Sermons of Robert Murray MCheyne 17. Turn You at My Reproof

Extract

“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: she crieth in the chief places of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners, delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you” Proverbs 1:20-23.

That none other than our Lord Jesus Christ is intended to be painted to us under the majestic figure of Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, is evident from the passage before us. Of whom but the Saviour could it be said so truly that he stood with outstretched hands in the streets, in the markets, and in the openings of the gates, crying after the simple ones—the publicans and sinners: and the scorners, the Scribes and Pharisees; and those haters of knowledge—the Jewish priesthood? And again, of whom but the Saviour could it be said, with any truth at all, that he offered to “pour out his Spirit upon the returning sinner, and to make known His words unto him?” Christ alone “hath ascended up on high, leading captivity captive; and hath received gilts for men, yea, even for the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them” Before pressing home upon you, brethren, this earnest and soul piercing call of the Saviour, there are two explanations which I anxiously desire you to bear in mind.

First, That the call of the Saviour, in the words before us, and the promise with which it is accompanied, are addressed to sinners, and not to saints. Nay more, they are not addressed to all sinners promiscuously; they are not addressed to those who have been awakened to know their sin and danger, and are crying out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” but they are addressed to the simple ones, who are loving their simplicity; to the scorners, who delight in their scorning; to the fools, that hate knowledge. The Bible is full of most precious promises to Christ’s “hidden ones,” his peculiar people, his body, his bride; and there are many pressing calls and most winning encouragements to those …