A47542:411
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.
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.
I know them, &c.
1st, In speaking to this, I shall show you, 1. In what respect Christ knows his Sheep. 2. What a kind of Knowledge he hath of them. 3. Show what Comfort doth and may arise unto them hereby.
1st, In speaking to this, I shall shew you, 1. In what respect Christ knows his Sheep. 2. What a kind of Knowledg he hath of them. 3. Shew what Comfort doth and may arise unto them hereby.
1. Christ knows them as they are his Father's Choice. All Christ's Sheep are chosen Sheep, such as the Father hath picked out of the common Lump of Mankind, or out of the great Flock of fallen Man; thus Jesus Christ knows them, and as they are his own Choice also, for the Father and the Son agreed both in the Choice of the Elect. If you know these things, happy are ye if you do them. I 1speak not of you all, I know whom I have chosen. Not only to Apostleship, but to Eternal Life; for Judas was chosen to be an Apostle, but he was not in the Election of Grace.
1. Christ knows them as they are his Father's Choice. All Christ's Sheep are chosen Sheep, such as the Father hath pick'd out of the common Lump of Mankind, or out of the great Flock of fallen Man; thus Jesus Christ knows them, and as they are his own Choice also, for the Father and the Son agreed both in the Choice of the Elect. If you know these things, happy are ye if you do them. I 1speak not of you all, I know whom I have chosen. Not only to Apostleship, but to Eternal Life; for Judas was chosen to be an Apostle, but he was not in the Election of Grace.
2. Christ knoweth them as they are the special Purchase of his own Blood. He knows whom he died for, and in the room and stead of; he knows what Sheep he hath bought and paid so dear for: The Foundation of God standeth sure; the Lord knoweth them that are 1his. There is a certain Number who are built upon a Rock, upon a sure Foundation; these are sealed and confirmed by God's Eternal Decree of Election, and are the Price therefore of Christ's special Purchase, and as such he knows them from all others in the World.
3. He knows them as such, who have and do experience the Effects of his Death. He sees and knows they are his Sheep, as they have his Mark, his Image formed in them: for like as other Shepherds know their Sheep by the Mark they have upon them, so (to speak after the manner of Men) Jesus Christ may in this respect be said to know his Sheep, his Saints and People; Surely they are my People, Children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. I know 1these are my People, I cannot but own them, they will keep my Covenant: I have renewed them, and they abide faithful to me, and will not deal falsely with me. In another place he says, Their 2Spot is not the Spot of my Children. These I know are none of my Sheep, their Spot, their Sin, their Iniquity are not such as are in my People; not Sins of Infirmity or common Frailties, but they have a contagious Spot upon them; they have none of my Image, my Mark, &c.
3. He knows them as such, who have and do experience the Effects of his Death. He sees and knows they are his Sheep, as they have his Mark, his Image formed in them: for like as other Shepherds know their Sheep by the Mark they have upon them, so (to speak after the manner of Men) Jesus Christ may in this respect be said to know his Sheep, his Saints and People; Surely they are my People, Children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. I know 1these are my People, I cannot but own them, they will keep my Covenant: I have renewed them, and they abide faithful to me, and will not deal falsly with me. In another place he says, Their 2Spot is not the Spot of my Children. These I know are none of my Sheep, their Spot, their Sin, their Iniquity are not such as are in my People; not Sins of Infirmity or common Frailties, but they have a contagious Spot upon them; they have none of my Image, my Mark, &c.
4. Christ knows his Sheep with a Knowledge of Approbation; I know them, that is, I approve of them, I like them well, I esteem them, and accept of their Persons and their Services.
4. Christ knows his Sheep with a Knowledg of Approbation; I know them, that is, I approve of them, I like them well, I esteem them, and accept of their Persons and their Services.
5. Christ may be said to know his Sheep also, with a Knowledge of Love and Affection. He knows them as to delight in them, they have his Heart: I am the good Shepherd, and know my Sheep, and am 1known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down my Life for the Sheep. As this mutual Knowledge between the Father and the Son, was joined with perfect Love and Delight; so is Christ's Knowledge of his Sheep: And this he himself also here expresses, by saying, I lay down my Life for the Sheep; which shows not only the Sincerity, but also the Degree of his Love unto his Saints: So that if we can believe that God the Father loved Christ, his only begotten Son, we may also believe that both Father and Son love those who are really the Sheep of Jesus Christ; the Love that Christ hath unto his People, is as true, certain, and abiding, as the Father's Love to Christ, or Christ's Love unto the Father.
5. Christ may be said to know his Sheep also, with a Knowledg of Love and Affection. He knows them as to delight in them, they have his Heart: I am the good Shepherd, and know my Sheep, and am 1known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down my Life for the Sheep. As this mutual Knowledg between the Father and the Son, was joined with perfect Love and Delight; so is Christ's Knowledg of his Sheep: And this he himself also here expresses, by saying, I lay down my Life for the Sheep; which shews not only the Sincerity, but also the Degree of his Love unto his Saints: So that if we can believe that God the Father loved Christ, his only begotten Son, we may also believe that both Father and Son love those who are really the Sheep of Jesus Christ; the Love that Christ hath unto his People, is as true, certain, and abiding, as the Father's Love to Christ, or Christ's Love unto the Father.
2dly, I shall show you what a kind of Knowledge Christ hath of his Saints.
2dly, I shall shew you what a kind of Knowledg Christ hath of his Saints.
1. Christ knoweth them by Name. As 'tis said of Moses, so it may be said of every true Believer; Yet thou hast said, I know thee 1by Name. Even in like manner in this Chapter, the Lord Jesus shows us that the true Shepherd calleth his Sheep by Name, and leadeth 2them out; this denotes the knowledge he hath of them particularly.
1. Christ knoweth them by Name. As 'tis said of Moses, so it may be said of every true Believer; Yet thou hast said, I know thee 1by Name. Even in like manner in this Chapter, the Lord Jesus shews us that the true Shepherd calleth his Sheep by Name, and leadeth 2them out; this denotes the knowledg he hath of them particularly.
2. Christ knows their Hearts, as he testifies to the seven Churches in Asia; And all the Churches shall know that I am he that searcheth 1the Reins and Hearts, &c. This shows he is the most High God; For who knoweth the Heart but God himself? This Jehovah glorieth in, as his own absolute Prerogative, it being out of the reach of any Creature; I the Lord search the Heart, I try the Reins. 2Moreover 'tis said of Jesus Christ, That he needed not that any should testify of Man, for he knew what was in Man. He needeth not any to bring him Information concerning the Principles, Ends, 3Aims, Purposes, and Tempers of Men; and therefore he knows his Sheep, his Saints, that they are sincere or upright-hearted Ones; he knows them from Hypocrites, from the Goats, from the foolish Virgins.
2. Christ knows their Hearts, as he testifies to the seven Churches in Asia; And all the Churches shall know that I am he that searcheth 1the Reins and Hearts, &c. This shews he is the most High God; For who knoweth the Heart but God himself? This Jehovah glorieth in, as his own absolute Prerogative, it being out of the reach of any Creature; I the Lord search the Heart, I try the Reins. 2Moreover 'tis said of Jesus Christ, That he needed not that any should testify of Man, for he knew what was in Man. He needeth not any to bring him Information concerning the Principles, Ends, 3Aims, Purposes, and Tempers of Men; and therefore he knows his Sheep, his Saints, that they are sincere or upright-hearted Ones; he knows them from Hypocrites, from the Goats, from the foolish Virgins.
3. Christ knows where they live, in what Land, City, Town, or Family. I know thy Works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's 1Seat is. He knows the Place where they dwell, and how they behave themselves.
4. He knows their Works. How many times doth he express this, in the second and third Chapters of the Revelations, even in the beginning of every Epistle to the seven Churches, I know thy Works, whether they proceed from a renewed Nature, from a Principle of Divine Grace or Spiritual Life, or not; whether from Faith, or not; whether right Gospel-Works of Obedience, or not; he hath a Knowledge of Comprehension or Understanding of all. But,
4. He knows their Works. How many times doth he express this, in the second and third Chapters of the Revelations, even in the beginning of every Epistle to the seven Churches, I know thy Works, whether they proceed from a renewed Nature, from a Principle of Divine Grace or Spiritual Life, or not; whether from Faith, or not; whether right Gospel-Works of Obedience, or not; he hath a Knowledg of Comprehension or Understanding of all. But,
5. He knows his Sheep, his Saints, with a Knowledge of Approbation, as I hinted before.
5. He knows his Sheep, his Saints, with a Knowledg of Approbation, as I hinted before.
6. Christ knows their Faith, the Quality and Quantity of it, that it is true Faith, unfeigned Faith, the Faith of the Operation of God, or of his own Spirit. But there are some of you that believe 1not; for Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. Though Faith be an inward secret Act of the Soul, yet Christ knows it, he knows who hath it wrought in them, and also though it be never so small, even as a Grain of Mustard-seed; whether it be weak or strong, great or little, growing or decaying, he knows it.
7. Christ knows the Love of his People, whether they love him in Sincerity; both the Truth of their Love, and the Degree of their Love: Jesus saith unto Simon Peter, Simon, Son of Jonah, lovest 1thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. And as he knows whether they love him above all or not, so he knows whether they love one another or no; whether ⟨p. 101⟩it be with a pure Heart, fervently, and in sincerity, Christ knows it: whether it be a Love in Words, or with the Tongue only, or in Deed and in Truth.
7. Christ knows the Love of his People, whether they love him in Sincerity; both the Truth of their Love, and the Degree of their Love: Jesus saith unto Simon Peter, Simon, Son of Jonas, lovest 1thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. And as he knows whether they love him above all or not, so he knows whether they love one another or no; whether ⟨p. 101⟩it be with a pure Heart, fervently, and in sincerity, Christ knows it: whether it be a Love in Words, or with the Tongue only, or in Deed and in Truth.
8. He knows the Humility of his Saints, whether they are clothed with it or not. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the Lowly; but the Proud he knoweth afar off. He is far off from them, though he knoweth such; but he is near unto humble Souls, he dwelleth with them.
