COMFORT YE - Robert Murray Mcchene

“Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”— Isa. xl., 1, 2.

THESE words are a blast of the silver trumpet of the Gospel. Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound. They are like the words of the angel at Bethlehem; “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” This is the voice of the shepherd, which all his flock know and love.

I, Believers have received double punishment for all their sins: “She hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”— Verse 2. There are two ways in which sinners may bear the punishment of their sins.

J. In themselves—On their own body and soul for ever. This is the way in which all unconverted men. who finally perish, will bear their sins. “These shall go away into everlasting punishment.” “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.” Not that they will be able to bear their punishment: “My punishment is greater than I can bear.” “The great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” They shall say to one another, “Who among us can dwell with the devouring flame? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings r And God will say: “Can thine heart endure, or thine hands be strong, in the day that I shall deal with thee?” This is not the way spoken of in the text; for, (1.) It would be a message of woe, and not of comfort—Woe, woe, woe, and not Comfort ye, comfort ye. When God really takes in hand to punish sinners, there will be no comfort in that day. The heart of sinners will sink under insupportable gloom. (2.) Sinners never can bear double in themselves. When a poor sinner dies Christless and .goes to bear the punishment of his sins, he never can bear enough. He has sinned against an infinite God; and his punishment, if it be just, must be infinite—his stripes must be eternal— the gnawing worm must never die—the burning flame must never be quenched. In this way, poor Christless souls can never satisfy the justice of God. God will never say it is enough. He will never pour water on the flames of hell, nor send a drop to the parched tongues that are tormented there. Instead of suffering double, they will never receive enough at the Lord’s hand for all their sins. Oh! dear friends, it is easy talking of this now; but many of you will probably feel it soon.

2. In Christ the surely.—It is according to justice, that sinners may bear their sins in Christ the Surety. (1.) This was the very errand that Christ came upon. He thought upon this from all eternity. For this end he came into the world—for this end he became man. “He himself bare our sins in his own body on the tree.” If it were not a just and righteous thing, that sinners should bear their sins in another, and not in themselves, Christ never would have undertaken it. This is the very way here spoken of. (2.) All the sufferings of Christ were at the hand of his Father: “It pleased the Lord to bruise him: he hath put him to grief. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.” We generally look at the wicked hands that crucified and slew Christ; but we must not forget that it was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, and that they would have had no power at all against him, except it had been given them from above. Through all the crowd of scoffing priests and bloody soldiers, you must see the Lord’s hand making his soul an offering for sin. This shows that Christ is a Saviour appointed of the Father. Awakened souls are afraid of the avenging hand of God; but in Christ there is a refuge. And you need not fear but Christ will shelter you; for there was an agreement between them, that Christ should suffer these things for sinners, and enter into his glory. Christ finished the work which the Father gave him to do. (3.) When sinners take refuge in Christ, the law takes its course against their sins—not upon their soul, but upon Christ. All their sins, whether they be many or few, are reckoned his, and he is made answerable; and he has already borne double for them all. How was it just that Christ should bear double? Ans. He could not suffer at all, without bearing double for all our sins, by reason of his excellency and glory. The sufferings of Christ for a time, were, in God’s eye, double the eternal sufferings of sinners, by reason of the infinite dignity of his person. God is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; for he magnified the law, and made it honorable. In the death of Christ, the angels saw God to be holy, infinitely better than if all mankind had perished for ever.

Come freely, then, to Jesus Christ, O awakened sinner. There you will find a shelter from the wrath due to your sins. Your sins are, indeed, infinite, and the wrath of God intolerable; but in Jesus you may find safety. He came upon this very errand. You need not fear but he will receive you; his heart and his arms are open for you. His Father is willing you should come. Be your sins many or few, it is all one; in Christ you will find that they are all borne, suffered for, in a way glorifying to God and safe to you.

II. All believers are therefore in a truly blessed condition.

1. Their iniquity is pardoned.—A soul in Christ is a pardoned soul. It matters not how many his sins have been. The iniquity of Jerusalem was very great. The people of Jerusalem had sinned against light and against love. All the prophets had been sent them; yet they were stoned or killed. The Son of God came there; they cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. Their sins had grown up to heaven; yet, no sooner do they betake themselves to Christ than God says: “Her iniquity is pardoned.” And, observe, 1st, It is a present pardon. He does not say, Her iniquity shall be pardoned, but, “Her iniquity is pardoned.” No sooner does a guilty, heavy laden soul betake himself to Christ, than this sweet word is heard in heaven: “His iniquity is pardoned.” “There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” Oh! it is no future or uncertain pardon that is offered in the gospel; but a sure and present pardon; pardon now, this instant, lo all who believe in Jesus. You are as completely pardoned in the moment of believing as ever you will be. Oh! haste ye, and receive pardon from Christ. Oh! that ye knew the day of your visitation. Observe, 2d, It is a holy pardon. Your iniquity is pardoned; for another -has died for your sins. Oh! it is an awful way of pardon. “There is forgiveness with God, that he may be feared.” It is a pardon to make you tremble, and hate sin with a perfect hatred. Oh! can you ever love that which nailed him to the tree, which bowed down his blessed head? Will you take up sin again, and thus put the spear afresh into the side of Jesus? Some say: I am too vile. Ah! are you viler than

Jerusalem? When you take a pebble, and cast it into the deep sea, it sinks, and is entirely covered; so are the sins of those who take refuge in Christ: “Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

2. Their warfare is accomplished.—(I.) With the law. An awakened soul has a dreadful warfare with the law of God. The law of God is revealed to his conscience, armed with a flaming, glittering sword. It demands the obedience of his heart and life. The sinner tries to obey it, he tries to bring his life up to its requirements; but in vain. The law lifts up its sword to slay him; it hurls its curses at him. This is a dreadful warfare in every awakened conscience; but when the sinner runs into Jesus Christ, his warfare is accomplished. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is sale.” In Christ Jesus, the demands of the law are satisfied; for he was made under the law. Its curses are borne; for he was made a curse for us. The glittering sword pierced the side of Jesus. Oh! do you know what it is to have this warfare accomplished? (2.) With the devil. We wrestle not with flesh and blood. An awakened soul has often an awful warfare with Satan. Satan fights against him in two ways: 1st, By stirring up his corruptions, and making his lusts to flame and burn within him in a fearful manner. 2d, By accusing him. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He accuses him in his conscience, in order to drive him away from Christ, to drive him to despair, and to give up all hope of salvation. He says to h m: “Thou art a vile wretch, not fit for a holy Saviour; see what raging lusts are in thy heart, thou wilt never be saved.” Ah! when the poor sinner runs into Christ, he finds rest there; his warfare is then accomplished. He sees all the accusations of Satan answered in the blood of the Lamb. (3.) With sin. The awakened soul has a dreadful warfare with his corruptions’. His heart appears just full of raging lusts, all tearing him to pieces. He is driven hither and thither; but when he comes to Christ this warfare is accomplished. Indeed, in one sense the battle is not over, but just begun; but now victory is sure. God is now for him. Greater is He that is for him than all that can be against him. “If God be fir us, who can be against us?” The. Spirit of God is now within him; he will abide with him for ever. The Spirit now reigns in him. Christ now fights for him, covers his head in the day of battle, carries him on his shoulder. He is as sure to overcome as if he were already in glory. He says to him: “Fear not, thou worm Jacob: fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” That word, never leave thee, reaches through the darkest hours of temptation, the deepest waters of affliction, the hottest fires of persecution; it reaches unto death, through death and the grave, into eternity.

III. Believers should lake the comfort of their condition.

1. God commands it.—Some say, It is a dangerous thing to be happy. They are afraid of too much joy. They say, It is better to be in deep exercises, better to have deep wadings; it is not good to be of too joyful a spirit. What says the Word of God? “Comfort ye, comfort ye.” If your joy flow from the cross of Christ, you cannot have too much joy. “Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice.” When Christ truly rises on the soul, he should be like a morning without clouds. If it be true that Christ came into the world to seek and save that which was lost; if you see his freeness and preciousness, I ask, how can you do otherwise than rejoice and be comforted? “Whom, having not seen, we love; in whom, though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” May the God of Hope fill you brimfull with joy and peace in believing!

2. Examine from whence your comfort flows.—All true Gospel comfort flows from the cross of Christ, from the Man of Sorrows. The comfort of hypocrites flows from themselves. They look to themselves for comfort; they look to the change on their life, they see some improvements there, and take rest from that; or, they look deeper to their concern, their mourning over sin, their convictions, their endeavors after Christ; or, they look to their devotions, their delight in prayer, their flowing of affection and words; or to texts of the Bible coming into their minds; or, they look to what their friends or ministers think of them, and tin y take comfort from these. All these are refuges of lies, false Christs, that must be cast away, or they will ruin your soul. Christ’s blood and righteousness, and not any work in your own heart, must be your justification before a holy God. True Gospel comfort comes from a sight of Christ’s bearing double for all our sins. “Behold the Lamb of God!” Gospel -comfort is u stream that flows direct from Calvary.

3. See how false the comfort of Christ-neglecting souls.—This sweet word of comfort is only to those who are under the wings of Christ. That little flock alone have got rest for their souls. But most neglect this great salvation. You do not feel your need of an atoning Saviour, you think you can justify yourself before God; you do not feel your need of an almighty Sanctifier. Christ is a tender plant in your eyes, you have not betaken yourself to Christ. Ah! my friend, woe to you. Your warfare is not accomplished. The law, with its curses and its flaming sword, stands in your way. Satan also accuses you, and you have nothing to answer him. Sin rages in you, and you have no power against it. Your iniquity is not pardoned, not one sin is blotted out. All is naked and laid open to the eyes of Him with whom you have to do. Your comfort is all a lie, your peace is Satan’s peace, it is the slumber that ends in perdition. You will yet bear your own sins. When the great day of his wrath is come, you will not be able to stand. “Can thine heart endure, or can thine bands be strong, in the day that I shall deal with thee?” Oh! sirs, you think it a small thing to be Christless this day; you can talk lightly of it, and jeer and jest about it; you can sleep soundly withal; but there is a day coming, when your bitter cry will be heard throughout all the caverns of hell: Woe is me! I am Christless, I am Christless! Amen.