Preaching: Dispensing Truth to Be Received (2)

Because people are in a contrary state to Christ, to preach Christ we must first begin with the law, to show to people their state by nature. Who will marry with Christ, but those that know their own beggary and misery outside of Christ? This must take place or else they will die in their debts eternally. When people are convinced of this, they turn away from themselves and turn to Christ. This therefore must be done first, for 'the full stomach despises a honeycomb' (Prov. 27:7). Who cares for balm who is not sick? Who cares for Christ who sees not the necessity of Christ? We see that John the Baptist came before Christ to make the way for Christ, to level the mountains, to cast down whatever exalts itself in man. He who is to preach must discern what mountains there be between men's hearts and Christ. He must labour to reveal the truth about fallen people and lay flat all the pride of men in the dust, for 'the words of God is forcible to pull down strongholds and imaginations and to bring all into subjection to Christ' (2 Cor. 10:4). Who needs a Saviour except those who are lost? Who needs Christ to be wisdom to us if we were not fools in ourselves? Who needs Christ to be sanctification to us if we were not defiled in ourselves? Who needs him to be redemption if we were not lost and sold in ourselves to Satan, and under his bondage? Therefore, all preaching is to make way for Christ, not only to open the mysteries of Christ, but in the opening and application to let us see our necessity of Christ. To bring Christ and the church together, our aim must be, to persuade people to come out of the state they are in, and to come and take Christ, Whatever makes for this, that course we must use.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Fountain Opened, Works, vol. 5, pp. 506
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