A47542:294
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, They are his Sheep by Choice, or by virtue of Election. Those that are Christ's, are not only his Sheep, but his Spouse also, according 1to another Scripture-Metaphor; and therefore 'tis reasonable they should be his own free Choice, and such as he can and doth dearly love; not only such as the Father loved, but he himself also loved: all that were Elected from Everlasting, were beloved by the Father, and the Son, from Everlasting, with a Purpose of Grace and Favour, or Love of Benevolence. The Sign and Fruit of Christ's Love to his Sheep, is the Choice he hath made of them; Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained that you should go and bring forth Fruit, and that your Fruit should remain, John 15. 16. This Christ mentions here, as an Argument of his greatest Love; and therefore he doth not refer to that Choice of them as Apostles, for so was Judas chosen, who was not comprehended in God's Eternal Election; I speak not of you all, I know whom I have chosen, John 15. 18. Judas was chosen to the Apostleship, but was not chosen to Eternal Life; he was a Devil, and therefore not to be one of Christ's Sheep: Have I not chosen you Twelve, and one of you is a Devil?
Christ hath no Sheep, but such that he was pleased to choose, or make choice of for his own; and he knows them, before they know him, as the Apostle speaks, The Lord knows them that are his; 1that is, all such that he hath chosen according to the Decree of Eternal Election.
Christ hath no Sheep, but such that he was pleased to chuse, or make choice of for his own; and he knows them, before they know him, as the Apostle speaks, The Lord knows them that are his; 1that is, all such that he hath chosen according to the Decree of Eternal Election.
Secondly, Christ's Sheep are his, by virtue of the Father's free Donation. 1They are all given unto him; I pray not for the World, but for them thou hast given me. I have manifested thy Name to the Men which thou gavest me out of the World: thine they were, and thou 2gavest them me. They were given to Christ to be his Sheep, to be his Spouse, and Members of his Mystical Body. Behold, I and the Children thou hast given me, are for Signs and Wonders in Israel.3
Thirdly, They are Christ's Sheep by Purchase: He bought them all, and that too at a dear Price. He paid heartily for them, every ⟨p. 78⟩1Sheep cost one and the same Price, even the meanest, poorest, and weakest of them, cost more than ten thousand Millions; nay, that which was in value more than ten thousand Worlds: Ye are not 2your own, but you are bought with a Price. We had sold our selves to other Masters, and they had possession of us. I am carnal, saith Paul, sold under Sin. He was formerly sold, and was hardly yet 3got out of the Tyrant's Hand. Behold, for your Iniquities have you sold your selves; but ye shall be redeemed without Money. We were all sold to Sin, sold to Satan, and there was no ways to redeem us from the Wrath of God, without a great Ransom; Justice will have a satisfactory Price: And since corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, will not do it, no nor a thousand Rams, nor ten thousand Rivers of Oil, nor the Fruit of the Body, which could not make Atonement for the Sin of the Soul, Christ must come to the Price proposed to him, and demanded of him, if he will purchase these Sheep, and that was his own precious Blood. Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to the Flock over which the 4Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers, that ye feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood. I lay down my Life for 5my Sheep. This was the Price, so dearly did Christ buy his Sheep. And this Day, Beloved, the Tokens of this Price, or Sacred Signs or Symbols of this Purchase is to be set before your Eyes: pray remember that Believers are Christ's Sheep by Purchase.
Fourthly, Believers are Christ's Sheep by Renovation, or Transformation. In this lies a great Mystery, they had not once a Sheeplike 1Nature, but by Grace their swinish and evil Qualities are changed: he hath infused new and holy Dispositions into them. So that in this respect Jesus Christ excels all other Shepherds, for they cannot turn Swine, Bears, or Tigers, into Sheep; but the Lord Jesus, by the Holy Ghost, makes such to become his Sheep, or to have Sheep-like Natures and Dispositions, that were before as vile, filthy, and abominable as the worst of Sinners: the Holy Ghost compares them before Grace and Regeneration, to Dogs, Swine, &c. they having like evil Qualities with those unclean and filthy Creatures: Such were some of you. What a kind of such were they? Why, 2Thieves, Covetous, Drunkards, Revilers, Extortioners, Effeminate, &c. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, (that is, by the Power of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. Christ hath not one Sheep, but what he hath made so to be: He, as God, made them at first, ⟨p. 79⟩and they having lost their first Excellent and Holy Nature, he new makes them, forms them again, or transforms them into his own holy, humble, meek, and gentle Nature. This People have I formed for my self, they shall show forth my Praise.
Fourthly, Believers are Christ's Sheep by Renovation, or Transformation. In this lies a great Mystery, they had not once a Sheeplike 1Nature, but by Grace their swinish and evil Qualities are changed: he hath infused new and holy Dispositions into them. So that in this respect Jesus Christ excels all other Shepherds, for they cannot turn Swine, Bears, or Tigers, into Sheep; but the Lord Jesus, by the Holy Ghost, makes such to become his Sheep, or to have Sheep-like Natures and Dispositions, that were before as vile, filthy, and abominable as the worst of Sinners: the Holy Ghost compares them before Grace and Regeneration, to Dogs, Swine, &c. they having like evil Qualities with those unclean and filthy Creatures: Such were some of you. What a kind of such were they? Why, 2
We are created in Christ Jesus unto good Works; and thus they 1may be said to be his Sheep.
Fifthly, Believers are Christ's Sheep, by a Holy Covenant or Contract made with the Father; and by virtue of this Covenant they were 1given to him. By virtue of this Covenant he died for them; by virtue of this Covenant they became his, and he calls them, renews them, and changes them; He shall see his Seed. It was by the Blood of this Covenant the Great Shepherd of the Sheep was raised from the Dead; that they might be raised, quickened, and 2justified. By virtue of this Covenant he gathers them, and carries them in his Arms, and lays the young and tender Ones in his Bosom; and gently leads such that are with Young, Isa. 40. 11. By virtue of this Covenant he puts his Fear into their Hearts, that they may not depart from him.3
Fifthly, Believers are Christ's Sheep, by a Holy Covenant or Contract made with the Father; and by virtue of this Covenant they were 1given to him. By virtue of this Covenant he died for them; by virtue of this Covenant they became his, and he calls them, renews them, and changes them; He shall see his Seed. It was by the Blood of this Covenant the Great Shepherd of the Sheep was raised from the Dead; that they might be raised, quickned, and 2justified. By virtue of this Covenant he gathers them, and carries them in his Arms, and lays the young and tender Ones in his Bosom; and gently leads such that are with Young, Isa. 40. 11. By virtue of this Covenant he puts his Fear into their Hearts, that they may not depart from him.3
Christ as Mediator in this Covenant, is God's Servant, and undertakes the Office of Shepherd, to take care of, feed, heal, and preserve all those who were given to him by the Father.
Sixthly, Believers are Christ's Sheep by Conquest. They were fallen into the Enemy's Hand; in the Hands and under the Power of 1most cruel Tyrants, who designed to tear them in pieces and devour them: They were in Satan's Hand, and under the Power of Sin; and were mere Bond-slaves, and in fearful slavery to these Enemies, having their Eyes put out, their Fleece torn off, or stripped of their Robes, being dangerously wounded. And although Jesus Christ, to redeem them from Wrath and Misery, laid down a great Price (as you heard before) to satisfy God's Justice; yet, alas, Satan takes no notice of that, they were in his Hand; who like a strong Man armed, keeps the Soul, and had Power over them: therefore Jesus Christ puts forth his Almighty Hand to vanquish and subdue this cruel Foe, and thereby redeems and rescues all his Sheep out of Slavery and Bondage; by which means they come to be his by a blessed Conquest of their Enemies, and by overcoming them; for he subdues their Hearts bends and subjects their rebellious Wills by the Power of Divine Grace, before he can have one of them: All the Sheep of Christ yield themselves up to ⟨p. 80⟩him, as being conquered by him; overcome by his Love, and the Power of his Spirit. This brings me to the next thing.
Sixthly, Believers are Christ's Sheep by Conquest. They were fallen into the Enemy's Hand; in the Hands and under the Power of 1most cruel Tyrants, who designed to tear them in pieces and devour them: They were in Satan's Hand, and under the Power of Sin; and were meer Bond-slaves, and in fearful slavery to these Enemies, having their Eyes put out, their Fleece torn off, or strip'd of their Robes, being dangerously wounded. And although Jesus Christ, to redeem them from Wrath and Misery, laid down a great Price (as you heard before) to satisfy God's Justice; yet, alas, Satan takes no notice of that, they were in his Hand; who like a strong Man armed, keeps the Soul, and had Power over them: therefore Jesus Christ puts forth his Almighty Hand to vanquish and subdue this cruel Foe, and thereby redeems and rescues all his Sheep out of Slavery and Bondage; by which means they come to be his by a blessed Conquest of their Enemies, and by overcoming them; for he subdues their Hearts bends and subjects their rebellious Wills by the Power of Divine Grace, before he can have one of them: All the Sheep of Christ yield themselves up to
Seventhly, and lastly, Believers are Christ's Sheep by virtue of a 1holy Resignation of themselves to him. They have chosen him to be their Shepherd: other Sheep can't make choice of their Shepherd, but Christ's Sheep can do this, their Eyes being enlightened to see the Excellency of Christ, the Greatness of his Love, and what he hath suffered and undergone for them; they commit their Souls to his care and keeping, that he may watch over them, feed and lead them: They gave themselves first unto the Lord, and unto us by the 2Will of God.
Seventhly, and lastly, Believers are Christ's Sheep by virtue of a 1holy Resignation of themselves to him. They have chosen him to be their Shepherd: other Sheep can't make choice of their Shepherd, but Christ's Sheep can do this, their Eyes being enlightned to see the Excellency of Christ, the Greatness of his Love, and what he hath suffered and undergone for them; they commit their Souls to his care and keeping, that he may watch over them, feed and lead them: They gave themselves first unto the Lord, and unto us by the 2Will of God.
First, They gave themselves unto the Lord, (by the Power of his Spirit) to be his, and no more their own, but to be his People, his Spouse, his Sheep; and then gave themselves to his Church, to be of his Flock. Christ hath no Member, no Sheep of his visible Church or Fold on Farth, but such who know him; I am known of mine. They are not ignorant Persons, or such who are unable to give themselves up to him. Others are not required to give them: No, no; they must be able to give or resign themselves to him, (as being overcome by his Love) and thus they become his Sheep also.
Secondly, I shall show you what is meant by Christ's Voice.
Secondly, I shall shew you what is meant by Christ's Voice.
There is a Four-fold Voice of Jesus Christ which his Sheep hear. 1. The Voice of his Word. 2. The Voice of his Spirit. 3. The Voice of his Holy Doctrine. 4. The Voice of his Rod.
First. Christ's Sheep hear the Voice of his Word. The Holy Scripture is Christ's Word, and therefore the Voice of Christ, and this Voice his Sheep hear: They give full credit to the Truth of the Sacred Scriptures, they believe they are of Divine Authority: All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, 1for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness. They are none of Christ's Sheep that do not, will not hear this Voice of Christ; that is, do not believe the Truth of the Sacred Scriptures, do not hear nor regard what they speak, but magnify unwritten Traditions above the Word of God, or the Light of Natural Conscience. The Sheep of Christ hear Christ's Voice in the Ministry of his Word, they attend upon the preaching of the Gospel, and ⟨p. 81⟩look upon the Word delivered in Christ's Name, by his faithful Ministers, to be the Voice of Christ unto them: But how, or after what manner Christ's Sheep do hear his Voice, viz. the Voice of his Word, I shall open under the third Head.
Secondly, There is the Voice of Christ's Spirit; and this Voice of his his Sheep hear also, and indeed none but they. Sirs, this is that Voice of Christ which doth the Work, and that which discovers who are his Sheep. The Voice of Christ's Word, without the Spirit, is not sufficient; the Word will not make Sinners hear, though it be spoken a thousand times over, except the Spirit's Voice do accompany it: I shall therefore open to you the Nature of this Voice of Christ, I mean, the Voice of his Spirit.
1. 'Tis an awakening Voice: Sinners are asleep, yea, in a dead Sleep, and sleep they will till they hear this Voice. The powerful Voice of Christ awakened dead Lazarus after he had lain in the Grave four days: And it must be the like Voice that doth awaken the sleepy and dead Sinner; Wherefore he saith, Awake thou 1that sleepest, and arise from the Dead, and Christ shall give thee Life. 'Tis sad to see what a multitude of poor People sit, day by day, under the hearing of the Word, and yet remain in their Sins: they are asleep, the Word doth not awaken them; but when the Spirit's Voice is heard, when that works with the Word, they are quickly roused up out of that dead Sleep in which they lay.
