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What Think Ye of Christ
George Whitefield
After pressing on his hearers the questions—
(l) What think ye of Christ as God. —
(2) What think ye of Christ as Man?—and
(3) What think ye of being justified by Christ?—
Whitefleld goes on to say:—
"Fourthly and lastly, what think you of Jesus Christ being formed within you? For whom Christ justifies them He also sanctifies. Although He finds, yet He does not leave us unholy. A true Christian may not so properly be said to live, as Jesus Christ to live in him. They only that are led by the Spirit of Christ are the true sons of God.
" This is a great mystery; but I speak of Christ and the new birth. Marvel not at my asking you what you think about Christ being formed within you. Either God must change His nature, or we ours. For as in Adam we have all spiritually died, so all that are effectually saved by Christ must in Christ be spiritually made alive. His only end in dying, and rising again, and interceding for us now in heaven, is to redeem us from the misery of our fallen nature, and by the operation of His blessed Spirit, to make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. None but those that thus are changed by His grace here shall appear with Him in glory hereafter.
"Examine yourselves, therefore, my brethren whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves,—and think it not sufficient to say in your creed—'I believe in Jesus Christ.' Many say so, who do not believe, who are reprobates, and yet in a state of death. You take God's name in vain when you call Him Father, and your prayers are turned into sin, unless you believe in Christ, so as to have your life hid with Him in God, and to receive life and nourishment from Him as branches from the vine.
"I know indeed the men of this generation deny there is any such thing as feeling Christ within them. But alas! to what a dreadful condition would such reduce us—even to the state of the abandoned heathen, who, St. Paul tells us, were past feeling. The Apostle prays that the Ephesians may abound in all knowledge and spiritual understanding,—or, as it might be rendered, spiritual sensation. And in the Office for the Visitation of the Sick, the minister prays that the Lord may make the sick person know and feel that there is no other name given under heaven unto men, in whom and through whom they may receive health and salvation, but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a spiritual as well as a corporeal feeling; and though it is not communicated to us in a sensible manner, as outward objects affect our senses, yet it is as real as any sensible or visible sensation, and may be as truly felt and discerned by the soul as any impression from without can be felt by the body. All who are born again of God know that I lie not.
"What think you, Sirs, did Naaman feel when he was cured of his leprosy? Did the woman feel virtue coming out of Jesus Christ, when she touched the hem of His garment, and was cured of her bloody issue? So surely mayest thou feel, O believer, when Jesus Christ dwelleth in thy heart. I pray God to make you all know and feel this, ere you depart hence.
"O my brethren, my heart is enlarged towards you. I trust I feel something of that hidden but powerful presence of Christ, whilst I am preaching to you. Indeed it is sweet,—it is exceedingly comfortable. All the harm I wish you who without cause are my enemies, is that you felt the like. Believe me, though it would be hell to my soul to return to a natural state again, yet I would willingly change states with you for a little while, that you might know what it is to have Christ dwelling in your hearts by faith. Do not turn your backs. Do not let the devil hurry you away.
Be not afraid of convictions. Do not think worse of the doctrine because preached without the church walls. Our Lord, in the days of His flesh, preached on a mount, in a ship, and a field; and I am persuaded many have felt His gracious presence here. Indeed we speak what we know. Do not therefore reject the kingdom of God against yourselves. Be so wise as to receive our witness.
"I cannot, I will not let you go. Stay a little, and let us reason together. However lightly you may esteem your souls, I know our Lord has set an unspeakable value on them. He thought them worthy of His most precious blood. I beseech you, therefore, O sinners, be ye reconciled to God. I hope you do not fear being accepted in the Beloved. Behold, He calleth you. Behold, He prevents and follows you with His mercy,—and hath sent forth His servants into the highways and hedges, to compel you to come in.
"Remember, then, that at such an hour of such a day, in such a year, in this place, you were all told what you ought to think concerning Jesus Christ. If you now perish, it will not be from lack of knowledge. I am free from the blood of you all. You cannot say I have been preaching damnation to you. You cannot say I have, like legal preachers, been requiring you to make bricks without straw. I have not bidden you to make yourselves saints and then come to God. I have offered you salvation on as cheap terms as you can desire. I have offered you Christ's whole wisdom, Christ's whole righteousness, Christ's whole sanctification and eternal redemption, if you will but believe on Him. If you say you cannot believe, you say right; for faith, as well as every other blessing, is the gift of God. But then wait upon God, and who knows but He may have mercy on thee?
"Why do we not entertain more loving thoughts of Christ? Do you think He will have mercy on others and not on you? Are you not sinners? Did not Jesus Christ come into the world to save sinners?
" If you say you are the chief of sinners, I answer, that will be no hindrance to your salvation. Indeed it will not, if you lay hold on Christ by faith. Read the Evangelists, and see how kindly He behaved to His disciples, who had fled from and denied Him. 'Go, tell my brethren,' says He. He did not say,—'Go, tell those traitors,' but 'Go, tell my brethren and Peter.' It is as though He had said,—'Go, tell my brethren in general, and Peter in particular, that I am risen. O comfort his poor drooping heart. Tell him I am reconciled to him. Bid him weep no more so bitterly. For though with oaths and curses he thrice denied Me, yet I have died for his sins; I have risen again for his justification: I freely forgive him all.' Thus slow to anger and of great kindness was our all-merciful High Priest! And do you think He has changed His nature, and forgets poor sinners, now He is exalted to the right hand of God? No! He is the same yesterday, today, and for ever; and sitteth there only to make intercession for us.
"Come, then, ye harlots,—come, ye publicans, —come, ye most abandoned sinners,—come, and believe on Jesus Christ. Though the whole world despise you and cast you out, yet He will not disdain to take you up. O amazing, O infinitely condescending love! even you He will not be ashamed to call His brethren. How will you escape, if you neglect such a glorious offer of salvation?
What would the damned spirits, now in the prison of hell, give, if Christ was so freely offered to them? And why are we not lifting up our eyes in torments? Does any one out of this great multitude dare say he does not deserve damnation? Why are we left, and others taken away by death? What is this but an instance of God's free grace, and a sign of His goodwill toward us? Let God's goodness lead us to repentance! O let there be joy in heaven over some of you repenting!"
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