Cross of Christ, the Christian's glory (2)

by James Hervey

THE

CROSS

OF

CHRIST,

The Christian’s Glory.

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A

SERMON,

PREACHED

At the Viſitation of the Reverend
John Brown, D. D. Archdean of
Northampton; held at All-Saints in
Northampton, on 10th May, 1753.

Galatians VI.14.
God forbid that I ſhould glory ſave in
the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

 

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By the late Rev. Mr. JAMES HERVEY, A. M.
Rector of Weſton-Favell, in Northamptonshire.

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GLASGOW:

Printed and Sold by J. & J. ROBERTSON.

MDCCLXMVII

 

THE

CROSS

OF

CHRIST,

The Christian’s Glory.

 

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GALATIANS VI. 14.

God forbid that I ſhould glory, ſave in the Croſs,
of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

THE Croſs of Chriſt was the favourite topic of St Paul’s contemplation:———The Croſs of Chriſt was the choſen ſubject of his ſermons, and the grand theme of his writings.———At all times, and in every capacity, he profeſſed he avowed, he gloried in the croſs of Chriſt.———Nay, what is very remarkable, he gloried in nothing elſe—and, what is ſtill more observable, he abhorred the thought of glorying in any thing elſe. He ſpeaks of ſuch a practice in the language of deteſtation and dread, accounting it a high degree both of folly and of wickedneſs: God forbid that I ſhould glory, ſave in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

It may therefore be an employ worthy of our preſent attention, to enquire into the nature, the reaſonableneſs, and the wiſdom of this reſolution. All which, I hope, will appear, if we conſider,

I. In what the apoſtle would not glory.
II. In what he did glory.
III. What reaſon he had to glory in the Croſs of Chriſt.

Theſe points being briefly diſpatched, I ſhall beg leave to add a word of application, ſuggested by the tenor of the diſcourſe, and adapted to the circumſtances of my ſeveral hearers. And may that adorable Jeſus, who has exchanged his Croſs for an heavenly Crown, accompany all with his divine bleſſing!

Let us then enquire, I. In what the apoſtle did not glory.———Not in the greatneſs of his learning, as a ſcholar. He was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel; educated by the moſt famous tutor of the age. Nor was his genius, or his induſtry; inferior to the other advantages of his education. Yet all theſe advantages, with their correſpondent acquiſitions, he accounted no better than pompous ignorance, or refined folly.

Not in the ſtrictneſs of his life, as a Jew.———In this reſpect he profited above his equals; was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers; after the ſtricteſt ſect of their religion, he lived a Phariſee: was zealous, exceedingly zealous, of the whole ceremonial law, and of all the traditional conſtitutions. Which accompliſhments muſt finiſh his character among his countrymen; muſt open his way to ſome of the first honours of the the nation; and give him a name among thoſe worthies, who were reputed the excellent of the earth. But what others counted gain, this he counted loſs for Chriſt.

Not in the eminency of his gifts, nor in the extent of his uſefulneſs as a Chriſtian miniſter———He had been caught up into the third heaven; had heard the words of God, and ſeen the viſion of the Almighty; had wrought all manner of wonders, and ſigns, and mighty deeds.———What was ſtill more valuable, he had planted churches, and converted ſouls. His labours were gone out into all lands, and his words into the ends of the earth———Yet all theſe acquirements, before the infinite God, were defective; all theſe performances in point of juſtification, were inſufficient. Therefore in none of theſe he gloried.———Which reminds me of the ſecond enquiry.

II. In what the apoſtle did glory.———He gloried in a croſs. Strange! What ſo ſcandalous as a croſs? On a croſs rebellious ſlaves were executed. The croſs was execrable among men, and accurſed even by God. Yet the apoſtle glories in the croſs.———Crucifixion not being uſed among us, the expreſſion does not found ſo harſh, neither is the idea ſo horrid. But to the ear of a Galatian, it conveyed much the ſame meaning, as if the apoſtle had gloried in a halter, gloried in the gallows, gloried in a gibbet.

Stupid creature, perhaps ſome may reply, to undervalue the moſt ſubſtantial endowments, and glory in infamy itſelf! But ſtop a moment, and hear the apoſtle farther. He glories in the croſs of Chriſt; that illuſtrious perſon, who was anointed to be the all-inſtructing prophet, the all-atoning prieſt, and the the all-conquering king of the church—In the croſs of Chriſt Jeſus; who, by the diſcharge of all thoſe important offices, ſhould ſave his people from the dominion of ſin, and from the damnation of hell.—In the croſs of Chriſt Jeſus our Lord; and not ours only, but Lord of all; who doth according to his will, in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; who hath on his veſture, and on his thigh written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

And is it poſſible for any human heart to contemplate the Croſs of ſo divine a Being, and not to glory? Is it poſſible to ſay, Angels, he rules over you; but he died, he died on a croſs for me: and not exult in ſuch tranſporting beneficence?—This will be more evident, if we examine,

III. What reaſon the apoſtle had to glory in the Croſs of Chriſt.———The Croſs, though in itſelf an ignominious tree; yet, being the Croſs of Chriſt, is infinitely ennobled. It becomes the tree of life; it bears the divineſt fruit; its cluſters are all ſpiritual and heavenly bleſſings. Two or three of thoſe cluſters you will permit me to ſelect; and may the God of all mercy make them better than a feaſt to every humble ſoul.

One bleſſing is the pardon of ſin; the pardon of all in, original and actual: ſin that is remembered, and ſin that is forgotten; ſin, however circumſtanced, or however aggravated. The pardon of all was purchaſed by the death of Chriſt;———completely purchaſed:—ſo that, againſt the true believer, ſin ſhall never riſe up in judgment; ſhall not ſo much as he mentioned unto him; ſhall be done away, as though it had never been. For thus faith the ambaſſador of the Prince of peace, Be it known unto you you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveneſs of ſins; and, by him all that believe are juſtified from all things. Oh, my ſoul! my guilty ſoul! What are all the kingdoms of the world, and the glories of them, compared with this ineffable bleſſing! Yet this is but one among a multitude.

Another benefit, accruing from the croſs of Chriſt, is reconciliation with God.—When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, by the death of his Son. Not pardoned only, but accepted; from a ſtate of enmity, reſtored to a ſtate of favour: even that favour which is better than life. A privilege of ſuch ſuperlative excellency, that it was celebrated in the hymns of angels. When the heavenly hoſt offered a ſong, this was the ſubject of their harmonious joy: Glory be to God in the higheſt, and on earth peace, good will towards men.

“By the birth of this wonderful Child, and the death he ſhall ſuſtain, peace is made between heaven and earth: and not peace only, but a divine friendſhip commences. God regards the poor apoſtate race of men, not only without indignation, but with complacency and delight. He rejoices over them to do them good.”

Another benefit is holineſs; or, if you pleaſe, the true, the Chriſtian morality. Let none think, the believer in Jeſus diſparages true morality. True morality is the image of the bleſſed God: it is moſt charmingly delineated throughout the whole Bible: it is the beginning of heaven in the human ſoul; and its proper origin is from the Croſs of our divine Maſter. For, through the merits of his death, ſinners are made partakers of the holy Spirit; who writes upon their hearts, and makes legible in their converſation, what was anciently written upon the mitre mitre of the high-prieſt, Holiness to the Lord.———And oh! what a motive is the Croſs of Chriſt to the exerciſe of every virtue! He died; my Lord, my Judge, my king, died; to redeem me from all iniquity, and make me zealous of good works. How powerfully, far beyond any naked inſtructions, er abſtract reaſonings, do ſuch confiderations invite us, urge us, conſtrain us, to renounce all ungodlineſs, and adorn the goſpel of God our Saviour!

Another bleſſing is victory over death.———This alſo is the fruit of that once deteſted, but now ever beloved tree. For thus it is written, That, through death, he might deſtroy him that had the power of death that is the devil; and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their life-time ſubject to bondage. The devil is ſaid to have the power of death: becauſe, by tempting too ſucceſsfully our firſt parents, he brought death into the world; becauſe, by tempting their poſterity to ſin, and too often prevailing, he arrays death in horror; he arms death with its ſling. But Chriſt, by expiating our guilt, has diſarmed this laſt enemy; has taken away its ſting; and made it not loſs, but gain to die.—The gay, and the healthy, know nor how to form an eſtimate of this deliverance: nor can any words of mine deſcribe it with proper energy. Go to dying beds; there you will learn its true worth. Aſk ſome agonizing friend; he, and he alone, can tell you, what a bleſſing it is, to have the king of terrors converted into a meſſenger of peace.

One bleſſing more I would mention, and earneſtly wiſh it, in due time all my hearers; an entrance into heaven. This too is the produce of our Redeemer’s Croſs. St John ſaw a bright aſſembly of happy beings, clothed with white robes, and palms palms in their hands, rejoicing before the throne of God. Theſe, ſaid one of the venerable elders, are they who came out of great tribulation, and have waſhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne.—They came out of great tribulation: They ſuffered, it is probable, in the ſervice of Chriſt: perhaps they laid down their lives for his ſake. But this was not their paſſport in the regions of bliſs.———They waſhed their robes in the blood of the Lamb: they had applied to their own ſouls the merit and atonement of the crucified Jeſus. By this means they were preſented without ſpot and blameleſs; on this account they were admitted to ſee the King of heaven in his beauty! and to be ever, ever with the Lord.

Since then the Croſs of Chriſt was demonſtrative of ſuch ſtupenduous love; ſince it is productive of benefits innumerable, invaluable and eternal; was there not a cauſe for the apoſtle to glory on this behalf?———Nay, might not the very ſtones have cried out, to reproach him with inſenſibility and ingratitude, if he had neglected to glory in the Croſs of Chriſt.———And ſince this love was ſhewed, theſe benefits were procured, not for him only, but for us, and for all generations; does not this afford me an opportunity of applying the doctrine to each particular hearer?

1. Let me addreſs, or rather let me congratulate, my brethren in the miniſtry.———Though you cannot controul the laws of nature; though you can not ſee into the ſecrets of futurity; you have the ſame cauſe of glorying with the very chief of the apoſtles. A cauſe of glorying, which that holy man of God eſteemed far above all ſuch miraculous abilities, You have the Croſs of Chriſt, for your ſtudy, as men; for your hope, as Chriſtians; for your preaching, as miniſters.

For your ſtudy, as men. Here the reaſoning faculties may exert themſelves with everlaſting improvement, and everlaſting delight.—Here we contemplate the wonders, the unparalleled wonders, of a God made man; dying as a pattern of patience, as a martyr for truth as an all-perfect ſacrifice for ſin———Here the Lord Jehovah hath fully granted what his ſervant Moſes ſo earneſtly requeſted; he hath made all his glory to paſs before the aſtoniſhed eyes of angels and of men.—Here juſtice has let her moſt awful terrors in array; even while goodneſs appears, with inexpreſſible lovelineſs, and the moſt attractive beauty.—Here truth, more unſhaken than a rock, takes her immoveable ſtand: and mercy tenderer than the mother’s tear, yearns with bowels of everlaſting pity.———In a word the Croſs of Chriſt is a conſpicuous theatre, on which all the divine perfections unite, and harmonize, and ſhine forth with tranſcendent luſtre.

As Chriſtians, we have, in the Croſs of Chriſt, the richeſt proviſion for our own ſpiritual wants. This is a foundation of the ſublimeſt hope, and a fountain of the moſt exuberant joy: this affords matter for the deepeſt humility, and yields fuel for the moſt flaming love. Faith in our crucified Jeſus is an ever-active principle of the moſt chearful and exact obedience: is an ample and inexhauſtable magazine, from which we may fetch arms to conquer, abſolutely conquer the allurements of the world, the ſollicitations of the fleſh, and the temptations of the devil.———By this a way is opened for us into the Holy of Holies: and what may we not venture to aſk, what may we not expect to receive, who who have the blood of the everlaſting covenant to plead in all our approaches to the throne of grace?Having therefore ſuch an high prieſt; having, in his Croſs unſearchable riches; who ſhall make our glorying void: what ſhall hinder us from rejoicing and ſaying, Bleſſed be God for theſe opening beauties of ſpring! Bleſſed be God for the expected fruits of autumn! Bleſſed be God for ten thouſand thouſand gifts of his indulgent providence! but above all, bleſſed be God for the Croſs of Chriſt!

As miniſters of the goſpel, we are not left to ſet before ear hearers a ſyſtem of refined heatheniſm; or to entertain them with cold, ſpiritleſs lectures of virtue. No; we have the infinitely tender love, the immenſely free grace, of the bleeding, dying Immanuel, to diſplay, to improve, to enforce. And is there a topic in the whole compaſs of oratory, is there an argument amidſt all the ſtores of reaſon, ſo admirably calculated to touch the fineſt movements of the ſoul? to ſtrike all the inmoſt ſprings of action, with the moſt perſuaſive, the moſt commanding energy?— Would we alarm the ſupine, or intimidate the preſumptuous? we may call them to behold God’s own Son weltering in blood. God’s own Son transfixed with the arrows of juſtice: we may bid them conſider, if judgment begins with the immaculate Mediator, where ſhall the irreclaimable ſinner appear? how will he eſcape the ſtroke? how bear the weight of God’s everlaſting vengeance?— Would we comfort the diſtreſſed? we may point them to an atonement, whoſe merits are infinite, and able to ſave to the very uttermoſt: we may lead them to a righteouſneſs, whoſe efficacy is unbounded, and ſufficient to juſtify the ungodly. And what balm can be ſo ſovereign for a wounded conſcience?— Are we to ſupport the weak, and animate the doubting? here we may ſhew them promiſes, free promiſes, exceeding great and precious promiſes, ratified by the oath of Jehovah, and ſealed by the blood of his Son. And what cordials can be ſo reſtorative to the drooping Chriſtian?

In ſhort, the doctrine of the Croſs is ſuited to anſwer all the great ends of our miniſtry, and promote all the truly valuable intereſts of our people. By this the Holy Spirit delights to work: and this, O Satan, ſhall be thy plague; this, O Sin, ſhall be thy deſtruction.— However, therefore, the Croſs might be to the Jews a ſtumbling block, and to the Greeks fooliſhneſs: God forbid that we ſhould glory in any thing elſe!— Let this be the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending, of all our public miniſtrations.— Let us leave a favour of this knowledge, which is far better than precious ointment, in every private company. Let it appear, from all our converſation, that the affections of our heart, and the labours of our life, are devoted, wholly devoted, to our adored Redeemer’s Croſs.— Happy the people who are under the care of ſuch miniſters and bleſſed the miniſters who walk according to this rule!

2. Let me exhort all true believers; thoſe who are vile in their own eyes, and to whom Chriſt alone is precious.— Remember, brethren, what is written in the prophet: it is a deſcription of your ſtate; it is a direction for your conduct. In the Lord, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Shall all the ſeed of Iſrael be juſtified, and in him shall they glory.

Let none ſay that religion is a gloomy or uncomfortable ſtate; I call upon you this day to rejoice. Let none ſay that religion is a mean and deſpicable thing; I call upon you this day to glory: and have the divine authority for both. You will diſhonour the bleſſed Jeſus, you will diſparage his ſurpaſſing excellency, if you do not confide in him, and make your boaſt of him. Chriſt is King of heaven, Chriſt is Judge of the world, Chriſt is God over all. And of ſuch a Saviour ſhall we not glory? Yes, verily; and in all circumſtances, and on every occaſion.

Amidſt your manifold infirmities, glory in Chriſt. For, though he was crucified in weakneſs, he hath all power in heaven and earth. And it is written before him, it is one of his immutable decrees, Sin ſhall not have dominion over you.— Amidſt your various failings, glory in Chriſt for his righteouſneſs covers all your imperfections, his righteouſneſs ſecures you from wrath and condemnation; and, though deficient in yourſelves, you are complete in him.— Under the preſſure of tribulations, lift up your heads, and glory in the Croſs: becauſe the Captain of your ſalvation, was made perfect through ſufferings. If you ſuffer with him, you ſhall alſo reign with him. And the ſufferings of this preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the happineſs which Chriſt hath purchaſed with his agonies, and will quickly beſtow on his people.— When death approaches, death that cuts off the ſpirit of princes, and is terrible among the kings of the earth; do you ſtill glory in the Croſs. Adhering to this banner, you may boldly and triumphantly ſay, O death, where is thy fing? O grave, where is thy victory?— When that great tremenduous day ſhall come, which puts an end to time and terreſtrial things; when that awful, that majeſtic voice is heard, which commands all the race of Adam to appear at the bar; then, my dear brethren in Chriſt, then alſo ſhall you glory in the Croſs. When others, in an agony of terror, call upon rocks to fall on them, and mountains to overwhelm them; this ſhall be your ſedate appeal; rather, this ſhall be your heroic challenge; Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that juſtifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Chriſt that died.— Then ſhall you enter the harbour of eternal reſt; not like a ſhipwrecked mariner, cleaving to ſome broken plank, and hardly eſcaping the raging waves; but like ſome ſtately veſſel with all her ſails expanded, and riding before a proſperous gale.

3. Let me caution the ſelf-righteous: thoſe who more frequently think of their own piety than of Chriſt’s obedience; are more apt to cry out, with the Phariſee, I am no extortioner, no adulterer; than to confeſs with the Publican, God be merciful to me a ſinner.—What ſhall I ſay to theſe perſons? Let me not be thought cenſorious, when my only aim is to be faithful. Beware, I beſeech you, leſt you build for eternity, not on a rock, but on the ſand. However you may appear in your own ſight, before the adorable Majeſty of the everlaſting God, before the conſummate perfection of his holy law, you are leſs than nothing, you are worſe than nothing: you are indeed, you are deficiency and ſin. Renounce, therefore, renounce all dependance on ſelf. Truſt no longer in a refuge of lies; left all your admired attainments, at the day of final retribution, be like ſtraw, and hay, and ſtubble, in Nebuchadnezzar’s burning fiery furnace.— Imitate the bleſſed penman of my text. Are you blameleſs in your external carriage? ſo was he. Are you exmplary in many points? ſo was he. Yet all this righteouneſs he accounted dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus his Lord.—Be this your your pattern. Write emptineſs upon your own duties, emptineſs upon your own works; and you ſhall be filled with all the fulneſs of God your Saviour. Every other cauſe of glorying, will be like the morning cloud, or the early dew, which paſſeth away: but this cauſe of glorying will find ſtand faſt for evermore, as the moon, and as the faithful witneſs in heaven.

Can I conclude, without adding a word of admonition to the wicked? thoſe, I mean, who are enemies to the Croſs of Chriſt; who mind earthly things, but neither hunger nor thirſt after righteouſneſs.— My ſoul remembers the wormwood and the gall of ſuch a ſtate, and cannot but tenderly pity theſe unhappy people.— Alas! my friends, what have you to glory in? The devil and his angels expect ere long to glory in your deſtruction. Thoſe malignant fiends are eyeing you as their prey, and are impatient to begin your torment.

Great, inexpreſſibly great is your danger; the Lord Almighty open your eyes to diſcern it.— Nevertheleſs, your caſe is not deſperate. You may yet be delivered, as a bird out of the ſnare of the fowler. Look unto the crucified Jeſus. Why does he hang on that bloody tree? Why are his hands pierced with iron? Why is his body racked with pain? Why his heart torn with anguiſh?— It is for you, ſinners, for you. That blood is poured out, to cleanſe you from guilt; thoſe wounds are ſuſtained, to heal your conſciences; that anguiſh is endured, to obtain reſt for your ſoul.— In that mangled body dwells all the fulneſs of the Godhead. Great, beyond imagination, great is the merit of thoſe ſufferings. Why then, O! why will you die? Why will you periſh for every who have an all ſufficient propitiation in the Croſs of Chriſt? Fly to this ſanctuary: fly, before it be too late: fly, without a moment’s delay. It is an inviolable ſanctuary. None ever periſhed that fled by faith to the compaſſionate, the divinely compaſſionate Redeemer.—His death ſhall be a full ſatisfaction for your iniquities. A ſenſe of his immenſely rich goodneſs ſhall win your affections; ſhall incline, (what all the threatenings of damnation could never effect) ſhall ſmooth your path, and expedite your progreſs to the regions of immortal honour and joy.

Having now, with great plainneſs of ſpeech, addreſſed my brethren in the miniſtry; having exhorted believers, cautioned the ſelf-righteous, and warned the wicked; let me commend the whole to your ſerious recollection, and to God’s gracious benediction.—And, O Lord moſt holy! O God moſt mighty! O holy and merciful Saviour! by thine agony and bloody ſweat—by thy Croſs and paſſion—let not the word now ſpoken be in vain in the Lord! Amen, and Amen.

 

FINIS.