PART I, SKETCH LXXIX: THE LITTLE DOGS

“But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (Matthew 15.26, 27.)

Introduction. The brightest jewels are often found in the darkest places. The Lord found great faith in a Canaanitish woman! Our Lord had a very quick eye for spying faith. Charmed with this fair jewel, he resolved to turn it round so that its various points might flash out with brilliance. And so he tried her faith by silence and discouraging replies in order to bring it forth as gold, then set his royal mark upon it with, “O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt.”

(1) The Mouth of Faith can never be Closed. If ever faith could have been made to shut up, it would have happened in this case. This woman was not staggered even though Jesus acted deaf and dumb to her urgent prayers. If the Lord’s apparent refusal to bless you cannot close your mouth, your faith is of a noble sort, and salvation is yours. And the disciples would have her sent away, but still she persevered. Nor even could doctrine discourage her, for the Lord said, “I am not sent save to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Some are tempted to cease from prayer for fear they may not have been predestinated unto eternal life. But reason this way, “Others are included in the election of grace who were as sinful as I have been, so why not me?” Admitting that she was as unworthy as a dog shows that the woman did not seek to win the Lord’s approval by her merit or cause, but depended on the goodness of Christ’s heart. A thousand lions are in the way when the soul attempts to come to Jesus. Just press on through!

(2) Faith never Disputes with the Lord. Faith worships, begs, and prays, but does not dispute. Faith just believes what the Lord says, no matter what. At being compared to a dog, the woman humbly says, “Truth, Lord.” She never wished Israel to be robbed for her. She does not raise a question about the Lord’s right to give out grace at his sovereign pleasure. Faith that saves the soul agrees with the mind of God. Not only did she agree to all that the Lord said, she worshiped him in it, content to act as the dog she was compared to, and goes after fallen crumbs. 

(3) Faith Argues Mightily. She does not dispute with the Lord by saying, “I am no dog.” She just argues by agreeing with him, “Yet the dogs eat the crumbs.” And by that she overcomes the Lord, just as Jacob overcame the angel. She knew her position was hopeful, for there were healings going on. She encouraged herself by calling Jesus Master, even though she was not of Israel. She associated herself with the Lord’s children by putting herself “under the table” with them. As little doggies are sometimes fed a morsel by one of the master’s children, the woman argues that the disciples are willing enough that she would have mercy. Crumbs falling by accident reveals that his was no poor man’s table. It overflowed with love and mercy. Just a little crumb is what she asked for, showing that she valued a little mercy beyond all price. 

(4) Faith Wins her Suit. Faith won her the Lord’s praise; by the faith in her saying she won the healing she sought for her daughter; and the blessing was instant, “The devil is gone out of thy daughter.” This foreign woman knew almost nothing about Jesus, but her faith shames us all! 

Selection from Conclusion. “Have you been praying, and have you not succeeded?…Yet trust in him whose blood has not lost its efficacy, whose promise has not lost its truth, and whose arm has not lost its power to save. Cling to the cross, sinner…There is thy hope. Thou canst not perish there.” 

PART I, SKETCH LXXVIII: EPHRAIM BEMOANING HIMSELF

“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised…turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God” (Jeremiah 31.18.)

Introduction. Jehovah is not like that made up god, Jove, who sits way off, disinterested in lowly creatures. “Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly.” The Lord still hears his Ephraims bemoaning themselves, and sends them the mercy they cry up for. Mourner, your sigh is known to God as soon as you have heaved it. God knows how to interpret your grief and tears. 

(1) A Sinner Bemoaning Himself. The word ‘bemoan’ reminds us of the mourning of doves. Here is one affected in his heart by grace, awakened in his conscience, quickened in his soul. He is in pain, anguish, fear, restlessness, etc. He is bowed down with a peculiar grief. He is not mourning over a death, bodily pain, or poverty. He is bemoaning himself because he has been convicted of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. It is a bitter sorrow, yet sweet too, because of the blessed results. This godly sorrow is well-founded. “I am lost! lost! lost! O that God would have mercy for me!” is his cry. It is a humble sorrow. He is not flattering nor excusing himself, but bemoaning himself, owning up to his sins. It is a thoughtful sorrow. Ephraim recalls all the times he was chastised to no good effect. The bemoaning is hopeless and yet hopeful. He hopes in a change from God, for he is hopeless to change himself. So he prays, “Turn me, and I shall be turned.” Some of you are dashing down the hill of sin. But the Almighty can tame the wildest horse. 

(2) The LORD Observing Him. God heard and understood all that Ephraim said, and was moved by it, for he answers, “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself.” Whether in your bedroom or on a crowded street, God hears your cry more surely than a mother hears her sick little Jane.

(3) The LORD Working in his Effectual Grace. The only turning in the world that is saving and divine is the turning of the heart. A change of notions is not conversion. And a change of church does not change a person any more than a different cage changes a bird. That is a great thing if a thief becomes honest, or a drunk sober. But “ye must be born again.” The renewing of the inward nature by a work of grace in the soul, that is what is needed. How is this done? First, a man must be stopped. A distinct sight of wrath to come stops a man. This is exactly how it happened when God turned me. Next, the awakened conscience is led to see the real nature of sin. Men, before God quickens them, nurse the viper of sin in their bosom, and say, “How nice it is to look at.” But when it bites them, and the hot poison runs in their veins, and the conscience is woken up, then they hate it and try to cast it away. The grand turning-point, though, is at a sight of Christ on the cross. If you ever, by the eye of faith, see Jesus Christ dying for you, sin will never be sweet to you again. We play with sin till we are told it was sin that killed the Lord Jesus, who died out of love to us. Ah! Down with our sins that did such a bloody deed! Further, the sinner is turned by God manifesting his everlasting love to him. If you did know that your worthless name is written on the hands of Christ, would that not affect you? Finally, if you could know and feel the glory of the inheritance to come, this would turn you for sure. 

Selection from Conclusion. “Are you bemoaning yourself? Do you desire to be turned?…Then do not put it off, but this moment pray the silent prayer, ‘Turn me, O Lord, and I shall be turned.’…Oh, that some great sinners might be saved, for they always make the best saints!…Ye great sinners, may great mercy meet with you!…Trust Jesus, and you shall be saved.”

PART I, SKETCH LXXVII: THE COVENANT

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people” (Hebrews 8.10.)

Introduction. The doctrine of the covenant lies at the root of all true theology. Man first stood before God under the covenant of works. A certain law was given to Adam. If he kept it, he and his posterity would be blessed. If he broke it, then he and we would be cursed. Because Adam failed, we too are ruined, for we are of him, and he represented all men. We have all failed in his failure. To be saved by the law is now impossible. But Divine mercy has stepped in and provided a plan of salvation from this fall by Christ Jesus, who is called “the second Adam.” He has accomplished this covenant of works, and gained what the first Adam lost. All blessings acquired by Christ through his work belong to those whom God has chosen to believe in him. This is the covenant of grace. 

(1) What are the Privileges of the Covenant of Grace? By nature we are dark towards God’s will. The first privilege under the covenant of grace is the illuminating of our mind by the Holy Spirit to know the will of God. The next blessing is that God writes his laws in our hearts, not just on them, but in them. This is gracious work! We then delight to do his will, and hate to oppose it. The preacher of the law tells you to do this and to not do that. But the preacher of the gospel tells you that Jesus Christ has done such a work for sinners that God, through Christ, makes them see right, love holiness, and follow after righteousness. A third blessing is that God is ours. This is unfathomable. What! Is God our father? A friend? A rock? A refuge? A fortress? A high tower? A home? A heaven? Yes, but “I will be their God” means all this and more! Comfort, provision, wisdom! Infinity itself is ours, and all that God is or can be! A fourth blessing is that we are God’s people. By God’s right, all men are his in a certain sense. But we are his peculiar people, his peculiar treasure for whom he keeps the world revolving. The world is just a scaffold for the church. Creation will be pulled down once the saints are done with it. 

(2) For Whom has God Made this Covenant? God made it with Christ as the representative of his people. But the question is, “Did Christ Jesus stand in for you?” Well, have you the enlightened mind? Have you a love for good and a hatred for evil? If so, the covenant is yours with all of Canaan’s milk and honey. If not, then I invite you to believe in Jesus. He who does that has eternal life, the blessing of the covenant, and therefore must be in the covenant. To believe in is to ‘trust.’ Whoever will cast away his self-righteousness and all that he depends on, and come and trust in the finished work of the exalted Saviour, is one of the elect. And Christ did not die on the tree to render men salvable, but to actually save them. And saving faith always comes with the new nature and God’s law in the heart. You must have an internal change in order to be saved. Baptism alone is an external washing, like washing the outside of an ink bottle. 

Selection from Conclusion. You may go to-night and renounce all your outward vices—I hope you will; you may go and practice all church ceremonies, and if they are Scriptural I wish you may; but they will do nothing for you, nothing whatever as to your entering heaven, if you miss one thing else, that is, getting the covenant blessing of the renewed nature, which can only be got as the gift of God through Jesus Christ, and as the result of a simple faith in him who died upon the tree…the new heart comes from the bleeding heart of Jesus, and the changed nature comes from the suffering nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. Look you alone to Jesus, for there all your help is laid.”  

PART I, SKETCH LXXVI: VERY SINGULAR

“He put his household in order and hanged himself” (2 Samuel 17.23.)

Introduction. Ahithophel was for years the friend and adviser of David. Then when David’s son, Absalom, tried to steal David’s throne, Ahithophel crossed over to the popular side, with Absalom. And when Absalom refused his advice, he put his affairs in order and hanged himself. That is very singular, to neatly put your house in order just before you foolishly commit suicide. Don’t laugh, this mixture of thoughtfulness and craziness is almost universal among us.

(1) The Hard Laborer. You may have plowed faithfully for your employer, but have you asked to have your heart plowed with the gospel? You delight in the rose that will wither, but take no thought for your undying nature? I understand and respect that you want to do well at your job, but work is a minor matter compared to eternal concerns. Do you know that your soul will outlast the sun? Will you be a faithful servant of men, and then die as unfaithful to God?

(2) The Careful Businessman. You are careful in business. That’s good. But be careful you are not like that woman who gathered gold coins from off the boat floor, wrapped them around her waist and then leaped off the sinking ship! Like a stone she went down—to her destruction!

(3) The Thoughtful Student. There you are with all your books to help you get the degree. You burn the midnight oil so you can be numbered among the intelligent. When will you look into the Bible? Will you be called into the academy of the smarts, and then miss the roll call of heaven?

(4) The Law-Changing Politician. It seems to me to be the greatest of all contradictions that a man would think himself able to govern the affairs of a country, province, or region, and yet lose his own soul; that he would angrily and forcefully condemn wars and all sorts of evils, and yet be at war with God and a slave to sin. He that preaches freedom should himself be free. 

(5) The Fiery Preacher. I pray God to show me if I am included in any way here. There are masters who preach and teach what they themselves have never experienced and felt. How inconsistent to tell of the fountain and not be washed in it!—to warn of hell and then go there! Let this caution also fall to Sunday-school teachers, Bible women, city missionaries, etc.

(6) The Loving Parent. You are so anxious to pamper your children with every good thing. Do you take as good care of your soul? Is it washed in Jesus’ blood and clothed with his righteousness? Look at your little ones in their cots tonight and say, “They are little sermons to me.”

(7) The Fake Christian. This is my last crayon sketch. It is the oddest and strangest one of all. Why promote a church unless you are spiritually in it? Why defend the faith when you are not justified by faith? Why keep the Sabbath and yet not enter into rest? An unsaved person who contributes to a church is like the men who helped Noah build his ark but refused to get into it.

Selection from Conclusion. “If thou puttest away from thee the Christ, who says, ‘Look unto me and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth,’ you may be very wise, and you may arrange your business cleverly, but for all that, you are no wiser than the great fool of my text, who set his house in order and hanged himself. God teach hearers and readers to be wise ere yet this year is gone. Amen.”

PART I, SKETCH LXXV: ELECTION NO DISCOURAGEMENT TO SEEKING SOULS

“I will be gracious upon whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy upon whom I will show mercy” (Exodus 33.19.)

Introduction. Because God is the maker and creator and upholder of all things, he has a right to do as he wills with all his works. But God, being who he is, must act in accordance with the principles of kindness. And justice seems to demand that there shall be no punishment where there is no sin. But man has given his rights up as a creature. If he ever had any, he has sinned them away. All God owes us is wrath. Whether we agree about it or not, God should be sovereign, and God is sovereign. We Englishmen are as guilty of political crimes as other nations, like in our opium traffic with China. Yet we have lately had revival. Why not the Japanese? Divine sovereignty is why. In every conversion some beam of the absolute dominion of God shines forth upon mankind. 

(1) This Doctrine does not Oppose Other Scriptural Comforts. “As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, but had rather that he should turn unto me and live.” There is no conflict at all between God’s sovereignty and God’s goodness. There is nothing in the sovereignty of God that prevents any seeker craving divine grace by humble prayer through Jesus Christ, to be a finder. But it is God who makes a man seek. And there is your evidence of divine election. It is written, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” This agrees with election. If someone says he will not come because he may not be elect, this is nothing but an idle excuse for not doing what he has no mind to do. If you cannot reconcile doctrines together, there is your swimming-room for faith. But for sure, whatever else may be false, the gospel is true, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” The doctrine of election says that God has chosen and has saved some of the greatest sinners who ever lived. 

(2) This Doctrine has a Most Beneficial Effect upon Sinners. To the awakened sinner, next to the doctrine of the cross, the doctrine of distinguishing grace is perhaps the one that blesses and comforts most of all. The doctrine of election, applied by the Holy Ghost, strikes dead forever all efforts of the flesh. Arminian preaching aims to make men active, to excite men to do what they can. Gospel preaching lays men as dead at the foot of God’s throne. “I kill and I make alive,” says God. When a man is killed the work is half done. To set a sinner laboring after eternal life by his own works is to be an ambassador of hell. The hammer of electing sovereignty dashes out the brains of all a man’s works, merits, doings, and willings. And nothing better than this can be done as a stepping-stone to the act of faith. If the world’s authorities were to decide to release from prison either a rich man or a poor man, the poor man would have little chance of being delivered. But when God is the great sovereign the case is different! He saves those who have no influence at all! This doctrine opens the door to the worst of the worst. Those who think to be saved by their own influence will be damned. The doctrine of election causes humility in the one who believes in it. “If God had left me, I had been in hell with others,” he says. And so he holds his opinions, but not savagely. He says, “Why should I blame those who cannot see?—for I could not have seen if God had not opened my own blind eyes.” 

Selection from Conclusion. “What do you say who have made up your minds not to repent…Why, you believe that any day you like you can turn to God…thinking it all depends upon you, and that you will get into heaven just at the eleventh hour. Ah, man! that is not your case…God can damn you now…You are condemned already…’Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.’”  

PART I, SKETCH LXXIV: BAPTISMAL REGENERATION

“And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach this gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16.15, 16.)

Introduction. In the verses above, we have the Lord’s orders for the preachers’ work, with the affirmation that some they preach to will believe and be saved, while others will not and be damned. It is necessary to our success in this work that we understand these verses. This morning I shall attempt, in the Lord’s name, to speak directly and to oppose error as the apostles did. I feel an overwhelming sense of duty to do it. I may provoke hostility—I cannot help it.

(1) Baptism without Faith Saves No One. The error I am opposing is baptismal regeneration. To my knowledge no Protestant church in England teaches it except that church which proudly calls itself the Church of England. The error is boldly declared in her Book of Common Prayer, and very plainly in her Catechism for youth: …in my baptism…I was made a member of Christ….Children, no matter how giddy, idle, or wicked, are caused to say that in baptism they were made members of Christ. I am not now dealing with the question of infant baptism, but with baptismal regeneration, whether in adults or infants, whether by sprinkling, pouring, or dipping. There are ministers of that Church who preach against her own teaching on this point. But to profess one thing in a declaration of faith to your Church, and the contrary thing in your preaching, is to live a lie! And this causes men to think truth must be unimportant. But let us drive at the matter. Jesus rebuked scribes and Pharisees for regarding outward rites more than inward grace. Now look at the facts. Is it not true that so many that have been baptized are now criminals? Is that regeneration? And what a joke when “a dear brother” who has died drunk is buried in a “sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life.” Even Rome never perpetrated a grosser error than this! In baptism by the Prayer-Book a promise is made for a babe that he will renounce the devil and his works and keep God’s holy commandments. But the persons promising for the babe can’t even accomplish this themselves! And we are asked to believe that God accepts the wicked promise, and as a result, the child is regenerated! Why do I cry out against this? Because infants may grow up believing they are born again and saved when they are not! I used to disbelieve that Rome was making progress. But this teaching is just a stepping-stone to Rome, which believes in ceremony for salvation, a teaching which drags the soul to hell! Shake it off you and into the fire as Paul did the viper from his hand. 

(2) Faith is the Absolute Necessity for Salvation. You must believe the Son came into the world and was made flesh, lived a holy life for man, and was offered up to satisfy for sin. Then you must rely on his death and righteousness for your salvation. Do not rest on any ceremony whatsoever.  

(3) The Baptism in the Text is Certainly Connected with Faith. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Baptism follows belief. But I do not insist on the order of the words to convince anyone. Any man believing on Christ knows he has no right to be baptized until he is saved. Baptism is the outward sign of sin being washed away, just as the bread represents Jesus’ body. It is the Holy Spirit who does the rebirthing. Baptism is a testimony of one’s faith; one of the first acts of obedience; not a superstition; but an encouragement to faith.

Selection from Conclusion. “O my beloved friends…cling to the salvation of faith, and abhor the salvation of priests…Believe me, it is no trifle.”

PART I, SKETCH LXXIII: PIETY REPROVED AND JUSTIFIED

“…And Michal…said, how glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids…And David said unto Michal, it was before the Lord….” (2 Samuel 6.20-22.)

Introduction. You will recall that God killed Uzzah for touching the ark that was being improperly carried. Terror seized the minds of all. Three months later we see David dancing before the Lord in a linen ephod after the ark is carried safely. Passing by his house, he is accused of immodesty by his wife. David, not easily angered usually, is provoked, and the Lord strikes Michal with the worst curse an Eastern woman could know—she goes childless to the day of her death. Here is a lesson. David’s joy was on the threshold of grief. Up hill and down hill is the way to heaven. 

(1) David’s Trouble. It came from where it should have been least expected. The chief joy of our heart is often the means of causing us the most pain. The children of this world never did understand the children of the next, and never will. There must be conflicts while there are two natures in the world and two sorts of men. Natural affections are like delicate nerves that cannot be injured without causing a severe sensation. David might recollect that in his worst times, Michal had forgotten him. But he must recall, too, that she saved his life once. The delight of his heart became the foe of his spirit. Happy are the husband and wife who help each other on the path to heaven. When it is otherwise, as with some of you, that is a sore trial. It is curious that when men are going to hell no one will stop them. Get the dog out of his way! But here comes one who wants to go to heaven. Block his path; throw stones in front of him! Good people are employed by Satan to obstruct our way. They do not know any better. 

(2) David’s Justification. David’s justification was God’s election of him. God had chosen him before Michal’s father, Saul. Being lifted up, he stooped to praise and dance with common people. The Christian might be considered enthusiastic. But he has reason to be, for he is forgiven and blessed. Michal would act the same way if she felt as we feel. Be a missionary to the heathen? This is not extravagant for one who has been accepted in the Beloved. Ministers like Whitefield and Wesley, because they knew their calling, were not afraid to dance like David and degrade their clerical character by preaching in lowly places. They chose to suffer for the sake of Christ rather than reign without him. If you do not feel that God has done great things for you, then shun the cross. Tell Michal you are sorry you displeased her. Some of you are ready to object. Sovereign grace has made you give up the pipe and the beer for the Bible and prayer. 

(3) David’s Resolution. May God grant your resolution to be like David’s. If it be vile to serve Christ, serve him even more. An old writer says that in the old days they ate out of oaken bowls, and then they had oaken men. Now we have willow men who can bend every which way. Stand up for every grain of truth. Remember your forefathers: the Baptists, Waldenses, etc. Will you be cowardly sons of heroic fathers? If you are not called to suffer as a martyr, bear the spirit of one. If division happens in your family, be sure it is for faith and not fault. Never blush to suffer for Jesus’ sake. Let your adversary be the hammer. You be the anvil the hammer is broken upon. You may be a flower grown in a conservatory. Pray for those who have to be outside in the frost. This text has a warning for scoffers, hypocrites, and empty professors. 

Selection from Conclusion. “Brethren and sisters in the Lord, ‘stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, in nothing terrified by your adversaries…Amen.’”