13. Dr. Bates's Afternoon Sermon

13. Dr. Bates's Afternoon Sermon
"Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ: to whom be glo∣ry for ever and ever." - Hebrews 13:20-21.
The Apostle describes God by the effects of his power and love, [That brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus] The Resurrection of Christ from the dead is one of the most transcendent testimonies of Gods love and power towards us.
1. Of his Love, because as the Anger of God was that which crucified our Saviour, so on the contrary, it must be his Love that should raise and restore him. Christ when he died, he looked upon God as an Enemy, as a Judge; and as those colours which we see conveyed to us, are answerable to the Medium through which we see them; as, if we look through a coloured glass, we see the object of that colour: So the Lord Jesus, when he was upon the Cross, looked upon God through the black-cloud of our sins, and through the red cloud of his Fathers wrath, and so dyed as a Sacrifice to Divine Justice. But when he was raised from the Grave, that was the testimony of Gods love to him, and of his love to us; for he died as our Surety, he was arrested for our Debt, he was cast into the Grave, as into a Prison: But by his Resurrection he was redeemed from Prison and Judgement. And therefore you shall find, when Christ was: risen, he salutes his Disciples with this, Peace be unto you, Luke 24:31. There was the dawning of peace at the Incarnation of Christ, for then the Angels sung, Peace upon earth; but the compleat Sun-shine of peace was at his Resurrection, when he had made full and compleat satisfaction to Gods Justice: for this was a clearing of him before all the World, when God raised him from the Grave. And in this respect it was very agreeable for the Apostle to say, The God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.
2. It was the effect of Infinite power. You know it is naturally impossible for a dead body to quicken himself, to revive; but for the Lord Jesus, who had the load of the sins of all the Elect upon him, who was, as it were secured in the Grave by Gods Justice and Power, for him to rise again: This must be an effect of Infinite Power in the Great God. Thus raising of Christ, sometimes 'tis attributed to the Son, being God equal with the Father: But here 'tis attributed to God: and therefore when the Scripture would speak with the greatest magnificence of the Power of God, it expresses it thus, That power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead. When Christ wrought deliverance for the lost world, (all those who were commited to his charge.) This could be no less than the work of an infinite Power. And upon this account also it is very proportionable to the design of the Apostle, for that prayer he makes to God is for that which only can be accomplished by Infinite Love, and Infinite Power, i.e. to make the Christian Hebrews perfect in every good work to do his will.
I come to a further description. He that brought again from the dead [our Lord Jesus.] the Title of the Lord Jesus was only given to our Saviour after his Resurrection, he was called Lord before, and Jesus before: but these two Titles were ever united till after his Resurrection; they came to see the place where the body of the Lord Jesus lay; the reason was this, because the Resurrection of Christ was a solemn Proclamation to the World, that Christ was the Son of God. 'Tis true, this Title was given him immediately upon his conception, but it was never compleatly declared to the World, till after his Resurrection; for before, Christ was a Prince in disguise; the beams of the Divinity was abated by the vail of his Humanity; but then he was declared by power to be the Son of God.
It followes [That great Shepherd of the Sheep] for the opening of this;
1. We will consider this Title of Christ.
2. The Person for whom this Title relates.
First, This Title [The great Shepherd] 'Tis a wonderful condescention in Christ, that he will take upon him the Title of a Shepherd, that which rather expresses Love and Care, than Power and Dominion; yet he is pleased to assume this Title to express his affection to us. For the opening of it, wherein he appears to be the great Shepherd, I shall lay down these particulars.
1. He is great in the Dignity of his Person; for, he that is Lord of Angels, is become the Shepherd of the Sheep; and the humiliation of his person in this respect, is the exaltation of his Office: It is looked upon in the World as a mean and low employment, to have the care and inspection of a Flock; but now herein appears the love of Christ, he was pleased to become our Shepherd, that so he might secure and bring us to the Fold of Heaven, and there make us to feed upon those Pastures, and to drink of those Rivers of pleasures which flow from the presense of God.
2. In the derivation of his Authority: That Authority which is communicated to him, whereby he is our Shepherd: and that is originally from God himself; It is not by any mediate deputation, but from God himself. He is our Shepherd, and hath a Title to his Flock upon a double account.
1. They are committed to him as his charge and custody, John 6:37, &c. All the Elect of the world were given by God the Father to Christ, not by way of Alienation, but by way of Opigneration, as so many pledges which he was to bring to grace and glory: And this charge he doth most fully execute, for there is none missing of those committed to him.
2. They are given to him by way of Reward and Recompense for all his Bloud and Sufferings, Isai. 53:10.
The Lord put such a value on souls, that he purchased an interest in them by his own bloud; and he thinks himself exceedingly recompensed for all his pains on the Cross, Agonies in the Garden, Temptations in the Wilderness, &c. if souls will submit to his care. And here observe the course of Heaven, God would endear souls to Christ upon all Reasons, by vertue of his command, and that charge he gives to them, and by vertue of his own purchase.
3. If you consider, the extent of his care and affection, For all the Saints of the World, those who are dispersed in all places, in all ages, they are all his Flock; and therefore 'tis the Royalty of his Administration, John 10:16. There shall be one Fold, and one Shepherd. As Christ is the only Catholick King, so he is the only Universal Bishop; For all other Shepherds have but particular Portions of his Flock committed to their charge, and they should be such portions as they have regard to, and are under their inspection, And at the last day, all his sheep shall congregate together, and stand at his right hand. All the Saints of God that are now scattered, as so many Stars in the Firmament, shall be united in one constellation, when they shall appear in glory before him.
4. In respect of his endowments and qualifications, which fit him for the discharge of his Office. And
1. Take notice of his affection and love to us, and that is the wonder of Heaven and Earth, Christ laid down his life for his sheep. John 10:11. This is strange, that Christ should be a sheep for the slaughter, that he might become our Shepherd, that he should be a sacrifice before he could take his Office upon him: Other sheep lay down their lives for the Shepherd, but Christ laid down his life for the Sheep. So great was his love, that it brought him from Heaven to seek and find those that were lost; he left a Palace to come to a Wilderness; a Throne of Heaven to come to a Fold here upon Earth. We read of David that he exchanged a Sheep hook for a Scepter; but Christ quite contrary, he exchang'd a Scepter for the Rod and Staff of a Shepherd. It was said by one, There is nothing so conspicuous in Christ, as the prodigality of his love to us. Oh! do but consider how great love that was that should make him to die for us, that he might bring us home to his Fold. We were all of us like erring sheep, who had strayed from him, and fell to the Lord of the Soil, as strange Cattel; we were gotten into the possession of the God of this World; the Lord Christ would buy us off from thence; though we forfeited our right in him, vet he would not lose his right in us, but he laid down his life that he might reduce us to his Fold, that of Wolves he might make us Lambs, and sit us for the comforts of his Presense.
2. In respect of his exact diligence and inspection over them. When but one Sheep went astray from his Fold, we read, he left the ninety and nine, and went and sought for that One, Luke 15. where we have that Parable, to express the diligence and watchfulness of Christ over his Sheep. There is no person, be he never so mean, never so obscure, though lost in the number and account of the World, if he be one of Christs Sheep, he is always under his inspection and watchfulness. We read of the High-Priest, that he carried the names of the Tribes upon his Brest-plate; the Lord Christ carries the names of all his Sheep in his heart: therefore, Revelation 13. speaking concerning the Saints, all that dwell upon Earth, whose names are written in the book of Life. His diligence and care is so exact, that he hath all their names writ in his Book. He that tells the Stars, counts their hairs, and always exer∣cises the most watchful providence over them for good. You know Sheep are either liable to rage, or erring, and wandring; Christ's diligence is such that he protects them from the rage of Satan, reduces them from all their wandrings, and brings them home to himself.
3. In making proportional all their services and sufferings, to those degrees of strength which he gives to them, Isai. 40:11. He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd, he shall gather his Lambs with his Arms, and carry them in his bosome, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Christ always makes a proportion between the Services, Sufferings, and strength he calls them to. He it is that with that tenderness speaks to Peter, Peter lovest thou me? feed my Lambs. He hath provided for them the most ample, and most satisfying nourishment, the Ordinances of the Gospel, the Word, the Promises, which are the breast of Consolation; these are all provided by him for his people. And in this respect he is the great Shepheard, for he doth not only allow them means, but blesses the means to them: he is able to enlighten the dark mind, he can make pliable the stubborn Will, and he can spiritualize drouzie affection, which all other Shepherds in the World are not able to effect.
4. He is the great Shepherd, if you consider his power to preserve them from danger; not only those dangers which respect Satan (for that fell under his care before) but those diseases to which they are liable, which threaten ruine: Other Shepherds possibly may cure diseases, but not defend them from danger. Christ it is that gives eternal life to his sheep, he begins the life of holiness, which though at present is but a spark in the Sea, yet he keeps it alive till it shall break forth into a triumphant flame. That life that is encompassed with so many enemies, and liable to so many weaknesses, the Lord Jesus will bring forth judgement to victory, and will make them to be powerful over spiritual and eternal enemies.
The summe is this: the Lord Christ is so perfect a Shepherd, so complete, as to all the qualifications of that office, that the Prophet David breaks forth into exultation, Psalms 23. The Lord is my Shepherd, &c. and then afterwards expresses all those provisions which are made for him by God as a Shepherd, He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters. So that you see, Christ, whether for diligence, love, tenderness, for preserving us from danger, for securing us to life eternal, he is only the great Shepherd, he is the God of Shepherds as well as the God of Sheep, and all other Shepherds are but inferiour to him, and must be accountable to him for the Souls of his Sheep, which are more valuable than all the world.
It follows, The great Shepherd [of the sheep] I shall not spend any time in making any resemblance between the People of God and the Sheep; Only,
1. They are Sheep in respect of their Innocency. You know, of all creatures the Sheep are unarmed: other creatures, either they are armed with strength, or skin, or swiftness to guard themselves, and offend others; but the Sheep hath neither the strength of the Lion, the craft of the Fox, nor the swiftness of the Deer, and of all creatures is most weak, inoffensive, and most liable to dangers and injuries. Of all persons, Gods people are most liable to danger, and when out of Christs protection, the weakest persons in the world.
2. In respect of their Meekness. A Sheep is an Emblem of Meekness, that's their temper, and therein they imitate Christ, who hath propounded himself to be their pattern, Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly; both these qualities are exprest by the Prophet, Isaiah 11. where speaking concerning the times of the Gospel, he saith, The Lamb shall lie down with the Wolf; Now, where the Prophet expresses their safety, there he expresses their Innocency and Meekness. This is the reason why the Prophet saith, for thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter; because of all creatures most liable to injuries, that which doth least resent them: And where-ever the grace of Christ comes, it sweetens the most cruel nature, and polishes the most rough disposition, and makes them to be like Christ, meek and lowly.
3. In regard of their Profitableness; for of all creatures, they are most profitable, the food as to their flesh, the cloath as to their fleece. And the people of God, however they are exposed to the contempts and injuries of the world, they are the most profitable: for were it not for them, the whole frame of Nature would fall into pieces, the Stars would fall like leaves in Autumn, and all the Elements would fall into confusion; we see it by one Lot, who kept showres of fire and brimstome from falling on Sodom, till he was got out of it. And it is the people of God, for whom this frame of Nature is continued, and when they are brought into the fold of Christ, the Justice of God will have a solemn triumph over all the world.
4. As they are liable to wandring; sheep are wandring creatures, and when strayed, not able to reduce themselves. And in this respect the people of God are sheep, they have a thousand allurements to draw them from the ways of God: and if God should not guide them by his eye, 'tis impossible they should go in the way that leads to Heaven. Therefore David saith, I have gone astray like a lost Sheep, seek thy Servant; Psalms 119:176. This shall suffice to make the Parallel and Resemblance of the people of God to sheep.
The second Argument is this, That he hath design'd Christ to be the Shepherd of the Church, The great Shepherd of the Sheep; this is another argument and evidence that he is reconciled to us, and that he is the God of Peace: For when God gave Christ to be our Sacrifice, and raised him up to be our Shepherd; these are the most clear Testimonies of his Love: For, although Christ now sits in Heaven, and all the Angels of God worship him, yet he doth not disdain to exercise the same care, and to express the same Love to his People, that he did when he was upon the Earth. All the Offices of Christ express Gods love to us, for he feeds us as a Prophet, died for us as a Priest, Governs and defends us as he is a King; and all these meet together in this Title, feeding of us, dying for us, desending of us; as he was God, he loved us; as he was Man he died for us. This doth express the effects of his two Natures in this Title; and therefore an admirable evidence that God is at peace with us.
It follows, [Through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant.] The bloud of Christ is that which cements God and us together: For you must remember, our original peace with God was broken; that peace we have with him now, is called Reconciliation; it is as a broken bone, which well set, is stronger than before, because Nature conveys most liberal supplies to the weakest part: so now being reconciled to God, through the bloud of his Son, we stand upon surer terms with him, than we did in Innocency; The Bloud of Christ speaks better things for us, than all our Sins speak against us; it speaks peace to our souls, & that in Heaven purchased by his death. Christ died as a Testator, and bequeathed to the Church a Legacy of Peace; he lives as the Executor of that Covenant, and now in Heaven conveys to us that blessing of Peace, which he bequeath'd in his death. And as our Peace was founded in his Bloud, so it is conserv'd by his Intercession; he appears in the Court of Heaven as our Embassadour, to make up all those differences which fall out between God and us; for you know, Amity and Friendship is kept between Foreign States, by their Residents and Agents, that are kept in their several Courts; so we have an Agent in the Court of Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ, that was raised from the dead: And as a Believer falls into sin, which is a breach of Peace between God and us, so that Peace is made up by the exercise of repentance on our part, and by sprinkling of Christs bloud upon us, on Gods part. The renewed exercise of Repentance, and application of Christs bloud, preseryes that peace that is between God and Believers. And (to sum up the force of the Argument) when we had fallen from God, and it did not consist with the Majesty of God to make peace with us, without satisfaction, then was he pleased to pay our Ransom out of his own Treasury, and Redeem us by the bloud of his Sonne; So that all his Attributes might shine forth in their Lustre, and glory in our Salvation, and that upon sure terms we might be able to challenge an Interest in his Favour and Love.
It follows, Through the bloud of the [Everlasting Covenant.] It is called an Everlasting Covenant in two respects.
1. In opposition to the Old Covenant, which was made with Adam in Innocency; but that Covenant which secures to us the reward of that Life Eternal, did not secure to us the Condition, that was perfect Obedience; and in reference to this Old Covenant, sometimes the Gospel is called a New Covenant, sometimes a Better Covenant, because it supplies all weaknesse in the first Covenant; not as if the Law of God was weak and faulty in respect of its self, for the Law is Holy, Just, and Good, but weak in respect of us; for it is impossible that that Covenant, by the breach of which Sin and Death came in to us, should reconcile us to God, and appease his anger; and therefore God contrived another Covenant for us, a Covenant in the Gospel, that was made with us in Christ, and this is called an Everlasting Covenant, because it remains forever, the tenor of it shall not be changed; for, the First Covenant is only abrogated and made null, while frustrated as to the intent it was first given.
2. It's called an Everlasting Covenant, as it brings to those that are parties in it an everlasting Glory: so the Lord Jesus his blood is called an Everlasting Redemption, for it ransoms the souls of men from that Eternal Death to which they were liable, and gives them a Title to Everlasting Life; for this Covenant which now God hath made with us, it not only secures the Reward, but the Conditions to which the Reward is made; for God saith, I will plant my fear in your hearts, that you shall not depart from me.
I have now gone over the Title, and that in order to the Prayer which follows, [Make you perfect to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight,] the general sum of it is this: That God of Peace who is reconciled to us in his Son, as he is the Father of mercies to us, so he is the Fountain of Holiness to us; and in this respect we can only expect from him the treasures of Grace, as he is the God of Peace; for God, as he is our Judge, dispences to Sinners nothing but revenge; there is nothing to be expected but the curse of his Law, the Execution of that sentence of death from him. For, although the World despise holiness as a base and contemptible thing, they had rather be ungracious, than inglorious in the eyes of men, and upon this account they are afraid to be Holy, lest they should be the publick scorn and contempt of the place wherein they live: although holiness is of so low a price in the world, yet in Heaven, next to God, Christ, and the Spirit, Holiness is the most rich Jewel, that God can bestow upon us; and therefore we must first look upon him as the God of Peace, before we can beg any grace from him. And this is the Reason why the Apostle represents God by these Titles, that he might encourage the Hebrews to believe God would grant this request. When Christ dyed for us, it was not his design only to quiet our consciences, but to quicken our souls, not only to free us from Damnation, but from the Domination of sin: And therefore you shall find these two are joyned together, Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us that he might Redeem us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. The death of Christ, as there was a value in it to purchase Gods favour, so there was a vertue in it to restore to us Gods Image. And the account of his dying for us is it, that we must expect the least degree of Grace and Holiness from God. And this is the reason why the Apostle prefaces this, Now the God of Peace, &c.
I know you expect I should say something as to my non-conformity, I shall only say thus much, It is neither fancy, faction, nor humour, that makes me not to comply, but meerly for fear of offending God. And if after the best means used for my illumination; as prayer to God, discourse, study, I am not able to be satisfied concerning the lawfulness of what is required; if it be my unhappiness to be in error, surely men will have no reason to be angry with me in this world, and I hope God will pardon me in the next.