God’s Remedy for Man’s Malady
By James Smith, New Park Street Chapel, London, 1849
“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isaiah 1:6
The whole race of mankind, in consequence of the fall, is infected with a most dreadful, fearful, soul-killing disease!
You are infected with it yourself!
It is in your nature, and its effects are manifested in your conduct! Its seat is in the heart — which has become deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked!
This malignant disease has spread over every faculty of the soul!
The understanding is darkened — so that you cannot see your dreadful state!
The conscience is defiled — and neglects its vital office!
The will is powerfully biased to evil — and chooses what God abhors!
The affections are earth-bound — and set on forbidden things!
The imagination is become sensual — and only employed in evil!
The reason is debased — and calls darkness, light; and light, darkness!
The memory is captivated, and become a storehouse of iniquity!
The whole soul is paralyzed, polluted, and diseased!
Righteousness, before the fall, once lodged in it — but now murderers reside there!
Satan has got possession — and endeavors to lead you to hell in a false peace!
You are naturally . . .
unfit for heaven,
at enmity with God,
exposed to His wrath,
cursed by His law,
condemned by His word,
traveling to perdition,
and ripening for damnation!
You cannot . . .
deliver yourself from sin’s dominion,
cleanse yourself from inherent defilement,
or escape the righteous judgment of God,
by anything that you can do.
You are . . .
without strength,
blind to your everlasting welfare,
and a hater of God!
You . . .
were born a sinner,
have lived transgressing,
and dying in such a state,
will be banished into irremediable woe!
This is your state, reader — whoever you may be!
This is your situation — however you may have lived!
This is your condition — whatever you may think!
Have you ever seen yourself in this situation?
Have you ever felt this to be your case?
Have you ever trembled on account of it — and sought a remedy?
If not, this is the very worst symptom of your disease!
You are . . .
insensible of your wretched condition,
under a spiritual derangement,
and madness is in your heart!
But if you have discovered your malady,
if you have felt sin to be really a dreadful disease,
if you are seeking for a remedy;
then I rejoice in being able to direct you to one that is provided, which may be obtained freely, and will certainly heal you!
God, who is rich in mercy, for the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sin — has devised a way in which He can manifest Himself as a just God and a Savior! He has provided a suitable and glorious remedy for lost, ruined, and undone sinners!
This remedy will . . .
heal the wounded,
cleanse the filthy,
sanctify the unholy,
justify the condemned,
liberate the captive,
and save the lost!
It will give . . .
sight to the blind,
hearing to the deaf,
strength to the weak,
wisdom to the foolish,
and life to the dead!
It gives . . .
peace to the distressed,
direction to the perplexed,
riches to the poor,
clothing to the naked,
the oil of joy for mourning,
and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
The remedy I allude to — is Jesus the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. His blood is the true balm of Gilead — and he is the physician there! His name is Jehovah-rophi, the Almighty healer of poor sinners!
He . . .
heals all disorders,
removes all diseases, and
restores to perfect health,
without money and without cost!
He has opened a fountain for all sin and uncleanness, and all who apply to it find that though their sins were like scarlet — they become white as snow! And though red like crimson — they appear as purest wool.
He has eye-salve to anoint the darkened understanding which enables us to see all things in his light.
He has grace which rectifies the disordered imagination!
He cleanses the guilty conscience, and sanctifies the filthy soul.
He . . .
removes the evil bias from the will,
restores reason to its place, and
fixes the affections on himself.
He makes . . .
sin hateful,
holiness lovely, and
worship delightful.
He . . .
reconciles to God,
introduces us into the divine presence,
and gives us a title to glory!
He . . .
fits us to enjoy spiritual things,
brings down heaven into the heart, and
makes us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
He . . .
delivers from condemnation,
rescues from hell, and
leads all who flee to him — to heaven!
He subdues sin’s dominion — and takes away the love of it from the heart.
He sends the Holy Spirit to wash us with the washing of regeneration, to lead us into the truth, and to seal us to the day of redemption.
He comes himself and takes possession of the heart, reigns in the affections, and sanctifies the whole man.
He brings the Father into the soul, who sheds abroad his love there.
Paradise is restored in the heart.
The soul is made like a watered garden, joy and gladness are found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
Guilt is removed by an application of the atonement,
sin’s dominion is destroyed by the reigning power of grace,
and the love of sin is taken away by fellowship with him in his sufferings.
The sinner is now reconciled to God,
the conscience is made tender of sinning,
and the soul is justified from all things.
In a word, he cures internally, by the implantation of his graces.
He makes us consistent externally, by teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; and constraining us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world.
And He saves us eternally, by his righteousness, blood shedding, and death.
All this, Jesus does for sinners; for all sinners who are made willing to flee to him, believe on him, and receive from him the riches of grace!
All this Jesus does freely without money and without cost! Nothing is required of the sinner as a condition, but a simple willingness to receive, a desire to enjoy, a seeking to possess by humble, earnest prayer. And even this is his gift, it flows from the gracious work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, and is the effect of the drawings of the Father; as it is written:
“Every one who has heard and learned of the Father — comes unto me.”
“No man can come to me — unless the Father who has sent me, draws him!”
“All whom the Father gives me — shall come to me, and the one who comes to me — I will never cast out.”
There is life in Christ for every willing soul. He is a perfect Savior, an atoning sacrifice for our sins, and the only way by which sinners can approach to God with acceptance and comfort. In his person, blood, righteousness, death, and intercession — is a perfect remedy for sinners, let their state, case, or condition be what it may.
This then is the REMEDY, the ONLY remedy that God has provided for sin and sinners — and ALL who flee unto it, and by faith make use of it, are cured for evermore!
Are you coming to Jesus? Are you seeking God’s remedy? Or, are you careless still? How important, yes, how infinitely important is the inquiry. My fellow-sinner, let conscience do its office, be honest with yourself for once, and ask, ‘Am I coming to Jesus?’ If you are not coming to him, you are living at a distance from him, and if you are satisfied so to live, let me tell you — you are satisfied to live as a stranger to real happiness now; destitute of hope for the future; and under the wrath and curse of God! And dreadful to say — but not more dreadful than true: living and dying in such a state — you will have your portion in the lake that burns with brimstone and fire! “Consider this, you who forget God — lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you!” “This shall you have at my hands, says the Lord — you shall lie down in sorrow.”
O God the Holy Spirit, draw sinners to Jesus, for healing, health, and everlasting salvation!
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