A47542:427
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.
9. He knows the Patience of each of his People, under all their Sufferings, Losses and Disappointments they meet with in this World: I know thy Works, and thy Labour, and thy Patience, &c. 1He knows how they carry it under the Rod of Afflictions, which will work for the good of all that are patiently exercised thereby. In a word, Christ knows every Grace of the Spirit in the Souls of his People, and whether they are in Exercise or not.
10. He knows the Works and Actions of his Saints, and of every one of them particularly: I know thy Works. And again he says, I know thy Works. (1.) He knows what our Lives are, whether we walk circumspectly, or not; whether we make Conscience in all we do, and walk uprightly, or not. He knew Abraham, that he would fear and serve him, and command his Children and Household to keep his Commandments also. He knew that Noah was only Righteous in that Generation. He knows our up-rising and our down-lying, whether we begin the Day with him, and end the Day with him or not. (2.) He doth not only know all our Works and Actions, whether Natural, Moral or Spiritual; but also the Manner of our Actions, how we perform all our Duties towards God and towards Men. (3.) He knoweth with what Hearts we act; whether with Zeal, Life and Power, or not; whether we stir up our selves in Duty to take hold of him, or perform Duties of Obedience but with a cold and lukewarm Heart. He knows with what Hearts we hear, read, pray, meditate, give to the Poor; in all these Respects he knows his Sheep. (4.) He knows the Principle from whence we act, the Means we use, the Works we do, and the End we propound to our selves in all our Actions; whether we aim at his Glory, or seek our selves, self-Profit, self-Honour, self-Applause; all is known to him. ⟨p. 102⟩(5.) He knows what we have been, and what we now are; what we have done, and what we do, and will do hereafter: nothing is hid from him.
10. He knows the Works and Actions of his Saints, and of every one of them particularly: I know thy Works. And again he says, I know thy Works. (1.) He knows what our Lives are, whether we walk circumspectly, or not; whether we make Conscience in all we do, and walk uprightly, or not. He knew Abraham, that he would fear and serve him, and command his Children and Houshold to keep his Commandments also. He knew that Noah was only Righteous in that Generation. He knows our up-rising and our down-lying, whether we begin the Day with him, and end the Day with him or not. (2.) He doth not only know all our Works and Actions, whether Natural, Moral or Spiritual; but also the Manner of our Actions, how we perform all our Duties towards God and towards Men. (3.) He knoweth with what Hearts we act; whether with Zeal, Life and Power, or not; whether we stir up our selves in Duty to take hold of him, or perform Duties of Obedience but with a cold and lukewarm Heart. He knows with what Hearts we hear, read, pray, meditate, give to the Poor; in all these Respects he knows his Sheep. (4.) He knows the Principle from whence we act, the Means we use, the Works we do, and the End we propound to our selves in all our Actions; whether we aim at his Glory, or seek our selves, self-Profit, self-Honour, self-Applause; all is known to him. ⟨p. 102⟩(5.) He knows what we have been, and what we now are; what we have done, and what we do, and will do hereafter: nothing is hid from him.
11. He knows our Carriage and Behaviour in our Families, in our own Houses, and what our Behaviour is in the House and Church of God; whether we know our Places and our Duty, in the Station where we are set. He knows and will judg between Cattle 1and Cattle, betwixt the fat and the lean Sheep; if any oppress his Brother, or if the Strong and Rich neglect or wrong the poor and weak Ones of his Flock, he knows it. He knows whether we make his Word our Rule in all Cases, and do not offend nor grieve each other: And if any be offended with their Brother, he knows whether they proceed against him according to the Directions he hath left us to walk by.2
11. He knows our Carriage and Behaviour in our Families, in our own Houses, and what our Behaviour is in the House and Church of God; whether we know our Places and our Duty, in the Station where we are set. He knows and will judg between Cattel 1and Cattel, betwixt the fat and the lean Sheep; if any oppress his Brother, or if the Strong and Rich neglect or wrong the poor and weak Ones of his Flock, he knows it. He knows whether we make his Word our Rule in all Cases, and do not offend nor grieve each other: And if any be offended with their Brother, he knows whether they proceed against him according to the Directions he hath left us to walk by.2
12. Christ knows all our Sorrows, Troubles, and Afflictions. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the Affliction of my People 1which are in Egypt, and have heard their Cry, by reason of their Taskmaster, for I KNOW their Sorrow.
In a word, whether we are living or dying Christians, hot or cold, growing or decaying, he knows it.
APPLICATION.
Infer. 1. We may from hence infer, That Jesus Christ is God. This clearly demonstrates the Deity of the Lord Jesus, whose Eyes are said to be as a Flame of Fire, even of a piercing and penetrating 1Nature, to comfort and refresh the Sincere, and to burn up and consume all others that are not upright with God.
Exhort. 1. Be exhorted you that are Church-members, to look to it; Christ knows and takes notice of you all: He knows you (as you have heard) by Name, and where you dwell; your Hearts, Thoughts and Inclinations he knows, whether you are praying Men and Women or not; and also how you perform it, and when you neglect it.
2. Your Excuses, Pretences, about omission of Duties in your Families, Closets or Churches, are before his Eyes, and known to him.
3. Your Ways in trading, buying, selling, building, planting, eating, drinking and sleeping, all is known to Christ; what you do for his poor Saints and People, what you do to encourage and further his Interest in the World; when you give, and what you give, and how, or with what End and Aim, all is known to him.
4. He knows and takes notice of your Garbs and Dresses which you wear; whether such as he in his Word directeth you to put on, or not; whether modest or immodest, like the wanton Ones of the World, and according to the former Lusts in your Ignorance, and not as becoming Men or Women professing Godliness.
5. He knows your Behaviour in all Relations you stand in one to another, as Husbands to Wives, or Wives to Husbands; Parents to Children, or Children to Parents; Masters to Servants, or Servants to Masters: Whether Husbands love their Wives, and Wives love and obey their Husbands: Whether Parents bring up their Children in the Fear and Nurture of the Lord, and train them up in the Way in which they should go, praying for them, not provoking them to Wrath, by being harsh and bitter towards them, but setting a good Example before them in all things: As also how Children carry it to their Parents in honouring them, and obeying them in all things in the Lord; all is took notice of by Jesus Christ.
6. He knows how Ministers carry it to his People in the discharge of their Work and Office; whether they preach the Word 1in Season, and out of Season, giving themselves to Reading, to Exhortation, to Doctrine; and study to show themselves approved 2unto God, as Workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
6. He knows how Ministers carry it to his People in the discharge of their Work and Office; whether they preach the Word 1in Season, and out of Season, giving themselves to Reading, to Exhortation, to Doctrine; and study to shew themselves approved 2unto God, as Workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
He knows whether they took the Care of the Flock, of a ready Mind, or for filthy Lucre sake; and whether they preach Christ or themselves, seeking to exalt Jesus Christ alone, or but in part, and rendering him to be but an imperfect Saviour; whether they ascribe all to him, or not some things of Salvation to the Creature, and so open a Door for Men to sacrifice to their own Nets and Drags.
7. Sirs, remember that Christ is not a careless Spectator, he knows you that are Members, and takes notice how you behave your selves to his Ministers; whether you show due Respect to them, and honour them as Ambassadors of Christ, or as such who ⟨p. 104⟩personate their great Lord and Master; for if you dishonour, slight and despise them, Christ takes it as a Dishonour, a slighting and despising of him: He knows whether you obey them that are over you in the Lord, or not; but rather contemn, resist, or spurn at their Authority, and seek Occasion to quarrel with them, wounding, afflicting, and grieving their Spirits, and weakening their Hands and their Hearts: He knows whether you discharge your Duties to them, in administering and communicating all good things to them; providing a cheerful and comfortable Maintenance for them, and not leaving them to encounter with the perplexing Cares, Wants and Necessities of this Life.
7. Sirs, remember that Christ is not a careless Spectator, he knows you that are Members, and takes notice how you behave your selves to his Ministers; whether you shew due Respect to them, and honour them as Ambassadors of Christ, or as such who ⟨p. 104⟩personate their great Lord and Master; for if you dishonour, slight and despise them, Christ takes it as a Dishonour, a slighting and despising of him: He knows whether you obey them that are over you in the Lord, or not; but rather contemn, resist, or spurn at their Authority, and seek Occasion to quarrel with them, wounding, afflicting, and grieving their Spirits, and weakning their Hands and their Hearts: He knows whether you discharge your Duties to them, in administring and communicating all good things to them; providing a chearful and comfortable Maintenance for them, and not leaving them to encounter with the perplexing Cares, Wants and Necessities of this Life.
