps themfrom sinking into abject despair, in that God hasgraciously provided a remedy by the Gospel and thatChrist bids them "Come untoMe, and Iwill give yourest."

Ifawakened,convicted,anddistressedsoulswouldbut appropriatethe full comfort of that blessed invitation and obey its terms, theircomplaints would end; but remaining ignorance, the workings ofunbelief,andtheoppositionofSatancombinetokeepthemback.Somewill say, "Iamnotqualified tocome toChrist:myheart is sohard,myconscience so insensible, that I do not feel the burden ofmy sins as Iought,normyneedofChrist’s restas Ishould."Otherswill say, "I fearthat I donot come aright. I see from the Scriptures and hear from thepulpit thatrepentance isrequiredfrommeandthat faith isanabsoluteessential if I am to be saved; but I am concerned to knowwhethermyrepentanceissincereanddeepenoughandifmyfaithisanythingbetterthananhistoricalone—theassentofthemindtothefactsintheGospel."

Wemaydiscover fromthosewhosoughthealing fromHimwhat ismeant by the invitation Christ makes to those who have sought theapprovalofGodandmetHis requirements in theLaw.First, theywerepersuadedofHispower andwillingness andof their owndeepneedofHishelp.Soitisinthematterofsalvation.ThesinnermustbeconvincedthatChristis"mightytosave,"thatHeisreadytoreceiveallwhoaresickofsinandwanttobehealed.Second,theymadeanapplicationtoHim.They were not content to hear of His fame, but wanted proof of Hiswonderworking power. So too the sinner must not only credit themessageoftheGospel,butalsohemustseekHimandtrustHim.

ThosewhosoughtChristasaPhysicianofsoulscontinuedwithHimandbecameHisfollowers.TheyreceivedHimastheirLordandMaster,renouncedwhatwasinconsistentwithHiswill(Luke9:23,60),professedanobediencetoHisprecepts,andacceptedashareinHisreproach.SomehadamoredefinitecalltoHim,suchasMatthew,whowassittingatthereceipt of custom, indifferent to the claims of Christ until He said,"Followme"(Matthew9:9).Thatwordwasaccompaniedwithpowerandwonhisheart,separatinghimfromworldlypursuitsinaninstant.OthersweredrawntoHimmoresecretlybyHisSpirit,suchasNathanael(John1:46),andtheweepingpenitent(Luke7:38).TherulercametotheLordwithnootherintentionthantoobtainthelifeofhisson(John4:53),buthe securedmuchmore than he expected, and he believed, with all hishouse.

Thesethingsarerecordedforourencouragement.TheLordJesusisnotonearth invisible form,butHepromisedHis spiritualpresence toabidewithHisWord,Hisministers, andHis people to the end.Wearysinnersdonothave to takeahard journey to find theSavior, forHe isalways near (Acts 17:27) wherever His Gospel is preached. "But therighteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thineheart,Whoshallascendintoheaven?(Thatis,tobringChristdownfromabove.)Or,Whoshalldescendintothedeep?(Thatis,tobringupChristagain fromthedead.)Butwhatsaith it?Theword isnigh thee,even inthymouth,andinthyheart:thatis,thewordoffaith,whichwepreach"(Rom. 10:6-8). If you cannot come to Christwith a tender heart andburdenedconscience,thencometoHimforthem.

Isitasenseofyourloadwhichmakesyousayyouarenotable?Thenconsider that this isnotawork,butarest.WouldamanpleadIamsoheavyladenthatIcannotconsenttopartwithmyburden;sowearythatIam not able either to stand still or to lie down, butmust forcemyselffarther?Thegreatnessofyourburden,sofarfrombeinganobjection,istheveryreasonwhyyoushouldinstantlycometoChrist,forHealoneisabletoreleaseyou.Butperhapsyouthinkyoudonotcomearight.Iask,howwouldyoucome?Ifyoucomeasahelplessunworthysinner,withoutrighteousness,withoutany hope butwhat arises from theworth,work,andWordofChrist,thisistocomearight.Thereisnootherwayofbeingaccepted.Would you refresh and strengthen yourself, wash away yourownsins, freeyourself fromyourburden, and then come toHim todothese things for you? May the Lord help you to see the folly andunreasonablenessofyourunbelief(JohnNewton).

There isnopromise inScripture thatGodwill reward thecareless,halfhearted,indolentseeker;butHehasdeclared,"Yeshallseekme,andfindme,whenyeshallsearchformewithallyourheart"(Jer.29:13)HehasafixedtimeforeveryonewhomHereceives.Heknewhowlongthepoormanhadwaitedatthepool(John5:6),andwhenHishourcameHehealed him. So endeavor to be found in the way: where His Word ispreached,anddiligentlysearchHisWordintheprivacyofyourroom.Bemuch in prayer. Converse with His people, and He may join youunexpectedly,asHedidthetwodiscipleswalkingtoEmmaus.

"Iwill give you rest."What a claim!Nomereman,nomatter howgodlyandspiritual,couldpromisethis.Abraham,Moses,orDavidcouldnotbidthewearyandheavyladentocomeuntohimwiththeassurancethathewouldgivethemrest.Toimpartrestofsoultoanotherisbeyondthe power of the most exalted creature. Even the holy angels areincapableofbestowing restuponothers, for theyaredependent on thegraceofGod for theirownrest.Thus thispromiseofChristmanifestedHisuniqueness.NeitherConfucius,Buddha,norMohammedevermadesuchaclaim.ItwasnomereManwhoutteredthesewords,"Comeuntomeallyethatarewearyandheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest."HewastheSonofGod.Hemademan,andthereforeHecouldrestorehim.HewasthePrinceofpeace,thuscapableofgivingrest.

AsChrististheonlyOnewhocanbestowrestofsoul,sothereisnotrue rest apart from Him. The creature cannot impart it. The worldcannot communicate it. We cannot manufacture it. One of the mostpathetic things in the world is to see the unregenerate vainly seekhappinessandcontentment in thematerial things.At last theydiscovertheseareallbrokencisternswhichholdnowater.Observethemturningtopriestsorpreachers,penanceorfastings,readingandpraying,onlytofind,astheprodigalsondidwhenhe"begantobeinwant,"that"nomangave unto him" (Luke 15); or see the poor woman who had "sufferedmanythingsofmanyphysicians,andhadspentallthatshehad,andwasnothing bettered, but rather grew worse" (Mark 5:26). All theunregenerate, illiterateor learned, find"thewayofpeacehave theynotknown"(Rom.3:17).

It is much to be thankful for when we realize experimentally thatnonebutChristcandohelplesssinnersanygood.Thisisahardlessonforman,andweareslowtolearnit.Thefactisnotinvolvedinitself,butthedevilish pride of our hearts makes us self-sufficient until divine gracehumblesus.ItispartofthegraciousworkoftheHolySpirittobringusoffourcreaturedependence,toknockthepropsfromunderus,tomakeus see thatJesusChrist is our onlyhope. "Neither is there salvation inanyother:forthereisnoneothernameunderheavengivenamongmen,wherebywemustbesaved"(Acts4:12).StrikinglythiswasillustratedbythedovesentforthbyNoah."Butthedovefoundnorest forthesoleof

herfoot,andshereturneduntohimintotheark,forthewaterswereonthefaceofthewholeearth:thenheputforthhishand,andtookher,andpulled her in unto him into the ark" (Gen. 8:9). Significantly, the veryname "Noah"meant "rest" (Gen. 5:29,margin); and it was only as thedovewas"causedtocomeuntohim"thatsheobtainedrest.Soitiswiththesinner.

WhatisthenatureofthisrestChristgivestoallwhocometoHim?

The Greek word expresses something more than rest, or a mererelaxationfromtoil;itdenotesrefreshmentlikewise.Apersonwearywithlongbearingaheavyburdenwillneednotonly tohave it removed,butlikewisehewantsfoodandrefreshmenttorestorehisspiritsandtorepairhis wasted strength. Such is the rest of the Gospel. It not only puts aperiodtoourfruitlesslabor,butitaffordsasweetrevivingcordial.Thereisnotonlypeace,butjoyinbelieving(JohnNewton).

Thus it isaspiritualrest,asatisfyingrest,"rest forthesoul"astheSaviordeclaresinthispassage.Itissucharesttheworldcanneithergivenortakeaway.

In particularizing upon the nature of this rest wemay distinguishbetweenitspresentandfutureforms.Concerningtheformer,First,itisadeliverancefromthatvainandwearisomequestwhichabsorbsthesinnerbefore the Spirit opens his eyes to see his folly andmoves him to seektrue riches. Piteous it is to behold those who are made for eternitywasting theirenergies inwandering fromobject toobject, searching forwhatwillnotsatisfy,onlytobemortifiedbyrepeateddisappointments.Itissowithalluntil theycometoChrist, forHehaswrittenaboutall thepleasures of this world, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirstagain"(John4:13).Forexample,Solomon,whohadeverythingtheheartcoulddesireandgratifiedhis luststothefull, foundthat,"behold,all isvanity and vexation of spirit" (Eccl. 1:14). From this vexation of spiritChrist deliversHis people, forHe declares, "whosoever drinketh of thewaterthatIshallgivehimshallneverthirst"(John4:14).

Second, it is theeasingandtranquilizingofaburdenedconscience.OnlyonewhohasbeenconvictedbytheHolySpiritappreciateswhatthis

means.Whenonehastocryout,"ThearrowsoftheAlmightyarewithinme,thepoisonwhereofdrinkethupmyspirit: theterrorsofGoddosetthemselves in array against me" (Job 6:4); when the curse of God’sbroken Law thunders in our ears; when we have an inward sense ofdivinewrathandtheterrorsofafuturejudgmentfalluponthesoul,thenthere is indescribableanguishofmind.Whenatrueworkiswrought intheheartbytheSpiritweexclaim,"Thinearrowsstickfastinme,andthyhand pressethme sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because ofthineanger;neitheristhereanyrestinmybonesbecauseofmysin"(Ps.38:2-3).Whenwe first see the wondrous love of God for us, and howvilelywehaverepaidHim,thenwearecuttothequick.WhenbyfaithwecometoChristall this isaltered.AsweseeHimdying inoursteadandthatthereisnownocondemnationforus,theintolerableloadfallsfromourconscience—andapeacewhichpassethallunderstandingisours.

Third, it is a rest from thedominion andpower of sin.HereagainonlythosewhoarethesubjectsofHisgracecanenterintowhatismeant.TheunawakenedareunconcernedaboutthegloryofGod, indifferentasto whether their conduct pleases Him. They have no concept of thesinfulness of sin and no realization of how completely sin dominatesthem. Only when the Spirit of God illumines theirminds and convictstheirconsciencesdotheyseetheawfulnessoftheirstate;andonlythen,astheytrytoreformtheirways,aretheyconsciousofthemightoftheirinwardfoeandoftheirinabilitytocopewithhim.Invaindeliveranceissought inresolutionsandendeavors inourownstrength.EvenafterwearequickenedandbegintounderstandtheGospel,foraseason(oftenalengthyone) it israthera fight thanarest.ButaswegrowmoreoutofourselvesandaretaughttoliveinChristanddrawourstrengthfromHimbyfaith,weobtainarestinthisrespectalso.

Fourth, there isarest fromourownworks.AsthebelieverrealizesmoreclearlythesufficiencyofthefinishedworkofChristheisdeliveredexperimentallyfromtheLawandseesthathenolongerowes itservice.Hisobedienceisnolongerlegalbutevangelical,nolongeroutoffear,butout of gratitude. His service to the Lord is not in a servile, but in agracious spirit. What was formerly a burden is now a delight. He nolongerseekstoearnGod’sfavor,butactsintherealizationthatthesmile

ofGodisuponhim.Farfromrenderinghimcareless,thiswillspurhimontostrivetoglorifytheOnewhogaveHisownSonasasacrifice.Thus,bondagegivesplacetoliberty,slaverytosonship,toiltorest.Andthesoulreposes on the unchangeableWord of Christ and follows Him steadilythroughlightanddarkness.

Thereisalsoafuturerestbeyondanythatcanbeexperiencedhere,althoughourbestconceptionsofthegloryawaitingthepeopleofGodareinadequate.First,inheaventherewillbeaperfectrestingfromallsin,fornothingshallentertherewhichcoulddefileordisturbourpeace.Whatitwillmeantobedeliveredfromindwellingcorruptionsnotonguecantell.The closer a believer walks with the Lord, and the more intimate hiscommunion with Him is, the more bitterly he hates that within himwhich ever fights against his desire for holiness. Therefore the apostlecried,"OwretchedmanthatIam!whoshalldelivermefromthebodyofthisdeath?" (Rom.7:24).Butwewill not carry this burdenbeyond thegrave.

Second,weshallbedeliveredfrombeholdingthesinsofothers.Nomorewillourheartsbepainedbytheevilswhichfloodtheearth.LikeLotinSodom,wearegrievedwiththeconversationofthegodless."Whothathasany love to theLordJesus,anysparkof trueholiness, any senseoftheworthofsouls inhisheart,canseewhatpassesamongstuswithouttrembling? How openly, daringly, almost universally, are thecommandments of God broken, His Gospel despised, His patienceabused,andHispowerdefied" (JohnNewton). If thatwere the stateofaffairs200yearsagowhatwouldthiswritersaywereheonearthtodaytowitness not only the wickedness of a profane world, but also thehypocrisy of Christendom? As the believer sees how the Lord isdishonoredinthehouseofthosewhoposeasHisfriends,howoftenhethinks,"OhthatIhadwingslikeadove!forthenwouldIflyaway,andbeatrest"(Ps.55:6).

Third,therewillbeperpetualrestfromalloutwardafflictions;forinheavennonewillharassthepeopleofGod.Nomorewillthesaintliveinthe midst of an ungodly generation, which may not actively persecutehim,yettheyonlyreluctantlytoleratehispresence.Thoughafflictionsareneedful,andwhensanctified tousarealsoprofitable,nevertheless they

aregrievoustobear.Butadayiscomingwhenthesetribulationswillnolonger be necessary, for the fine gold will have been purged from thedross.Thestormsoflifewillbebehind,andanunbrokencalmwillbethebeliever’s lot forever.Where therewill benomore sin, therewill benomore sorrow. "God shallwipe away all tears from their eyes; and thereshallbenomoredeath,neithersorrow,norcrying,neithershalltherebeanymorepain:fortheformerthingsarepassedaway"(Rev.21:4).

Fourth, it will be a rest from Satan’s temptations. How often hedisturbs thepresent restofbelievers!Howoften theyhavecause tosaywiththeapostle,"Satanhathhinderedme."Heseeksinvariouswaystohinder them fromattending the publicmeans of grace; to hinder themwhentheytrytomeditateontheWordorpray.ThedevilcannotbeartoseeoneofChrist’s peoplehappy, so he tries constantly to disturb theirjoy.OnereasonwhyGodpermitsthis is thattheymaybeconformedtotheirHead.WhenHewas here on earth the devil continually houndedHim.Evenwhenbelieverscometothehourofdeparturefromthisworld,theirgreatenemyseekstorobthemofassurance,buthecanpursuethemnofurther.Absentfromthebody,theyarepresentwiththeLord,foreveroutofthereachoftheiradversary.

Finally,theyrestfromunsatisfieddesires.Whenonehasreallybeenborn of the Spirit, he wants to be done with sin forever. He longs forperfect conformity to the image of Christ, and for unbroken fellowshipwithHim.Butsuchlongingsarenotrealizedinthislife.Instead,theoldnature within the believer ever opposes the new, bringing him intocaptivitytothelawofsin(Rom.7:23).Butdeathaffordsfinalrelieffromindwellingcorruptions,andheismade"apillarinthetempleofhisGod,and he shall go out no more" (Rev. 3:12). On the morning of theresurrectionthebeliever’sbodyshallbe"fashionedlikeuntohisgloriousbody"(Phil.3:21),andhissoul’severylongingshallthenbefullyrealized.The change from grace to glory will be as radical as the change fromnaturetograce.

TheYokeofChrist

"ComeUntoMeallyethatlaborandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest."Thisisnotabroadcastinvitation,addressedindefinitelytothecareless,giddymasses;ratherisitagraciouscalltothosewhoseriouslyseek peace of heart, yet are still bowed downwith a load of guilt. It isaddressedtothosewholongforrestofsoul,butwhoknownothowitistobeobtained,norwhere it is tobe found.TosuchChrist says, "Comeuntome,andIwillgiveyourest."ButHedoesnotleaveitthere.Hegoesontoexplain.OurLordmakesthebareaffirmationthatHeisthegiverofrest(Matthew11:28).InwhatfollowsHespecifiesthetermsonwhichHedispenses it, conditionswhichwemustmeet ifweare toobtain it.Therest is freely "given," but only to those who comply with the revealedrequirementsofitsBestower.

"Takemyyokeuponyouandlearnofme;forIammeekandlowlyinheart;andye shall find restuntoyour souls" (Matthew11:29). In thosewordsChrist voiced theconditionswhichmenmustmeet if theyare toobtainrestofsoul.WearerequiredtotakeHisyokeuponus.Theyokeisa figureof subjection.The forceof this figuremaybeunderstood ifwecontrast oxen runningwild in the fieldwith oxen harnessed to a plow,wheretheirownerdirectstheirenergies.Henceweread,"Itisgoodforamanthathebeartheyokeinhisyouth"(Lam.3:27).Thatmeansunlessyouthsaredisciplined,broughtundersubjectionandtaughttoobeytheirsuperiors,theyarelikelytodevelopintosonsofBelial,intractablerebelsagainst God and man. When the Lord took Ephraim in hand andchastisedhim,hebemoanedthathewaslike"abullockunaccustomedtotheyoke"(Jer.31:18).

The natural man is born "like a wild ass’s colt" (Job 11:12)—completelyunmanageable,self-willed,determinedtohavehisownwayatallcosts.Havinglosthisanchorbythefall,manislikeashipentirelyatthemercyofwindsandwaves.Hisheartisunmooredandherunswildtohisowndestruction.ThushehasaneedfortheyokeofChristifheistoobtain rest for his soul. In its larger sense, the yoke of Christ signifiescompletedependence,unqualified obedience, unreserved submission toHim.Thebeliever owes this toChrist both ashis rightful Lord andhisgracious Redeemer. Christ has a double claim upon him: he is thecreature of His hands, and gave him being, with all his capacities and

faculties.Hehasredeemedhimandacquiredanadditionalclaimonhim.The saints are the purchased property of another; therefore the HolySpiritsays,"Yearenotyourown,foryeareboughtwithaprice:thereforeglorifyGodinyourbody,andinyourspirit,whichareGod’s(1Cor.6:19-20).

"Takemyyokeuponyou,"bywhichChristmeant:surrenderyourselftoMy Lordship, submit toMy rule, let My will be yours. As MatthewHenrypointedout:

We are here invited to Christ as Prophet, Priest andKing,tobesaved,andinordertothis,toberuledandtaught by Him. As the oxen are yoked in order tosubmit to their owner’s will and to work under hiscontrol, so thosewhowould receive rest of soul fromChrist are here called upon to yield to Him as theirKing. He died for His people that they should nothenceforth liveunto themselves, "butuntohimwhichdiedforthem,androseagain" (2Cor.5:15).OurholyLordrequiresabsolutesubmissionandobedienceinallthingsbothintheinwardlifeandtheoutward,evento"bringingintocaptivityeverythoughttotheobedienceofChrist"(2Cor.10:5).Alasthatthisissolittleinsistedupon in adaywhen thehigh claimsof theSavior arewhittleddowninanattempttorenderHisGospelmoreacceptabletotheunregenerate.

It was different in the past, when those in the pulpit kept backnothingprofitablefortheirhearers.GodhonoredsuchfaithfulpreachingbygrantingtheanointingofHisSpirit,sothattheWordwasapplied inpower.Takethissample:

No heart can truly open to Christ that is not madewilling,uponduedeliberation,toreceiveHimwithHiscrossof sufferings andHis yokeof obedience: "If anymanwillcomeafterme,lethimdenyhimself,andtakeuphiscross,andfollowme...Takemyyokeuponyou,and learn of me" (Matthew 16:24; 11:29). Any

exceptionagainsteitheroftheseisaneffectualbarrierto unionwith Christ. He looks upon that soul as notworthyofHimthatputsinsuchanexception:"hethattaketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is notworthy of me" (Matthew 10:38). If thou judgeth notChrist to be worthy all sufferings, all losses, allreproaches,HejudgestheeunworthytobearthenameofHisdisciple.So, for thedutiesofobedience—calledHis "yoke"—he thatwill not receive Christ’s yoke canneitherreceiveHispardonnoranybenefitbyHisblood(JohnFlavel,1689).

"Takemy yoke upon you." Note carefully that the yoke is not laidupon us by another, but one which we place upon ourselves. It is adefinite act on thepart of onewho seeks rest fromChrist, andwithoutwhichHisrestcannotbeobtained.It isaspecificactofmind,anactofconscioussurrendertoHisauthority,toberuledonlybyHim.Saultookthisyokeuponhimwhen,convictedofhisrebellionandconqueredbyasenseoftheSavior’scompassion,hesaid,"Lord,whatwouldestthouhaveme to do?" To take Christ’s yoke upon us signifies setting aside of ourwills and completely submitting toHis sovereignty, acknowledgingHisLordship in a practical way. Christ demands something more than lipservicefromHisfollowers,evenalovingobediencetoallHiscommands,"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into thekingdomofheaven;buthe thatdoeth thewillofmyFatherwhich is inheaven..."whosoeverheareththesesayingsofmine,anddoeththem,Iwill liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock"(Matthew7:21,24).

"Takemyyokeuponyou."OurcomingtoChristnecessarily impliesturning of our backs upon all that is opposed toHim. "Let the wickedforsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let himreturnuntotheLORD,andhewillhavemercyuponhim"(Isa.55:7).Sotaking His yoke presupposes our throwing off the yoke we had wornbefore,theyokeofsinandSatan,ofself-willandself-pleasing."OLORDourGod,otherlordsbesidestheehavehaddominionoverus"confessedIsraelofold(Isa.26:13).Thentheyadded,"butbytheeonlywillwemake

mention of thy name." Thus taking Christ’s yoke upon us denotes achangeofmaster,aconscious,cheerfulchangeonourpart."Neitheryieldyeyourmembersasinstrumentsofunrighteousnessuntosin...Knowyenot,thattowhomyeyieldyourselvesservantstoobey,hisservantsyeareto whom ye obey: whether of sin unto death or of obedience untorighteousness"(Rom.6:13,16).

"Takemyyokeuponyou."Itmaysoundmuchlikeaparadox—tobidthosewho labor and areheavy laden,who come toChrist for "rest," totakea"yoke"uponthem.Yet,inrealityitisfarfromthecase.InsteadoftheyokeofChristbringing itswearer intobondage, it introducesa realliberty,theonlygenuinelibertythereis.TheLordJesussaidtothosewhobelieved inHim, "If ye continue inmy word, then are yemy disciplesindeed;andyeshallknowthetruth,andthe truthshallmakeyoufree"(John 8:31-32). There must first be a "continuing in His Word," aconstantwalkinginit.AswedothisHemakesgoodHispromise,"andyeshallknowtheTruth":knowit inanexperimentalway,knowitspower,and its blessedness. The consequence is, "the Truth shall make youfree"—free from prejudice, from ignorance, from folly, from self-will,from the grievous bondage of Satan and the power of sin. Then theobedient disciple discovers that divine commandments are "the perfectlawofliberty"(James1:25).Davidsaid,"Iwillwalkatliberty:forIseekthyprecepts"(Ps.119:45).

By the yoke, two oxenwere united together in the plow. The yokethenisafigureofpracticalunion.Thisisclearfrom,"Beyenotunequallyyokedtogetherwithunbelievers: forwhatfellowshiphathrighteousnesswithunrighteousness?andwhatcommunionhathlightwithdarkness?(2Cor. 6:14). The Lord’s people are forbidden to enter into any intimaterelationships with unbelievers, prohibited from marrying, formingbusiness partnerships, or having any religious union with them. Thisyokespeaksofaunionwhichresultsinaclosecommunion.ChristinvitesthosewhocometoHimforresttoenterintoapracticalunionwithHimso that theymay enjoy fellowship together. So it waswith Enoch,who"walkedwithGod"(Gen.5:24).But"Cantwowalk togetherexcept theybe agreed?" (Amos 3:3). They cannot. Theymust be joined together inaimandunityofpurpose,toglorifyGod.

"Takemyyokeuponyou."HedoesnotaskustowearsomethingHehasnotworn.Othewonderofthis!"Letthismindbeinyou,whichwasalsoinChristJesus:who,beingintheformofGod,thoughtitnotrobberytobeequalwithGod;butmadehimselfofnoreputation,andtookuponhim the form of a servant, and wasmade in the likeness ofmen: andbeing found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and becameobedientuntodeath,eventhedeathofthecross"(Phil.2:5-8).TheOnewhowasequalwithGod"madehimselfofnoreputation."He,theLordofglory, tookuponHim"the formofaservant."TheverySonofGodwas"madeofawoman,madeunderthelaw"(Gal.4:4)."EvenChristpleasednothimself"(Rom.15:3);"Icamedownfromheaven,nottodomineownwill,butthewillofhimthatsentme"(John6:38).Thiswastheyoketowhich He gladly submitted, complete subjection to the Father’s will,loving obedience to His commands. And hereHe says, "Takemy yokeuponyou."Doas Idid,makingGod’swill yours. JohnNewtonpointedoutthisisthree-fold:

First,theyokeofHisprofession,puttingonoftheChristianuniformand owning the banner of our Commander. This is no irksome duty,ratherisitadelight.ThosewhohavetastedthattheLordisgraciousarefar frombeingashamedofHimandofHisGospel.TheywanttotellallwhowillhearwhatGodhasdonefor theirsouls. Itwas trueofAndrewandPhilip(John1:41,43),andwiththewomanofSamaria(John4:28-29).Assomeonehassaid, "Manyyoungconverts in the firstwarmthoftheiraffectionhavemoreneedofabridlethanofaspurinthisconcern."No Christian should ever be afraid to show his colors; nevertheless heshouldnotflauntthembeforethosewhodetestthem.Wewillnotgofarwrongifweheed,"Bereadyalwaystogiveananswertoeverymanthataskethyouareasonofthehopethatisinyouwithmeeknessandfear"(1Pet.3:15).Itisonlywhen,likePeter,wefollowChrist"afaroff,"thatweareindangerofdenyingourdiscipleship.

Second,theyokeofHisprecepts.

These the gracious soul approves and delights in: but still we arerenewedbut inpart.Andwhen thecommandsofChrist stand indirectoppositiontothewillofman,orcalluponustosacrificearighthandorarighteye;thoughtheLordwillsurelymakethosewhodependuponHim

victoriousatthelast,yet itwillcostthemastruggle;sothat,whentheyare sensible how much they owe to His power working in them, andenabling them to overcome, they will, at the same time, have a livelyconviction of their own weakness. Abraham believed in God, anddelightedtoobey,yetwhenhewascommandedtosacrificehisonlyson,this was no easy trial of his sincerity and obedience; and all who arepartakersofhisfaithareexposedtomeet,soonerorlater,withsomecallof duty little less contrary to the dictates of flesh and blood (JohnNewton).

Third, the yoke of His dispensations, His dealings with us inProvidence.IfweenjoythefavoroftheLord,itiscertainthatwewillbeoutoffavorwiththosewhohateHim.Hehasplainlywarned,"Ifyewereoftheworld,theworldwouldlovehisown:butbecauseyearenotoftheworld,butIhavechosenyououtoftheworld,thereforetheworldhatethyou"(John15:19).It isuselesstosupposethat,byactingprudentlyandcircumspectly,wecanavoidthis."Allthatwill livegodlyinChristJesusshall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). It is only by unfaithfulness, byhiding our light under a bushel, by compromising the Truth, byattempting to serve two masters, that we can escape "the reproach ofChrist."Hewashatedbytheworldandhascalledus to fellowshipwithHissufferings.ThisispartoftheyokeHerequiresHisdisciplestobear.Moreover,"whomtheLordlovethhechasteneth." It ishard tobear theoppositionoftheworld,butitisharderstilltoenduretherodoftheLord.Thefleshisstill inusandresistsvigorouslywhenourwillsarecrossed;neverthelesswearegradually taught to saywithChrist, "the cupwhichmyFatherhathgivenme,shallInotdrinkit?"(John18:11).

"Andlearnofme:forIammeekandlowlyinheart."OnceagainwecallattentiontothedeepimportanceofobservingourLord’sorderhere.Just as there can be no taking ofHis yoke uponus untilwe "come" toHim,so there isno learningofHim(in thesensemeant)untilwehavetakenHisyokeuponus—untilwehavesurrenderedourwillstoHisandsubmittedtoHisauthority.Thisisfarmorethananintellectuallearningof Christ, it is an experimental, effectual, transforming learning. Bypainstakingeffort anymanmay acquire a theological knowledge of thepersonanddoctrineofChrist.HemayevenobtainaclearconceptofHis

meeknessandlowliness;butthatisvastlydifferentfromlearningofHiminsoastobe"changedintothesameimagefromglorytoglory"(2Cor.3:18).To "learn" ofHimwemust be completely subject toHim and inclosecommunionwithHim.

Whatis itthatwemostneedtobetaughtofHim?Howtodowhatwill make us objects of admiration in the religious world? Or how toobtain suchwisdom thatwewill beable to solveallmysteries?How toaccomplish such great things that we will be given the preeminenceamong our brethren? No indeed, nothing resembling these, for "thatwhichishighlyesteemedamongmenisabominationinthesightofGod"(Luke16:15).What, then,Lord?This: "Learnofme, for I ammeekandlowlyinheart."Thesearethegraceswemostneedtocultivate,thefruitswhichtheHusbandmanmosthighlyvalues.Oftheformergraceitissaid,"eventheornamentofameekandquietspirit,whichinthesightofGodisofgreatprice"(1Pet.3:4);of the lattertheLorddeclared,"Idwell inthehighandholyplace,withhimalso that is of a contrite andhumblespirit"(Isa.57:15).DowereallybelievetheseScriptures?

"For I am meek." What is meekness? We may best discover theanswer by observing the word in other verses. For example, "Now themanMoseswasverymeek,aboveallthemenwhichwereuponthefaceofthe earth" (Num. 12:3). This refers to the gentleness of Moses’ spiritunder unjust opposition. Instead of returning evil, he prayed for thehealingofMiriam.Sofarfrombeingweakness(astheworldsupposes),meekness is the strengthof themanwhocan rulehisownspiritunderprovocation,subduinghisresentmentofwrong,andrefusingtoretaliate.The"meekandquietspirit"alsohastodowiththesubjectionofawifetoherhusband(1Pet.3:1-6);herchasteconversation(orbehavior)whichistobe"coupledwithfear"(v.2);evenasSarah"obeyedAbraham,callinghim lord" (v. 6). It is inseparably associated with gentleness: "themeekness and gentleness of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:1); "gentle, shewing allmeeknessuntoallmen"(Titus3:2).The"spiritofmeekness"isinsharpcontrastfromtheapostleusing"therod"(1Cor.4:21).

Thuswemay say that "meekness" is the opposite of self-will. It ispliability, yieldedness, offering no resistance, as clay in the Potter’shands.When theMakerofheavenandearthexclaimed, "I amaworm,

andnoman"(Ps.22:6),HereferrednotonlytotheunparalleleddepthsofshameintowhichHedescendedforoursakes,butalsotoHislowlinessandsubmissiontotheFather’swill.Awormhasnopowerofresistance,not even when it is stepped on. So there was nothing in the perfectServant which opposed the will of God. Behold in Him themajesty ofmeekness, whenHe stood like a lamb before her shearers, committingHimself to the righteous Judge. Contrast Satan, who is represented as"the great red dragon"; while the Lamb stands as the symbol of themeekestandgentlest.

The meekness of Christ appeared in His readiness to become thecovenantheadofHispeople,andtoassumeournature;inbeingsubjectto His parents during the days of His childhood; in submitting to theordinance of baptism; in His entire subjection to the Father’s will. Hemadenoretaliation;HecountednotHislifedearuntoHimself,butfreelylaiditdownforothers.WemostneedtolearnofHimnothowtobecomegreat or self-important, but how to deny self, to become tractable andgentle,tobeservants—notonlyHisservants,butalsotheservantsofourbrethren.

"ForIammeekandlowlyinheart."Asmeeknessistheoppositeofself-will,solowlinessisthereverseofself-esteemandself-righteousness.Lowliness is self-abasement, yes, self-effacement. It is more than arefusingtostandupforourownrights.ThoughHewassogreataPerson,thisgracewaspreeminentlydisplayedbyChrist."TheSonofmancamenot to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matthew 20:28); "I amamongyouashethatserveth"(Luke22:27).BeholdHimasheperformedthemenialdutiesofwashing: the feetofHisdisciples.Hewas theonlyone born into this world who could choose the home and thecircumstancesofHisbirth.WhatarebuketoourfoolishprideHischoicewas! My reader, we must indeed learn of Him if this choice flower ofparadiseistobloominthegardenofoursouls.

TheQuintessenceofChrist

TheLordJesusutteredagracious invitationwhich isaccompaniedbyapreciouspromise—"Comeuntome,all ye that labor andareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest.Takemyyokeuponyou,andlearnofme;forIammeekandlowlyinheart:andyeshallfindrestuntoyoursouls"(Matthew 11:28-29)—and then He proceeded to make known theconditions of that promise. To those whose consciences are weighteddownbyaburdenofguiltandwhoareanxiousforrelief,Hesays,"Comeuntome and rest." But His rest can only be obtained as wemeet Hisrequirements: thatwe takeHis "yoke" upon us, and that we "learn" ofHim.TakingChrist’syokeuponusconsistsof surrenderingourwills toHim, submitting to His authority, consenting to be ruled by Him (seechapter42).Nowconsiderwhatitmeansto"learn"ofHim.

Christ is theantitypicalProphet, towhomallof theOldTestamentprophetspointed.HealonewaspersonallyqualifiedtofullymakeknownthewillofGod."God,whoatsundrytimesandindiversemannersspakein time past unto the fathers, by the prophets, hath in these last daysspokenuntousbyhisSon" (Heb. 1:1-2).Christ is thegrandTeacherofHis Church, all others are subordinate to and appointed by Him. "Hegave some, apostles; and some, prophets: and some evangelists; andsome,pastorsandteachers;fortheperfectingofthesaints,fortheworkof the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:11-12).ChrististhechiefShepherdandFeederofHisflock,HisundershepherdslearnofandreceivefromHim.ChrististhepersonalWordinwhomandthroughwhomthedivineperfectionsareillustriouslydisplayed."NomanhathseenGodatanytime;theonlybegottenSon,whichisinthebosomof the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). Sowemust come toChristtobeinstructedinheavenlydoctrineandbuiltupinourholyfaith.

"Learn ofme." Christ is not only the final Spokesman of God, theOnebywhomthedivinewillisfullyuttered,butalsoHeisalsothegrandExemplarsetbeforeHispeople.ChristdidmorethanproclaimtheTruth,Hebecametheembodimentofit.HedidmorethanutterthewillofGod;Hewasthepersonalexemplificationofit.Thedivinerequirementswereperfectly set forth in the character and conduct of theLord Jesus.AndthereinHedifferedradicallyfromallwhowentbeforeHim,andallwhocome after Him. The lives of the prophets (Old Testament) and the

apostles (New Testament) shed scattered rays of light, but they weremerely reflections of the Light. Christ is "the Sun of righteousness,’’thereforefullyqualifiedtosay,"learnofme."TherewasnoerrorinHisteaching, nor the slightest blemish in His character, or flaw in Hisconduct.ThelifeHelivedpresentstousaperfectstandardofholiness,aperfectpatternforustofollow.

WhenHisenemiesasked, "Whoart thou?"Heanswered, "eventhesamethatIsaiduntoyoufromthebeginning"(John8:25).Theforceofthatremarkableanswer(expressedintheGreek)isbroughtoutyetmoreplainlyinBagster’sInterlinearandthemarginoftheAmericanRevisedVersion,"AltogetherthatwhichIalsospokeuntothee."Inreplytotheirinterrogation, the Son of God affirmed that He was essentially andabsolutelywhatHedeclaredHimselftobe.Ihavespokenof"light";Iamthat light. I have spoken of "truth", I am that truth—the incarnation,personification, and exemplification thereof. None but He could reallysayIamMyselfwhatIamspeakingtoyouabout.ThechildofGodmayspeakthetruthandwalkinthetruth,butHeisnotthetruth.Christis!AChristianmaylethis lightshine,butheisnotthelight.Christwas,andthereinweseeHisexalteduniqueness."Wemayknowhimthatistrue"(1John5:20);not"himwhotaughtthetruth,"but"himthatistrue."

BecausetheLordJesuscouldmakethisclaim—"Iamaltogetherthatwhich I spoke unto thee": I am the living embodiment, the personalexemplificationofallwhichIteach,thatHeisaperfectPatternforustofollow—thatHecansay,"Learnofme.""Hehasleftusanexample,thatwe should follow His steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). Since we bear His name(Christians)weshouldimitateHisholiness."Beyefollowersofme,asIalsoamofChrist"(1Cor.11:1).Thebestofmenarebutmenatthebest.They have their errors and defects, which they freely acknowledge;thereforewheretheydifferfromChristitisourdutytodifferfromthem.No man, however wise or holy, is a perfect rule for other men. Thestandard of perfection is in Christ alone; He is the rule of everyChristian’s walk. "Not as though I had already attained, either werealreadyperfect:butIfollowafter,ifthatImayapprehendthatforwhichalso I amapprehendedofChrist Jesus" (Phil. 3:12). Thoughwe fall farshortofteachingsuchastandardinthislife,nothingshortofitshouldbe

ouraim.

"Hethatsaithheabidethinhimoughthimselfalsosotowalkevenas he walked" (1 John 2:6). Many reasons might be given in proof of"ought." It is vain for any man to profess he is a Christian unless heevidences that it is bothhis desire and endeavor to follow the exampleChristleftHispeople.AsthePuritanssaid,"Lethimeitherputonthelifeof Christ, or put off the name of Christ; let him show the hand of aChristian in works of holiness and obedience, or else the tongue andlanguage of a Christian must gain no belief or credit." God haspredestinated His people "to be conformed to the image of his Son"(Rom.8:29).Theworkwasbegunhereandperfectedafterdeath,butthatwork is not consummated in heaven unless it is commenced on earth."WemayaswellhopetobesavedwithoutChrist,astobesavedwithoutconformitytoChrist"(JohnFlavel).

This practical conformity between God’s Son and His sons isindispensable to their relation in grace, this relationship between bodyandhead.BelieversaremembersofalivingorganismofwhichChrist istheHead;ofmembers,"ByoneSpiritweareallbaptizedintoonebody,whetherwebeJewsorGentiles,whetherwebebondor free; andhavebeen all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13); of Christ, "and[God]gavehimtobetheheadoverallthingstothechurch,whichishisbody, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). The twotogether (members andHead) formChrist-mystical.NowasChrist, theHead,ispureandholy,soalsomustbethemembers.Ananimalwithahumanheadwouldbeamonstrosity.ForthesensualandgodlesstoclaimonenesstoChrististomisrepresentHimbeforetheworld,asthoughHismysticalBodywere like the imageofNebuchadnezzar,with theheadoffinegoldandthefeetofironandclay(Dan.2:32ff.).

ThisresemblancetoChristappearsnecessaryfromthecommunionwhich all believers have with Him in the same Spirit of grace andholiness. Christ is the "Firstborn among many brethren," and GodanointedHim"withtheoilofgladnessabovethyfellows"(Ps.45:7).ThatoilofgladnessisanemblemoftheHolySpirit,andGodgivesthesametoeachof the fellowsorpartners.Where the sameSpirit andprinciple is,there the same fruits and works must be produced, according to the

proportions of the Spirit of grace bestowed.This is the very reason theHolySpiritisgiventobelievers."Butweall,withopenfacebeholdingasin a glass the gloryof theLord, are changed into the same image fromglorytoglory,evenasbytheSpiritoftheLord"(2Cor.3:18).

Also, theveryhonorofChristdemandsconformityofChristians toHisexample.Inwhatotherwaycantheyclosethemouthsof thosewhoreject theirMasterandvindicateHisblessednamefromthereproachesoftheworld?HowcanWisdombejustifiedofherchildrenexceptinthisway? The wicked will not read the inspired record of His life in theScriptures; therefore there isall themoreneed tohaveHisexcellenciesset before them in the lives of His people. The world sees what wepractice, as well as hears what we profess. Unless there is consistencybetween our profession and practice we cannot glorify Christ before aworldwhichhascastHimout.

Then,theremustbeaninwardconformitytoChristbeforetherecanbe any resemblance on the outside. There must be an experimentalonenessbeforetherecanbeapracticallikeness.HowcanwepossiblybeconformedtoHiminexternalactsofobedienceunlessweareconformedtoHiminthosespringsfromwhichsuchactionsproceed?WemustliveintheSpiritbeforewecanwalkintheSpirit(Gal.5:25)."Letthismindbeinyou,whichwasalso inChristJesus" (Phil.2:5), for themind shouldregulateallourotherfaculties.Thereforewearetold,"Fortobecarnallyminded is death; but to be spirituallyminded is life and peace" (Rom.8:6).Whatwas"themindwhichwasinChristJesus?"Itwasthatofself-abnegation and devotedness to the Father. That we must begin withinwardconformitytoChrist isevidentfromourtext;aftersaying"learnofme."Heatonceadded,"forIammeekandlowlyinheart."

We need to attend closely to our Lord’s order in this passage,insisting we cannot possibly "learn" of Him (in the sense meant here)untilwehavetakenHis"yoke"uponus,untilwesurrenderourselvestoHim.ItisnotmerelytoanintellectuallearningofHimwhichChristcallsus,but toanexperimental,effectual, and transforming learning;and inordertoobtainthatwemustbecompletelysubjecttoHim.JohnNewtonsuggestedthatthereisyetanotherrelationbetweenthesetwothings:notonlyisourtakingofChrist’syokeuponusanindispensablerequirement

for our learning of Him, but also our learning of Him is His dulyappointedmeanstoenableustowearHisyoke.

"Learnofme."BenotafraidtocometoMeforhelpandinstruction,"forIammeekandlowlyinheart."Hereisencouragement.YouneednothesitatetocometosuchaOne,theMakerofheavenandearth,Kingofkings and Lord of lords. He is the One before whom all the angels ofheavenprostratethemselvesinhomage,yettheOnewhoistheFriendofsinners.Heisabletosolveoureveryproblemandsupplystrengthfortheweakest;becauseHeisMan,possessedofhumansensibilities,thereforeisHecapableofbeing"touchedwiththefeelingofourinfirmities."

"Learnofme."Iknowwhythesethingsappearsohard.Itisowingtotheprideandimpatienceofyourhearts.Toremedythis,takeMeforyourexample;IrequirenothingofyoubutwhatIhaveperformedbeforeyou,andonyouraccount: inthatpathImarkout foryou,youmayperceiveMy own footsteps all the way. This is a powerful argument, a sweetrecommendation,theyokeofChrist,tothosewholoveHim,thatHeboreit Himself. He is not like the Pharisees, whomHe censured (Matthew23:4)onthisveryaccount:whoboundheavyburdens,andgrievoustobeborne,andlaidthemonmen’sshoulders,buttheythemselveswouldnotmovethemwithoneoftheirfingers.

1. Are you terrifiedwith the difficulties attendingyour profession:disheartened by hard usage, or too ready to show resentment againstthosewhoopposeyou?LearnofJesus,admireandimitateHisconstancy:"Considerhimwhoenduredthecontradictionofsinnersagainsthimself"(Heb.12:3).Makeacomparison(sothewordimports)betweenyourselfandHim, between the contradictionwhichHe endured and thatwhichyou are called to struggle with; then surely you will be ashamed tocomplain.Admire and imitateHismeekness:whenHewas reviled,Herevilednotagain;whenHesuffered,Hethreatenednot;HeweptforHisenemies, and prayed for His murderers. Let the samemind be in youwhichwasalsoinChristJesus.

2.DoyoufindithardtowalksteadfastlyinHisprecepts,especiallyinsomeparticularinstances,whenthemaximsofworldlyprudenceandthepleadingsoffleshandblood,arestronglyagainstyou?LearnofJesus.

He pleased notHimself (Rom. 15:3):He considered not what was safeandeasy,butwhatwas thewillofHisheavenlyFather.EntreatHimtostrengthenyouwithstrengthinyoursoul, thatasyoubearthenameofHisdisciples,youmayresembleHimineverypartofyourconduct,andshineaslightsinadarkandselfishworld,tothegloryofHisgrace.

3. Are you tempted to repine at the dispensations of Divineprovidence? Take Jesus for your pattern. Did He say, when theunspeakable sufferingsHe was to endure for sinners were just cominguponHim,"ThecupwhichmyFatherhathgivenme,shallInotdrinkit?"(John18:11);andshallwepresumetohaveawillofourown?especiallywhen we further reflect, that as His sufferings were wholly on ouraccount,soalloursufferingsarebyHisappointment,andalldesignedbyHimtopromoteourbest,thatisourspiritualandeternalwelfare?(JohnNewton).

"Learnofme."Christ,then,taughtHisdisciplesnotonlybyprecept,but also by example, not only by word of mouth but also by His ownperfect life of obedience to the Father’s will. When He uttered thesewords (Matthew 11:29) He was wearing the "yoke" and personallyexemplifyingmeekness and lowliness.What aperfectTeacher, showingus in His own selflessness what these graces really are. He did notassociate with the noble and mighty, but made fishermen Hisambassadorsandsoughtoutthemostdespised,sothatHewasdubbed"afriendofpublicansandsinners."

"Andlearnofme,forIammeekandlowlyinheart."Thoseheavenlygraces, the roots fromwhich all other spiritual excellencies spring, canonlybe learnedfromChrist.Thecollegesandseminariescannot impartthem, preachers and churches cannot bestow them, no self-culture canattainuntothem.TheycanonlybelearnedexperimentallyatthefeetofChrist,onlyaswetakeHisyokeuponus.TheycanonlybelearnedaswecommunewithHimandfollowtheexampleHeleftus.Theycanonlybelearned aswepray thatwemaybemore fully conformed toHis imageandtrustfullyseektheenablementofHisSpiritto"mortifythedeedsofthebody."

Whatcauseshavewe tomourn that there is so littlemeeknessand

lowliness in us! How we need to confess unto God our lamentabledeficiency.Yet,merelymourningdoesnotimprovematters.Wemustgoto the root of our folly and judge it. Why have I failed to learn theseheavenlygraces?Has itnottobesaidofme,asofIsrael,"Ephraimisabullockunaccustomedtotheyoke?"Notuntilmyproudspirit isbrokenandmywillcompletelysurrenderedtoChrist,canItruly"learnofHim."

And taking Christ’s yoke upon us and learning of Him is a dailything.Christianityisfarmorethanacreedorethicalcode—it isabeingconformedpracticallytotheimageofGod’sSon.SomanymakethegreatmistakeinsupposingthatcomingtoChristandtakingHisyokeisasingleact,whichmaybedoneonceandforall.Notso!Itistobeacontinuousanddailyact,"Towhomcoming[againandagain],asuntoalivingstone"(1Pet.2:4).Weneedtocontinueaswebegan.ThematureChristianwhohasbeenfiftyyearsinthewayneedsChristasurgentlynowashedidthefirstmoment hewas convicted of his lost condition.He needs to dailytakeHisyokeandlearnofHim.

TheLeadershipofChrist

"ForMyYokeIsEasyandmyburden is light" (Matthew11:30).Aspointed out (see chapter 43) the yoke, employed figuratively, is thesymbolofservice.Suchaninstrumentunitedoxentogetherinpullingtheplow orwagon, so theyworked for theirmaster.Our text refers to theservice of Christ, in contrast to the service of sin and Satan. The devilpromises his subjects a grand time if they follow his promptings, butsooner or later they discover, "theway of transgressors is hard" (Prov.13:15).Sindeceives.Itsdeludedvictimsimaginetheyenjoylibertywhileindulgingthelustsoftheflesh;butwhenfailinghealthsuggeststheyhadbetter change their ways, they discover they are bound by habits theycannotbreak.SinisamorecrueltaskmasterthanweretheEgyptianstotheHebrews.AndtheserviceofSatanimposesfarheavierburdensthanPharaoh ever placed upon his slaves. But "My yoke is easy, and myburdenislight."

ThisdeclarationoftheSaviormayalsobethesequeltoHisopeningwords in this passage. There He invited those who labored and wereheavy laden, which may be understood in a twofold sense: those whoweresickof sinandboweddownbya senseof itsguilt,and thosewholaboredtomeettherequirementsofdivineholinessandarecastdownbytheirinabilitytodoso.ThosewhoseektofulfilltheletterofGod’sLaw,far from finding it "easy," discover it is very hard; while those whoendeavortoworkoutarighteousnessoftheirowntogainGod’sesteem,finditaheavytaskandnota"lightburden."

"Formy yoke is easy, andmy burden is light." Exactlywhat is therelation between this verse and the ones preceding? To which of thepreviousclauses is itmore immediatelyconnected?Wecannotdiscoverthat any commentator has made any specific attempt to answer thisquestion.Wedeem itwise to link these closingwordsof theRedeemerwitheachoftheearlierutterances.Thus,"Comeuntome,allyethatlaborandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest;formyyokeiseasy,andmyburdenislight.ThereisencouragementforustocomeandproofthatHewillgiveus rest. "Takemyyokeuponyou":youneednot fear todoso,"formyyokeiseasy,andmyburdenislight.""Andlearnofme,"fornotonly am I "meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto yoursouls,"but"formyyokeiseasy."

"Formyyokeiseasy."TheGreekwordisvariouslyrendered,"good,""kind,""gracious."Thereisnothingtochafeorhurt,ratherisitpleasantto wear. The question has been raised if Christ spoke absolutely orrelatively.Thatis,didHedescribewhattheyokewasinitself,orhowthatyoke appeared to His people? We believe both senses are included.AssuredlyChrist’syokeorserviceisalightorgraciousoneinitself,forallHis commandments are framed by infinite wisdom and love and aredesigned for the good of those who receive them. So far from being aharshtyrantwhoimposeshardduties forthemeresakeofexertingHisauthority,Christ isagraciousMasterwhoeverhas inmind thewelfareand highest interests of His subjects. His commandments "are notgrievous" in themselves, but beneficent. The "father of lies" affirmsChrist’syoketobedifficultandheavy.

ButnotonlyistheyokeofChrist"easy"initself,butalsoitshouldbe

sointhesenseandapprehensionofHispeople.Itwillbeso,iftheydoasHebids.TheunregeneratefindtheyokeofChristirksomeandheavy,forit grates against the carnal nature. The service of Christ is drudgery tothoseinlovewiththeworldandwhofindtheirdelightinfleshlylusts;buttoonewhosehearthasbeencaptivatedbyChrist,tobeunderHisyokeispleasant.IfwecometoChristdailytoberenewedbyHisgrace,toyieldourselvesafreshtoHisrule;ifwesitatHisfeettobetaughtofHimtheloveliness ofmeekness and lowliness: if we enjoy spiritual communionwith Him and partake of His rest, then whatsoeverHe commands isdelightfultous,andweproveforourselvesthat"wisdom’swaysarewaysofpleasantness,andallherpathsarepeace"(Prov.3:17).

HeretheChristianmaydiscoverthemostconclusiveevidencethatagood work of grace has begun in his heart. Howmany poor souls aredeeplydistressedoverthispoint.Theyaskthemselvescontinually,HaveIbeen genuinely converted or am I yet in a state of nature? They keepthemselvesinneedlesssuspensebecausetheyfailtoapplythescripturalmethodsofconfirmation.InsteadofmeasuringthemselvesbytherulesintheWord, they await some extraordinary sensation in their heart. Butmany have been deceived at this point, for Satan can produce happysensations in the heart and deep impressions on themind.Howmuchbetter is the testimonyof an enlightenedconscience. Judging thingsbytheWordofGod,itperceivesthattheyokeofChristiseasyandlight.

But this principle works both ways. If we find by experience thatChrist’syokeiseasyandHisburdenislightthenwhatmustbesaidofavast number of professing Christianswho, by their own conduct, oftenavow that the Lord’s service is burdensome? Though members ofevangelicalchurches,mayweconclude theyareof theclasswhohaveaname that they live, and yet are dead (Rev. 3: 1)? Certainlywe cannotallow that Christ made a false predication of His yoke. Then only onealternativeisleft.Weareobligedtoregardasstrangerstogodlinessthosewho find a life of communion with the Lord and devotedness to Hisservicedullorirksome.

Donotmisunderstandthispoint.WearenotaffirmingtheChristianlifeisnothingbutabedofroses,orthatwhenapersoncomestoChristandtakesHisyokethathistroublesend.Notso.Instead,inarealsense

histroublesonlythenbegin.Itiswritten,"Yea,andallthatwilllivegodlyinChristJesusshallsufferpersecution"(2Tim.3:12).WearingtheyokeofChristunitesustoHim;andunionwithHimbringsusinto"fellowshipwithHissufferings."ThemembersofChrist’sbody,sharetheexperienceof theirHead.TheworldhatedandpersecutedHim,and ithates thosewhobearHisimage.ButthemorecloselywewalkwithChrist,themorewewill suffer the hostility of Satan, for his rage is stirred upwhen hefindshehaslostanotherofhiscaptives.

NotonlydoestheonewhotrulycomestoChristandtakesuponhimHisyokeevokethehatredofSatanandoftheworld,butalsoheisnowthesubjectofinwardconflicts.ThecorruptnaturewhichwashisatbirthisneitherremovednorrefinedwhenhebecomesaChristian.Itremainswithinhim,unchanged.Butnowheismoreconsciousofitspresenceandits vileness.Moreover, that evil nature opposes everymovement of theholynaturehe received at thenewbirth. "The flesh lusteth against theSpirit,andtheSpiritagainsttheflesh:andthesearecontrarytheonetotheother"(Gal.5:17).Thisdiscoveryof theplagueofhisownheartandthat within there is opposition to holy aspirations, is a source of deepanguishtothechildofGod.Heoftencries,"OwretchedmanthatIam!whoshalldelivermefromthisbodyofdeath?"(Rom.7:24).

We cannot affirm that the Christian’s life is one of uncloudedsunshine;yetwemustnotconveytheimpressionthebeliever’slotisfarfrombeingenvious,andthatheisworseoffthantheunbeliever.Farfromit.IftheChristianusesdiligentlythemeansofGod’sappointing,hewillpossessapeacewhichpassethallunderstanding,andexperiencejoystheworldlingknowsnothingabout.Theworldmayfrownandthedevilrageagainst him, but an approving conscience, the smile of God, thecommunionwithfellow-believers,andtheassuranceofeternitywithhisBeloved,areamplecompensation.

WhatisthereintheyokeofChristwhichmakessuchamendsfortheenmityitevokesandthesufferingitentails,sothatthebelieverwillattestthat it isaneasyone? In seeking toanswer thisquestionweshallavailourselfofthehelpofJohnNewton’ssermons,inoutline.First,thosewhoweartheyokeofChristactfromaprinciplewhichmakesallthingseasy.Thisislove.Anyyokewillchafewhenresisted,butevenoneofcast-iron

wouldbepleasant if itwere linedwith felt andpaddedwithwool.AndthisiswhatrenderstheyokeofChristeasytoHispeople.Itislinedwithlove,His to them, and theirs toHim.Whenever the shoulder becomessore,looktothelining!Keeptheliningrightandtheyokewillbenomoreaburdentousthanwingsaretoabird,oraweddingringtoabride.

ScripturerecordsthatwhenJacobservedahardmastersevenyearsforRachel,theyseemedbutafewdaystohim"forthelovehehadtoher"(Gen. 29:20). What a difference it makes when we perform a difficulttask,whether forastrangeroradear friend,anexactingemployeroracloserelative.Affectionmakesthehardest joyeasy.Butthere isno lovelikethatwhicharedeemedsinnerbearstoHimwhodiedinhisstead.Wearewillingtosuffermuchtogaintheaffectionofonewehighlyesteem,eventhoughwearenotsureofsuccess;butwhenweknowtheaffectionisreciprocal,itgivesaddedstrengthfortheendeavor.Thebelieverdoesnotlovewithuncertainty.HeknowsthatChristlovedhimbeforehehadanylove for the Savior; yes, loved him evenwhen his own heart was filledwith enmity against Him. This love supplies two sweet and effectualmotivesinservice:

Adesiretoplease.Thisisthequestionloveiseverasking.WhatcanIdotogratify,tomakehappytheobjectofmyaffection?Loveiseverreadytodowhatever itcan,andregretsthat itcannotdomore.Neither time,difficulties,norexpenseconcerntheonewhoseheartiswarmlyengaged.Buttheworldisnotinthesecret.TheyneitherknownorappreciatetheprincipleswhichmotivatethepeopleofGod.NotonlyaretheyatalosstounderstandwhytheChristianisnolongerwillingtojoinwiththeminthepleasures of sin, but also they fail to see what satisfaction he finds inreadingtheScriptures,insecretprayer,orpublicworship.Theysupposethat somemental derangement is responsible, and advise him to leavesuchgloomyexercisestothoseonthevergeofthegrave.Butthebelievercananswer,"theloveofChristconstrainethme."

A pleasant assurance of acceptance. What a difference it makeswhen we are able to determine whether or not what we do will befavorably received. Ifwehave reason to fear that theone forwhomweworkdoesnotappreciateourefforts,wefindlittledelightinthetaskandaretemptedtospareourselves.Butifwehavegoodreasontobelievethat

our labors will meet with a smile of approval, howmuch easier is thelaborandhowmuchmorereadilywillwedoitwithourmight.Itisthisencouragement which stimulates Christ’s disciples. They know that Hewill not overlook the smallest service in His name or the slightestsufferingenduredforHissake;forevenacupofcoldwatergivenonHisaccountisacknowledgedasthoughprofferedimmediatelytoHim(Mark9:41).

Second, service is still easier and lighter if it is agreeable to ourinclinations. Esau would probably have done anything to please hisfather to obtain the blessing. But no commandment could have beenmore agreeable to him than to be sent for venison, because he was ahunter(Gen.25:27).TheChristianhasreceivedfromGodanewnature,hehasbeenmade"apartakerof thedivinenature" (2Pet. 1:4).Justasthe magnetic needle ever points to the North Star, so this spiritualprincipleeverturnstoitsAuthor.Consequently,God’sWordis itsfood,communionwithHimitsdesire,HisLawitsdelight.True,hestillgroansunderinwardcorruption,butthesearepartofsin’sburdenandnopartofChrist’syoke.HegroansbecausehecannotserveHimbetter.Butjustsofar as he exercises his faith he rejoices in every part of Christ’s yoke.Professing His name is a holy privilege, His precepts are a profitablemeditation,andsufferingforChrist’ssakeiscountedanhighhonor.

Third, the burden of Christ is light because sustaining grace isgrantedtoitswearer.Servicetoalovedonewouldbeimpracticableifyouwere infirm and incapacitated. Nor could you take a long journey tominister to a friend, nomatter howdear, if youwere crippled.But theyokeofChristiseasyinthisrespecttoo—Hesuppliessufficientstrengthtothebearer.Whatishardtofleshandbloodiseasytofaithandgrace.Itistrue,apartfromChristthebeliever"candonothing"(John15:5);butitis equally true he "can do all things" throughChrist strengthening him(Phil.4:13).Itistruethat,"Eventheyouthsshallfaintandbeweary,andtheyoungmenshallutterly fall"; yetwearedivinelyassured "they thatwaitupontheLORDshallrenewtheirstrength;theyshallmountupwithwingsaseagles;theyshallrun,andnotbeweary;theyshallwalk,andnotfaint"(Isa.40:30-31).Whatmorecanweask?Itisentirelyourownfaultifwearenot "strong in theLord, and in thepowerofhismight" (Eph.

6:10).

WhatevertheLordmaycalluponustodo,ifwedependonHimintheuseofappointedmeans,Hewillmostcertainlyequipusforit.HeisnoPharaoh,requiringustomakebricksandprovidingnostrawforthesame.Sofarfromit,Hepromises,"asthydays,soshallthystrengthbe"(Deut.33:25).Mosesmaycomplain,"Iamslowofspeech,andofaslowtongue,"buttheLordassureshim,"Iwillbewiththymouth,andteachtheewhatthoushaltsay"(Ex.4:10,12).Paulacknowledged,"Notthatweare sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves;" yet he atonceadded,"butoursufficiencyisofGod"(2Cor.3:5).SotoowhateversufferingstheLordcallsuponHispeopletoendureforHissake,Hewillassuredly grant sustaining grace. "All power in heaven and in earth"belongs untoChrist and therefore isHe able tomake our enemies fleebeforeusanddeliverfromthemouthofthelion.EventhoughHepermitsHisservantstobebeatenandcastintoprison,yetsongsofpraisesareputintotheirmouths(Acts16:25).

Finally, the easiness of Christ’s yoke appears in the richcompensations that accompany it. Under sin’s yoke we spent ourstrengthforwhatdidnotsatisfy,butwhenwearingChrist’syokewefindrest for our souls. Ifwe live a life of pleasing self and seeking our ownhonor,thenwereapmiseryandwoe;butwhenselfisdeniedandChristisglorified, peace and joy is ours. No man serves Christ for nothing: inkeepingHis commandments there is "great reward" (Ps. 19:11)—not ofdebt,butofgrace,after.TheChristianmayhavemuchtocasthimdown,buthehasfarmoretocheerhimupandsendhimonhiswayrejoicing.Hehasfreeaccesstothethroneofgrace,preciouspromisestorestupon,andtheconsolationoftheHolySpirittocomforthissoul.HehasaFriendwhostickethcloserthanabrother,alovingFatherwhosupplieshiseveryneed,andtheblessedassurancethatwhentheappointedhourarrivesheshallgotoanotherworld,wherethereisnosinorsorrow,but"fullnessofjoy,"and"pleasuresforevermore"(Ps.16:11).

TheExampleofChrist

Two Serious Mistakes have been made by men in taking or nottakingChrist for their example. It is difficult todeterminewhich is themoreevilandfatalofthetwo.First,thosewhohelduptheperfectlifeoftheLordJesusbeforetheuncovertedmaintainedthattheymust imitateit in order to find acceptance with God. In other words, they madeemulating Christ "the way of salvation" to lost sinners. This is afundamental error, which cannot be resisted too strenuously. Itrepudiatesthetotaldepravityandspiritualhelplessnessoffallenman.Itdenies the necessity for the new birth. It nullifies the atonement byemphasizingChrist’sflawlesslifeattheexpenseofHissacrificialdeath.Itsubstitutesworksforfaith,creatureeffortsfordivinegrace,man’sfaultydoings for the Redeemer’s finished work. If the Acts and epistles aresearched it will be revealed that the apostles never preached imitatingChristasthewaytoobtainforgivenessofsinsandsecurepeacewithGod.

But in recentgenerations thependulumhas swung to the oppositeextreme.If,acenturyago,theexamplewhichChristhas leftHispeoplewasmadetoomuchof,ourmodernsmakefartoolittleofit;iftheygaveitaplaceinpreachingtotheunsavedwhichScripturedoesnotwarrant,wehavefailedtopressituponChristianstotheextentScripturerequires.IfthoseacenturyagoaretobeblamedformisusingtheexampleofChristin connection with justification, we are guilty of failing to use it inconnectionwithsanctification.Whileitistruethatthemoralperfectionswhich Christ displayed during His earthly sojourn are still extolled inmany places, how rarely one hears (or reads) of those who insist thatemulatingChristisabsolutelyessentialforthebeliever’spreservationandultimatesalvation.Wouldnotthegreatmajorityoforthodoxpreachersbepositively afraid tomake any such assertion, lest they be chargedwithlegality?

TheLordJesusChristisnotonlyaperfectandgloriousPatternofallgraces,holiness,virtue,andobedience, tobepreferredaboveallothers,butalsoHealoneissuch.Inthelivesofthebestofthesaints,Scripturerecordswhat it isourdutytoavoid,aswellaswhatweoughttofollow.Sometimesoneispuzzledtoknowwhetheritissafetoconformtothemornot.ButGodhasgraciouslysupplieduswithasurerulewhichsolvesthatproblem.Ifweheeditwewillneverbeatalosstoseeourduty.Holy

menandwomenofScripturearetobeimitatedbyusonlyasfarastheywere themselves conformed unto Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). The best of theirgraces,thehighestoftheirattainments,themostperfectoftheirduties,were spoiled by blemishes; but in Christ there is no imperfectionwhatever,forHehadnosinanddidnosin.

Christisnotonlytheperfect,butalsothepatternMan;andthereforeisHisexamplesuitableforallbelievers.Thisremarkablefactpresentsafeaturewhichhasnotreceivedtheattentionitdeserves.Thereisnothingso distinctive in personality as racial and national characteristics. Thegreatest of men bear unmistakable marks of their heredity andenvironment.Racialpeculiaritiesareimperishable;tothelastfiberofhisbeing,LutherwasaGerman,KnoxaScot;andwithallhis largenessofheart,PaulwasaJew.Insharpcontrast,JesusChristroseaboveheredityandenvironment.Nothinglocal,transient,national,orsectariandwarfedHis wondrous personality. Christ is the only truly catholic man. Hebelongs to all ages and is related to allmen, becauseHe is "theSonofman." This underlies the universal suitability of Christ’s example tobelievers of all nations, who one and all may find in Him the perfectrealizationoftheirideal.

This is indeed amiracle, and exhibits a transcendent perfection intheManChristJesuswhichisrarelypondered.Howremarkablethattheconverted Englishman may find in Christ’s character and conduct apatternaswell-suitedtohimastoasavedChinese;thatHisexampleisasappropriate for the regenerated Zulu as for a born-again German. TheneedsofLordBaconandSirIsaacNewtonwereastrulymetinChristaswere those of the half-witted youth who said, "I’m a poor sinner andnothingatall,ButJesusChristismyallinall."HowremarkablethattheexampleofChristisasappropriateforbelieversofthetwentiethcenturyasitwasforthoseofthefirst,thatitisassuitableforaChristianchildasforhisgrandparent!

HeisappointedofGodforthisverypurpose.OneendwhyGodsentHisSontobecomefleshandtabernacle intheworldwasthatHemightsetbeforeusanexampleinournature,inOnewhowaslikeuntousinallthings, sin excepted. Thereby He exhibited to us that renewal to Hisimageinus,ofthatreturntoHimfromsinandapostasy,andofthatholy

obedienceHe requires of us. Such an example was needful so that wemight never be at a loss about thewill of God inHis commandments,havingagloriousrepresentationofitbeforeoureyes.Thatcouldbegivenusno otherway than in our ownnature. Thenature of angelswas notsuited as an example of obedience, especially in the exercise of suchgracesaswespeciallystandinneedofinthisworld.Whatexamplecouldangels set us in patience in afflictions or quietness in sufferings, whentheirnatureisincapableofsuchthings?Norcouldwehavehadaperfectexample in our nature except in onewhowas holy and "separate fromsinners."

ManyScripturespresentChristasthebeliever’sExemplar:"Takemyyoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart"(Matthew11:29),—learnbythecourseofMylifeaswellasbyMywords;"When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and thesheep follow him" (John 10:4)—He requires no more of us than HerenderedHimself;"Ihavegivenyouanexample, thatyeshoulddoas Ihave done to you" (John 13:15); "Now the God of patience andconsolationgrantyoutobelikemindedonetowardanotheraccordingtoChrist Jesus" (Rom. 15:5); "Let thismind be in you,whichwas also inChrist Jesus" (Phil. 2:5). "Let us run with patience the race that is setbeforeus,lookinguntoJesus,theauthorandfinisherofourfaith"(Heb.12:1-2);"Butif,whenyedowell,andsufferforit,yetakeitpatiently,thisisacceptableuntoGod.Forevenhereuntowereyecalled:becauseChristalso suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow hissteps"(1Pet.2:20-21);"Hethatsaithheabidethinhimoughthimselfsotowalk,evenashewalked"(1John2:6).

Example isbetterthanprecept.Why?Becauseaprecept ismoreorless an abstraction, whereas an example sets before us a concreterepresentation; therefore has more aptitude to incite the mind toimitation. The conduct of thosewithwhomwe are in close associationexertsaconsiderableinfluenceuponus,eitherforgoodorevil.ThefactisclearlyrecognizedintheScriptures.Forexample,weareenjoined,"Makenofriendshipwithanangryman;andwithafuriousmanthoushaltnotgo:lestthoulearnhisways,andgetasnaretothysoul"(Prov.22:24-25).It was for this reason that God commanded the Israelites to utterly

destroyall the inhabitantsofCanaan,sothattheymightnot learntheirevilwaysandbecontaminatedbythem(Deut.7:2-4).Contrariwise, theexample of thepious exerts an influence for good; that iswhy theyarecalled"thesaltoftheearth."

Inkeepingwiththisprinciple,GodhasappointedtheconsiderationofChrist’scharacterandconductasaspecialmeanstoincreasethepietyinHispeople.As their hearts contemplateHis holy obedience, it has apeculiarefficacytotheirgrowingingracebeyondallotherexamples.Itisin beholding the Lord Jesus by faith that salvation comes to us. "Lookuntome,andbeyesaved,alltheendsoftheearth"(Isa.45:22).Christispresented before the sinner in the Gospel, with the promise thatwhosoeverbelievinglylookstoHimshallnotperish,buthaveeverlastinglife (John 3:14-15). This is a special ordinance of God, and it is madeeffectual by the Spirit to all who believe. In like manner, Christ ispresentedtothesaintsasthegrandPatternofobedienceandExampleofholiness,withthepromisethatastheycontemplateHimassuchweshallbe changed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18). Our response to thatappointmentofGodisrewardedbyagrowinginpiety.

Buttogetdowntodetails:whatisinvolvedinthesaints’imitatingofChrist?First, itpresupposesthattheybealreadyregenerate.TheheartsofHisfollowersmustbesanctifiedbeforetheirlivescanbeconformedtoHim.ThespiritandprincipleofobediencemustbeimpartedtothesoulbeforetherecanbeanexternalimitationofChrist’spractice.Thisorderisplainly enunciated in, "Iwill give themoneheart, and Iwill put anewspiritwithinyou;andIwilltakethestonyheartoutoftheirflesh,andwillgivethemaheartof flesh: that theymaywalk inmystatutes,andkeepmineordinances,anddothem:andtheyshallbemypeople,andIwillbetheirGod"(Ezek.11:19-20).Onewhoisyet in thegallofbitternessandthebondof iniquityhasnoheart for spiritual things; therefore thetreemustbemadegoodbeforeitcanproducegoodfruit.WemustfirstliveintheSpiritandthenwalkintheSpirit(Gal.5:25).OnemightaswellurgetheEthiopiantochangehisskinortheleopardhisspots,ascallupontheunconvertedtofollowtheexampleChristhasleftHispeople.

Second, imitating Christ definitely denotes that no Christian maygovernhimselforactaccordingtohisownwill.Thosewhoarearuleto

themselves act in fearful defiance of theMostHigh. "O LORD, I knowthat theway ofman is not in himself: it is not inman thatwalketh todirect his steps" (Jer. 10:23). A man may as well feign to be his owncreatorashisownguide.Nomanhaswisdomenoughtodirecthimself.When born again we are conscious of this fact. Our proud hearts arehumbledandour rebelliouswillsbroken,andwe feel theneedofbeingledbyAnother.Thecryofaconvertedheartis,"Lord,whatwouldstthouhaveme todo?"His answer tous today is, follow the examplewhich Ihaveleftyou,learnofme,walkasIwalked.

Third, if this imitating of Christ clearly implies that no man maypretend to be his ownmaster, it is equally evident that nomatter howwiseorhowholyhe is,noChristianhas therightor isqualified toruleothers.ChristaloneisappointedandfittedtobetheLordofHispeople.ItistruethatwereadintheWord,"Thatyebenotslothful,butfollowersof them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb.6:12); and "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submityourselves:fortheywatchforyoursouls,astheythatmustgiveaccount"(Heb.13:17).Yetthatmustbetaken insubordinationto theexampleofChrist.Thebestofmenarebutmen at thebest; theyhave their errorsandfaults,andwheretheydifferfromChristitisourdutytodifferfromthem.Itisveryimportantthatwebequiteclearuponthispoint,formuchmischiefhasresultedfromallowingsometodepriveothersofavitalpartoftheirrightfulliberty.

ItisnotthatScriptureteachesanecclesiasticaldemocracy,thatisasfarfromthetruthastheRomishhierarchyattheoppositeextreme.GodhasplacedrulersintheChurch,anditsmembersarecommandedtoobeythem;buttheirruleisadministrativeandnot legislative—toenforcethelawsofChrist,andnotinventrulesoftheirown.Paulaffirmed,"Notforthatwehavedominionoveryourfaith,butarehelpersofyourjoy:forbyfaithyestand"(2Cor.1:24);andPeterdeclaredoftheeldersorbishops,"Neitherasbeing lordsoverGod’sheritage,butbeingensamples to theflock"(1Pet.5:3).FilledwithsogreatameasureoftheSpiritofwisdomandholinessasPaulwas,yethegoesnohigherthanthis;"Beyefollowersofme,evenasIalsoamofChrist"(1Cor.11:1).

Fourth, the imitation of Christ plainly intimates that true

Christianity is very strict and exacting, and in no wise countenanceslicentiousnessortheindulgenceoffleshlylusts.Thisneedsemphasesinsuch a day as ours,when somuch laxity prevails. People suppose theymaybefollowersofChristandyetignorethepathwhichHetraveled;thattheymaydeclinetheunpleasanttaskofdenyingselfandyetmakesureofheaven.What adelusion!The vital necessity of the careful imitation ofChristdisallowsall loosewalking, and rejects the claimof any tobeingrealChristiansiftheydonotheedHisexample.Neitherworldlinessnorself-indulgencecanfindanyprotectionbeneaththewingsoftheGospel.Theunvaryingrule,bindingonallwhoclaimtobeHis,is"LeteveryonethatnameththenameofChristdepart frominiquity"(2Tim.2:19).Lethimeither follow the example of Christ, or cease claiming to belong toHim; let him tread the highway of holiness or all his fair words areworthless.

Fifth,theimitationofChristnecessarilyimpliestheblemishesofthebestofmen.IfthelifeofChristisourpattern,thentheholiestamongHisfollowers are obliged to admit they come far short of this standard ofduty, and not in a few details, but in every respect. The character andconductof theLordJesuswerewithout spotorblemish; therefore theyare so high above our poor attainments that we are filled with shamewhenwemeasureourselvesbythem.Self-satisfiedreligionistsmaytakedelightincomparingthemselveswithothers,asthePhariseedidwiththepublican.DeludedsoulswhosupposethatallChristianholinessconsistsofismeasuringuptosomehumanlyinventedstandardofperfection(orenteringintosomepeculiarexperience),maypridethemselvesthattheyhave"received thesecondblessing,"or "have the fullnessorbaptismoftheSpirit;"yetallwhohonestlymeasurethemselvesbytheperfectionsofChristwillfindabundantcausetobehumbled.

Thistoo,isapointoftremendouspracticalimportance.IfIplacemyhandkerchiefagainstadarkbackground, itwillappearspotlesslyclean;but,ifIlayituponnewlyfallensnow,theimperfectionofitswhitenessisquicklyapparent.IfIcomparemyownlifewiththatpreachedbycertain"victorious-life"advocatesImayconcludethatmylifeisquiteacceptable.ButifIdiligentlyapplytomyselftheplumblineofChrist’sexample,thenImust at once acknowledge, like Peter of old, I am but followingHim

"afaroff."Surelynonewasmoreproficientinholinessandpunctiliousinobedience than Paul; yet, when he compared himself to Christ, hedeclared, "Not as though I had already attained, either were alreadyperfect:butIfollowafter,ifthatImayapprehend"(Phil.3:12).

Sixth, the imitation of Christ as our pattern clearly implies Histranscendent holiness, that His holiness is high above that of allcreatures.Therefore it is the greatest of theChristian’s ambitions tobeconformed toHis image (Phil. 3:10). Christ has a double perfection: aperfectionofbeingandaperfectionofworking.Hislifeonearthsuppliesaperfect rule forusbecause therewasnoblotorerror therein.Hewas"holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners," and such an HighPriest became us (Heb. 7:26). Thus the conformity of professingChristians to Christ’s example is both the test andmeasure of all theirgraces.TheneareranyoneapproachestothisPattern,thecloserhecomestoperfection.

Finally, the Christian’s imitation of Christ, under the penalty offorfeitinghis claim to any saving interest inChrist, necessarily denotesthat sanctification and obedience are the evidences of our justificationand acceptance with God. Scriptural assurance is unattainable withoutsincere and strict obedience. "The work of righteousness [not of looseliving]shallbepeace"(Isa.32:17)."Wehave itnot forourholiness,butwealwayshave it in thewayofholiness.Letmentalkwhat theywilloftheimmediatesealingsandcomfortsoftheSpirit,withoutanyregardtoholiness,orrespecttoobedience:sureIam,whateverdelusiontheymeetwith in that way, true peace and consolation is only to be found andexpectedhere" (JohnFlavel, towhomweare indebted formuch in thesevenpoints).

"Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye shouldfollowhissteps" (1Pet.2:21).Wehaveseenthatnotonly is theperfectlifeofChristasuitablepatternofholinessandobedienceforHispeopletoimitate,butalsothatGodhasexpresslyappointeditforthatpurpose.This is so that we may have a sure rule to walk by, the Law of Godtranslated into concrete terms and its requirements set before us by apersonalrepresentation;andalsoforthepurposeofhumblingourproudhearts,byrevealingtoushowfarshortwecomeofmeasuringuptoGod’s

standard of righteousness. Furthermore, God has appointed that theexampleofChristshouldbefollowedbyHispeoplesothatHisSonmightbehonoredbythem;todistinguishHisfollowersfromtheworld;andsothattheyshouldevidencetherealityoftheirprofession.ImitatingChrist,then,isnotoptional,butobligatory.

But here a very real difficulty confronts those who sincerely seekgracetoheedthisdivineappointment.Inwhatparticularrespectsareweto regard Christ as our Exemplar? All things recorded of Him inHolyWrit are for our instruction, but not all for our imitation. There weresome thingsChristdid asGod; for example,Hewroughtmiracles. "MyFatherworkethhitherto,andIwork...ForastheFatherraisethupthedead, andquickeneth them;even so theSonquickenethwhomhewill"(John5:17,21);"ButthatyemayknowthattheSonofmanhathpoweron earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of and palsy), Arise,take up thy bed, and go unto thine house" (Matthew 9:6)—even theapostlesneverperformedsuchdeedsintheirownnameorbytheirownpower. Again; asMediator,He performedworks ofmerit, thusmakingexpiation for the sins of His people and "bringing in everlastingrighteousness" for them, and obtaining their justification andreconciliation. So now His intercession secures their preservation. Nomere man can do anything meritorious, for at best we are all"unprofitableservants."

EvenasMan,Christperformedextraordinaryactswhicharenotforour emulation: fasting for forty days and nights,walking on the water,spending a whole night in prayer (Luke 6:12)—we do not read inScriptureofanyoneelsedoingso—are cases inpoint. SoHeperformedcertaintemporaryworkswhichpertainedtothetimeinwhichHelived,whicharenotforourimitation—suchasHisbeingcircumcised,keepingthePassover.Wherein, then, isChrist tobe imitatedbyus?First, inallthosemoraldutieswhichpertaintoallmenatalltimes,whichareneitherextraordinarynortemporary,comprehendedinthelovingofGodwithallour hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. Second, in such duties asbelongtoa likecalling:asthechildobeyingitsparents(Luke2:51);thecitizen paying his taxes (Matthew 17:27); the minister of the Gospeldiligently (Luke 8:1) and faithfully (Heb. 3:2) discharging his office.

Third,inallsuchworksashavelikereasonandoccasionfordoingthem(Matthew12:12;John8:59).

Thebeliever’sconformitytoChristcorrespondstothestatesthroughwhichHepassed.ChristJesusfirstenteredastateofhumiliation,beforeGodrewardedHimbybringingHimintoastateofexaltation.ThereforehasGodordered that themembersshall resemble theirHead.Theyarecalled upon to endure sufferings, before they enter into the promisedglory. The disciples of the Lord Jesus have to experience ameasure ofopposition,persecution,hatred,affliction,andtheydoso for theirhopeofabetter life tocome. In that, theydobut follow"thecaptainof theirsalvation,"whowas "madeperfect throughsufferings" (Heb.2:10).HasnotGoddeclared,"Ifwebedeadwithhim[Christ],weshallalsolivewithhim: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim. 2:11-12). Thatorderisinescapable,"AlwaysbearingaboutinthebodythedyingoftheLord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in ourbody"(2Cor.4:10).

Inlikemanner,theChristianistobeconformedtothespecialactsofChrist’smediation, which areHis death and resurrection. These are ofparamountconsideration,fortheyarenotonlyapatternproposedtoourmeditation, but also a great influence upon our dying to sin and livinguntoholiness.Thisisevidencedfromthefactthatthoseeffectsofgraceinus are ascribed to those acts of Christ’s mediation which carry mostcorrespondencewiththem.ThusourmortificationisascribedtoChrist’scrucifixion(Gal.2:20);ourvivificationtoHisrisinguntolife(Phil.3:10);andourheavenlymindednesstoHisascension(Phil.3:20);sothatallofthosechiefactsofChristareverifiedinHispeople.WedietosinasChristdiedforit.

Butindescendingtomorespecificdetails,itisinChrist’sgraceswearetobeconformedtoHim.AllthegracesandvirtuesoftheSpiritwererepresentedintheirgrandestgloryandbrightestlusterinHislifehereonearth.First, thepurityandholinessofHis life isproposedasagloriouspatternforthesaintsto imitate."Everymanthathaththishope inhimpurifiethhimself,evenasheispure"(1John3:3).Beforeenlarginguponthis,letuspointoutwhereChristisuniqueandbeyondourimitation.Hewasessentiallyholy inHis being, forHe is "theHolyOne ofGod."He

entered this world immaculate, pure from the least stain of pollution,"Thatholythingwhichshallbebornofthee"(Luke1:35).Again,Hewaseffectuallyholy, forHemakesothersholy.ByHis sufferings andbloodthereopenedafountain"forsinandforuncleanness"(Zech.13:1).Heisalso infinitelyholy,asHe isGod, andnomeasure canbe set uponHisholinessasMediator, forHe received theSpiritwithoutmeasure (John3:34).IntheseparticularsHeisinimitable.

Notwithstandingtheseexceptions,theholinessofChristisapatternforus.Hewastrulyandsincerelyholy,withoutfictionorpretense.WhentheprinceofthisworldscrutinizedHimhecouldfindnodefect inHim(John14:30).Hewaspuregoldthroughout.ThePhariseemaypretendtobe holy, but it is only in outward appearance. Now the Christian’sholiness must be genuine, sincere, without simulation. Christ wasuniformlyholy,atonetimeandplaceaswellasanother.Thesameeventenorofholinessran throughthewholeofHis life fromfirst to last.SoshoulditbewithHisfollowers."Ashewhichhathcalledyouisholy,sobeyeholyinallmannerofconversation"(1Pet.1:15).Whatinconsistencieswehavetobemoan;onepartofourlifeheavenly,anotherearthly.

Christwasexemplarilyholy;apatterntoallthatcamenearHim,sothateventhosesenttoarrestHimhadtoreturntotheirmastersandsay,"neverman spake as thisman."We are to imitateHim in this respect.TheThessaloniansaintswerecommendedbecausethey,"wereensamplestoall thatbelieve inMacedoniaandAchaia.For fromyou soundedoutthewordoftheLordnotonlyinMacedoniaandAchaia,butalsoineveryplaceyourfaithtoGod-wardisspreadabroad"(1Thess.1:7-8).Letnonegooutofourcompanywithoutbeingeither convictedor edified.Christwasstrictlyholy."Whichofyouconvictethmeofsin?"wasHischallenge.ThemostobservingandunfriendlyeyecouldpicknoflawinHisactions.ItisourdutytoimitateChristinthistoo,"Thatyemaybeblamelessandharmless,thesonsofGod,withoutrebuke,inthemidstofacrookedandperversenation,amongwhomyeshineaslightsintheworld"(Phil.2:15).

Second, theobedienceofChrist toHisFather’swill isapattern forthe Christian’s emulation. "Let thismind be in you, which was also inChrist Jesus . . . [who] became obedient unto death" (Phil. 2:5, 8).Christ’s obedience was free and voluntary, not forced and compulsory.

"ThensaidI,Lo,Icome...Idelighttodothywill,OmyGod"(Ps.40:7-8).NordidHewaver,later,whensufferingsogrievouslyinthedischargeofthatwill."ThereforedothmyFather loveme,becauseI laydownmylife"(John10:17).SotheChristianistofollowthestepsofChrist,doingnothing grudgingly and counting not God’s commands grievous. Ourobediencemustbe rendered cheerfully if it is tobe acceptable. SeeHisperfectsubmission inGethsemane.Here tooHe leftusanexample.WearetomakenodemurtothemostunpleasanttaskGodassignsus.Happythe Christian who can say with the apostle, "for I am ready not to beboundonly,butalsotodieatJerusalemforthenameoftheLordJesus"(Acts21:13).

The obedience of Christ was entirely disinterested. It was wroughtfor no self ends, but for the glory ofGod. "I have glorified thee on theearth.Ihavefinishedtheworkwhichthougavestmetodo"(John17:4).Christ sought not honor of men, but the great desire of His soul was"Father, glorify Thy name" (John 12:28). This quality must alsocharacterizeourobedience."Looknoteverymanonhisownthings,buteverymanalsoonthethingsofothers"(Phil.2:4).ThestreamsofChrist’sobedience flowed fromthe fountainof love toGod. "But that theworldmay know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave mecommandment,evensoIdo"(John14:13).Letthisalsobetrueofus,forloveless obedience is of no value in the sight ofGod. The obedience ofChristwasconstant,continuingtoHisverylastbreath.Beingnot"wearyinwell-doing"isrequiredofus."Bethoufaithfuluntodeath"(Rev.2:10).

Third,theself-denialofChrististhepatternforthebeliever."Ifanymanwiltcomeafterme,lethimdenyhimself,andtakeuphiscross,andfollowme"(Matthew16:24).Thoughthereistobearesemblance,therecan be no exact equivalent. "For ye know the grace of our Lord JesusChrist, that, thoughhewas rich, yet foryour sakeshebecamepoor" (2Cor.8:9).WhocangaugewhatChrist,forthegloryofGodandthelovewhichHebaretotheelect,gaveupforus?Howtrivialincomparisonisthe greatest sacrificewe are called upon tomake! Christwas under noobligationwhatevertodenyHimself forus,butHehasplacedusunderthestrongestobligationtodenyourselvesforHissake.Thoughundernoobligation, He denied Himself readily, making no objection to the

severestpartofit.Thenletitnotbesaidofus,"Forallseektheirown,notthe things which are Jesus Christ’s" (Phil. 2:21). Let not self be loved,petted,pitied,pampered, and indulged; rather renounceandmortify it,andmakepleasingandglorifyingChristyourgreatbusiness.

Fourth, the activity anddiligence ofChrist in fulfilling thework ofGodcommitteduntoHim,wasapatternforallbelieverstoimitate.Itissaid of Him that He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). What agloriousworkHeaccomplishedinsoshortatime!—aworkwhichwillbecelebrated through all eternity by the praises of the redeemed, a workuponwhichHisheartwasintentlyset."Mymeatistodothewillofhimthatsentme"(John4:34).ItwasaworkunderwhichHeneverfainted,despitethegreatestopposition.TheshortnessofthetimeprovokedHimto the greatest diligence. "Imustwork theworks of him that sentme,whileitisday:thenightcometh,whennomancanwork"(John9:4).Heimproved all opportunities and occasions: granting Nicodemus aninterviewatnight,preachingtheGospel tothewomanatthewellwhenHewasexhaustedfromHisjourney.NothingdispleasedHimmorethantobedissuadedfromHiswork."Gettheebehindme,Satan,"HesaidtoPeterwhentheapostlesaid,"sparethyself,Lord."

Shall His followers trifle their lives away in vanity? Shall we beslothfulwhenHewassodiligent?HowgreatanhonorGodhasplacedonusbycallingustoHisservice.Steadfastnessintheworkofobedienceisourgreatestsecurity inthehourof temptation."TheLORDiswithyou,whileyebewithhim"(2Chron.15:2).Diligenceinprosecutingholinessisthewaytogetmore(Luke8:18).Gracesgrowbybeingused;spiritualactslead to spiritual habits; talents faithfully employed are rewarded by anincrease.DiligenceintheworkofGodisthedirectwaytoanassuranceofthe love of God (2 Pet. 1:5-10). Diligence in obedience is the greatestsecurityagainstbacksliding.Coldnessleadstocarelessness,carelessnesstonegligence,negligencetoapostasy.ThemorediligentweareinservingGod,themoreourlikenesstoChrist.

Fifth,theinoffensivenessofthelifeofChristonearthisanexcellentpattern toallHispeople.He injurednone,andnevergaveoccasion forany to be justly injured by Him. He was not only holy, but also"harmless."HewaivedHisownpersonalrightstoavoidgivinganoffense,

as in the case of tributemoney.When he was reviled, He "reviled notagain" (1 Pet. 2:23). So circumspect was our Savior that when Hisenemies sought occasion against Him, they could not find any (John19:4). Let us earnestly seek grace that we may imitate this blessedexcellency of His life, that we may obey God’s command and be"blamelessandharmless, the sonsofGod,without rebuke" (Phil. 2:15).The honor of Christ, whose name we bear, is bound up in ourdeportment. The rule which He has laid upon us, is "Be ye wise asserpents,andharmlessasdoves"Matthew10:16).

Sixth,thehumilityandmeeknessofChristisproposedbyHimselfasa pattern forHis people’s imitation. "Learn ofme: for I ammeek andlowlyinheart"(Matthew11:29).HeabasedHimself,bytakinguponHimthe form of a servant. He stooped to the lowest office by washing thedisciples’feet.WhenHepresentedHimselftoIsraelastheirKing,itwasinhumiliation,ridinguponthebackofanass."Behold,thyKingcomethuntothee,meek"(Matthew21:5).Hedeclared,"theSonofmancamenotto be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matthew 20:28). Hecondescendedtothe lowestofmen,eatingwith"publicansandsinners"(Matthew 9:11). In all of this He left us an example to follow. O to be"clothedwithhumility"(1Pet.5:5),andtherebyevidenceourconformitytoChrist.

Pride ill becomes one who professes to be a follower of the LordJesus. It not only betrays lack of communion with Christ, but also awoeful ignorance of self. Nothing is so provoking to God, and morequicklyestrangesthesoulfromHim."ThoughtheLORDishigh,yethathherespectuntothelowly;buttheproudheknowethafaroff"(Ps.138:6).Pride is totally inconsistent with the complaints we make of ourcorruptions,anditpresentsaseriousstumblingblocktothechildrenofGod.Benotambitiousoftheworld’sgreatones,butcontentyourselfasoneofChrist’slittleones.LearnhumilityatHisfeet.Evidenceitinyourapparelanddeportment (1Pet.3:3).Display it in cultivating fellowshipwith the poorest of the flock (Rom. 12:16). Show it by speaking of andcomportingyourselfas"lessthantheleastofallsaints"(Eph.3:8).

Seventh, thecontentmentofChrist ina lowandmeanconditioninthisworldisanexcellentpatternforHispeople’s imitation.Hisportion

herewasaconditionofdeepestpovertyandcontempt.Thechildoflowlyparents;borninamanger.Sodeprivedofthecomfortsofthisworldthat,muchofHistime,HehadnotwheretolayHishead;sopoorHehadtoborrowapennytopointoutitssuperscription.YetHenevermurmuredorcomplained.Nay,sofarfromit,soperfectlycontentwasHewithGod’sappointments,thatHedeclared,"Thelinesarefallenuntomeinpleasantplaces" (Ps. 16:6). Under the most degrading sufferings, He neverresisted:"Hewasoppressed,andhewasafflicted,yetheopenednothismouth:heisbroughtasalambtotheslaughter"(Isa.53:7).

OthatinthisalsothepoorestChristianswouldimitatetheirSavior,and learn tomanage an afflicted condition with a contented spirit: letthere be no complaints, or foolish charging of God heard from you,whateverstraitsortroublesHebringsyouinto.

The meanest and most afflicted Christian is owner of many rich,invaluablemercies (Eph. 1:3; 1 Corinthians 3:23). Is sin pardoned andGodreconciled?thenneveropenyourmouthsanymore.Youhavemanyprecious promises that God will not forsake you in your straits (Heb.13:5).YourwholelifehasbeenanexperienceofthefaithfulnessofGodtoHis promises.Howuseful and beneficial all your afflictions are to you!they purge your sins, wean you from the world, and turn to yoursalvation; then, howunreasonablemust your discontentedness at thembe!Thetimeofyourreliefandfulldeliverancefromallyourtroublesisathand: the time is but short that you shall have any concernment aboutsuchthings.YourlotfallsbyDivinedirectionuponyou,andbadasitmaybe,itismucheasierandsweeterthantheconditionofChristinthisworldwas.YetHecontented,andwhynotyou?(JohnFlavel).

"Hethatsaithheabidethinhimoughthimselfalsosotowalk,evenas he walked" (1 John 2:6). The principal design of the apostle in thisepistle is toexhibitcertainsignsandmarks,bothnegativeandpositive,for theexaminationor trialofmen’sclaims tobeingChristians (1John5:13). It is in that light our verse must be interpreted. The proof of asaving interest in Christ is our imitation of Him. Were this criterionfaithfully insisted upon today from the pulpit much of the emptyprofession now abounding would be clearly exposed. A claim is made,"He that saith he abideth in Him," which signifies an interest in and

communionwithHim.TheonlywaythatclaimcanbeestablishedisbywalkingasChristwalked,followingtheexampleHehasleftus.

Every man is bound to the imitation of Christ under penalty offorfeiting his claim to Christ. The necessity of this imitation of Christconvincingly appears divers ways. First, from the established order ofsalvation, which is fixed and unalterable. God that hath appointed theend,hathalsoestablishedthemeansandorderbywhichmenshallattaintheultimateend.NowconformitytoChrististheestablishedmethodinwhichGodwillbringmanysoulstoglory."Forwhomhedidforeknow,healso did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that hemight be the firstborn amongmany brethren" (Rom. 8:29). The sameGodwhohaspredestinatedmentosalvation,has,inorder,predestinatedthem to conformity to Christ. This order of heaven is never to bereversed;wemayaswellhopetobesavedwithoutChrist,astobesavedwithoutconformitytoChrist.

Secondly,thenatureofChrist-mysticalrequiresthisconformity,andrendersitindispensablynecessary.Otherwise,thebodyofChristmustbeheterogeneous:ofanaturedifferentfromtheHead,andhowmonstrousanduncomelywouldthisbe!ThiswouldrepresentChristtotheworldinanimage,oridea,muchlikethat,"Theheadoffinegold,thebreastsandarmsofsilver, the thighsofbrass, the legsof iron, the feetpartof ironandpartofclay"(Dan.2:32-33).Christ,theHead,ispureandholy,andthereforeveryunsuitabletosensualandworldlymembers.Andthereforetheapostle inhisdescriptionofChrist-mystical,describes themembersofChrist (as they ought to be) of the samenature andqualitywith theHead:"Asistheheavenly,sucharetheyalsothatareheavenly;andaswehavebornetheimageoftheearthy,soweshallalsobeartheimageoftheheavenly."ThatimageorresemblanceofChrist,whichshallbecompleteandperfectaftertheresurrection,mustbebeguninitsfirstdraughtherebytheworkofregeneration.

Thirdly, this resemblance and conformity to Christ appearsnecessaryfromthecommunionwhichallbelievershavewithHiminthesamespiritofgraceandholiness.BelieversarecalledChrist’s"fellows"orco-partners (Ps. 45:7) from their participation with Him of the sameSpirit. God giveth the same Spirit unto us, which He more plentifully

poured out upon Christ. Now where the same Spirit and principle is,therethesamefruitsandoperationsmustbeproduced,accordingtotheproportionsandmeasuresoftheSpiritofgracecommunicated;andthisreason is farther enforced by the very design and end of God in theinfusion of the Spirit of grace: for it is plain from Ezekiel 36:27 thatpracticalholinessandobedienceisthescopeanddesignofthatinfusionof theSpirit.Thevery innatepropertyof theSpiritofGod inmen is toelevatetheirminds,settheiraffectionsuponheavenlythings,purgetheirhearts from earthly dross, and fit them for a life of holiness andobedience.Itsnaturealsoisassimilatingandchangeththeminwhomitis into the same imagewith Jesus Christ, theirHeavenlyHead (2 Cor.3:18).

Fourth,thenecessityofthisimitationofChristmaybearguedfromthedesignandendofChrist’sexhibitiontotheworldinabodyofflesh.For though we detest that doctrine of the Socinians. whichmakes theexemplary life ofChrist to be thewhole endofHis incarnation, yetwemustnotrunsofarfromanerrorastoloseaprecioustruth.Wesay,thesatisfactionofHisbloodwasamainandprincipalendofHisincarnation,according toMatthew20:28.Weaffirmalso, that itwas a greatdesignandendoftheincarnationofChristtosetbeforeusapatternofholinessforourimitation,forsospeakstheapostle:He"hathleftusanexample,thatweshouldfollowHissteps"(1Pet.2:21);andthisexampleofChristgreatlyobligesbelieverstoHisimitation:"Letthismindbeinyou,whichwasalsoinChristJesus"(Phil.2:5).

Fifthly, our imitation of Christ is one of those great articles whicheverymanistosubscribe,whomChristwilladmitintothenumberofHisdisciples."Whosoeverdothnotbearhiscross,andcomeafterme,cannotbemy disciple" (Luke 14:27): and again "If anyman serveme, let himfollowme" (John12:26).To this conditionwehave submitted, ifwebesincere believers; and therefore are strictly bound to the imitation ofChrist,notonlybyGod’scommand, butbyourownconsent.But ifweprofessinterestinChrist,whenourheartsneverconsentedtofollow,andimitate His example, then are we self-deceiving hypocrites, whollydisagreeing from the Scripture character of believers. They that areChrist’s are theredescribedaswalkingnot after the flesh, but after the

Spirit.

Sixthly,thehonorofChristnecessitatestheconformityofChristianstoHisexample,elsewhatwayistherelefttostopdetractingmouths,andtovindicate thenameofChrist fromthe reproachesof theworld?Howcanwisdombe justifiedofher children, except it be thisway?Bywhatmeans shall we cut off occasion from such as desire occasion, but byregulatingourlivesbyChrist’sexample.Theworldhatheyestoseewhatwepractice, as well as ears to hear what we profess. Therefore eithershow the consistencybetween yourprofession andpractice, or you cannever hope to vindicate the name and honor of the Lord Jesus" (JohnFlavel,Puritan).

From all that has now been before us wemay draw the followinginferences. First, if allwho claima saving interest inChrist are strictlybound to imitateHim, then it follows that Christianity is very unjustlycharged by the world with the evils and scandals of empty professors.Nothing can be more unreasonable, for Christianity severely censureslooseandscandalousactionsinallprofessors,andthereforeisnottobeblamed for them. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hathappeared to allmen, teachingus that denyingungodliness andworldlylusts,weshouldlivesoberly,righteously,andgodlyinthispresentworld"(Titus2:11-12).Really, it is an argument greatly in favorofChristianitythatevenwickedmencovetthenameofit,thoughtheyonlycloaktheirsinsunderit.

Second, if all professors forfeit their claim to a saving interest inChristwhoendeavornot, sincerelyandearnestly, to imitateHim in theholinessofHislife,thenhowsmallanumberofrealChristiansaretherein the world! If flowery talking without strict walking, if commonprofessionwithoutholypractice,ifChurchmembershipwithoutdenyingself and treading the narrow way, were sufficient to constitute aChristian,thenaconsiderablepercentageofearth’spopulationwouldbeentitledtothatname.But ifChristownsnonebut thosewho followtheexample that He left, then His flock is indeed a little one. The vastmajorityofthosewhoclaimtobeChristianshaveanametolive,butaredead (Rom. 6:13). The demands of Christ are too rigid for them. Theypreferthebroadroadwherethemajorityarefound.

Third,whatblessedtimesweshouldwitnessiftrueChristianityoncegenerallyobtainedandprevailedintheworld!Howitwouldhumbletheproud,mellow the self-willed, and spiritualize those who are carnal. AperverseworldhasoftenchargedChristianitywithbeingthecauseofallthetumultinit;whereasnothingbutpureChristianity,inthepowerofit,cancurethoseepidemicsofevil.Ifthegreatmajorityofourfellowswereregenerated by the Spirit and brought to walk after Christ in holiness,living in meekness and self-denial, then our prisons would be closed,armies and navies done away with, jealousies and animosities beremoved, and the wilderness and solitary places be glad. The desertwouldrejoiceandblossomastherose.Thatiswhatconstitutesthegreatdifference between heaven and a world that lieth in the wicked one.Holiness is the very atmosphere of the former,whereas it is hated andbannedhere.

Fourth, italsofollowsthatrealChristiansarethebestcompanions.ItisablessedthingtofellowshipwiththosewhogenuinelyseektofollowtheexampleofChrist.Theholiness,heavenlymindedness,andspiritualgraceswhichwereinHimare,intheirmeasure,tobefoundinallofHistrue disciples. They show the praises of Him who called them out ofdarknessintolight.SomethingofthefruitoftheSpiritistobeseeninallthosewhomHeindwells.Yetitmustberememberedthereisagreatdealof difference between one Christian and another, that the best issanctifiedonlyinpart.Ifthereissomethingengagingandsweet,thereisalsothatwhichisdistastefulandbitterinthemostmaturesaints.Thisiswhat gives us occasion to forbear one another in love. Nevertheless,notwithstandingallinfirmitiesandcorruptions,theLord’speoplearethebestcompanionsonthisearth.HappyaretheywhonowenjoyfellowshipwiththoseinwhomcanbediscernedthelikenessofChrist.

Fifth,ifnoman’sclaimtobeingChrist’siswarrantedexceptsofarashe iswalkingaccordingtoHim,thenhowgroundlessandworthlessarethe expectations of all unsanctified persons, who walk after their ownlusts.

Nonearemoreforwardtoclaimtheprivilegesofreligionthanthosethatrejectthedutiesofit;multitudeshopetobesavedbyChrist,whoyet

refusetobegovernedbyHim.ButsuchhopeshavenoScripturewarranttosupportthem;yea,theyhavemanyScripturetestimoniesagainstthem."KnowyenotthattheunrighteousshallnotinheritthekingdomofGod?Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, noreffeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, norcovetous,nordrunkards,nor revilers,norextortioners, shall inherit thekingdomofGod"(1Cor.6:9).Ohowmanythousandvainhopesarelaidinthedust,andhowmanythousandsoulsaresentencedtoHellbythisoneScripture!(JohnFlavel,1660).

ThenhowitbehoovesthoseofuswhoprofesstobeChristiansto"benotconformedtothisworld,"buttobe"transformedbytherenewingofourminds" (Rom. 12:2).Howwe should strive to followChrist’s steps.Thatshouldbethegreatbusinessofour lives,as it is thechiefscopeoftheGospel. IfChristhas conformedHimself to us by takinguponHimournature,howreasonableitisthatweshouldconformourselvestoHiminawayofobedience.HecameundertheLawforoursakes(Gal.4:4),the leastwecando in return is togladly takeHisyokeuponus. ItwasChrist’s abasement to conform Himself to those who were infinitelybeneathHim; itwill be our advancement to conform ourselves toHimwho is sohigh aboveus. Surely the loveofChristmust constrainus tosparenoeffortsto"growupintohiminallthings"(Eph.4:15).

If we will be conformed toHim in glory, how logical it is that weshouldnowconformourselvestoHiminholiness."Weshallbelikehim,forweshallseehimasheis"(1John3:2),likeHimnotonlyinoursouls,but also our bodies too will be transformed like unto His (Phil. 3:21).What a motive this is to bring us into conformity with Christ here,especiallysinceourconformitytoHiminholinessistheevidenceofourconformity toHim in glory (Rom. 6:5). The conformity of our lives toChristisourhighestexcellenceinthisworld,forthemeasureofourgraceistobeestimatedbythisrule.SofarasweimitateChrist,andnofarther,areweofanyrealhelp to thosearoundus;contrariwise, the lesswebeconformedtoChrist,thegreaterhindrancesandstumblingblockswearebothtothesavedandunsaved.Whatasolemnconsiderationthisis!Howit should drive us to our knees, seeking grace to be closer followers ofChrist.

"That ye shouldwalkworthy ofGod,who hath called you into hiskingdomandglory" (1Thess.2:12).By "worthiness" theapostlehadnoreference to what is meritorious, but to that decorum which befits aChristian. As Davenant pointed out, "The word ‘worthy’ as used inScripturedoesnotalwaysdenoteanexactproportionofequalitybetweenone thing and another, but a certain suitableness and fitness whichexcludes inconsistency." To walk worthy of God is to walk as Christwalked, and any deviation from that standard is a reflection on ourprofessionandareproachuponHim.ItisforourownpeacethatwebeconformedtoChrist’spattern.TheanswerofagoodconscienceandthesmileofGod’sapprobationarerichcompensationfordenyingtheflesh.Acomfortabledeath is theordinary closeofaholy life. "Mark theperfectman, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace" (Ps.37:37).

Indrawingtoaconclusion letusconsidera few linesofcomforttothosewhoarecastdownbytherealizationofhowfarshorttheycomeofmeasuring up to the standardChrist set before them. According to theyearnings of the new nature, you have sincerely endeavored to followChrist’s example. But being weak in grace and meeting with muchoppositionfromthefleshandtemptationsfromthedevil,youhavebeenfrequentlyturnedasidefromtheholypurposesofyourhonesthearts,tothegreatdiscouragementofyoursouls.YoucansaywithDavid,"Othatmywaysweredirectedtokeepthystatutes!" (Ps. 119:5):youhave triedhardtofollowafterholiness,"Ifbyanymeans"youmightattain it.Butyoureffortshavebeenrepeatedlythwarted,youraspirationsdashed,andyou have to cry, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?"(Rom.7:24).

First, letusassurethegenuinelyexercisedsoulthatsuchdefects inobediencedonot invalidateyour justification,oraffect youracceptancewith and standingbeforeGod.Your justification is built not upon yourobedience, but upon Christ’s. However imperfect you are, you are"completeinhim"(Col.2:10).WoetoAbraham,Moses,David,orPauliftheirjustificationdependedupontheirownholinessandgoodworks.Letnot your sad failures dampen your joy in Christ, but rather beincreasingly thankful forHis robe of righteousness. Second, your heart

anguishoveryourunlikenesstoChrist,insteadofbeingaproofthatyouare less sanctified than those who do not grieve over their lack ofconformitytoHim,evidencesthatyouaremoresanctifiedthanthey;foritshowsyouarebetteracquaintedwithyourheartthantheyare,haveadeep loathingofsin,and loveGodmore.Themostdistinguishedsaintshavemadethebitterestlamentationonthisaccount(Ps.38:4).

Third,theHolySpiritmakesanexcellentuseofyourinfirmitiesandturns your failures into spiritual advantages. By those very defects Hehidespridefromyoureyes,subduesyourself-righteousness,causesyoutoappreciatemoredeeplytherichesoffreegraceandplaceahighervalueonthebloodoftheLamb.ByyourmanyfallsHemakesyoutolongmoreardently for heaven, and gradually reconciles you to the prospect ofdeath. The more a holy soul is buffeted by sin and Satan, the moresincerelyhewillcry,"OthatIhadwingslikeadove!forthenwouldIflyaway,andbeatrest"(Ps.55:6). "OtheblessedchemistryofHeaven, toextractsuchmerciesoutofsuchmiseries" (JohnFlavel), tomakesweetflowersspringupoutofsuchbitterroots.Fourth,yourinfirmitiesdonotbreak the bond of the everlasting covenant, that holds firm,notwithstanding yourmany defects and corruptions. "Iniquities prevailagainst me" said David, yet in the same breath he added, "thou shaltpurgethemaway"(Ps.65:3).

Fifth,thoughthedefectsofyourobediencearegrievoustoGod,yetyourdeepsorrowsforthemarewellpleasinginHissight."ThesacrificesofGodareabrokenspirit:abrokenandacontriteheart,OGod,thouwiltnotdespise"(Ps.51:17).Sixth,yourgriefisaconformitytoChrist,forHewas"theManofsorrows."IfHesufferedbecauseofoursins,shallwenotbe made to weep over them. Seventh, "Though God have left manydefectstohumbleyou,yetHehathgivenmanythingstocomfort.Thisisacomfort,thatthedesireofthysoul is toGodandtheremembranceofHisname.Thisisacomfort,thatthysinsarenotthydelightasoncetheywere,but thy shameandsorrow.This is a comfort, that thy case isnotsingular,butmoreorlessthesamecomplaintsandsorrowsarefoundinall gracious souls through the world" (John Flavel, to whom we areindebtedformuchoftheabove).

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