New Disciples Admonished
And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleaye unto the Lord.”
After the addition of new converts to the Church, the matter of next importance is that they should abide steadfast and go on improving. It is not enough that they should sit down at the Lord’s Table, nor even that they should be truly renewed. Christian love will further desire that they should adorn their profession, and go on to form a character of Christian strength and lustre. The New Testament abounds in proofs that this was the wish and aim of early teachers and brethren. As apostles and evangelists went from land to land, it was unavoidable that they should often leave groups of inexperienced believers, perhaps reeking with
* New York, May 16, 1858.
266 NE^ DISCIPLES ADMONISHED.
the associations of Gentilism. To prevent the perversion or vexation of such, was a principal intention of apostolic epistles and visitations. Tor example, at Antioch, one of the earliest centres of missionary diffusion, where the disciples were first called Christians, some of the brethren, scattered by the persecution in Judea, had been very successful in preaching the Lord Jesus. V. 20: “The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” These are the ancient and authorized terms; of which we need not be shy; they ’ beheved,’ they ’ turned unto the Lord;’ that is, to the Lord Jesus. Tidings of such conversions are always welcome to the Saints. News came to the Church which was in Jerusalem, who deputed Barnabas, often named afterwards, in connexion with Paul, to visit the new believers of Antioch. “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Such then is the primitive strain of advice to new converts; and it is as pregnant and pertinent now as it was then. But it contains some pecuharities of expression, upon which much depends. Who is meant by the Lord, to whom the numerous converts were exhorted to cleave? For those who have carefully studied New Testament usage, the question can have but one answer. The Lord Jesus Christ, mentioned just before, V. 20, as having been preached to them, and to whom they “turned,” v. 21, is undoubtedly he to whom they were to cleave. Such is the force of the name Lord, when used absolutely. Here there is the additional reason, that the Redeemer, as Jesus, is expressly named in the context. So, v. 24, when “much people was added unto the Lord,” we readily understand, that as converts they gave themselves to Jesus Christ, and enlisted under his banner. And there is special tenderness in this view, which regards entrance on a reHgious life as coming into immediate connexion with the beloved Son of God and Saviour of sinners.
But what is meant, when converts are exhorted to cleave unto the Lord Jesus? The word is significant; to cleave is to clinj to adhere, to stick fast; and where the blessed Redeemer is the object, it is to remain in close and permanent connexion with him, so as not only to be constant and persevering, but in perpetual fruit-bearing progress. The unfolding of this, however, is now to be our topic, in a series of brief particulars.
The grand affair of life, to be held before new converts, is that they cleave unto the Lord. This is so to be pressed upon their minds, as that they shall set about it with what the text calls “purpose of heart.” It is something that asks the will. The duty enjoined is the result of foresight and deliberate purpose; not one of those things which we fall into, or are overtaken by; not a matter of indolent acquiescence or passive resignation; but what we arrive at by bent of soul, plenary choice, and a decision which disregards all risks. The one thing which the right-minded convert lays before him as indispensable, and seeks to compass by every effort, is to cling fast to Jesus. This the term imports. And, unquestionably, the direction imphes that the persons thus exhorted are already near to Christ, nay, joined to him. How absurd were it, to ask one to abide where he is not. These people of Antioch were already “turned,” and “added” to the Lord. There they were; and there — so Barnabas desired and pleaded — they were to abide. By which we are reminded of our Lord’s so frequent use of a term, radically the same in Greek, though different in English; as when he says, “Abide in me, and I in you “- — “if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you” — “if a man abide not in me, he is cast forth,” a withered vinebranch. These are suggestive of many useful thoughts to newly awakened persons, for whose sake we must now notice several senses in which they must abide in Jesus, or cleave and chng to him. The attention of those who lately, or within a few months, have acknowledged Christ before men, is particularly invited to these expositions of the duty, which above all others now concerns them. What is included then in their cleaving unto the Lord?
I. To cleave or cling fast unto the Lord Jesus, is
TO ADHERE TO THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. The Cvil to
which this stands opposed is apostasy, or drawing back unto perdition. The guilt and ruin of this were incurred by many even during our Lord’s personal ministry. They turned back and walked no more with him. Of many the apostles had to say, “They went out from us, but they were not of us.” Salutary fear of so tremendous a folly, sin and destruction, is often a means of preventing it. To cleave to the Lord is the purpose, and should be the endeavour, of every Christian disciple, however tempted to go back. The pilgrim meets many on their return. Even if these deserters never abandon the communion, they turn back in their hearts unto Egypt. After the solemnities accompanying their confession of Christ, they give up all signs of evangelical piety, and live just as they did before; usually to go greater lengths still, from having done so horrid a violence to their moral sense. But it is the full purpose of a sincere believer, however weak, that he will never abandon his Lord. All unite in Peter’s cry, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
11. To cleave unto the Lord, is to adhere to him
AS THE REVEALER OF TRUTH. TMs stands OppOSCd to
all departures into heresy and error. To abide in Christ, is to abide in his words. The danger of the contrary is great, and is increased when the endangered person is wise in his own conceit, and thinks his own powers sufficient for his protection. Early times saw such, predicted of old as “heady, highminded,’’ “men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” 2 Tim. iii. Some, in Paul’s day, “having swerved,” had “turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” 1 Tim. i. 6. And the same apostle foretells a day, when men “will not endure sound doctrine — shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim. iv. 3. These are sufficient warnings to make us cleave unto the Lord, as the fountain of the truth which we have believed. Let the young professor beware of that which is mentioned as characteristically the sin of the novice; viz., the being puffed up with pride, the condemnation of the devil. 1 Tim. iii. 6. Let him suspect the zealous vender of a religious nostrum, which shall give him in some compendious way a peace not warranted by common Christian experience. Let him remember, that the new convert, whose appetite often surpasses his power of discernment, is singularly hable to be duped by error. Let him humbly decHne the office of teaching that which he has scarcely learnt. Let him be “swift to hear, slow to speak.” Thus, as new-bom babes desiring “the sincere milk of the Word,” that they may grow thereby, young Christians shall acquire solid strength and confirmation. In order to all this, the only security is to abide in Christ, as the Prophet of his people, clinging to him for instruction, and waiting at the posts of his doors, as the primeval Wisdom; the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the Sun of righteousness; the true Light, which hghteth every man that cometh into the world. Thus, with fatherly affection, speaks the apostle John: “And now, little children, abide in him; that when ye shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming,”
III. To cleave unto the Lord Jesus is to make him
THE OBJECT OF OUR CONSTANT FAITH. This is the opposite of a most easy and dangerous habit, namely, unbelief. Such clinging of the soul to Christ regards him as our Atoning Priest. If we ever came to him, we came thus reposing on him for righteousness and salvation; if we cleave to him, stay by him, embrace him, hang upon him, and never let him go, it will be by constantly reiterated acts of the same faith. AU strength and joy rest upon this foundation; all fruit of praise and love grows out of this root. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and bmlt up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” As preventive of the evils already mentioned, there is no such power in anything as in faith. As it apprehended Christ first, so it holds him fast. Not more fitly does the babe lie in the mother’s arms, than the young believer is recumbent amidst the pardoning mercies and loving kindnesses of the atoning Lord. Though aged in the world’s computation, he may be only a child in experience. Therefore he clings, to his strength. If accepted, it is in the Beloved; if pardoned, it is as ungodly. Could his soul by possibility be for one instant severed from his Surety, he would be as unprotected as ever; hot thunderbolts of justice would find him out. His only safety is in being covered and sliielded by the blood of expiation; and this is over him just so long as he is “in Christ.” The emphatic preposition in imports not merely adherence, but union; and this union is set forth by diversities in language, for human speech labours with the unaccustomed thought. Turn again to John xv. 4, “Abide in me, and I in you,” “He that abideth in me, and I in Jiim, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for toitJiout me ye can do nothing.”
All other advices to new converts are less important than this, of looking constantly to the Cross of Jesus Christ. When you cease to do this, it will be a breach of continuity between the vine and the branch; the vital sap will flow interruptedly; and the vivid green will give place to dryness and decay. So long as you hate the remains of sin, and truly repent of them; so long as you feel shame and grief for the transgressions of former days; so long as you are disheartened with daily failures; so long as conscience challenges you for corruptions, you will be constrained to cleave unto the Lord, and to live under the baptism of his cross; that, with Paul, you “may be found in Him,” “not having your own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Jesus Christ, even the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
IV. To cleave unto the Lord, no man can deny, is
TO ABIDE BY HIS COMMANDMENTS, OWuiug him aS OUT
Ruler. Messiah is a King. This he avowed to Pilate. In this character he is received by every repentant soul.
Every rebel who lays down his arms, approaches the throne of Jesus and does him homage. New converts to any religion follow a leader, and are named after a head. To cHng to him and yield to his will, follows as a matter of course. Entering on a Christian career is not a mere change of opinion, school or party, but the beginning of a new life. Every one understands it to imply a new path of conduct. What Christ our Lord demands, comes before us sometimes in the shape of positive act, and sometimes in the shape of forbearance or abstinence. Either way, we own his government, obey his will, and receive law at his hands. Either way, we adhere to him as our Lord. The life indicated by these demands includes the highest morality; so that it is a solecism to speak of an immoral Christian. Why should we cite chapter and verse? The entire New Testament, from the Sermon on the Mount to the denunciations at the close of the Apocalypse, bears on its face the prohibition of every sin, in Christ’s follower. Inward, secret, spiritual sins are probed for and extracted to the light by the ethics of the Gospel. The conversion which does not, in some good degree, convert a man from his sins, is spurious. Abiding in Christ is abiding in his service, walking in his will, doing that which shall please him, and living to his glory. And this derives new force from the consideration, that holiness, whether of heart or conduct — in other words, cleaving to the Lord in duty — can by no means be secured, except by cleaving to him in acts of personal faith and affection. But this leads ns to another point, which may indeed be considered the very same under a new aspect.
V. To cleave and cling to the Lord Jesus, is to FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE. To cvcry couvcrt he says, as to those beside the lake of Gennesaret, “Follow me!” This is more than obedience; it is imitation; it is doing not only what the Master commanded, but what he did himself. We walk in his very footsteps, as closely as we know; that is, we cleave to him. It is as though we took hold of his skirts, amidst the crowd of conflicting tempters; determined not to lose sight of him, but to keep him always in our presence. The instances are too numerous for detail; let us attend to two leading cases. 1. The Lord went about doing good. Sincere disciples follow him in this. Remembering what he said about the twelve hours of the day, and the night which Cometh, they are on the alert. “I must work the work of him that sent me, while it is day,” is both his language and theirs. Active beginnings are useful, and none can begin too soon. Of most it may be said, what they are during their first months of profession, they will be through life. Selfish pleasure, in the comforts of experience and ordinances, may fix the soul in a habit of religious inactivity. Duties which do not terminate on ourselves, are not easily remembered by the narrow-minded. Hence the adage should make our ears tingle: “To do good and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
There is no stimulus to labour, like the example of Christ. 2. The Lord bore his Cross. Sincere converts come near him, and cleave to him in suffering. “And whosoever,” said his own blessed lips, “doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” We are not to make our own cross; that were superstition or presumption; but we are to bear Christ’s cross. Learn to expect it. Try your shoulders beforehand. Count the cost. Ask yourself concerning the cup which he drank, and the baptism which he was baptized with. Many a convert runs well, for a while; but the cross afiPrights him. He that receives the word into stony places “heareth it, and anon with joy receiveth it.” You expect great perseverance from such warmth. Yet what follows? “He hath not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth, because of the Word, ’ ah! ’ by and by he is offended,” he stumbles, he falls, he is left behind. Many a summer-bird which kept on the wing and caroUed gaily during the May season of revival and sacraments, flees away at the first approach of storms. We must make up our account to cleave to Jesus, through good report and evil report. And in every other duty we are to walk as he also walked.
VI. To cleave to Christ is to abide by him, as the
FOUNTAIN OP GRACE AND GIVER OF THE SPIRIT. At
regeneration the once alienated, severed, depraved soul is touched by the Holy Spirit, who employs truth or light as his instrument. At this instant of illumina-
276 N^^ DISCIPLES ADMONISHED.
tion, the rescued being is brought into connexion with Christ as the Head. At this engrafting into Christ, the vitahty of the Head becomes the vitaHty of the member. Or, better to preserve the harmony of our figure, the life of the vine is the life of the branch; all from spiritual union. To maintain this union, is to cleave unto the Lord. As the convert has been brought to Christ Jesus, so he is to chng to him. The analogy of the Vine, John xv., is explanatory of this: “As the branch,” says our Lord, “cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me.”” As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; abide [continue] in my love,’’ that is, * cleave to me; cling to me; hold fast to my love.’
A consciousness of weakness belongs to the most thorough converts. HumiUty is a sign of conversion. Not a desponding, but a trustful humility; because the child of God rests in Jesus, as his strength; and hears the whisper, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”
Prayer in secret is the chief means of clinging to Cln-ist in this sense. In closet devotion, unless it be formal, scanty, or hurried, the young Christian comes to the feet of the Lord, touches the hem of his garment, and gazes into the eyes which beam vrith love, even if he does not lean upon his bosom. Cleaving to Jesus, he has communion with him, in regard to all his offices, excellencies, and divine graces. Using the word prayer to comprise all devotional contemplations and ascriptions as well as beseechings, it is the very cleaving of the loving soul to our Saviour ;* and is the capital means of growth in grace. “Praying will make us leave off sinning, or sinning will make us leave off praying,” Such converse with God, especially over the inspired volume, secures against defection and error, procures pardons, sprinMing of the expiatory blood, and the Spirit of adoption; mortifies secret, lurking, insidious sins, quickens the pulse of zeal and the pace of service; arms for battle, lifts the* courage, and sweetens the cross. Thus may the new disciple advance day by day, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of his faith; cleaving unto Jesus, the vital heart, from whom all the circulation of holy thought, feeling, choice and act derives its impulse.
VII. Finally — To cleave unto the Lord, is to cling to him AS OUR portion and happiness. No one is converted to a naked sense of duty, allowance of obHgation, wHUngness to suffer, or purpose to do right. All these grow out of discipleship, but they are its acid fruits; riper, mellower experiences load the branches on the sunny side. Faith looks to Jesus, recognises his divine triumphant loveliness,- yields to his invincible charms, and sinks with delight into the arms of his infinite affection. Abide there, O young disciple, O re-* cent believer; cleave to that bosom; hang upon that arm. Let Jesus be not only thy Saviour, but thy bliss. Let thy soul’s utterance be: “I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up nor awake my love
27g NEW DISCIPLES ADMONISHED.
till He please! ‘’ That so high an enjoyment of Christ’s presence should be uninterrupted, or even very frequent, is perhaps more than we ought to expect in the present mingled state, where shower and sunshine checker our April-day. But if you have not attained to knowledge of any such preciousness in Christ, ah! there are yet before you chambers opening into your porch of early profession, all replete with joys. If you mean to persevere in a cold, staid routine, of heartless, joyless, tearless religion, it is not hard to predict that you will swell the ranks of those professors who speak loudly and give largely, while they betray the absence of all genuine joy in the Lord, by rushing with avidity into the covetousness, the ostentation, or the frivolous amusements of the world. Christ and his joy need no eking out by the pleasures of sin and folly. God grant that those who have lately sat down at the Lord’s table, may be from the beginning accustomed to hang upon the Master for their soul’s gratification. It is when they go away from him that Satan seizes them and wins them to his snare. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Cleaving to Christ is renouncing the world, as our happiness. “These things,” said our Lord, about to die, “have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full,” xv. 11. Remark how fulness of joy is found in union with Christ.
This bliss of cleaving to the Lord, in a beUeving connexion, may be shared by many; and the disciple cannot but feel the warm contact of a loving throng pressing with him, shoulder to shoulder, towards the heart of Jesus. Such was the tenor of his prayer, xvii. 22: “And the glory which thou gavest me have I given them: that they may be one, even as we are one, / in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.” Look around, then, upon those who are with you in Christ, and resolve to know and to receive one another in the Lord.
What has the text yielded us? What have we learned to be meant by cleaving unto Jesus? That we hold fast to his religion, abhorring the thought of apostasy — that we adhere to him as the Revealer of truth, avoiding every heresy and error — that we rest upon him by faith as our atoning Priest — that we kneel to him as our King — that we cling to his example — that we keep near him as the source of all spiritual, sanctifying influence — and that we abide in him as our everlasting portion and ultimate good.
Beloved friends, who have so recently pHghted your faith to Christ, can any laboured application be necessary? You know this Jesus. You have found him, or rather he has found you, afar out of the path, perishing on the wild mountains. He has borne you back to the fold, having laid you upon his shoulder. He has clasped you in his arms. You are on his bosom, encircled in his righteousness, held and comforted by his Spirit. Can you harbour a thought of escape from cords of love? “Will ye also go away?” God forbid!
280 N^W DISCIPLES ADMONISHED.
Be exhorted, “with purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord.” It includes your whole duty at the present juncture. But for performing it you need that purpose of heart, that immovable determination, which can be neither turned aside nor rent away. The more you ponder on the Christ of the Scriptures, the deeper will be your admiration and love, the firmer your resolve to be inseparable from your Guide. Yet I behold you in weakness and dangers, which, alas, you cannot apprehend aright. Ten thousand skeletons along your way, whitening your path through the desert, should remind you that professing Christians may fall. Your only safety is in being always near to Christ. The only power which can keep you there is the Holy Spirit of God, who at first opened your eyes and conducted you to the Redeemer. Pray that he would take the things of Christ and show them unto you. Cry daily to him, that he would maintain your union with the living head. “Ye are complete in him.” Every thing depends on your having right views of Jesus; believing on his name and clinging to him for justification; resorting to him for perpetually renewed pardons; and communing with him, as the Head of influence and the soul’s portion. Christless conversions will come to nought. Look to it, brethren, that the Lord Jesus holds the royal, supreme place in your system and your experience. Account the day lost, in which there is no sense of commerce vdth the skies, and tender intercourse with the heavenly Bridegroom. He stands at the door and knocks; he is ready to come in and sup with you. Open the door. Yield to the divine wooing. Let Christ be all in all. Beginning thus, you will assuredly go aright. Lowly adherence to the Lord is the very secret of peace, power and progress. Never give up your hold; grasp him, keep him, cling to him, abide in him, live and die for him. “For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.”