freely sent and he freely came to the help of sinners Christ himself gives this account of his Fathers giving him to help and save John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life It was Gods love not the worlds not his peoples desert that prevailed with him to give his Son And the Apostle Paul gives the same account of Christs giving himself for his Church Ephes 5.25 Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it so that Christ is both in respect of his Father and himself also a free help Eighthly He is a TRYED EXPERIMENTED HELP There hath been proof made of him and all the faithful in their several Generations have found Christ an help to them in their various conditions so that they can set to their Seal that he is an Help And Christ hath abundantly manifested himself an Helper and Saviour of his people in the time of their trouble he hath saved many a sinner he hath succoured many a tempted One he hath healed many a wounded One he hath set free many a Captive he hath comforted many a mourner he hath strengthned many a weak One he hath given rest to many a weary soul he hath carryed many through manifold temptations and preserved them unto his Heavenly Kingdom Yea all the Saints in glory can testifie and say we were weake faint and insufficient ones for the worke whereunto we were called we were tempted reproached afflicted hated persecuted but Christ helped us to do all our work and he delivered us out of all our troubles Ninthly He is a GENERAL uNIVERSAL HELP an help in all cases in cases wherein others cannot help for there is nothing too hard for Christ Jer. 32.17.27 Gods servants stand in need of help First In respect of service and work which they have to do Christ is an help in that regard he works all their works in them and for them yea He worketh in them both to will and to do Phil 2.13 John 15.5 By him it is not onely in respect of Acceptance but Assistance also that they offer up their spiritual sacrifices to God Would any pray it is not onely through his merit that they have access with confidence Eph. 2.13 18. but it is his Spirit that helpeth their infirmities when they know not what they should pray for as they ought Rom 8.26 Would any one praise the Lord that sacrifice also is to be offered up by him Heb 13.15 By him let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually Yea whatever the Saints do must be through his help and so they can do all things Phil. 4.13 Secondly In respect of trouble and sufferings For Gods Servants of themselves neither know how to suffer nor yet to free themselves from sufferings but Christ is an help in both cases for though his succouring them in Temptation his comforting them in Tribulation and supporting them in Affliction they are able to bear their Burthens and by and through him helping them they know how to be abased how to be hungry and suffer need how to be persecuted and hated of all men for his names sake 2 Cor 4.10 11. yea they can suffer as well as do All things through Christ which strengthneth them Phil 4.12 13. Neither is he an help onely in trouble but also a Deliverer out of Trouble for he takes away reproach from his people he wipes away tears from their eyes he breaks yokes from off their necks he removes burdens from off their shoulders and banisheth fears from their hearts in a word he rebukes Satan and reproves Kings for their sakes Psal 105.14 and sets them in safety from every one that puffeth at them Psal 12.5 They that write the storyes of Egypt report that there is no Country in which there are so many venemous Creatures and no Country hath so many Antidotes against poyson as are there there is no people that have so many Troubles as faithful Christians and none have so much help both in and from trouble as they have And that HELP is CHRIST Quest How is Christ an help Answ Chiefly FIVE Wayes First By the vertue and efficacy of his DEATH For though the Death of others speak forth their inability and incapacity to help any longer yet Christs death is so far from being his weakness and his ceasing to help any further that it is of wonderfull power and efficacy and a standing abiding help to his weak Servants The Apostle Paul in his Triumphant challenge to the enemies of Gods elect layes much weight upon the help of Christ in this respect Rom 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that Justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed Yea the Death of Christ is of such great power and efficacy as that the Gracious soul from thence as from a Fountain of all good receiveth daily supplyes of strength and help in every time of need to the making it victorious over all evils and enemies whatsoever It is of such vertue as that it appeaseth a Rom 3.25 the wrath of God it weakneth and wasteth the body b Rom 6.6 of sin it c 2 Tim 1.10 abolisheth death and destroyeth him d Heb 2.14 that had the power of death that is the Devil Neither is the death of Christ the price onely of our Redemption from manifold deserved evils but the purchase also of our glorious heavenly inheritance For hereby he hath procured eternal life for all those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality Rom 2.7 Hereby also he confirms the Testament and Covenant of Grace to his people For where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator For a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength at all whilest the Testator liveth Heb 9.16 17. And thus Christ is an help by the vertue of his Death Secondly By the Excellency of his EXAMPLE An Example a Copy or a President is an help and for an help and in that Christ hath given us his Example he thereby helpeth us the more excellent also the Example is the greater is its help and there is an excellency in Christs example whereby he helpeth them much that follow him It is the Prime Chief and absolute Example not regulated by any other but all other to be conformed to it and therefore we are to be followers of others onely as they are of him The Apostle Paul would not press his own Example upon the Corinthians but with this limitation 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ But the Example of Christ affords a certainty to the soul what to follow and hold to and so becomes a choice help and furtherance to a Christian in his walk above the Example
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
is a King and that is an office which speaks might and power a King notes Supremacie in respect of others 1 Pet. 2.13 but Christ is not onely a King and mighty in that regard but also a Mighty King a King above all other Kings he is a King higher than the Kings of the earth Psal 89.27 The Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 Lord of Lords and King of Kings Rev. 17.14 He is a mighty King First In himselfe and that especially in two things First In majesty and glory excellent majesty is upon him The Psalmist singing of him and his kingdome saith Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O most mighty with thy glory and thy majesty and in thy majesty ride prosperously c. Psal 45.3 4. See a â—lymspe of his glory in his Type Soâ—â—mon The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel and bestowed upon him such Royall majesty as had not been on any King before him in Israel yet behold a Greater than Solomon is here for Solomon in all his Glory was not arrayed like unto Christ of this Glory the Apostles had a sight according to the words of Peter We were eye-witnesses of his Majesty for he received from God the Father honour and Glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. And Paul stiles him even him that was crucified The Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.8 Secondly In wisdome and understanding he was and is greater and above all others both men and Angels in understanding There was excellent Wisdome found in Daniel but there was more and more excellent in Christ God gave Solomon wisdome and understanding exceeding much and largeness of heart even as the sand that is on the Sea-shore and Solomons wisdome excelled the wisdome of all the children of the East Country and all the wisdome of Egypt for he was wiser than all men and all the Earth sought to him to heare his wisdome which God had put in his heart 1 Kings 4.29 30 31. 1 Kings 10.33 But behold a Greater than Solomon is here in this respect Math. 12.42 Even he in whom are hid all the Treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2.3 The very wisdome of God 1 Cor. 1.24 Secondly He is Mighty in his Subjects two things considerable in his Subjects which speak forth his Mightiness First Their Mightiness his Subjects are Saints and Nations and both sorts are mighty his Saints are excellent ones Subjects of the highest ranke they are Kings and Priests being advanc'd to that Dignity by himselfe Rev. 1.6 Men of other spirits redeemed from among men who have all Earthly things under their feet such as regard not Silver nor yet delight in Gold The Law of the mouth of their King being better to them than thousands of Gold and Silver as also men of valiant and couragious spirits for the honour of their King upon Earth not loving their lives unto the Death Rev. 12.11 The Nations of the Earth also are full of Mighty Ones men of high degree and all the Kings Princes Potentates Rulers chiefe Captaines Great Lords all the Mighty men of Valour all the Worthies and men of Renowne and all the wise and Honourable ones of the Earth are his Subjects the excellency and mightiness of the Subjects speak forth the mightiness of the King how mighty must he needs be who have all the mighty Kings and Princes of the world under him Secondly Their multitude he hath more Subjects than any if Solomons Subjects were so great a people that could not be numbred nor counted for multitude how great and numerous or rather innumerable are Christs Subjects who are all people Nations and Languages Dan. 7.14 And these are not onely his Subjects in respect of the Right and extent of his Dominion but also in respect of their submission and obedience to him for all Dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7.14 27. Yea all kingdomes shall resolve into his kingdome The joyfull sound of the Seaventh Angel and the great voices in Heaven which John heard proclaimed the largeness and amplitude of the kingdome of this King saying The kingdomes of this World are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever and ever and if in the multitude of people is the Kings Honour Pro. 14.28 then surely he is a mighty and honourable one that hath such multitudes under him Thirdly He is mighty in his Rule and Administration both towards his loyall Subjects and desperate Enemies The Administration of Christ towards his faithfull ones is chiefly in two things in both which he appeares to be Mighty First Preservation for he preserveth the faithfull even all them that love him he is mighty to save and defend them against all the mighty ones that rise up against them he hath been and is a strength to the poore a strength to the needy in distresse a refuge from the storme a shaddow from the heate when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storme against the wall The Psalmist singing of him and his kingdome saith He shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poore also and him that hath no helper he shall save the soules of the needy he shall redeeme their soules from deceit and violence Psal 72.12 13 14. And for this reason the Prophet Zephany calls upon Zion to sing and rejoyce The King of Israel even the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evil any more The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is Mighty he will save Zeph. 3.14 15 17. And this is the confidence of his Subjects The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us Isa 33.22 And he is not onely mighty to save their bodies from destruction but to save their soules from sin and death for that was the reason which the Angel gave Joseph before Christ was borne why he should be called Jesus Math. 1.21 Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins And in this he is mightier than all other Kings who cannot deliver any of their Subjects soules none of them can by any meanes redeem their Subjects nor yet their own soules but stand in need of this Mighty One to save them Secondly Remuneration he is not unrighteous to forget the worke and labour of love which any of his Subjects do shew towards his Name but will give reward unto his servants the Prophets and to the Sâ—ints and them that feare his Name small and great and his Reward is great becoming such a Mighty King to bestow he will plentifully reward all his faithfull constant Followers and his reward is First Everlasting life This Christ promised to his self-denying
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
to spoil his goods Luke 11.21 22. therefore COMMIT ALL TO HIM I. Commit your SOULS to him They are your most precious Treasure therefore it doth greatly concern you to look well to them especially in perilous times that they may be safe commit therefore the keeping of your souls to this Mighty One 1 Pet. 4.19 who alone is able to keep you from falling by the hand of any temptation persecution corruption or whatsoever may annoy or indanger you in the way to his Heavenly Kingdome he is the Great Shepherd and Bishop of souls who can preserve feed and nourish them unto eternal life 1 Pet. 2.25 Luther was wont to say Let him that dyed for my soul see to the salvation of it II. Commit your BODIES to him for he is mighty to help and save them also he is ABLE TO HELP AND SAVE THEM First In case of service When the Lord Christ calls his People to his work they oft neglect it with this pretence their bodies are so weak that they cannot do what is required this is sometimes the Ministers Plea for his negligence he is so weak that he cannot Preach much nor oft the Peoples Plea for not hearing we cannot go so far or we cannot sit so long we cannoâ— visit the sick at a distance our bodyes wilâ— not away with journeying This hath been many a Believers Plea for not being baptized their bodies cannot bear it surely say they God doth not call us thus to afflict and endanger our bodyes he will havâ— mercy and not sacrifice But let such know that the Lord Jesus Christ who hath boughâ— the Body as well as the Spirit doth requirâ— to be glorified in with and by the bodyes oâ— his People and seeing he is mighty to help in this respect namely to fit and strengthen the weak bodyes of his Servants in his work as they have oft found by experience it should greatly encourage and engage them to givâ— them up to watching fasting labouring sacrifice or whatever service the Lord shall call them to do Rom 12.1 Secondly In case of sickness and diseases This the Lord commandeth by his Servant James and encourageth to by a gracious promise of help in that respect James 5.14 15. Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with oyl the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up And this was the Primitive Practice both Saints and People committed their bodyes to him and were holpen he healed them all yea many were healed and many signs and wonders were done by the Name of Gods holy Child Jesus in the Apostles dayes Acts 4.30 Acts 8.5 7. 3.6 and therefore let us commit our bodies to this Mighty One let us make him our Physitian he is able to help and heal Thirdly In case of sufferings When you be called to suffer in your bodies whether stripes buffetings imprisonments hunger thirst cold nakednesse or death for the sake of Christ be not fearful nor careful but commit your bodyes and every part thereof to him who is mighty to help in this respect also both to prepare fit and strengthen the body for the enduring these and the like afflictions and also to keep it that it shall not be lost nor perish in any of its sufferings no not a hair or bone thereof Phil 3.21 Luke 21.18 Psal 34.20 but though it dye it shall live again he will raise it in power and glory 1 Cor. 15.43 and therefore men are said only to kill the body not utterly to destroy it Mat. 10.28 III. Commit your Estates to him He is able and he will either keep your estates for you as some of his Servants who have been willing to part with them have experienced whilest others distrusting and not committing them into his hands but seeking to save them have lost them or if you part with them for his sake he will help you to live of a little yea to live more comfortably of a little than you did of a great deal he will make your little that you have in a way of righteousness better than great Revenues without right Pro 16.8 And this Gods People have often experienced and found that saying of Christ verified Luke 12.15 viz That a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth and at last he will restore them with encrease no less than an hundred fold according to those incouraging words of his to his self-denying Disciples Math. 19.29 Mark 10.29 30. Neither shall they onely have more but better things than they lose for Brass they shall have Gold and for Iron they shall have Silver and for Wood Brasse and for Stones Iron for carnall things they shall have spiritual and for temporal things they shall have eternal 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. Thus will Christ blesse the latter end of his faithfull followers more than their beginning IV. Commit your NAMES to him he is mighty to help his Servants in that respect also And either he will keep up your Names and Reputations among men that your very enemies shall be forced to speak well of you and to acknowledge that you are more righteous than they Or if your Names be covered and buried under reproach and disgrace yet he will raise them up again He will bring forth your righteousnesse as the light and your Judgement as the noon-day Psal 37.2 Yea the time is a coming when he will take away the reproach and rebuke of his people from off all the earth and make them a name and a praise among all people Isa 25.8 Zeph 3.20 V. Commit his CAUSE to him His Cause is the best cause in all the world it is no other thing than truth and righteousnesse it self and it becometh his Servants to do what they can to help it forward but yet not to be so solicitous and careful for it as if the promoting of it depended onely upon them but when they have done what they can to leave it to him who is able to plead and maintain his own Cause against all the enemies thereof What though Truth and Righteousnesse be fallen in the streets and seem to lye dead and buried and almost forgotten by many yea what though instead of Truth there be Errour instead of holinesse there be prophanesse instead of judgement there be oppression and instead of righteousnesse a cry yet he is able to raise up his own Cause and will do it For he shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgement yea till he have established Truth and Righteousnesse in the Earth Isa 42.4 Therefore let none of the followers of Christ be discouraged if at any time the Cause of their Lord do not prosper in their hands according to the desires of their hearts but commit it to him to mannage who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working Isa
28.29 This did David Psal 74.22 saying Arise O God plead thy own cause As also Luther who was wont to say when the Cause of God was low in his hand It is Gods Cause let him look to it Sixthly Commit YOUR OWN CAUSE to him Other Mighty ones may be neglect and condemn your Righteous Cause this Mighty One the Lord Christ who is higher than the highest regardeth and pleadeth the Cause of his People yea he will throughly plead their cause In confidence of this grace of God the Church of old resolving to be quiet under the present dispensation committed her cause to the Lord as appears from those words recorded Micah 7.8 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him untill he plead my Cause and execute judgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse then she that is mine enemy shall see it and shame shall cover her which said unto me Where is the Lord thy God When Davids enemies digged pits for his soul and rejoyced over him wrongfully and devised deceitfull matters against them that were quiet in the Land and opened their mouth wide against him saying Aha aha our eye hath seen it He committed his cause to the Lord Psal 35.22 23. This thou hast seen O Lord keep not silence O Lord be not far from me stir up thy selfe and awake to my judgement even unto my cause my God and my Lord. Thus did Jeremy also when his enemies devised devices against him Jeremy 11.20 20.10 11 12. Let then the upright Ones of the earth when they are oppressed and wronged by the wicked of the world be of good cheer and not faint in their minds but commit all to the Lord Jesus Christ who is Mighty to clear and justifie them and to take vengeance for them Seventhly Commit your WORK to him All your work and way especially your difficult work wherein you most need his help look for it God hath appointed him to be an help and he is free to help yea to work all your works in you and FOR you Isa 26.12 Eighthly Commit your CONDITIONS to him Yea let all both the Wicked and the Righteous both Sinners and Saints commit their conditions to him I. SINNERS Commit your Conditions to him that you may not perish in your iniquities he onely can help you First There is no other name under Heaven given among men whereby you can be saved Acts 4.12 Neither is there need of any other forasmuch as he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Heb. 6.7 And therefore hasten away from the Devil world and your own selves and all vanities lest they be your ruine and commit your Conditions to him and you shall find help and healing of all your wounds and in the end everlasting life Acts 13.38 39. Secondly Are you laden with sin so that you cannot look up with any confidence or cheerfulnesse of spirit Psal 40.12 Despair not do not say There is hope as Jer 2.25 Christ hath both power to forgive and destroy sin his blood can cleanse from all sin Mat. 11.28 1 John 1.7 9. His Spirit can crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8.11 13. Thirdly Are you ignorant of the way of salvation Do you sit in great darkness God hath given him to be a Light to the Gentiles to open the blind eyes Isa 42.6 7. and he can make you that are darknesse light in the Lord as those in Eph 5.8 him self hath said That he is the light of the world and he that followeth him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of Life John 8.12 Fourthly Are you the Devils Captives and Slaves to do his will Jesus Christ can deliver you from that servitude also he can turn you as he hath others from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.18 to be his Servants and Sons blessed for ever Yea however it is with you he can help you therefore to day while it is called to day while he tenders his help and salvation do not neglect it lest hereafter when you call and cry to him for it he refuse to hear you at all Heb 2.3 3.7 11. Prov 1.22 23 24. II. SAINTS Commit your Conditions to him also your most afflictive Conditions Cast all your burthens upon him according to that word Psal 5.22 Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee I. Commit your OVTWARD CONDITIONS to him all your bodily concernments and troubles As First Your Reproach he is mighty to roll it away Jos 5.9 And he will assuredly bring forth the righteousnesse of his people as the light and their judgement as the noon day Psal 37.6 Secondly Your Poverty and low estate as it is said Psal 10.14 The poor committeth himself to thee thou art the helper of the fatherlesse It is the work of this Mighty One to deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper Psal 72.12 Thirdly Your oppressions and persecutions he can deliver from them he can and will burst every band and take off every yoke and also break in pieces the oppressor Psal 72.4 II. Commit your INWARD SPIRITVAL Conditions to him First All the troubles and burthens of your spirits which are most heavy and hard to bear as it is written A wounded spirit who can bear Prov 18.14 Make use of the arm of Christ which he stretcheth out for your help your souls support and salvation and come to him according to his gracious invitation all you that are weary and heavy laden and he will give you rest Mat. 11. at the end and you shall find help in every time of need Heb 4. Secondly Are you such as the Devil tempteth and thrusts sore against that you might fall Commit that condition to Christ that he may be your helper therein forasmuch as he is appointed of God and in that himself hath suffered being tempted is able to succour them that are tempted Heb 2.18 And to keep you from falling Jude 24. Thirdly Have you been overcome by the Tempter Still look unto Christ who is mighty to recover you out of the snare of the Devil to raise you up again 1 Joh. 3.8 Fourthly Are you men and women of sorrowfull spirits and full of heavinesse Lye at the feet of him whom God hath sent to comfort all that mourn to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to give unto them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse Isa 61.2 3. Fifthly Do you find a Combate within you the flesh lusting against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh so that you are hindred from doing the good you would Gal. 5.17 and sometimes brought into captivity to the Law of sin that you even cry out like wretched undone men Who shall deliver us from the body of this
death Rom 7.19 23 24. Commit this condition to Christ also who is able to subdue your corruptions and to set your souls above your lusts and to make you as he did Paul victorious over all evil so that you shall say with him in the like condition We thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom 7.25 1 Cor 15.57 USE Put your selves into Christs service There are TWO THINGS usually discourage souls from Christs worke the Mightinesse of Christ to help doth encourage against both First DIFFICVLTY Christs service is apprehended to be hard and difficult and the soul that is sometimes somewhat inclined to it doth ordinarily put it off with these or the like arguings I cannot perform it if I should undertake it if I should profess Christ I shall not hold fast my profession but dishonour him by apostacy if I should name his Name and not depart from iniquity I had better make no mention of him I know I shall never be able to pray as others do nor so to learn nor understand the Mysteries of the Kingdome nor to deny my self and forsake all for Christ and therefore I had as good abide aâ— I am and not mind things that are TOO high and HARD for me You know what Answer Christ made to his Disciples in the like case Math. 19.26 With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible And though of your selves as of your selves you are not sufficient for the least of those things 2 Cor. 3.6 yet through the help of Christ you may perform them all he can make the dullest to understand and the weakest mighty to do his will and it is his work to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees and to make them that are of a fearfull heart bold and strong yea he performeth all things for his Servants And thus through Christ strengthning of them they experience his burthen to be light and his yoke easie Mat. 11.29 Therefore let not the thoughts nor fears of difficulty hold any off from Christs service seeing he is so able to help Secondly The other Discouragement DANGER He that engageth in Christs work heartily and throughly exposeth himself to danger as some men count danger his Name Liberty Estate and Life it self is in danger of being lost and the consideration of these things keeps off many from professing and serving Christ according to his pure and glorious Gospel But to Answer But what though dangers be many and great it is enough to encourage to his work that Jesus Christ is a Great One and a Saviour mighty to help and deliver in and out of dangers it was dangerous in the eyes of men for Shadrach Meshach and Abednego not to worshâ—p the Golden Image which Nebuchadnezzar the King sat up as the generality of the people did for they were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace and yet they were safe there having the Son of God with them who did so keep them that they had no hurt Dan 3. It was dangerous for Daniel contrary to the Kings Decree to pray three times a day his Windows being open in his Chamber towards Jerusalem for he was cast into the Lions den and yet he was safe there God sent his Angel and shut the Lions mouths so that no manner of hurt was found upon him Dan 6.10 It was dangerous also for Esther to go in to the King contrary to Law And yet it made way both for her own and her peoples preservation and safety It was dangerous likewise for the Apostles and primitive Saints to preach and practise contrary to the commands of the Rulers and customes of the people And yet Jesus Christ being with them according to his promise to help and strengthen them in their work they did wonderfully prevaile and prosper as in Acts 4.18 19 20 29. Acts 5.17 18 19 20-28 29-38 40 41 42. Therefore let not feare of danger hinder any from yeelding up themselves to the service of Christ And you that are so carefull to avoyd danger consider that you bring your selves into the greatest danger by declining his work While you seek to save your selves you loose your souls and selves While you study to escape the danger of mans hatred and wrath you fall into danger of the displeasure of the most high God yea into danger of eternal Damnation Math 16.25 26. Mark 8 34-38 VSE of CAVTION Take heed you do not abuse this Doctrine of the help of Christ. First That you be not idle and negligent It was never the purpose of the Father in his Appointment of Christ to help nor yet of Christ in his willingness and readiness thereunto to exempt his people from any duty but to strengthen and encourage them against every difficulty therein Christs help is not to indulge the flesh but to quicken the dull spirits of his servants Yea the Doctrine of the help of Christ is so farre from being a principle of loosness and slothfulness as that it engageth and worketh up the soules of those that do understand it aright unto a faithfull vigorous and cheerfull performance of the will of God And indeed Christs help doth suppose as his peoples weakness so their willingness and diligence The help of another doth imply that he that is holpen is exercised and doing what he can in his businesse And therefore when Christ is helping be you a working lest you provoke him to anger through your slothfulness for the same Lord Jesus Christ who helpeth the weak and willing will condemne the slothfull servant Math 25.26 This is not spoken to deject those that are grieved and would grieve more for their own slothfulness Secondly That you do not lâ—mit Christ It was the Jewes fault of old for which God was so angry with them They limited the holy one of Israel Psal 78. therefore do not limit this Mighty one and his help at all First Not to MEANS that either he must help by this or that means by this or that person or persons or else not at all This is too usuall among men Naaman will prescribe meanes and limit Elisha to them to accomplish the cure of his Leprosie He was wroth and said Behold I thought he will surely come out to me and stand and call upon the Name of the Lord his God and stroke his hand over the place and recover the Leper Are not Abana and Pharpar rivers of Damascus better than all the Rivers of Israel may I not wash in them and be clean 2 Kings 5.11 12. This was also Moses's fault God bade him speak to the Rock and he neglected that and instead thereof he smote it twice Numb 20.8 11. And surely iâ— is very dishonourable to Christ and unbecoming Saints to limit him to means that can help by what he pleaseth and hath usually holpen and saved his people by weak and foolish things and things