6. But here is sad News to such who slight this Salvation, and refuse Jesus Christ, great will their Condemnation be: The Men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment with this Generation, and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold a greater than Jonas is here. The greatness of this Saviour who preaches the Gospel to you, and is come to save you, will aggravate your Condemnation. What was Jonas to Jesus Christ? Also our Saviour saith, The Queen of the South shall rise up in Judgment with this Generation, and shall condemn it; for she came from the uttermost Parts of the Earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here. Solomon was a mighty King, and for Wisdom exceeded all that went before him. But alas, what was Solomon to Jesus Christ, who is the Wisdom of God itself, and the express Image of the Father's Person, and the Brightness of his Glory? O know you, Sinners, this Day, that Jesus Christ, this glorious King, and Prince of the Kings of the Earth, this mighty Saviour is come to your Doors: Behold, I stand at the Door and knock: Will you not open the Door, nor cry to him to help you to open to him, to enable you to believe in him? What do you say, shall the Son of God stand at your Doors, and you not so much as ask, Who is there? Who is at my Door? Shall Christ be kept out of your Hearts, and stand at your Doors, whilst Sin commands the chiefest Room, and has absolute Power over you, and rules in you? How will you be able to look this Blessed Saviour in the Face another Day? Is he come through a Sea of Blood to offer his Love to you, and to espouse you unto himself for ever, and will not you be persuaded to break your League with the old Lovers, who will at last stab you at the very Heart, and betray your Souls into the Hands of Divine Wrath? Nay, they have done it already: What are your Lovers bur your Lusts, your Pride, your Earthly-mindedness, your sinful Pleasures, Profits and Honours? O resolve to desert them, they otherwise will damn your Souls for ever, and expose you to the Torments of Hell-Fire: And to deliver you from them, and from that wrath which is due to you for them, (I mean, for your Sins) is Christ come, and this great Saviour is offered to you. The Lord help every oneof you to consider of this, and to lay it to Heart.
Benjamin Keach, A Golden Mine Opened: Or, The Glory of God's Rich Grace Displayed in the Mediator to Believers: And His Direful Wrath Against Impenitent Sinners. Containing the Substance of Near Forty Sermons Upon Several Subjects (London: Printed, and sold by the Author at his House in Horse lie-down, and William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street, 1694), 386–387.
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Christ loves all men with a love of pity, but he loveth his Elect with a love of Complacency.Benjamin Keach, Tropologia: A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors (London: Printed by John Richardson and John Darby for Enoch Prosser, 1682), 3:18.
XII. A good and wise Householder loves his household with a natural and paternal love.Benjamin Keach, Tropologia: A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors (London: William Hill Collingridge, 1856), 292.
XII. God loved all his creation; when he looked upon it, and saw all to be good, he could do no otherwise, angels, men, beasts, creeping things, fowls, and all inanimate things. The church he loves on new terms: “The Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and believed that I came forth from God.”
I. A man that intends or is disposed to marry, is not contented (or thinketh it not convenient) how happy soever he is otherwise, in the enjoyment of all outward good things in his father’s house.Benjamin Keach, Tropologia: A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors (London: William Hill Collingridge, 1856), 323–326.
I. Jesus Christ, notwithstanding all the glory he had with the Father, being the joy and excellencies and perfection, dwelling in the fruition of eternal bliss, yet thought upon a spouse, and judged it meet to enter into a marriage-relation, Prov. 8:31.
II. An obedient and wise son takes advice, and consults with his father, being fully resolved to change his condition, and enter into a contract of love, and marriage-union; and then fixes upon a Particular object.
II. Jesus Christ took counsel with the Father about that glorious design of love and good-will he bore to mankind; and hence he is said to be “delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God,” Acts 2:23. It was no less than the great result of the blessed Trinity, that the Lord Jesus the second Person, should espouse sinners to himself: “I proceeded,” saith he, “and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me,” John 8:42. He fixed not his choice the fallen angels, but on the offspring of fallen man, who were given unto him by the Father.
III. When a man hath fixed upon an object that he intends to espouse unto himself, he contrives the way and method of his proceeding, in making known his mind, and to bring about his design; and many times will choose to send messengers, to treat with the person about the business, and discover his affections, before he goes himself in person.
III. Jesus Christ hath fixed his eye upon lost and perishing man, agreed with the Father upon the way and method of proceeding, what he must do and become, in order to the accomplishment of this glorious enterprise: and accordingly the father was pleased, out of his abundant grace, in a fit season, to make known his eternal counsel, and proposed Jesus Christ, the seed of the woman, to the sinner, as an object of love; and not only so, but also before he came himself, he sent his messengers, the prophets, “rising up early, and sending them,” to offer terms of love and friendship, and reveal his purpose to them, 2 Chron. 36:15.
IV. After this, a lover usually (his heart being enflamed with love and ardent affection to the person, though she being in another country, very far off) takes a journey resolving to give her a visit; and in order thereunto he suits himself in a fit garb and clothing, that so he might every way render himself a person acceptable, and meet, likely, and capable of winning and enjoying of her.
IV. Jesus Christ after this, such was the greatness of his love, and strength of his affection, resolved to take a journey to give poor sinners a most gracious visit; the journey he took was long, as far as it is from heaven to earth. And that he might accomplish his blessed purpose, he fits himself with a garb accordingly, laying aside his heavenly robes, he clothed himself with our flesh, or did assume a man’s nature, that so he might every way become a meet object for the sinner, and likely to come and enjoy him at last.
V. If the person or suitor be a prince, and known, commonly at his arrival, he is much congratulated and welcomed, by the nobility, and persons of honour.
V. When the Lord Jesus came into the world, the angels of God, who had knowledge of him, in an heavenly way of congratulation, magnified the Most High: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men,” Luke 2:13, 14. But how ungratefully was he welcomed and entertained by the generality of mankind, for whose sake he came into the world?
VI. A lover, when he goes to visit a person he intends to espouse unto himself, usually sends his friend, or takes him along with him, to signify, not what only what and who he is, but also his intention and purpose in coming.
VI. The Lord Jesus, when he came into this world, to espouse poor sinners in a spiritual way, sent John the Baptist to prepare the way before him, and make ready a people for him, who bore witness of his Majesty, and declared the excellency of his Person, as also his gracious intention: “He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear,” (in another place, unloose, Matt. 3:11, John 1:27.) “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” “Ye yourselves bear witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I am sent before him.” He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegrooms voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled,” John 3:28, 29.
VII. A man propounds questions to the person he loves, to discover whethe she be pre-engaged to any other; and if he perceives she is entangled through great folly, and in danger to be utterly undone thereby, he strives to undeceive her, and save her from ruin.
VII. Jesus Christ propounds questions in his word to poor sinners, thereby to discover how it is with their souls, showing the danger of being in love with sin, or to rely upon their own righteousness, or to have their affections inordinately set upon things of this world: he strives to deceive them. “Why do you not understand my speech?”—“He that committeth sin, is the servant of sin,” saith he. “Unless a man deny himself, and take up his cross, he cannot be my disciple. He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me,” &c. “Unless ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins,” John 3:24, “Jesus answered, and said unto them, suppose ye that those Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you nay, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” Luke 13:2, 3.
VIII. A Lover makes offers of love unto the person he has fixed his eye upon, and uses divers arguments, to persuade her to yield or consent unto his request.
VIII. Jesus Christ offers his love unto sinners, showing how willing he is to embrace them in the arms of his mercy. He commends his favour and good will to sinners many ways: first, by his taking our nature upon him, and coming into the world. Secondly, by those hard things he met with in this life for our sakes. Thirdly, by shedding of his blood. Fourthly, he commends his love by the continual motions of his Spirit upon our hearts, and by those inward checks of conscience, besides those blessed offers and tenders of grace, which dropped from his gracious lips: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink,” Job 7:17. “Look unto me, and be saved, all ye ends of the earth,” Isa. 45:22. “Come to me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” Matt. 11:21. “Behold I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him, and sup with him, and he with me,” Rev. 3:20.
IX. A true Lover respects his intended bride, more than wealth, beauty, &c. It is not the portion, but the person, his eye is principally set upon.
IX. Jesus Christ loves poor sinners, not for any thing he sees in them, not for beauty, riches, &c., for naturally mankind hath nothing that may render them any way desirable in Christ’s eye; he might see enough in them to loath them, but nothing to love them.
X. Such a person sues hard, uses weighty arguments to prevail, and will not quickly take a denial.
X. Jesus Christ sues hard, is very importutate, uses many powerful and weighty arguments to prevail with sinners to accept of the terms of grace, and join in an holy contract of love with him. 1. One is taken from the dignity of his Person, being the root and offspring of David; David’s Lord, as well as David’s Son. “I (saith he) and my Father are one.” 2. From that early love and good will he bore to them! “When there were no depths, was I brought forth: when he gave the sea his decree,—Then was I by him, as one brought up with him, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him: rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, and my delights were with the sons of men,” Prov. 8:24, 29, 30, 31. And in another place, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee,” Jer. 31. 3. From the intention or purpose of his coming so long a journey;” I am come that ye may have life,”—“Not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance:”—“Come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 4. His great abasement and condescension. 5. From his suffering: “I lay down my life for my sheep.” Can there be a greater argument than this? 6. He argues with sinners from the consideration of their own misery, and that absolute necessity there is of closing with him, and the blessed effects of it: “He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him,” John 3:36.
XI. A faithful suitor waits long, and hath much patience, before he will desist or give over his suit, and yet thinks nothing too much that he suffers or does endure for her sake; as appears concerning Jacob, who served seven years for Rachael: “And they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her,’ ” Gen. 29:20.
XI. Jesus Christ waits long, and hath much patience, before he doth desist from his suit, and leave sinners to perish in their iniquities. How long did infinite patience wait upon the old world? was it not one hundred and twenty years? and forty years upon Israel in the wilderness: “I have (saith he) spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people.” Isa. 65:2. But if he prevails at last, he thinks nothing too much that he has suffered for sinners. He waits at the door of his spouse, “until his head is wet with dew, and his locks with the drops of the night,” Cant. 5:2, yet does he not think all too much.
XII. One that intends to make a person his bride and only consort, expresses great love; his love is sometimes much more than he can well express; it is very strong, as strong as death; “Many waters cannot quench it, nor can the floods drown it.” There is an unsatisfied desire in the person, until the object beloved be enjoyed.
XII. Jesus Christ doth express and manifest great love to sinners, which he intends to take into covenant relation with himself. His love, like the Nile, overflows all banks and bounds; his grace is without limits, beyond the love of Jonathan to David. What doth the Gospel show or express more plainly, than the strength of Christ’s love to sinners? Christ expressed such love as never any other had, in laying down his life for his enemies, for such as were rebels to him and his Father. There is “depth, height, length and breadth, in it, it passeth knowledge,” Eph. 3:19.
XIII. Such an one is generally concerned and grieved at the unkindnesses of his friend, and ungrateful repulses, and many times from hence doth withdraw himself, and carry it as a stranger.
XIII. Jesus Christ is greatly troubled at the ungrateful repulses he meets with from sinners; which appears, 1. By his being grieved; “He was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts,” When he drew near to Jerusalem, he wept over it, perceiving how basely they had slighted and rejected him. 2. By condoling and bewailing their miserable state and obstinacy: Israel will have none of me. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings? and ye would not,” Matt. 23:37. By hiding of his face, and bringing afflictions upon them: “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offences, and seek my face: In their afflictions they will seek me early,” Hos. 5:15.
XIV. A Suitor nevertheless (such is the nature of his affection) knows not how to give her up; he therefore sends letters, thereby further expressing the ardency of his desire, and how loath he to take his final farewell.
XIV. Jesus Christ notwithstanding all the unkindnesses of sinners, hath afforded them his word, wherein is expressed his good will and desire to them; nay, and more than this, sends many a kind message to them by the sweet motions of his Spirit, to awaken their consciences, before he leaves them finally: thus he strove with the old world, Gen. 6:3.
XV. Moreover, besides all this, he sends faithful messengers to her, as spokesmen, to answer her objections, that so (if it be possible) he might bring her at last to a compliance: who use also many arguments in order thereunto. Thus Abraham’s servant acted, when he went to take a wife for Isaac, Gen. 24:35, 36, 37.
XV. Jesus Christ sends his faithful ministers, who are as spokesmen for their Master: “I have (saith Paul) espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ,” 2 Cor. 11:2. “I have espoused you;” the meaning is, I have been employed as an instrument sent and commissioned by the Lord Jesus to do it. Many arguments they use to bring poor sinners to accept of the offers of grace, and receive Jesus Christ; as, 1. They, like Abraham’s servant, set forth the greatness and riches of their Master: “The Lord (saith he) hath blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; he hath given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, &c., and Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old, and to him he hath given all that he hath,” Gen. 24:35. God is very great, all things in heaven and earth are his, “The cattle upon a thousand hills;” and saith the servant of God, he hath given unto Christ all that he hath. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father.” Christ is very rich, the heir of all things, Matt. 11:27, John 13:3, Heb. 1:2. 2. They set not out the greatness and riches of Christ, but his excellent beauty also: “Thou art fairer than the children of man,” Psal. 45:2, 3. The power of Christ. 4. His wisdom. 5. His love and rich bounty. 6. They set before sinners, what the promises are if they receive him, and what glory they shall be raised to. 7. The woefulness of their present state, and what it will be in the end, if they do refuse him: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,” 2 Cor. 5:11.
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