John Bunyan :: Use Third: A Use of Encouragement

USE THIRD: A USE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

Coming sinner, I have now a word for thee: be of good comfort, "He will in nowise cast out." Of all men thou art the blessed of the Lord; the Father hath prepared his Son to be a sacrifice for thee, and Jesus Christ, thy Lord, is gone to prepare a place for thee (Jhn 1:29; Heb 10). What shall I say to thee?

First. Thou comest to a FULL Christ; thou canst not want any thing, for soul or body, for this world or that to come, but it is to be had in or by Jesus Christ. As it is said of the land that the Danites went to possess, so and with much more truth it may be said of Christ; he is such an one with whom there is no want of any good thing that is in heaven or earth. A full Christ is thy Christ.

• 1. He is full of grace. Grace is sometimes taken for love; never any loved like Jesus Christ. Jonathan's love went beyond the love of women, but the love of Christ passes knowledge. It is beyond the love of all the earth, of all creatures, even of men and angels. His love prevailed with him to lay aside his glory, to leave the heavenly place, to clothe himself with flesh, to be born in a stable, to be laid in a manger, to live a poor life in the world, to take upon him our sickness, infirmities, sins, curse, death, and the wrath that was due to man. And all this he did for a base, undeserving, unthankful people; yea, for a people that was at enmity with him. "For, when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom 5:6-10).
  
  

• 2. He is full of truth, full of grace and truth. Truth—that is, faithfulness in keeping promise, even this of the text, (with all others,) "I will in nowise cast out" (Jhn 6:37; Jhn 14:6). Hence it is said that his words are true, and that he is the faithful God that keepeth covenants. And hence it is also that his promises are called truth: "Thou wilt fulfil thy truth unto Jacob, and thy mercy unto Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old" (Mic 7:20). Therefore it is said again that both himself and words are truth: "I am the truth," (Jhn 14:6); "the Scripture of truth" (Dan 10:21); "Thy word is truth," (Jhn 17:17; 2Sa 7:28); "thy law is the truth," (Psa 119:142); and "my mouth," saith he, "shall speak truth," (Pro 8:7); (See also Ecc 12:10; Isa 25:1; Mal 2:6; Act 26:25; 2Ti 2:12-13). Now I say his word is truth, and he is full of truth to fulfil his truth, even to a thousand generations. Coming sinner, he will not deceive thee; come boldly to Jesus Christ.
  
  

• 3. He is full of wisdom. He is made unto us of God wisdom—wisdom to manage the affairs of his church in general, and the affairs of every coming sinner in particular. And upon this account he is said to be "head over all things," (Eph 1:22-23), because he manages all things that are in the world by his wisdom for the good of his Church; all men's actions, all Satan's temptations, all God's providences, all crosses, and disappointments; all things whatever, are under the hand of Christ, (who is the wisdom of God,) and he ordereth them all for good to his Church. And, can Christ help it, (and be sure he can,) nothing shall happen or fall out in the world but it shall, in despite of all opposition, have a good tendency to his church and people.
  
  

• 4. He is full of the Spirit, to communicate it to the coming sinner; he hath therefore received it without measure, that he may communicate it to every member of his body, according as every man's measure thereof is allotted him by the Father. Wherefore he saith that he that comes to him, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (Jhn 3:34; Tit 3:5-6; Act 2; Jhn 7:33-39).
  
  

• 5. He is indeed a store-house full of all the graces of the Spirit. "Of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace" (Jhn 1:16). Here is more faith, more love, more sincerity, more humility, more of every grace; and of this, even more of this, he giveth to every lowly, humble, penitent, coming sinner; wherefore, coming soul, thou comest not to a barren wilderness when thou comest to Jesus Christ.
  
  

• 6. He is full of bowels and compassion, and they shall feel and find it so that come to him for life. He can bear with thy weaknesses, he can pity thy ignorance, he can be touched with the feeling of thy infirmities, he can affectionately forgive they transgressions, he can heal thy backslidings and love thee freely. His compassions fail not; "and he will not break a bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax: he can pity them that no eye pities, and be afflicted in all thy afflictions" (Mat 26:41; Heb 5:2; Heb 2:18; Mat 9:2; Hos 14:4; Eze 16:5-6; Isa 63:9; Psa 78:38; Psa 86:15; Psa 111:4; Psa 112:4; Lam 3:22; Isa 42:3).
  
  

• 7. Coming soul, the Jesus that thou art coming to is full of might and terribleness. For thy advantage he can suppress all thine enemies; he is the Prince of the kings of the earth; he can bow all men's designs for thy help; he can break all snares laid for thee in the way; he can lift thee out of all difficulties wherewith thou mayest be surrounded; he is wise in heart and mighty in power. Every life under heaven is in his hand; yea, the fallen angels tremble before him. And he will save thy life, coming sinner (1Co 1:24; Rom 8:28; Mat 28:18; Rev 4; Psa 19:3; Psa 27:5-6; Job 9:4; Jhn 17:2; Mat 8:29; Luk 8:28; Jas 2:19).
  
  

• 8. Coming sinner, the Jesus to whom thou art coming is lowly in heart, he despiseth not any. It is not thy outward meanness nor thy inward weakness; it is not because thou art poor, or base, or deformed, or a fool that he will despise thee: he hath chosen the foolish, the base, and despised things of this world to confound the wise and mighty. He will bow his ear to thy stammering prayers; he will pick out the meaning of thy inexpressible groans; he will respect thy weakest offering if there be in it but thy heart (Mat 11:20; Luk 14:21; Pro 9:4-6; Isa 38:14-15; Sgs 5:15; Jhn 4:27; Mar 12:33-34; Jas 5:11). Now is not this a blessed Christ, coming sinner? Art thou not like to fare well when thou hast embraced him, coming sinner? But,

Second. Thou hast yet another advantage by Jesus Christ in thou art coming to him, for he is not only full, BUT FREE. He is not sparing of what he has; he is open-hearted and open-handed. Let me in a few particulars show thee this:

• 1. This is evident, because he calls thee; he calls upon thee to come unto him; the which he would not do, was he not free to give; yea, he bids thee, when come, ask, seek, knock, and for thy encouragement, adds to every command a promise, "Seek, and ye shall find; ask, and ye shall have; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Mat 7:7-9). If the rich man should say thus to the poor, would not he be reckoned a free-hearted man? I say, should he say to the poor, Come to my door, ask at my door, knock at my door, and you shall find and have, would he not be counted liberal? Why thus doth Jesus Christ. Mind it, coming sinner (Isa 55:3; Psa 50:15).
  
  

• 2. He doth not only bid thee come, but tells thee, he will heartily do thee good; yea, he will do it with rejoicing: "I will rejoice over them, to do them good with my whole heart and with my whole soul" (Jer 32:41).
  
  

• 3. It appears that he is free, because he giveth without twitting.²¹ "He gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not" (Jas 1:5). There are some that will not deny to do the poor a pleasure, but they will mix their mercies with so many twits that the persons on whom they bestow their charity shall find but little sweetness in it. But Christ doth not do so, coming sinner: he casteth all thine iniquities behind his back (Isa 38:17): thy sins and iniquities he will remember no more (Heb 8:12).
  
  

• 4. That Christ is free is manifest by the complaints that he makes against them that will not come to him for mercy. I say he complains, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Mat 23:37). I say he speaks it by way of complaint. He saith also in another place, "But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob" (Isa 43:22). Coming sinner, see here the willingness of Christ to save; see here how free he is to communicate life, and all good things to such as thou art: he complains if thou comest not; he is displeased, if thou callest not upon him. Hark, coming sinner, once again: when Jerusalem would not come to him for safeguard, "he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes" (Luk 19:41-42).
  
  

• 5. Lastly. He is open and free-hearted to do thee good, as is seen by the joy and rejoicing that he manifesteth at the coming home of poor prodigals. He receives the lost sheep with rejoicing, the lost goat with rejoicing; yea, when the prodigal came home, what joy and mirth, what music and dancing, were in his father's house! (Luk 15).

Third. Coming sinner, I will add another encouragement for thy help.

• 1. God hath prepared a mercy-seat, a throne of grace to sit on, that thou mayest come thither to him, and that he may from thence hear thee, and receive thee: "I will commune with thee," saith he, "from above the mercy-seat" (Exo 25:22). As who shall say, sinner, When thou comest to me, thou shalt find me upon the mercy-seat, where also I am always found of the undone coming sinner. Thither I bring my pardon; there I hear and receive their petitions, and accept them to my favour.
  
  

• 2. God hath also prepared a golden altar for thee to offer thy prayers and tears upon. A golden altar! It is called a golden altar to show what worth it is of in God's account; for this golden altar is Jesus Christ; this altar sanctifies thy gift, and makes thy sacrifice acceptable. This altar then makes thy groans golden groans, thy tears golden tears, and thy prayers golden prayers, in the eye of that God thou comest to, coming sinner (Rev 8:3-4; Mat 23:19; Heb 10:10; 1Pe 2:5).
  
  

• 3. God hath strewed all the way (from the gate of hell, where thou wast, to the gate of heaven, whither thou art going) with flowers out of his own garden. Behold how the promises, invitations, calls, and encouragements, like lilies, lie round about thee! (take heed that thou dost not tread them under foot, sinner.) With promises, did I say? Yea, he hath mixed all those with his own name, his Son's name also, with the name of mercy, goodness, compassion, love, pity, grace, forgiveness, pardon, and what not that may encourage the coming sinner.
  
  

• 4. He hath also for thy encouragement laid up the names and set forth the sins of those that have been saved. In this book they are fairly written, that thou, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures mightest have hope.

  • (1.) In this book is recorded Noah's name and sin, and how God had mercy upon him.
    
    

  • (2.) In this record is fairly written the name of Lot, and the nature of his sin, and how the Lord had mercy upon him.
    
    

  • (3.) In this record thou hast also fairly written the names of Moses, Aaron, Gideon, Samson, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul, with the nature of their sins, and how God had mercy upon them; and all to encourage thee, coming sinner.

Fourth. I will add yet another encouragement for the man that is coming to Jesus Christ. Art thou coming? Art thou coming indeed? Why,

• 1. Then this thy coming is by virtue of God's call. Thou art called. Calling goes before coming: coming is not of works, but of Him that calleth. "He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him" (Mar 3:13).
  
  

• 2. Art thou coming? This is also by virtue of illumination: God has made thee see, and therefore thou art coming. So long as thou wast darkness, thou lovedst darkness and couldst not abide to come, because thy deeds were evil, but being now illuminated and made to see what and where thou art, and also what and where thy Saviour is, now thou art coming to Jesus Christ; "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee," saith Christ, "but my Father which is in heaven" (Mat 16:17).
  
  

• 3. Art thou coming? This is because God hath inclined thine heart to come. God hath called thee, illuminated thee, and inclined thy heart to come, and therefore, thou comest to Jesus Christ. It is God that worketh in thee to will and to come to Jesus Christ. Coming sinner, bless God for that he hath given thee a will to come to Jesus Christ. It is a sign that thou belongest to Jesus Christ, because God has made thee willing to come to him (Psa 110:3). Bless God for slaying the enmity of thy mind; had he not done it thou wouldst as yet have hated thine own salvation.
  
  

• 4. Art thou coming to Jesus Christ? It is God that giveth thee power: power to pursue thy will in the matters of thy salvation is the gift of God. "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do" (Phil 2:13). Not that God worketh will to come, where he gives no power, but that thou shouldest take notice that power is an additional mercy. The Church saw that will and power were two things, when she cried, "Draw me, we will run after thee" (Sgs 1:4), and so did David too, when he said, "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart" (Psa 119:32). Will to come, and power to pursue thy will, is double mercy, coming sinner.
  
  

• 5. All thy strange, passionate, sudden rushings forward after Jesus Christ, (coming sinners know what I mean,) they also are thy helps from God. Perhaps thou feelest, at some times more than at others, strong stirrings up of heart to fly to Jesus Christ; now thou hast at this time a sweet and stiff gale of the Spirit of God, filling thy sails with the fresh gales of his good Spirit, and thou ridest at those times as upon the wings of the wind, being carried out beyond thyself, beyond the most of thy prayers, and also above all thy fear and temptations.
  
  

• 6. Coming sinner, hast thou not now and then a kiss of the sweet lips of Jesus Christ?—I mean some blessed word dropping like a honey-comb upon thy soul to revive thee when thou art in the midst of thy dumps?
  
  

• 7. Does not Jesus Christ sometimes give thee a glimpse of himself, though perhaps thou seest him not so long a time as while one may tell twenty?
  
  

• 8. Hast thou not sometimes as it were the very warmth of his wings overshadowing the face of thy soul, that gives thee as it were a gload²² upon thy spirit, as the bright beams of the sun do upon thy body when it suddenly breaks out of a cloud, though presently all is gone away? Well, all these things are the good hand of thy God upon thee, and they are upon thee to constrain, to provoke, and to make thee willing and able to come, coming sinner, that thou mightest in the end be saved.
  
  

²¹ "Twitting;" taunting, or rebuking. —Ed.

²² "A gload;" a warm, eager, passionate gazing: now obsolete. —Ed.