by Rev. Samuel Rutherford,
a Preparation Sermon, before the communion, at [Church]mabreck, 19 July 1634
published by Rev. Andrew A Bonar, Glasgow, 1876 (reproduced in https://archive.org/stream/fourtcomm00ruth);
minimally modernised, edited and footnoted by JJ Lim
Part 1 of 3: Christ’s Calling
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God
Isaiah 49:1-4
[Ed. Dr Sinclair Ferguson once remarked that Rutherford’s sermons are like machine gun firing off from Dan to Beersheba. Nevertheless, his expositions are always rich and profitable for anyone willing to spend time to listen or read them. But in order not to overwhelm anyone of us who may struggle to appreciate the whole sermons in one go, I have this sermon into three parts. Do note that the subheadings are mine as Rutherford often preaches without providing any discernible structure.
In this first instalment, Rutherford, expounding the opening words of Isaiah, focuses on Christ’s calling and its significance for believers.
—JJL
PS. If you wish, you may read the full sermon here:
THE Prophet, from the fortieth chapter of this prophecy, to the end thereof, discourses of these two things. (1) Of the bringing of the Church back from Babylon. (2) Of the restoration of the Church by Jesus Christ.
Here [in our text] is (1) A preface to the doctrine of Christ, and the glory of the Church under Him. And in these words Christ Himself is speaking to the islands, and, among others, to Scotland and England: for Britain is one of those islands. (2) The Person spoken of is described from His calling, and the power of His mediation, compared to a sharp sword. (3) In allusion to the people for whom He is to work, it is said of Him, “Thou art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” (4) The unsuccessfulness of His ministry, occasioned by the obstinacy of the Jews; “I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain.”
“Listen, O isles, unto me.”—Christ first made choice of the people of the Jews; but now He has broken down the partition wall betwixt Jew and Gentile; and cries to us, “Listen, O isles, and hear, O Scotland and England.” You who lie far out in an isle of the sea, listen unto Me, and you shall be My land and heritage. Now, O Scotland, God be thanked, thy name is in the Bible. Christ spake to us long since, ere ever we were born. Christ said, “Father, give Me the ends of the earth, put in Scotland and England, with the isles-men in the great Charter also: for I will have them among the rest (Ps 2:8). God said, He should get all the land He named; all Sinim, and all the ends of the earth: all beyond the river, Sheba and Seba. The land in acres, and ridges, was measured out to Christ, and the march-stones1 set. And as [you know]2, in Charters, houses, crofts, mosses, moors, fowling, and fishing, even all in the land’s length and breadth are included, so Christ gets all His chosen ones that are included in the grand Charter of election. Believe in the name and authority of the Son of God, I pray you believe, and read Scotland’s Charter, Psalm 2:8, 45 and 72:10. Will you then believe?
But now we are like to be turned over to a new master; Antichrist is claiming us. Let us [grieve]3 for that. [Know] you what the enemies of the [Church] are doing? They are working hard that they may get Christ overthrown, and His Father’s land taken from Him. [Do you think they will be successful]4? Nay, they shall not: the gates of hell and Rome shall not prevail against Him. Regard them not, for they shall not overcome. Christ’s Charter is surer than that. Then let the isles hearken and obey; and I fear not that Christ shall lose one footbreadth in Britain. But if you will not believe and obey Him, surely there will be a land lost, and we will be given away. It was not an ill conquest that Christ made, and could not but thrive. It was well won (as we may say) by the sweat of His brow. Christ is not like many daft5 young heirs, who lose their estates by their folly. Christ is no waster, He never sold, nor mortgaged a furr[ow] of His Father’s land. It is our sins that have sold us, and not He.
1. Christ’s Calling (v. 1a-b)
“Listen, O isles, Hearken, &c.”—The isles must be Christ’s, upon condition they hear and obey Him. Christ our Master must have service from us; else we cast away our rights. “And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all who believe and obey Him” (Heb 5:9). Of Him the Father says, “This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear Him.” Listen therefore to the matter, for upon your peril be it, if you reject the Lord Jesus.
“The Lord hath called me from the womb” (v. 1b)—What means this? Might not Christ have come uncalled? Nay, “No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (Heb 5:4, 5). “So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made unto Him an high priest, but He that said, Thou art My Son, to-day have I begotten Thee.” If you ask what was Christ’s calling? I say it was, (1) God’s eternal decree, wherein it was decreed, and agreed upon in the Covenant of Redemption, betwixt the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that Christ should be the person: and writs, as it were, past betwixt them.
(2) This calling is God’s laying all the elect over upon Christ. Therefore the Father has not a personal oversight of the elect, they are all given to Christ; they are all given to the Son’s hands. “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). There is not another Mediator than He: neither the Father nor the Spirit. There is not another to answer, or [vouch]6 personally for us. The Father (so to speak) has given all our bonds and writs over to the great advocate, Christ Jesus. The Father seeks, purposes, and pleads against mystical Christ, and cries, Payment, or death:— Death or payment, either from the Head or the members. But the Father laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isa 53:6). Was only our sin laid upon Christ? Nay, He is also made the author of eternal salvation by suffering. Never such a word is spoken of the other two glorious persons, in all the Book of God. If Christ had not given an infinite satisfaction, and [paid] the debt, none could have attained salvation. Works of supererogation will not do the turn; man’s free will cannot avail. Nothing but the blood of Jesus was able to compensate the matter.
(3) The Lord’s calling Christ is His giving Him law on His side, by a public office; to teach as a Prophet, to suffer as a Priest, and to subdue, rule, and defend, as a King. For we may know for certain, that howbeit, Christ-man had a private goodwill to us, pitying our case, and desiring we should be set at liberty; yet that would not have done our turn, except He had been a divine person, and given the required satisfaction. A man may have a goodwill to be cautioner and surety for another; but if he is a rebel against the king, the law cannot accept of him. No, he cannot be accepted unless he be a free subject, and a [responsible]7 man. So Christ having man’s bowels to pity us, God gave Him law upon His side, and public authority against all sin. Here is a singular comfort to all weak, sick, and heavy-laden souls. If you doubt of your salvation, remember that Christ by law, and God’s good-will and special calling, is made and appointed a Mediator for you. Then it is no false pretension that Christ took your plea in hand: He has a calling to it by law. Then rest and rely upon Him alone for salvation. The Lord has made a resignation of you over to Christ; and if you truly believe in Him as He is offered to you in the everlasting gospel, there is no fear that He cast you off or that you shall not be saved. Whom He loves, He loves unto the end. If you are His, He will not lose His right. Then boldly claim salvation, forgiveness, and Christ’s righteousness.
It is yours by God’s calling; take your own, and be not driven from it as silly bodies: be not [intimidated]8 from salvation, by temptations, crosses, and faithless fears. If you believe in Christ, your rights are strong. Christ says, “The Lord God called Me from My mother’s womb:” that may be your warrant, to trust in Him as an all-sufficient Saviour. Unbelief, then, must be a great liar, and slighter of Christ. It says as much as Christ is not a lawful Saviour, that He came uncalled, and that His work will not stand. See then how deep in sin you are, O unbeliever! You turn worse than a Jew, and say at the first, Christ is a deceiver, and not a true Saviour. There is much talking of faith; but I wish it were well [known]9. Alas! that it is not better known.