Millions of those that bear the name of Christ are cheated and eternally ruined with a false peace

Objection. But I have heard these men speak of their hopes and confidence in the Lord, and bless God for their assurance of the pardon of their sins; and ask them if they have made their peace with God, and they will answer, that they thank God, that's a work not now to be done; I pray therefore show us the difference between these two sorts of men, which seem to be very unlike one another in their lives.

There is as much difference between their peace, as there is between light and darkness, heaven and hell, something and nothing.

1. They differ in their original and foundation; the rise of the peace of a saint is from the promise, his comforts are Scripture consolations; he finds that rich grace hath wrought in him the condition of the promise, and upon a serious debate with his own spirit, and through discoursing the matter with his own heart, it brings in this witness for him, that he hath had a discovery of his poor, lost, undone state, that he hath in some measure been convinced of sin and misery, that he hath been convinced of his own utter inability to save himself, that he hath seen an absolute necessity of Christ, an infinite fulness and excellency in him, that he hath been enabled to receive him upon his own terms, and to resign up all to him, that he hath been made to leave sin, as to the love and liking of it, and to be affectionately willing to take God the Father for the ultimate happiness and portion of his soul, God the Son for the only way to the Father, and his Redeemer, God the Holy Ghost, to enlighten, sanctify, and comfort him, and to endeavour to give up his whole man, body, and soul, to the obedience of his whole will, with the utmost intentness of spirit, with deliberation, judgment, and resolution to stand by this choice, by the strength of God, for ever. And this he hath frequently found upon inquiry, to be the constant frame of his spirit; and therefore the Scripture pronouncing such blessed, he is humbly bold to own what grace hath done for him. Now this man's hopes and confidence have a good foundation, it is built upon the foundation of prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone; it is a peace of God's approbation, of God's signing and sealing.

But now on the other side, the peace which the hypocrite hath is built upon the sand, he hath not one promise that he can rationally lay any claim to; nay, the whole word of God assaults him, and tells him how vain his confidence is; and that if, for all this, he will speak peace to himself, that he must try shortly whether he can make it good, when conscience, Scripture, law and gospel, God and man, appear in the field against him. In a word, the cause of his peace is ignorance, hardness, deadness. The god of this world hath blinded his eyes; God is author of the saint's peace, and the devil of the sinners, Matt. vii. 24, &c. Phil. iv. 7. Luke xi. 21. Rom. xv. 4.

2. They differ in their concomitants and effects. The saint hath always these things accompanying his comforts; admiration of God's pardoning grace, and wonder that there should be such a thing as mercy for him; magnifying of the blessed Jesus, who was the great manager of that great affair, the peace between God and his soul; a holy, thankful, fruitful life; a humble judging of himself, and a pitying of others; when the Spirit hath grafted true peace in the soul, these are the fruits which it bears. But is it thus with the formal hypocrite; judge, I pray, rightly, and see what fruits his peace brings forth; are they not the grapes of Sodom and the fruits of Gomorrah? Doth he indeed admire and adore the patience of God towards him? Doth he not rather make bold with God, and turn his grace into wantonness? How little doth he esteem his omniscience, power, spirituality, purity! how far is he from sanctifying the Lord in his heart, and making him his fear and dread! how vilely doth he undervalue and prostitute his holy name, using it only in an oath, or when he taketh it into his filthy mouth without any reverence or sense of his excellency! And as for Christ, he makes light of him, and prefers every cursed lust, any vile companion, yea, the dirt he treads on, shall I say more, the devil himself, before him. What else is the meaning of his service, activity, and constancy to carry on the interest of hell, and the unsuitableness, contempt, and opposition that he makes against the advancing of the interest of the Lord Christ? I need say no more. In a word, for all his peace with God, he is at war with his nature, laws, Son, Spirit, service; and yet how foolishly doth he boast of peace, comfort, hopes, and justify himself and censure his betters! James iii. 18. Gal. v. 19, &c. Deut. xxxii. 32.

3. The saint's joys and comforts differ in their very nature; the saint's joys are spiritual, the hypocrite's carnal and sensual; the saint's rational, the formalist's brutish, and against both Scripture and reason; the saint's joys are solid, great, and glorious, the hypocrite's are frothy, small, and shameful, Deut. xxix. 19. Eccl. ii. 2. Jam. iii. 15. Jude 19.

4. Their comforts differ in their growth and continuance. The believer's comforts were a great while under the clouds of fear, and that Divine seed was long sown before it grew up to such a harvest; and although he be still reaping, yet a fresh harvest is still growing, and he shall never make an end of gathering them in; his peace and comforts grow stronger and stronger, as troubles, and sickness, and trials come upon him, and at death they are greatest of all; for then he enters into his Master's joy, and enjoys his peace till the Almighty hath lost his power, which will last till the infinite riches of heaven's glory are spent, and eternity is at an end. As for the hypocrite, his peace is short lived; at the furthest death will put an end to it, and then you shall see what is become of all his peace, joy, hopes; when instead of comfort he shall lie down in shame, and awake in eternal horror. And who would desire such deceitful joys, that, ere a man is aware, leave him in everlasting torments? I have been the longer in the answering of this objection, because it is common, and millions of those that bear the name of Christ are cheated and eternally ruined with such a false peace. And what sayest thou that readest these lines, which of these two is thy peace? Lay down the book, and consider, and let not thy heart be quiet till thou understand what foundation its quiet rest is built upon. Tell it that many times it is a sign that the strong man armed hath got possession, when all things are in peace. Ask thy soul, whether it ever understood its natural enmity against God, whether that be in any measure laid down. Art thou reconciled to the holy nature, laws, and service of God? And hast thou commenced an irreconcilable war against sin? Is Christ thy captain, the Spirit thy assistant? And who usually carries the field, the flesh or Spirit? O be not contented till you have a good account given in from conscience and experience in this great affair; for it is a matter of life or death, and a business of the highest consequence imaginable; and till this witness be well settled, I will not give a rush for all thy comforts, peace, and hopes, Job viii. 13. Isa. xxxiii. 14. Job xx. 5. Prov. xiv. 32. Isa. xxxv. 10.

~James Janeway, The saint's encouragement to diligence in Christ's service

Love, Joy, Hope; or, The Fruits of Faith by Robert Murray M'Cheyne

I edited the text below from from The Sword and the Trowel; ed. by C.H. Spurgeon. Enjoy!

THE

SWORD AND THE TROWEL.

MAY, 1867.

—

Love, Joy, Hope; or, The Fruits of Faith.

BY THE REV. RORERT MURRAY M'CHEYNE, LATE MINISTER OF ST. PETER's CHURCH, DUNDEE.

Copied from the Author's own unpublished manuscript. Preached January 28th, 1838.

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."—1 Peter, i. 8, 9.

I.—Believing In An Unseen Saviour Gives Love. "Whom having not seen, ye love."

1. Unawakened persons have got no love to an unseen Saviour. They see no form nor comeliness in him; no beauty that they should desire him. They have got affections lively and ardent, but none towards Christ. Unconverted mothers have a tender love for their children. Unconverted friends have a tender love for friends, but they love not Christ. They are lovers of pleasure, but not lovers of Christ.

Mark (1). They do not love to hear his name. When you are sincerely attached to any one, you love to hear their name. Their name is sweetest melody in your ears. I remember a dying man, whose favourite brother was in a foreign land, when any one approached his bed he always called him by the name of his absent brother. "Why do you call me so?" he was asked again and again. "It is very foolish," he said, smiling, "but I love the name." Just so it is with those who love Jesus, they love the name. The book in which they do not find it is a tiresome book to them. Now, the Christless love not the name of Jesus; they cannot call him Lord; their lips are not formed to speak his name. How plain that they do not love Jesus.

Mark (2). They do not think of him. If you are sincerely attached to any one, you love to think of them. The meditative eye of the mind doth always follow the affections of the heart. Where your treasure is your heart will be also, and where your heart is your thoughts will often be. A mother has her son upon the sea — the son round whom all her affections are twined. Now, tell me where her thoughts will oftenest be? Ah! they will be with her child: the ship, the masts, the raging sea, will be often, often in her mind. Often she sits unconscious of what is going on beside her. Why? She is thinking on the son of her love. So is it with the soul when Christ is precious; when he is felt to be the "chief among ten thousand," and "altogether lovely;" more to the soul than two sons. Such a soul loves to meditate on Christ. "I will meditate on thee in the night-watches." Not once or twice, but day by day the soul dwells with increasing admiration on all his works of love. "Whom having not seen, we love." But not so the unconverted. They do not think of Jesus, they do not love him. I put it to you, my friends, do you love to meditate on Christ? Are the thoughts of business, the thoughts of care, the thoughts of pleasure, the thoughts of sin, gladly pushed aside to make way for thoughts of Jesus? If not, then you have not a spark of love to Jesus. Ah! it is true the unconverted have no love to Jesus Christ.

Mark (3). They do not keep his commandments. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." If you are sincerely attached to any one, you love to do what they request of you, especially when they are away; you love to do what they would wish you to do. When a dying father leaves his parting commands to his affectionate children, how diligently do they follow out his desires. Shall we not do what our Father desired? So is it with those who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. They love to eat bread and drink wine, because he said, "Do this in remembrance of me." They love to clothe the naked and feed the hungry, because Jesus said, "Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful." They love to yield their whole bodies, and souls, and spirits, to be dwelt in by his Spirit, that they may be enabled to do what Jesus loves them to do. But the unconverted do not keep his commandments. I put it to you—when they come to the Lord's Supper, they love it not. When they give to the poor it is grudgingly, or ostentatiously; they do not know the luxury of giving because they love Jesus: they do not love Jesus. They do not yield themselves to be reigned over by his Spirit.

2. Believing In An Unseen Saviour Gives Love. It is not a sight of Jesus with the bodily eyes that gives love. Many saw him when he was on earth, and loved him not. Judas went out and in with him during all the days of his ministry, and yet his cold breast had not one spark of love to Jesus. Many Jews saw him call Lazarus out of the grave, and yet went and became his accusers to the chief priests—they hated him. The devil saw him when he stood with him on the exceeding high mountain, yet the devil loves him not, but trembles. Many shall see him when he comes again who will not love him. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." The face of the Saviour shall shine with inexpressible beauty and brightness in that day. His people shall love him; but the world shall hate his appearing: they will call on rocks and mountains to cover and hide them. It is not a sight of Jesus then that gives love. What does? Answer: It is believing on him unseen. Believing that he is the Son of God; that he comes from God. It was this made Peter love him. "I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." It was this that made them all love him. "I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." Believing that he is our surety. Ah! it is this that draws forth love. It is his being uplifted on the cross that draws souls to him, "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." His deep wounds, made by the wrath that should have come upon sinners—these are the lines of beauty for a wounded soul. It is his blood gushing forth that causes our love to gush like a fountain. He loved me, and gave himself for me: that makes my soul love him, and give itself to him. Believing that he is "an advocate" unseen. The eye of faith follows Jesus within the veil, to the right hand of God. I believe that believers in our day have little faith in an unseen Saviour; I mean, they do not confidently go on in the world as if they saw what Jesus was doing. If you saw him praying for barren fig-trees, that they may not be cut down this year; bearing our name upon his heart; obtaining the Spirit for you; sending him into your heart; ah! surely you would be overcome with love to him. Now, faith is instead of sight. Only believe, and you cannot choose but love him. Question, "Lovest thou me?" Some may say, "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee." To you I bring again the words of Jesus, "Feed my sheep," "Feed my lambs." Remember, you must not have a vain, frothy love, that vents itself in glowing speeches and nothing more. Those who are only lip-lovers are not worth the hearing. You must love, not in word only, but in deed. Feed Christ's sheep, and feed his lambs. Some may say, "I do not know, I love to love him, but I do not know."

Rules for growing in love. 1st Rule.—Look more to Jesus with the eye of faith. It is the eye that lets in love. When we look at an amiable object, the oftener we look the more we love. So is it with the eye of faith, by it you may receive sights of Christ. Look often and look long, and your heart will burn within you.

2nd Rule.—Look at his love. Love begets love. Looking at the sun makes the face glow with the refulgence. So, looking to Christ's love will make your heart glow with love back again.

3rd Rule.—Look at the whole of Christ. If you would see the glory of the sun, you must see him through his whole course, from his rising to his setting, and then to his rising again. So must you with Christ. Look to his rising, when he came from glory and shone first upon the world, in Bethlehem. Look to his course through the world—fulfilling the law—shining with all the grace and love of deity. Look at his setting on the cross, in the dark cloud of his Father's anger. Look at him now within the veil, still shining for us. Look at him about to rise again upon the world, coming in the clouds of heaven, his raiment white as the light, his face shining like the sun. Surely you cannot but love him who is all love to you!

II. Faith In An Unseen Saviour Sites "Joy Unspeakable And FULL OF GLORY."

1. Unconverted people have not this joy. There is a joy in having life, the buoyancy of health, the elastic footstep, the bracing air— all these reveal the joy of having life, a joy which cannot be expressed in words, and yet the unconverted have this joy. There is a joy in business. You cannot look upon the bustling countenance of your man of business—his active step, his quick look of intelligence, his regularity, like the index of a clock, in going his daily round, without seeing that there is a joy in business—and yet the unconverted have this joy. There is a joy in friends, in home, the fireside, the smiling faces there, the parting at night, the meeting in the morning. These things pour in drops of every-day joy into the cup of the, most gladless families which can scarcely be numbered. There is a joy in this to the unconverted. There is a joy too in sin—strangest joy of all—in that which is opposed to God, and kindred to hell. Yet here there is joy—from the magic charms of the theatre, and the whirl of the godless dance, down to the fascinating delights of the low tavern. There is a troubled joy in sin. Unconverted men have all this. "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." Question, "What is wrong in this joy?"

1. It will not last: "yet a little while and the wicked shall not be." "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found." O my dear friends, your joy is not "unspeakable and full of glory." It can soon be told. A few days and it will be like a tale that is told. Do not think we are stern and sour, because we are sad to see you happy; but ah! how sad to see you placing your chief joy in flowers that are withering as you hold them. God knows that all my desire is to see you happy. O that you were wise.

2. They end in hell. "Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." O my dear friends, your joys, as long as you are Christless, are not only passing away, hut they are leading you down to hell; they are preparing you for a bitter day. Oh! how you will curse those smiles that wooed your soul to its eternal ruin.

2nd. Awakened persons have not this joy. When God begins a work of grace in the soul, joy vanishes. When he reveals the past life in the light of God's countenance, or in the light of the cross, the sinner trembles like Belshazzar at the feast; his mouth is stopped, and he stands guilty before God. When he looks to the law of God he feels that Sinai is ready to tumble on his head, and the voice is, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." When he looks to God himself, his eyes of flame seem to pierce him through and through, and this word is graven on his heart, "In thy sight shall no flesh living be justified." When he looks to the cross of Christ, the tender look of the Saviour breaks his heart in pieces, for he has always despised Jesus, and this word comes to him from the cross as if it were spoken, "He that believeth not is condemned already." My dear friends, an awakened soul is a brokenhearted soul. Do you know anything of this? Then you will find no more pleasure in sin. True, it is sweet as ever, like Belshazzar's wine, but the handwriting of God is on the wall. Oh! with what a heavy, sinking heart, some people live in sin: joy in friends will be departed; home no more wears the smile it used to do; joy in business too is fled, for the business of the soul is not settled; joy in living is almost forgotten; the sun cheers not, for the Sun of Righteousness does not shine on the soul—neither moon nor stars appear for many days. If you are awakened you will know what that meaneth. "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted," now wait on the Lord quietly; he only can bring you a new joy, joy that is "unspeakable and full of glory."

3rd. They that believe in an unseen Saviour have this joy. If you saw a man with an open letter in his hand, weeping tears of joy, his heart too full for utterance, you would say he has got good news from a far country. He believes something which he does not see. So is it with the Christian. God shines on the Bible, makes his word bright that tells of Jesus having died in the stead of sinners, even the chief; the soul believes the report, and cries out, "There is hope! there is hope!" "Jesus died for me, I do not need to die." "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."

Learn 1st. That it is not a sight of Christ with the bodily eye that gives joy. Many saw Christ at Nazareth, and wondered at his gracious words, yet got no joy. Many saw him preaching from the boat on the sea of Galilee, yet were none the better for it. Many saw him in the temple, on the last day, that great day of the feast, yet you do not read of one that Was made glad by the sight. Many saw him on the cross, saw his pierced hands and feet, saw the darkness come over him, saw him bow his head in agony, and give up the ghost, and yet got no joy thereby. So many will see Jesus when he comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and yet get no joy thereby. Many shall wail because of him in that day. When John saw him in glory, he fell at his feet as dead: how much more when his enemies see him! they shall wish that they never had eyes to look on him—his appearance will be so terrible. Some say, "If I had lived in Christ's day, I would have seen and believed." Learn the folly of this. "Faith comes by hearing," "Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."

Learn 2nd. It is not a Christ in the imagination that gives joy. Some weak foolish people have expected to be brought into peace by having a vivid representation of Christ made to their fancy; imagining they see him on the cross, bleeding, dying, or smiling on them with a sweet countenance; imagining that they shall hear some words spoken to them, borne in upon their imagination, telling them of their interest in Christ. Many weak foolish persons have hoped for these things; but even if granted, they would not give true joy. Do not look for any such fanciful things. If you believe not Moses and the prophets, neither would you be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

Learn 3rd. It it is a heart reception of God's word concerning Jesus that gives joy. God shines on the word and makes it appear true and excellent: God thereby persuades the soul that he has loved sinners, that Christ has died a ransom for them, that any sinner is welcome. Oh, for a spark of this faith, cry for it! It gives a joy "unspeakable and full of glory." Oh, the greatness of a Christian's joy! Two things in the heart of a Christian are said to be unspeakable.

(1.) His feelings when the Holy Spirit dwells within him—"groanings that cannot be uttered."

(2.) His joy in an unseen Saviour. It is "unspeakable and full of glory." It cannot be felt, it cannot be told.

III. Believing In An Unseen Saviour Gives Hope. "Receiving the end of your faith." This word especially refers to the appearing or second coming of the Saviour; it is then that the believer shall really receive the end of his faith, even the salvation of his soul; but he receives it now by believing. (1.) Unconverted persons have no hope of the appearing of Jesus. Their eye has not followed him into heaven, and therefore they do not look for him returning; they neither wait for, nor love his appearing. No doctrine evinces the natural enmity of the human heart more than that of the second coming of the Saviour. "Where is the promise of his coming?" the scoffer always cries. O my friends, if you be Christless, the coming of the Saviour is no joy to you. (2.) But to you who are "in Christ," it is the sweet time when you shall receive the end of your faith. Faith in the unseen Saviour fills the bosom with his glorious hope, "My Saviour stands behind the curtain of this frail world," the believer says, "I see his shadow, as if he were just ready to come. When the hour has arrived, he will come and not tarry, and then I shall have a crown put upon this head, and a harp of pure gold to sing his praise; then I shall be freed from sin, and freed from sorrow.'' Do you live by the faith of a coming Saviour? If not, then you are depriving yourself of a sweet comfort to the soul. Oh! how it cheers the soul in its darkest hour. The "Lord is at hand." He will reign. The kingdom will come. "Behold! I come quickly." "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Softness or tenderness of heart is a special means of upright walking

Obadiah Sedgwick

Truly the hardness of mans heart is wonderful, which will not bow after so many gracious dealings of God, and the patience of God is more wonderful, who will bear so many, and so long affronts from a proud and hard heart.

~Obadiah Sedgwick

If we would compass soft and tenderness of heart, we must then get hearts to love the Lord; Did we love him, we would be tender of his glory, and tender of his love; tender to please him, tender not to displease him, tender to obey him, and tender to honour him.

~Obadiah Sedgwick

Now softness or tenderness of heart is a special means of this upright walking: For

1. It raiseth in the heart an universal regard to all the Commandments of God, Psal. 119.6. And ver. 10. would not wander from the commandments, and to walk in all Well-pleasing before him.

2. It fills the heart with a hatred and fear of all sin, that it may not offend the Lord in any thing, nor at any time, nor in any place: Still seeing him who is invisible: Job 31.4. Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps! Prov. 5.21. The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.

3. It lifts up the glory of God; that is the great end, and aim, and scope, and motive to a tender heart; he doth all to the glory of God, and so that Christ may be magnified.

4. It would be a means of promoting the knowledge of Christ, and the power of godliness, and of casting down whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine, and unto the ways of godliness; for it would fill the hearts of men with spiritual compassion to souls with zeal, and it would draw out their graces, and gifts, and powers in a right way for God, and for the good and salvation of others.

If Magistrates had but as much tenderness of heart in relation to the interest of God, as to their own interest, they would be more quick and active for God than for themselves; they would justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked; they would countance the faithful in the Land, and contemn the profane; they would honour and exalt the truth of God and disgrace and repress the errors and blasphemies against God and his truths, they would encourage every godly person, and they would appear against all open ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.

If Ministers had more tenderness of heart, they would (in their places also) give all diligence to make Christ known, and the truths of Christ, and contend for them, and oppose men of corrupt minds, and that which is Antichrist indeed, and they would exceedingly persuade, and encourage even to the knowledge of the truth, and to the love of the truth, and to walk in all manner of holiness and godliness: and they would reprove, threaten, warn, and declare the wrath of God against all sorts of wickedness in all sorts of men.

If Parents, and Masters of Families had this tender heart, they would not suffer ignorance and looseness in their dwellings; but on the contrary would study and take pains to instruct and teach their children and servants, and would reprove and correct, &c. How would they pray, and strive on the behalf of knowledge, and faith, and holiness, and fear of God, and of Walking with God! Verily the whole Land would in a short time, be made an habitation of holiness, a Land flowing with knowledge, and fear of the Lord, had we more of this tenderness of heart, which would undoubtedly make us more zealous, and industrious for the glory of God. 

~Obadiah Sedgwick