A CHOICE DROP OF HONEY

FROM THE ROCK CHRIST

or,

A Word of Advice to All Saints and Sinners

Preface by Thomas Wilcox

Christian Reader,

I FIND in this latter day the love of the Lord shining, in some measure, with its pleasant beams in my heart, warming my affections and enflaming my soul, not only to give a spiritual echo in soul-duty to so great a lover as my Saviour is, whose transcendent love passeth knowledge, (Ephesians 3:19)[i], but also to love and wish well to all Zion’s heaven-born children. I find in this day many poor souls tossed to and fro, ready to be carried away with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, (Ephesians 4:14)[ii] and, that there are so many foundations to build upon that are false, upon which much labour is spent in vain; that men are not speaking the truth in love; neither are they growing up into him in all things, who is the Head, even Christ, (Ephesians 4:15)[iii]. There cannot be a growing in Christ, without a union in him.

You will find, Gentle Reader, in this ensuing little treatise, if the Lord is pleased to bless the reading of it unto you, as a still voice behind thee, saying, “This is the way, walk in it; that thou turn not to the right hand, nor to the left.” The way into that pleasant path of soul-justification before God, is in and through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, for all our self-righteousness is as filthy rags; for surely, shall one say, “In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory,” (Isaiah45:25)[iv]. It is only the dying of that Just One for us unjust ones that must bring us to God. “He that knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we, who were nothing but sin, might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Christian Reader, Let all that is of old Adam in you fall down at the foot of Christ. He only must have the pre-eminence. All the vessels of this spiritual new-covenant temple, from the cups to the flagons, must be all hung upon Christ. He is to build the temple of the Lord, and is to bear the glory. He, by His Father’s appointment, is the foundation-stone, corner-stone, and is the top-stone. He is the Father’s fulness of grace and glory. Whatever your wants be, you may come to Him; there is balsam in Him fit for cure.

Reader, the good Lord help you to experience the ensuing word of advice, that it may be made by God unto you like Honey, sweet to the soul, and health to thy bones, and my soul shall rejoice with you. Your brother in the faith and fellowship of the gospel,

THOMAS WILCOCKS.

A CHOICE DROP OF HONEY FROM THE ROCK CHRIST.

A WORD of advice to my own heart and yours.

“With honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” (Psalm 81:16b)

1.
You are a professor (of religion), and partake of all ordinances. – You do well; they are glorious privileges. But if you have not the blood of Christ at the root of your profession, it will wither and prove but painted pageantry to go to hell in.

2.
If you retain guilt and self-righteousness under your profession, those vipers will eat out all the vitals of it. Try, and examine with the greatest strictness every day, what bottom your profession and hope of your glory is built upon, whether it was laid by the hand of Christ; if not, it will never be able to endure the storm which must come against it. Satan will throw it all down, and great will be the fall thereof (Matthew 7:27)[v].

3.
Glorious professor, you will be winnowed. Every vein of your profession will be tried to purpose. It is terrible to have it all come tumbling down, and to find nothing but it to bottom upon.

4.
Soaring professor, see to your waxen wings in time, which will melt with the heat of temptations. What a misery is it, to trade much, and break at length, and have no stock, no foundation laid for eternity, in your soul.

5.
Gifted professor, look there be not a worm at the root which will spoil all your fine gourd, and make it die about you, in a day of searchings. Look after you soul daily, and ask: “Where is the blood of Christ to be seen upon my soul? – What righteousness is it that I stand upon to be saved? Have I got off my self-righteousness?” Many eminent professors have come at length to cry out, in the sight of the ruin of all their duties: “Undone, undone to all eternity.”

6.
Consider, the greatest sins may be hid under the greatest duties and the greatest terrors. See the wound that sin has made in your soul be perfectly cured by the blood of Christ; not skinned over with duties, humblings, enlargements, &c. Apply what you will besides the blood of Christ, it will poison the sore. You will find that sin was never mortified truly, if you have not seen Christ bleeding for you upon the cross. Nothing can kill it, but the beholding of Christ’s righteousness.

7.
Nature can afford no balsam fit for soul-cure. Healing from duty (performance), and not from Christ, is the most desperate disease. Poor ragged nature, with all its highest improvements, can never spin a garment fine enough (without spot) to cover the soul’s nakedness. Nothing can fit the soul for that use, but Christ’s perfect righteousness.

8.
Whatsoever is of nature’s spinning must be all unravelled, before the righteousness of Christ can be put on. Whatsoever is of nature’s putting on, Satan will come and plunder it every rag away, and leave the soul naked and open to the wrath of God. All that nature can do, will never make up the least gram of grace that can mortify sin, or look Christ in the face one day.

9.
You are a professor, go on hearing, praying, and receiving, yet miserable may you be. Look about you; did you ever see Christ to this day in distinction from all other excellencies and righteousness in the world, and all of them falling before the majesty of His love and grace? (Isaiah 2:17)[vi].

[i] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

[ii] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

[iii] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

[iv] In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

[v] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

[vi] And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.