his Birth which speaks forth his Mightinesse As First The message of the Angel to the Shepherds Luke 1.10 11. Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all People For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Secondly The praisings of the Host the Shepherds they glorified and praised God for what they had heard and seen but men of the earth are not sufficient for this thing and therefore a Quire is sent from Heaven to rejoyce and sing praises to the Most High for this Heavenly and unspeakable gift Luke 2.13 Suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God These extraordinary praises speak the person born to be some great and Mighty One Thirdly The homage of the Wise men That they should come to tender their homage and service to this Infant and not unto Herod nor Agustus Caesar of whose greatnesse no doubt they had heard but did not esteem nor regard it in comparison of this late born King of the Jews speaks Christ to be a Mighty One especially if we consider First The quality of their Persons if because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wise men is usually taken in the worst sense for men practising Magical and unlawful Arts it should be understood so in this place it shews forth the more of the Mightiness and Power of Christ when men that had been of such a profession become such professors of Christ of any among the Gentiles as to come and do homage to him howsoever forasmuch as they were as is most likely not of the meaner sort nor yet persons of ordinary and common gifts but men of learning understanding wisdome and of high esteem among the People it holds forth the greatness and excelleny of Christ that such should come so early and submit themselves to him Secondly The greatness of their pains without doubt it was a long and tedious journey they took although we cannot tell exactly how far they came because the particular term from whence at which divers have diversly conjectured is not to be found in Scripture onely it is said with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold prefixed as a matter of admiration that they should come and come so far They came from the East to Jerusalem and surely they would not have undertaken such a journey with regard to an ordinary common person Thirdly The reality and fulnesse of their homage it was not in word and in tongue onely but in truth and in deed we do not read of any thing they said to him but of what they did and that was much they first gave themselves an oblation to this great King and then made offering of their gifts For they fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures they presented unto him Gifts Gold and Frankincense and myrrhe Matth. 2.11 They would not have tendered such large homage to a mean one Fourthly The eminent appearing of God for their direction to him and preservation in returning a Star did lead them to the very place where he was for it is said Math. 2.9 Lo the Star which they saw in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young Child was And for their preservation God did warn them in a dream that they should not return to Herod and they departed into their own Countrey another way Fourthly The dread of the Mighty even of King Herod and all Jerusalem with him for it is said When Herod the King heard these things viz of one born King of the Jews and of persons come to worship him he was troubled terrified yea he shaked with fear Mat. 2.3 so that Christ was a Mighty One in his Birth Eighthly Christ is a Mighty One in his Descent even after the flesh First In respect of his stock in general for he was descended of the Patriarchs he was of the stock of Abraham that Mighty One the Jews counted it a great priviledge above what the Gentiles had That they had Abraham to their Father that they were of his stock branches of that root Christ was also a son of Abraham Secondly In respect of his Tribe out of which he sprang Judah for it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah and it is as evident also that Judah was the mightiest Tribe both according to Jacobs and Moses blessing of him Gen 49.8 Judah thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise thine hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies thy fathers children shall bow before thee Judah is a Lyons whelp c. Deut. 33.7 Let his hands be sufficient for him and be thou an help to him from his eâ—emies Judah was Standard-bearer in the foremost Quarter as the children of Israel encamped about the Tabernacle Numb 2.3 And Judah's Standard Lyon-like marched in the first place as they marched towards the Land of Canaan Numb 10.13 14. and of this mighty Tribe was Christ yea he was the Mighty One of this Tribe The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Rev 5.5 Further Judah was the Royal Tribe the Royalty of a Kingdome appertained to it Gen 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah c. The Kings and Rulers descended from thence and this speaks the mightinesse and exeellency of Christ that he was of this Tribe hence Mr. Perkins saith That Christ was the most excellent and notable One that ever was descending of the eternall Father as he is the Son of God and as he is man descending of the Patriarchs and of the renowned Kings of Judah And it is storied that it remaineth registred in the Jews Talmud it self That Jesus of Nazareth crucified was of the blood-royal from Zorobabel of the house of David so that he is a Mighty One in his Descent Ninthly Mighty in his Name Isaiah prophecying of him saith Ch. 9.6 His Name shall be called Wonderful Councellour the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Immanuel the Word of God his name speak forth his excellency and might not that there is any might and virtue in the bare name it selfe as consisting of so many letters as some have fondly conceited that the bare name of Christ used had power to drive away the Devil and that the name of Christ written and carried about with them was of efficacy to keep them from danger but his name declare his nature for as his name is so is he it is not with Christ in this respect as with some who had names contrary to their natures and dispositions to hide their weaknesses and wickednesses as the Impius named Pius the Coward Leo the Cruel Clemens the Oppressor Innocentius the Earthly-minded Celestinus Tenthly Mighty in his Titles I shall name a few The Captain of Salvation Ruler in Israel The Consolation of Israel The Horn of Salvation The Deliverer The Power and wisdom of God
the world more excellent than others they thought it might be he The Jews as soon as they heard of John Baptist preaching and baptizing in the wildernesse sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him Who he was suspecting he might be the Christ John 1.19 And when Christ was come they not knowing it was he came round about him as he was in Temple and said unto him How long dost thou make us to doubt or Dost thou kill us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If thou be the Christ tell us plainly John 10.24 So great and earnest was their expectation of him and surely he is some mighty excellent one indeed that is the strong and earnest expectation of the people Thirdly In the matter of their expectation as they looked that he should come so they looked that he should be a Mighty One and do great things when he came That he should be a Redeemer of Israel a Restorer of the Kingdome which is evident from the words of the two desponding Disciples to himself We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel Luke 24.21 And so much may be gathered from the words of the woman of Samaria to him I know that Messias cometh which is called Christ when he is come he will tell us all things Jo. 4.25 Her expectation of him was as of a Mighty One surpassing all the Prophets which were before and such was the expectation of Simeon Luke 2.25 He waited for the consolation of Israel whom when he saw he called Gods salvation vers 30. Fourthly In the continuance of their expectation they waited long in their Generations and though he came not yet they held up their expectation of him and did not faint in their minds but lived and dyed in expectation of him Sixthly A Mighty One in his Fore-runner First In that he had a fore-runner they are Mighty not mean ones that have fore-runners to prepare the way for their coming such an One was Christ Secondly In that he had such a fore-runner a Mighty One for so the Angel described him to his Father Luke 1.15 16 17. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God and shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias c. And so his Father being filled with the holy Spirit prophecyed of him vers 76. Thou child shalt be called the Prophet of the highest for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his way Yea he was so mighty as Christ himself testifieth of him That among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John and yet he but Christs fore-runner he that comes after is always mightier than the fore-runner and so John witnessed He that cometh after me is mightier than I Matth. 3.11 Seventhly A Mighty One in his Incarnation That he who is over all God blessed for ever should take our flesh and dwell among us that there should be a conjunction of two so infinitely differing Natures the Divine and Humane in the Unity of one Person remaining uncompounded and unconfounded together that he in whom the fullnesse of the man-hood dwelleth is not One and he in whom the fullnesse of the God-head another but he in whom the fullness of both natures dwelleth is one and the same is very wonderfull and a great Mystery and must needs speak the person to be some mighty and extraordinary One indeed being both perfect God and perfect man and so every way fit for any undertaking to do and suffer any thing for as man he could suffer but not overcome the sharpnesse of death as God he could suffer nothing but overcome any thing and thus incarnate he became a Mighty One in our Nature for us fit to save us The Incarnation of Christ doth especially comprehend his conception and birth in both which he appears to be a Mighty One First In his Conception which was not common nor ordinary for he was not conceived by the power of Nature as all other Mighty Ones are but By the power of the Holy Spirit Matth. 1.18 His Mother Mary was found with Child of the Holy Ghost according to the word of the Angel to her Luke 1.35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshaddow thee Nonus modus novi hominis A new way of conceiving this new man for a woman that knew not man to conceive a man in her womb is the new and strange thing which the Lord hath created in the earth A woman shall compasse a man Jer. 31.21 And while Joseph was troubled about this matter an Angel was sent from Heaven to satisfie him which said to him Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost Matth. 1.20 Certainly he was some Mighty One who was thus conceived and whose Conception was thus declared and confirmed by Angels Secondly In his Birth he was not only born but born a Mighty One a Saviour according to the word of the Angel to the Shepherds Luke 2.11 Vnto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. A King as the Wise men stiled him in their inquiry after him Math. 2.2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews And he was not only Mighty in his birth because he was born a Mighty One but also in his birth it selfe it being a more than ordinary birth To awake saith one the world to look for strange things in this life to signifie that he should be a Mighty One and do wonderfull things the strange Births of persons did usually speak some Extraordinarines to be in their lives as in Isaac Jacob Samuel Sampson c. The Mightinesse of Christ in his Birth will further appear First In the subject of it not only a Woman but a Virgin so wonderfull a thing that it was given for a sign unto unbelievers divers hundred of years before it was accomplished even a sign of Gods own choosing among all the wonders in the depth and in the height above Isa 7.11.14 The Virgin bearing this Son against the common order of Nature without a man whence he is called The seed of the Woman this Mary thought a thing impossible when it was told her by the Angel and said How shal this be seeing I know not man Luke 1.34 Secondly In the time of it when the three Monarchies of the Assyrians Persians and Grecians were ended and the Romans entred into the fourth which was greater and mightier than the former this Mighty One the Lord Jesus Christ durst shew himself in his lowest and weakest estate when the world was at the highest and strongest and then begin to build up a Kingdome Thirdly In the Concomitants of it divers remarkable things accompanyed
was not offended but did alwayes do the things which pleased his father as he told the Jews Joh. 8.29 all which speakes forth his might Fourthly In his delight in it his obedience was without murmuring or grudging it was with delight for the Law of God was within his heart as he spake Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy will O my God his fathers commandements were not grievous to him he professed to his Disciples That it was his Meat to do the will of him that sent him and to finish his worke Joh. 4.34 Fifthly In the efficacy and vertue of it his Righteousnesse doth not returne to him void but it doth accomplish that which he please and prosper in the thing whereto he ordaines it and that is the making others righteous according to that of the Apostle Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made Righteous God made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 And accordingly we are for of God he is made unto us Righteousness Now surely he is Mighty in obedience whose obedience effect the Righteousness of others Secondly Particularly in the Graces of the Spirit which were in him First In his Faith for he as well as we had faith and that a greater and stronger than ours for he was so strong and mighty in faith as that he stagger'd not at any of the promises of his father through unbeliefe other mighty ones in faith sometimes feared as Jacob David c. but Christs faith was perfect he was never afraid of any ttouble or any persecutors he knew on whom he had beleeved he knew his father would uphold and reward him his confidence in his father is prophetically spoken of by Isaiah Chap. 50.6 7 8 9. I gave my back to the smiters and my cheekes to them that pluckt off the haire I hid not my face from shame and spitting for the Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed c. And he expressed as much at the raising of Lazarus Father I thanke thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me alwayes he was mighty and strong in faith Secondly His love he was and is mighty in that grace which I shall illustrate in particulars First In the nature of it it is above ordinary common love above the love of one friend to another of a father to his child of an husband to his wife or of a man to his own self it is such a love wherewith the father hath loved him Joh. 15.9 He tells his Disciples As the father hath loved me so have I loved you which words do not only hold forth the truth but the excellency of his love towards them it being transcendent infinite love without measure above Geometrie above all arts and parts of men the Apostle tells the Saints at Ephesus that it passeth knowledge Eph. 3.19 Secondly In the objects of it not his friends as loving him any thing though his friends as loved by him not Saints or any excellent lovely ones but sinners enemies and he is a Mighty one that can love Enemies flesh and blood cannot do this Paul sets forth the greatness of the love of Christ by the objects of it Rom. 5.6 7 8. When we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly for scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man sâ—me would even dare to die but God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us he was so mighty in his love that he loved his greatest mightiest enemies even those that took away his life yea when they were taking it away at that instant when it was doing when he did hang on the crosse when they were in the heate of their malice and hatred against him he pray'd for the choicest blessing for them Luke 23.34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do Thirdly In the vertue and operation of it it did produce wonderfull effects it carried him out First To the lowest Condition love brought him from heaven to earth from the highest to the lowest estate from the throne to the dunghil Though he was Lord over all yet love made him a servant to all and that is the lowest condition to be a servant this the Apostle mentions as the infinite condescention of Christ Phil. 2.7 And this himselfe minded his Disciples of that he the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister Math. 20.28 I am among you as he that serveth Luk. 22.27 Secondly To the meanest services who though he was the most Mighty One yet so great was his love as that he did not onely condescend to men of low estate but to the lowest meanest services for them John 13. from the first to the seventeenth verse is a full testimony of his love in this respect that he their Lord and Master should wash his Disciples feet Thirdly To the Greatest sufferings both in life and death his life was a life of sorrow and trouble and his death was a a death of great paine and ignominy the cursed death of the Crosse Fourthly To the largest communications he hath witnessed the greatness of his love by the largeness of his gifts he hath given himselfe This the Apostle mentions as the evidence of the Greatness and excellency of his love to the Church Eph. 5.2 25. that he loved the Church and gave himselfe for it and not only himselfe to die for it but now that he liveth he communicateth freely to it of all spirituall blessings for whatsoever he hath heard or received of his father that he imparts to his friends Fourthly In the duration of it it is for ever he abides in his love towards them notwithstanding all their unkindnesses its immutable no length of time nor distance of place can worke any alteration in his love the injuries that we do to Christ although they have their fruit in discomfort and occasion the suspension of the manifestation of his love for a season which is a burden very grievous to be borne by a gracious soule yet these do not remove his love to his yea though he visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes yet his loving kindness shall continue with them in a word it is Everlasting love Jer. 31.3 Thirdly His self-deniall he was mighty in that he was higher and greater then any then all he had more then all others and yet he forsooke all for others he emptied himselfe of all never any so high and never any so low never any so rich and never any so poor as he never any so glorious and never any counted so vile and this not by
very account Christ loveth and nourisheth his Church Ephes 5.28 29 30. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodyes he that loveth his wife loveth himselfe For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but loveth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his Bones The Scriptures speaking of Christ as Mediator and Helper of his people do frequently stile him Man Son of man A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind c. There is one Mediator between God and men the MAN Christ Jesus as being in the same Nature with his people 1 Tim 2.5 Secondly A Communication in the same conditions and sufferings of his people in the same Nature and this inclines him to help those that are exercised with the same afflictions which he himself endured the Apostle doth insist much upon this Heb 2.16 17 18. Verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham wherefore in all things it behâ—ved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest c. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Christ hath been compassed about with troubles he hath been in all conditions that his servants have been or are in except sin he hath been reproached hated persecuted tempted c. and so knows how to have Compassion on such as are so used Heb 4.15 16. Thirdly Pity and Compassion A spirit of compassion inclineth those in whom it is to help such as are in trouble It is said of the Lord concerning his People Isa 63.9 In his love and in his pity he redeemed them and bare them and carryed them all the dayes of old Gods pity inclined him to such gracious actings towards them Christs heart being full of pitty and compassion is greatly enlarged towards his suffering servants His pity towards them sets his power and wisdom a work for them It was Christs compassion towards the multitude which moved him to put forth his power and work a miracle to feed them Mat. 16.32 And according to this method the man whose son had the dumb spirit prayed Mark 9.22 If thou canst do any thing have compassion on us and help us This is very cleerly set forth by Christ himself in the Parable of the wounded man whom the Priest and Levite passed by and helped not but the Samaritane when he saw him and had compassion on him Went to him and bound up his wounds pouring in Oyle and Wine and set him on his own beast and brought him to an Inne and took care on him Luke 10.30 31 32 33 34. Compassion inclines to Action and Christ being of greatest Compassion towards afflicted ones is most inclined to help them Thirdly Christ is greatly engaged to help his Servants Several things ingage Christ to help As First The interest that Christ hath in them They are Christs portion and inheritance yea his peculiar treasure which he most loveth and prizeth therefore cannot but help them in their difficulties and straits Upon this account God promised to help Jacâ—b Isa 43.1 2. Fear not O Jacob thou art Mine God challengeth Jacob to be his and then he promiseth his helping presence saying When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee c. The Physitian peradventure will help a stranger but much more the Patient in whom he hath an interest The chosen ones are Christs own his Father hath given him them and therefore he careth for them and keepeth them John 17.6 12. Neither are they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his goods but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath a very neer propriety in them they are a piece of himself and thereupon he is engaged to help them The Evangelist John takes notice of the love and the continuance of the love of Christ towards those in whom he had an interest towards his own Having loved his own which were in the world he speaks not of things but of persons he loved them unto the end John 13.1 Secondly The Relations that Christ stands in towards them engage him to help He is a Friend and one Friend is engaged to help another He is a Brother and Brethren are engaged to help one another Prov 17.17 He is a Shepherd and the Shepherd is engaged to help the Flock He is an Husband and the Husband is engaged to help the Wife He is a Father and the Father is engaged to help the Child Jer 31.8 9. He is a Lord and Master and the Lord and Master stands engaged to help save his Servants The Disciples when they were in danger of being drowned they beg'd his help upon the account of that Relation he stood in towards them saying Master carest thou not that we perish and like one engaged to help by vertue of that Relation he presently arose and rebuked the wind Mark 4.38 39. Thirdly The Promise of Christ is engaging Christ to help and he hath promised to be with his people and to carry them through all services and sufferings So much he promised to his Disciples Mat. 28.19 20. as also Mat. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them and Christ will not be idle in the midst of his people he will not barely behold them but graciously help and assist them in their several conditions And what a large promise of help doth Christ make to his Sheep John 10.28 I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand As if Christ should say I will stand by them and lay out my power for their help and preservation in every duty and danger which they may be called unto And though men little regard their promises yet Christ is faithfull and will perform every good thing which he hath promised unto his Servants to do for them 1 Thess 5.24 Fourthly The honour that Christ shall receive from his Servants whom he saves doth ingage him to help and save them out of their troubles for he shall deliver them and they shall glorifie him Psal 50.15 When he hath been their strength and help he shall be their Song according to that in Isaiah 12.3 The Lord Hebr JAH JEHOVAH is my strength and my song when the Lord hath holpen his people they shall praise him and rejoyce in his salvation The Church makes this an Argument to engage God to help her in her low estate Psal 85.6 7. Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoyce in thee Shew us thy mercy O LORD and grant us thy Salvation And that Christ shall be glorified in his Saints as well as they in him is a strong engagement upon Christ to help them For the further opening and
the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life and indeed it is now sufficient for salvation and therefore Christ is said to be able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb 7.25 And as the Intercession of Christ is of great use and help to a Christian in all cases so especially in these THREE CASES First In case of sin to that purpose are the words of John 1 Joh. 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous Secondly In case of Satans Temptations and designes against his servants so much may be gathered from the words of Christ Luke â—2 31 32. The Lord said Simon Simon behoâ—â— Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not Thirdly In case of sufferings It is through the help of Christ by his Intercession that the Elect are made Conquerours and more 〈◊〉 Conquerours in all their afflictions Faith felcheth its chiefe matter of Triumph over Tribulation distresse persecution famine nakedness peril sword c. from the Intercession of Christ Rom 8.34 c. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation c. And thus Christ helpes by the prevalency of his Intercession Branch 2. God hath Appointed Christ this Mighty One to be an help to his people God not man nor yet Christ He hath laid in Zion this usefull Corner Stone Isa 28.16 Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation a Stone a tried Stone a precious corner Stone a sure foundation God hath laid him and laid him for an help so that he that beleeveth on him shall not be confounded 1 Pet. 2.6 The Lord hath given him to be an help to the people so much the Lord saith by his Prophet Isa 42.6 7. I the LORD have called thee in Righteousnesse and will hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles To open the blind eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in darkness out of the Prison-house Yea he was fore-ordained before the Foundation of the world to be an help to Gods people though manifested in the last dayes for them 1 Pet. 1.21 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Reasons why God hath appointed Christ this Mighty One to be an help to his people Reas 1. Because the Lord saw there would be need of a Mighty One and that in severall regards as First The weakness of his people they being a feeble flock of a very little strength and the Lord loves to strengthen the weake hands Feare not thou Worme Jacob saith God I will help thee Isa 41.10 14. Chap. 35.3 Secondly The Difficulty of their worke It is not onely hard but impossible to flesh and blood to performe Every part of it is hard it is hard to beleeve hard to pray hard to deny a mans selfe hard to forsake father and mother wife children brethren and sisters houses and lands and a mans life too for Christs sake Luke 9.23 24. Luke 14.26 It is hard to keep the Commandements of God and the Faith of Jesus Rev 12.11 17. 14.12 And therefore God sent a Mighty One from heaven even his own Son to help his weak servants in all their difficult services Thirdly The Mightiness of their Adversaries who daily seek to hinder and trouble them in their work The Jewes that built the Temple at Jerusalem had mighty Adversaries who hindred them all that ever they could and the Lord put it into the hearts of Darius and Artaxerxes to help thâ—â— Ezra 6.1 7. Ezra 7.12 13. All the people of God may complaine with David That their persecutors are too strong for them neither do they wrestle onely against flesh and blood but against Principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places Ephe 6.12 And therefore the Lord sees it needfull to send them a Saviour and a Great one and he shall help and deliver them Fourthly Also the promised exaltation and establishment of his people For God hath promised that in the last dayes the Mountaine of the Lords house shall be established in the Top of the Mountaines and shall be exalted above the hils and all Nations shall flow unto it Isa 2.2 Mic. 4.1 That Jerusalem shall be a quiet habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken downe not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed neither shall any of the Cords thereof be broken Isa 33.20 Yea the Lord hath said of Zion I will make thee an eternal excellency a joy of many Generations Isa 60.15 But as yet the people of God are low Zion sits in the dust and is afflicted and tossed with Tempest as yet she is a Reproach and a taunt and a by-word among the Nations so that great things are yet to be done before she be clothed with her promisâ—â— glory But seeing the Lord hath loved her and purposed and promised that she shall be exalted and established for ever therefore hath he laid help upon one that is Mighty to do it for her even Christ Reas 2. For the honour and exaltation of Christ That he who hath borne so much shame and endured such contradiction of sinners against himselfe might be seene and knowne to be the Help Deliverer and Saviour of his people And therefore the Father is said to exalt him in this respect Him hath God exalted with his Right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Acts 5.31 And by this Christ shall have First The HONOVR of the Saints faith and confidence For in him they shall trust for help in their several conditions According to what was prophesied of him Isa 11.10 To him shall the Gentiles seek or in him shall the Gentiles trust as the Apostle explaines it Rom 15.12 It s honour to Christ that the Saints are looking to him for deliverance and salvation in their straits and Troubles Secondly The HONOVR of the Saints praises When they have found him to be their strength and help they will make him their Song and exalt him in their praises Isa 2.3 4. Their soules will be joyfull in him and rejoyce iâ—â—â—s salvation All their bones shall say LORD who is like unto thee which deliverest the poore from him that is too strong for him yea the poore and the needy from him that spoileth him All Christs saved and delivered ones will cry with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slaine and hath holpen us and Redeemed us to God by his blood out of every kindred
and tongue and people and Nation to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev 5 9-12 Object Some may say as Gideon to the Angel Judg. 6.13 Oh my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us If God hath appointed Christ That Mighty One to be aâ— help to his people why are they in so much trouble and distresse Answ 1. As the Lord hath appointed Christ to be an help so he hath also appointed a time for his people to suffer in For as Christ this Mighty One had a suffering time in respect of HIS PERSON in which he was set at nought and derided and persecuted both by people and Rulers before he entred into his Glory Luke 24.26 so he shall have in respect of his mysticall body the Saints before they enter into the promised rest and Glory Thus much God told Abraham when he appeared to him Gen. 15.13 14. saying Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them foure hundred yeares And also that Nation whom they shall serve will I Judge and afterward shall they come out with Great substance So likewise there was a time when the Lord said to Zedekiah King of Judah Bring your necks under the yoke of the King of Babylon and serve him and his people Jer 27.12 And they were to be quiet in that estate till seventy yeares were accomplished And there was a time wherein God would break his yoke from off his peoples neck and burst their bonds that strangers might no more serve themselves of them Jer 30.8 There is a day of Jacobs trouble and there is a time when he shall be saved out of it vers 7. And when the time to favour Zion yea the set time be come God will arise and have mercy upon her Psal 102.13 But the day of the Lords patience and his peoples sufferings must precede the day of his vengeance and his peoples salvation The servant as well as his Lord must suffer before he enter into Glory Rom 8.17 Secondly The Lord hath several wayes of helping his servants his help doth not consist onely in freeing them from sufferings but also in upholding and supporting them under sufferings so that they faint not in the evil day Thus the Lord promised to help Jacob Isa 41.10 Feare thou not For I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness With this way of help from the Lord the Apostle labours to encourage the Saints at Corinth in their Temptations 1 Cor 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be Tempted above that you are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to beare it Christ doth as well help his servants by keeping them from falling by Temptation as by delivering them out of temptation Thus Christ hath been is and will be the help of his people in their suffering day Thirdly Though Christ be Mighty to help and save to the uttermost all his â—â—rvants out of all their Troubles yet he seeth it meet in his infinite wisdome to help them sometimes but with a LITTLE help God granted Rehoboam and the Princes of Israel some Deliverance but not a full Deliverance a Deliverance from destruction but not from servitude and spoile 2 Chron 12.7 8 9. And thus God helped his people Israel in Ezra's dayes which he thankfully took notice of in his Confession and Prayer Ezra 9.7 8 9. For our iniquities have we our Kings and our Priests been delivered into the hand of the Kings of the Lands to the sword to captivity and to a spoil and to confusion of face as it is this day and now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God to leave us a Remnant to escape and to give us a Nail in his holy place that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage For we were bond men yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the Kings of Persia to give us a reviving c. It was the gracious Promise of God to his People whom he cast far off among the Heathen and scattered among the Countries That he would be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countryes where they should come Ezek 11.16 It is also said of those persecuted oppressed ones bâ—â—hose Mighty Kings mentioned Dan 11.34 They shall be holpen with a little help And therefore though Christ doth not help so eminently and fully as he will hereafter yet let us not undervalue his present help let us not say he helps not at all because he helps us but with a little help in comparison of what he will do He sees a little help is best for us at present and it is more than we deserve at his hands Fourthly The Deliverances and Salvation of Gods people are commonly carryed on in a Mistery Not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of God Gods Providence towards his Servants is as a Wheel in the midst of a Wheel as Ezek â— 16 whose motion and work and end in working is not discerned by a common eye Christ doth sometimes walk in the dark when he is helping his People as the loving father is contriving good for his child though the child perceiveth it not to this agreeth that of the Prophet Isaiah Ch 45. vers 15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour Yea God is sometimes in a way of deliverance with his People and their deliverance neer when he seems to ingage them to greater sufferings There is so much contained in that promise of God to Zion Micah 4.10 Be in pain and labour to bring forth O Daughter of Zion like a woman in travel for now shalt thou go forth out of the City and thou shalt dwell in the field and thou shalt go even to Babylon there shalt thou be delivered there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies We must not conclude that Christ doth not help us because we see not his hand lifted up Fifthly There is SOMETHING IN CHRISTS SERVANTS because of which he doth not sometimes help them as sometimes CHRIST DOTH NOT HELP sometimes First When his people do not beleeve do not trust nor stay upon him for help for he is an help to all them that trust in him for any one to distrust the Power and Faithfullnesse of Christ is to exclude himself from partaking of the benefit thereof When the children of Israel beleeved not the word of God the Lord did not help them but lifted up his hand against them to overthrow them in the wildernesse Psa 106.24 26.
and salvation is to walk contrary to their profession and that is a great evil also Vse III. From hence flow forth several streames of COMFORT to the people of the Lord in their various conditions and employments in this World It holds forth comfort to them First Against mightiest Adversaries They that hate the faithfull without a Cause are many they that would destroy them being their enemies wrongfully are mighty their persecutors are stronger than they Psal 142.6 But here is the Comfort of the Righteous they are not left alone to encounter with these Giants Christ the Captaine of salvation stands at their right hand to help them Psal 109.31 If the Devil stirre up Mighty Ones to hate and persecute Gods servants God answerable thereunto hath appointed a Mighty One yea a Mightier than they to be an help to his people When the Devil himselfe like a Roaring Lyon shall in any speciall manner seek to devoure them 1 Pet 1.8 Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah is at hand to help and deliver them Zac 3.1 2. Rev 5.5 It is the high priviledge of the Church of the living God that Christ the appointed helper thereof is mightier to save than the Devil and all enemies are to destroy Isa 63.1 Yea the very weakness of their Mighty helper and Saviour is stronger than their Adversaries 1 Cor 1.25 27. They may boldly say the Lord is our Helper we will not feare what man shall do unto us Heb 13.6 With this Luther comforted and encouraged himselfe against many and Mighty Adversaries saying Ego habeo qui causam defendat etiamsi totus mundus in me solum insaniat I have one that can defend my Cause although the Whole World should be in a rage against me alone Secondly Comfort against greatest difficulties When the people of God consider what great and hard things even impossible to flesh and blood the Lord hath required at their hands as to Deny themselves to forsake all for Christs sake to confesse him before men and so to walk even as he walked in this world And also compare their great work with their own little strength they are sometimes much discouraged and ready to faint in their work and to say almost despairing Who is sâ—fficient for these things Indeed the strongest are not sufficient of themselves as of themselves to performe the least part of the Lords will as they ought yet the least and weakest of the Saints through Christ that Mighty One helping are well able to overcome all difficulties According to this the Apostle Paul speaks Phil 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Surely it must needs be matter of great joy and comfort to Gods fearing and trembling servants because of difficulties to heare of and experience such an alsufficiency of help as is in Christ for them Thirdly Comfort against deepest troubles Sometimes God shews his people hard things and make them to drinke the wine of Astonishment Psal 60.3 They are sometimes troubled on every side innumerable evils compassing them about Psal 40.12 so that they know not what to do nor how to escape But the Father of mercies will not leave his children to perish in the deep waters of Affliction but hath provided help for them in that estate a Saviour in time of trouble Jacob must have a time of trouble but he shall be saved out of it Jer 30.7 This was Davids faith in his low estate Psal 71.20 21. Thou which hast shewed me great and sore troubles shalt quicken me againe and shalt bring me up againe from the depths of the Earth thou shalt increase my greatness and comfort me on every side And let all the faithfull servants of the Lord who are this day in the deep even overwhelmed with troubles lift up their heads and rejoyce in this grace of God in laying help upon one that is Mighty to redeeme Israel out of all his Troubles Psal 130.8 Fourthly Comfort against weakest Instruments of help He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength Isa 40. at the end If the Instruments he intend to use in his work be dull he can sharpen them He can make the Worm Jacob a new sharp threshing Instrument having teeth to thresh the Mountaines and beat them small Isa 41.14 15. And if the iron be blunt and he do whet the edge he hath so much strength to put to as he can make it do execution to cut asunder what he will have cut asunder It is nothing with him to help whether with many or with few or with them that have no power 2 Chron 14.11 Therefore let the servants of Christ be comforted and encouraged in the Mightiness of their Lord to help though they see nothing but foolish weak base and despised things in his hand to make use of for their deliverance It s the manner of Christ and he gets honour thereby to help by such things he hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised yea things which are not to bring to nought things that are 1 Cor 1.27 The Mightiness of the Agent is an encouragement against the weakness of the meanes Object But many put away from themselves this breast of consolation and object against this Doctrine First Some saying they are not worthy that Châ—ist should help them And though God hath appointed him to be an help to his people yet he will not arise to the help of such obstinate and rebellious ones as they have been and are Answ Christ is a free undeserved help and none of those whose help he hath been were ever worthy of it But he hath remembred his people in their low estate and redeemed them from many enemies and evils not because of their merits but because his mercy endureth for ever The children of Israel were a rebellious and stiffnecked people and yet the Lord saved and delivered them many a time And the Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot save nor his goodness abated that he should not still help his people notwithstanding their unworthiness Secondly Some say that they are of froward discontented and peevish spirits under troubles and Afflictions and Christ will not help such Answ Such a frame and carriage of any of the servants of Christ must needs be a griefe and trouble to his soule but yet their hope of help from him in time of need is not hereby cut off The children of Israel were a froward murmuring generation and yet the most high God was their help from time to time The tender-hearted mother is as ready to succour and help her froward discontented child that cryes night and day as the rest of her children And surely Christs succour and help extends as farre as any mothers on earth Thirdly Some say That Christ hath