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HEALING OUR WOUNDS SLIGHTLY
THERE were, amongst the Jews, false prophets, who accommodated themselves to the corrupt taste of their hearers, who said to them, “Prophesy unto us smooth things; prophesy deceits.” In particular, they assured the people that the judgments denounced against them by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others, should never come upon them; that the king of Babylon should never succeed in his efforts against Jerusalem; and that, though they should still continue to walk after the imagination of their own evil hearts they had nothing to fear [Note: Jer_23:17.]. Thus they lulled the people asleep in their sins, “promising them peace, when in reality there was no peace;” but the heaviest judgments of Almighty God were impending over them [Note: Eze_13:10-16.].
Such prophets have existed at all periods of the Church, “with lies making the heart of the righteous sad, whom God has not made sad; and strengthening the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life [Note: Eze_13:22. with Deu_29:19-20.].”
But whilst we lament the effect of such delusive ministrations, and refer all persons to the written word, as the only true standard of sound doctrine; we would not forget, that men love to deceive themselves, and, by indulging vain conceits of their own, in opposition to the written word, to silence the convictions of conscience, and to “speak peace to themselves, when there is no peace.” For the benefit of such persons, we will endeavour to shew,
I. What need we all have of healing—
Sin has infected all the powers of our souls — — — This melancholy truth is,
1. Asserted in the Scriptures—
[“God made man upright; but he has sought out many inventions [Note: Ecc_7:29.].” His very heart is corrupt [Note: Jer_17:9.]; so that “every imagination of it is evil, and only evil, continually [Note: Gen_6:5.].” The extent of his depravity can scarcely be overstated: as the Apostle clearly shews [Note: Rom_3:9-18.] — — — and the description given of the Jewish people may be well applied to every people, yea, and to every individual also in the whole world: “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint: from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in us; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores [Note: Isa_1:5-6.].”]
2. Confirmed by experience—
[Who is there amongst us that must not confess this to be his own state? Who does not find darkness in his understanding, rebellion in his will, sensuality in his affections? Who is there that does not perceive a partiality in his conscience, and, as far as spiritual things are concerned, a forgetfulness in his memory; so that, in all his faculties, he is unlike what he was when he came out of his Creator’s hands? That there are some traces of his original excellence, I willingly admit. There is in some persons a measure of benevolence towards man: but towards God there is in all the same rooted indisposition and enmity: “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be [Note: Rom_8:7.].”]
But, as many think themselves healed whilst yet they are in a perishing condition, I will proceed to shew,
II. Who they are that heal their wounds slightly—
Of these there are many classes: many “speak peace to themselves, when there is no peace.” Amongst these are,
1. They who rely on the uncovenanted mercy of God—
[Many have an idea that God it too merciful to inflict on men the judgment he has denounced against sin: and on this presumption they dismiss all fear of future punishment, As for the justice or holiness of the Deity, they altogether overlook them; supposing that their claims may be superseded without any difficulty, and that truth itself also may be violated without any dishonour done to God, But all this is a delusion, which will betray them to their ruin, God is merciful, no doubt; yea, merciful beyond all conception: but then his mercy flows only in that channel which he himself has prepared, even through the Son of his love: and to expect it in any way that is inconsistent with the Divine attributes, is fatally to deceive our own souls.]
2. They who take refuge in a round of duties—
[It is common for persons, when convinced of sin, to engage in religious duties, with a hope of making thereby their peace with God, They will begin to read the Scriptures in private, and to attend on divine ordinances in public, and exercise a greater measure of benevolence to their fellow-creatures; trusting that God will accept their services, and for the sake of them will pardon their past transgressions, But this is only to “heal their wounds slightly;” for there are two things necessary to their perfect restoration; the one is, to make an atonement for sin; the other is, to get their souls renewed after the Divine image: but neither of these can ever be effected by any exertions of their own, The attainments of the Apostle Paul, eminent as they were, could not stand in the place of Christ, either before his conversion or afterwards: and therefore he desired “to be found in Christ; not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ [Note: Php_3:9.].” Much more, therefore, must we renounce all hope of acceptance with God through any works of our own; and seek salvation by Christ alone, if ever we would “behold the face of God in peace,”]
3. They who rest in a faith that is unproductive of good works—
[True it is, that we must be saved by faith alone: and equally true it is, that faith does not save us, because it produce! good works. It saves us simply as apprehending Christ, in and through whom we are reconciled to God. But the faith which apprehends Christ aright, will work; it will “work by love,” and “purify the heart,” and “overcome the world;” and if the faith which we possess do not operate in this way, it is dead, and of no more efficacy for our salvation than the faith of devils, The only faith which will be of real service to us, is that which unites us unto Christ, as branches to the vine; and enables us, by virtue derived from him, to bring forth fruit to his glory.]
Yet, as there is a perfect remedy, it becomes me to state,
III. How we may have them healed effectually—
The Lord Jesus Christ has provided a remedy for sin—
[He has, by his own obedience unto death, atoned for sin, and “brought in an everlasting righteousness” for his believing people. Hear the blessed tidings brought to us by the Prophet Isaiah: “He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed [Note: Isa_53:5.].” Stupendous thought! We healed by stripes! by stripes inflicted on Jehovah’s fellow! What a mystery is this I how utterly incomprehensible! Well does the Apostle say, “How unsearchable are God’s judgments, and his ways past finding out [Note: Rom_11:33.]!”]
That remedy, applied by faith, shall be effectual for all who trust in it—
[The man who believes in Christ, has all his guilt purged away; so that “though his sins may have been as crimson, they shall be as wool; though they have been as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. [Note: Isa_1:18.]” Nor is this all: the man who believes in him, shall receive out of his fulness such a supply of grace as shall be effectual for the restoration of his soul to the Divine “image, in righteousness and true holiness.” The declaration of an inspired Apostle is, that “We, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. [Note: 2Co_3:18.]” Thus, by this simple remedy, shall our guilt be removed; and, at the same time, the corruption of our nature, like the waters of Jericho, be healed by the salt of divine grace infused into the soul. [Note: 2Ki_2:19-22.] If any be not healed, it is not for want of a Physician s but because, with the balm of Gilead in their hands, they will not apply if. [Note: ver. 22.]]
Address—
1. Those who feel not their need of healing—
[Many, who are sensible that our nature is imperfect, have yet no conception that they are infected with a fatal malady; or that, without a most stupendous effort of divine grace, they must eternally perish. But, though they are called Christians, they are ignorant of the very nature of Christianity. I say again, they know not what Christianity is; and if they were asked to give in one word such a description of Christianity as should suffice to characterize it in all its parts, they would be utterly at a loss, and would say that an impracticable task was imposed upon them. But Christianity is a remedy: it necessarily supposes a deep malady, which it is not in the power of any finite being to heal; and it prescribes such means of healing as shall be effectual for our recovery. The malady and the remedy correspond with each other: whichever be seen, the lineaments of the other may be inferred from it: they answer to each other, as accurately as the impression to the seal. There is nothing in us, for which there is not a correspondent provision in Christ: nor is there any thing in Christ, of which there is not a correspondent want in us. Were this duly understood, there would be no persons of the description that I am now addressing. But to all, without exception, must I declare, that “it was not the righteous that Christ came to save, but sinners;” (“the whole need not a physician, but they that are sick:.”) and if we feel not our lost estate, we can receive no benefit from Christianity, no salvation from Christ. “It is the broken heart whom he heals, and whose wounds he bindeth up [Note: Psa_147:3.].”]
2. Those who, after having derived some benefits from Christ, have relapsed into sin—
[Such persons there are, in great abundance: and greatly is their guilt augmented by their misimprovement of the mercies conferred. If they continue in their declension, “it were better for them that they had never known the way of righteousness;” for “their last end will be worse than their beginning.” But they are not beyond the reach of healing, Rather, I should say, their Lord is more particularly anxious respecting them, and gives this injunction to his servants: “Go, and proclaim these words; Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to full upon you. [Note: Jer_3:12.]” “I will heal your backsliding, and love you freely: for mine anger is turned away from you. [Note: Hos_14:4.]” If you are ready to despond because of your unworthy conduct, he cuts off at once all ground of despondency, by saying, “For the iniquity that he committed I was wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth; and yet he went on frowardly, in the way of his heart. But I have seen his ways, and (What? will cast him off, and execute my heaviest judgments on him? No: I have seen his ways, and) will heal him; and will restore comfort also to him and to his mourners [Note: Isa_57:17-18.].” Avail yourselves then, my Brethren, of the opportunity now afforded you; and go to Him who is able to save you to the uttermost”, and “will cast out none who come unto him.” But remember, you must be content to have your wounds probed to the very bottom; lest, after all, the healing of them should be only superficial.]
3. Those who are enjoying health in their souls—
[Happy indeed is your state. You have the true enjoyment of life. We feel the benefit of health, as it respects the body: for it enables us to perform every office of life with ease and pleasure; whilst to the sick and the infirm even the smallest labour is difficult. So, to the man that is under the power of sin, all spiritual exercises are irksome: but to him whose “soul prospers, and is in health,” the ways of God are beyond measure delightful. Be careful then, beloved, to preserve your health. Be living nigh to your heavenly Physician; and, at the very first appearance of disorder in your soul, apply to him. So will he “keep you in perfect peace,” and “preserve you blameless unto his heavenly kingdom.”]