he hath undertaken to do by his own Power is really to dishonour him Fourthly To all Despisers and Contemners of Christ For though he is mighty yet he is despised and rejected of men This was and is the sin of the Jews they so far despised him that they denyed him and desired a murtherer to be granted unto them Acts 3.14 And they call him at this day in contempt Talvi the hanged man and his Disciples The followers of the hanged man And this evil is common among the Gentiles also yea multitudes of those that name the name of Christ are guilty of this iniquity so vile and abominable are many as to despise him in their hearts and works whom in words they professe to honour as their Prince and Saviour The very Turks will condemn such Christians for it is said They suffer no man to blaspheme Christ but honour him and speak reverently of him though they do exceedingly vilifie Christians for being so unlike to him The greatness and danger of this evil the Apostle sets forth in his Epistle to the Hebrews Chap 10. vers 28 29. He that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much soarer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God Wherefore then are ye not affraid to despise and speak against this mighty One. Vse 4. Of TERROR to the wicked For if Christ be so mighty where shall the sinner and ungodly the Enemies of this Mighty One appear 1 Pet. 4.17 18. Surely they shall be broken in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 2. they shall perish and be as the fat of Lambs they shall consume into smoak shall they consume away Psal 37.20 for they will not be able to stand before this mighty One when he cometh to judge the earth in righteousnesse it will be ill especially with these First The Refusers of his Grace those that now make nothing to refuse him and his grace that speaketh from Heaven shall not be able to escape the severity of this Mighty One against them for despising the riches of his goodnesse Rom 2.3 4. for they that have slighted his greatest love must look to endure his fiercest wrath One main end of his coming in great power and glory is to punish such 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. He shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Secondly The Opposers of his Reigne For this Mighty One will not spare neither will he have pity nor have mercy on them His fury against such is fully set forth in the Parable recorded Luke 19.27 where he saith But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me He speaks it not of such that gladly would though sin prevails but of them that would it not Thirdly The Oppressors of his servants For though men now count it a small matter which God calls a mighty sin Amos 5.12 To afflict the just and oppresse the poor and say that God regards it not yet this Mighty One will arise and take vengeance for them and that to purpose for he shall break in pieces the Oppressor Psal 72.4 yea he shall cut him in sunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Matth. 24.49.51 Fourthly The Scoffers at his coming For those that now mock and scoffe saying Where is the promise of his coming as those in 2 Pet. 3.3 4. they shall find that the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is no devised fable Chap. 1.16 but a real yea a powerful appearance against them to their destruction as Isa 5.28 29. Who may abide the day of his coming And who shall stand when he appeareth Malachi 3.2 This Doctrine speaks terror more especially to the great and mighty Ones of the Earth for against them will Christ appear with greatest indignation He shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath and he shall wound the heads over many Countreys Psal 110.5 6. Yea he will be so terrible to them that they shall not know how to endure him but seek by any means to hide themselves from him Revel 6.14 15 16. The Kings of the Earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men and every bond-man and every free-man hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains and said to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the Great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand And CHRIST will be MOST TERRIBLE TO THEM Reas 1. Because it is a just and righteous thing that he should be so seeing they are not onely most of them against him for not many mighty not many noble are called 1 Cor. 4.26 but they are often his greatest Enemies do most despise and reject him and oppose his Kingdome and Power hence saith the Psalmist The Kings of the Earth set themselves and the Rulers take Councel together against the Lord and against his ANOINTED Psal 2.2 The Great men have altogether broken the Yoke and burst the Bonds Jeremy 5.5 And Christ accepteth not the persons of Princes nor regardeth the rich more than the poor but will render to every one according to his works they that offend most against him must look to suffer most from him Reas 2. Because it is to his honour for by this he gets himselfe a great name of strength and power having and exercising Dominion over the mighty he is the more feared and glorified of men The Prophet Isaiah tells us Chap 2. That the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud end lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and he shall be brought low upon all the Cedars of Lebanon that are high upon all the Oaks of Bashan upon all the high mountains and upon all the high hills that are lifted up and upon every high Tower and upon every fenced Wall upon all the Ships of Tharshish and upon all pleasant Pictures and the loftinesse of man shall be bowed down and the haughtinesse of men shall be made low and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day vers 12 13 14 15 16 17. Christ doth therefore ingage with the Mighty because he shall be exalted in their fall especially Quest If Christ be such a Mighty One why do the wicked live become old yea are mighty in power flourish and prosper in the world and go so long unpunished Answ Dost thou not know that the wicked are reserved to the day of destruction they shall be
and what God hath anointed and appointed Christ to do the Saints may beleeve and hope for Thirdly It shews the righteousnesse faithfullnesse and goodnesse of God in his commands to and dealings with his people He is no hard Master looking to reap where he hath not sown nor to gather where he hath not strawed but as he hath appointed work for his people to do and afflictions for them to endure so he hath appointed and provided help for every imployment and condition Fourthly It shews whence it is that the people of God have been and are able to do such great things it is not of nor from themselves but from Christ their helper and help It was the Lords bâ—ing with and helping his Servants of old which made them do so valiantly and worthily It was not by the Apostles own power and holiness but by the name of the Holy Child Jesus Gods appointed help and helper that so many signes and wonders were done by them Acts 3.12 4.30 Hence saith Paul Phil 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me 1 Cor 15.10 II. VSE of REPROOFE First To the prophane ones of the world who insult and triumph over Gods people as if they were altogether helpless and utterly forsaken yea they say concerning the Righteous There is no help in God for him Psal 3.2 God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him Psal 71.11 This Doctrine tells such that they lie and speak not the truth and which is worse they make God a liar for God hath sworn it by his holiness that he will not lie herein Psal 89.35 19. and saith I have laid help and help enough help upon one that is mighty and they say there is no help for him And thus do many contradict the Lord himselfe but they shall one day finde that God is true and they are liars Jer 44.28 for God will performe every Good word which he hath spoken concerning the help deliverance and salvation of his people as Jos 21.45 Jos 23. 14. I shall onely say to such speak no more so foolishly Secondly To the proud ones of the earth who trust in themselves and in their own works for salvation saying in their hearts though not with their tongues that there is no need of the help of Christ no need of his being made to them Wisdome Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor 1.30 hereby frustrating the grace of God and making the death of Christ of none effect Gal 2.21 Such will one day finde though now they say they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing that they are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked and stand in need of his gold that they may be rich and of his white rayment that they may be clothed that the shame of their nakedness may not appeare Rev. 3.17 8. Let such heare and consider what God speaks to them Isa 50.11 Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled this shall ye have of mine hand ye shall lie downe in sorrow As also what Christ saith in his parable Luke 18.9 10 11 12 13 14. Two men went up into the Temple to pray the one a Pharisee and the other a Publican The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himselfe God I thanke thee that I am not as other men are extortioners unjust Adulterers or even as this Publican I fast twice in the week I give tithes of all that I possesse And the Publican standing a farre off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be mercifull to me a sinner I tell you this man went downe to his house justified rather than the other Thirdly This also reproves those that trust in their own strength for preservation and deliverance from danger that say in their hearts We will deliver our selves our own swords shall save us as also those that conceit their own hands sufficient for their designes How proudly did Pharaoh speak Exod 15.9 I will pursue I will overtake I will divide the spoil my lust shall be satisfied upon them my hand shall destroy them And yet he was so far from being able to performe his enterprise that he and all his host miserably perished in the mighty waters Sennacherib likewise was so confident of prevailing against Jerusalem that he made a scorne at all opposition which should be made against him And yet was not able so much as to come before it with Shields nor to cast a bank against it And the Angel of the Lord smote in his Camp an hundred and fourscore and five thousand in one night Isa 37. Neither have they onely been frustrated in and punished for their confident boasting in themselves but other Mighty Ones also and as many as shall yet glory in their might shall faint and be weary and utterly fall in the end Isa 40.30 31. Fourthly This also reproves DESPAIRING ONES First Those that despaire of eternal salvation and they are Either GREAT SINNERS such as have sinned so long so much and so grievously that they conclude their iniquitie is greater than can be forgiveâ— and their filthiness is such as cannot be washed away and that there is no hope that ever they should be saved To such I say though you have exceedingly provoked the Lord by your Rebelling against him Why should you further dishonour him and endanger your selves by distrusting and despairing of that help which God hath laid upon Christ for you And know if you have abundantly sinned he can AND WILL abundantly pardon the Returning sinner Isa 55.7 Jer 3.1 12 13. Hos 14.1 2 3. Why should any despaire of help from him who is not onely able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Heb 7.25 but is also appointed of God thereunto John 3.16 17. Or WEAK SAINTS such have sometimes said that there is no help in Christ for them but that they shall perish in their Transgressions and fall at last by the hand of some Temptation or other But how injurious are such to the grace of God and their own soules not considering that God laid help upon his servant David for all Israel especially for the weak of the flock yea because his people are weak and that they might not trust in themselves but in Christ he hath appointed him to be an help for them 1 Tim 1.15 Rom 4.5 Secondly Those that despaire of deliverance or any promised prosperous condition And this is when Gods people have prayed much and waited long in a low and suffering estate and the mercy seemes as far off at last as it was at first and the providence of God seemes to run crosse to his promise
made David Solomon Cyrus and others mighty to do the worke of God in their severall generations and it is that which makes Christ so Mighty for being anointed with the holy Spirit above others he became mightier than all others The Lord anointed him King in which respect he is in a peculiar manner called Gods Anointed Psal 2.2 and thence it is that he is so mighty to rule both able to save and to destroy The Lord anointed him to preach good tidings unto the meeke and sent him to binde up the broken-hearted Isa 61.1 with Luke 4.18 and thence it was that his words were with such power and efficacy And the Lord anointed him Priest and so he was Mighty to offer up himselfe without spot to God and his blood also Mighty and effectuall to purge the Conscience from dead workes according to the words of the Apostle Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead workes to serve the living God And Peter in his Sermon Act. 10.38 gives this very account of Christs might and mighty workes viz. That God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil for God was with him And himselfe saith Joh. 8.29 He that sent me is with me the Father hath not left me alone And thus through the Spirit of the Lord resting upon him even the Spirit of might according to what was prophesied of him Isa 11.2 he is Mighty Reasons why Christ is a Mighty One Reas 1. For the Fathers Glory that the Father might be glorified in the Son for as it had been a disparagement and dishonour unto God to have sent a weake insufficient one so it is the Fathers glory that he hath sent a Mighty One one like unto himselfe able to save to the uttermost all them that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 It is the Fathers glory to have such a Son so Mighty a one and that not onely because he himselfe did glorifie him on earth but because others also did glorifie him because of his Son for when the people even the multitude saw the mighty works and miracles which he did they marvelled and glorified God Math. 9.8 Math. 15.31 Mark 2.12 Luke 5.26 Reas 2. For the Sons glory that Christ might be honoured as well as the Father Christ himselfe gives this reason why the Father made him such a Mighty One Joh. 5.22 23. The Father Judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgement unto the Son That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father and by this the Father drawes the thoughts and hearts of men to the Son so as they receive and entertaine him as the Redeemer of the world For Christ being a Mighty one and sufficiently manifesting and evidencing himselfe to be The Christ the Son of the Blessed by doing the Works which none other man did neither could do many beleeved on him and became followers and honourers of him Reas 3. Because of the worke which God hath sent him to do which was hard worke beyond the skil and strength of men and Angels to performe for it was to redeeme a weake captivated cursed people from the power of Sin World Death and Devil those mighty Adversaries and to raise them up unto a participation of his holiness and glory It is Requisite there should be a proportion of strength in every Agent to the work which he hath to do that if the worke be difficult the Agent should be strong And it hath been the usuall way of the most wise God to suite persons to things who though he hath and doth sometimes make use of weak ones for Great and weighty and difficult services yet doth alwayes make them mighty and sufficient for the work whereunto he calls them he did so with Gideon David and others And thus it was and is with Christ for being sent to save he was and is therefore mighty to save being sent to redeeme he is a strong Redeemer that he may thoughly plead his peoples Cause and disquiet and confound all their enemies The Spirit of God in the Prophets speaking of the great work of Christ in the execution of his Regal and Prophetical Offices makes mention of his mightiness and ability thereunto Isa 42.1 4. Behold my servant whom I uphold I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgement to the Gentiles He shall not faile nor be discouraged till he hath set Judgement in the Earth Micah speaking of him as the Ruler in Israel saith He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord in the Majesty of the Name of the Lord his God and they shall abide for now he shall be great unto the ends of the Earth Mic. 5.4 The Apostle also treating of his Priestly Office saith That he through the Eternal Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God Heb. 9.14 Quest Whence is it that men despise and oppose this Mighty One Ans 1. It is through that Enmity which is in their hearts against him God hath according to his word Gen. 3.15 put Enmity between the Serpent and the Woman and their seed and from this Enmity as from a cursed root proceeds that evil fruit of opposition against Christ which will not cease till the Enmity be abolished This very account doth Christ himselfe give of his enemies opposition against him in one of his parables Luke 19.14 His Citizens hated him and sent a Message after him saying we will not have this man to reigne over us Secondly It is through the ignorance that is in them not knowing him whom they persecute It was so with Paul when Christ spake to him saying Saul Saul why persecutest thou me He said who art thou Lord and the Lord said I am Jesus he knew not Christ Act. 9.4 5. And thence it is that he saith speaking of his being a persecuter and injurious I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbeliefe 1 Tim. 1.13 From hence it was even from their ignorance that the Princes of this World did so oppose and persecute him in his Person they knew not the wisdome of God for had they knowne it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.7 8. And himselfe gives the same reason of his suffering and persecution in his Members Joh. 16.2 3. He saith to his Disciples They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will thinke he doth God service and these things will they do unto you because they have not knowne the Father nor me Thirdly Through unbeliefe for though they heare of his Mightiness and power yet they do not beleeve the report thereof though not one halfe of the greatness and power of Christ have been told them but the words of them that declare it seeme to them
persecution famine nakedness peril sword but in all these things they are more than Conquerours through him that loved them Rom. 8 33 34 35 37. And of this priviledge of the Lords people the Prophets have spoken eminently to be enjoyed in the Reigne of this Mighty One. David Psal 72.7 saith In his dayes shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moone endureth Isaiah saith Behold a King shall reigne in righteousnesse and Princes shall rule in Judgement and a man shall be an hiding place from the winde and a covert from the Tempest c. Isa 32.1 2. Jeremy saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reigne and prosper In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called The LORD our Righteousnesse Jer. 23.5 6. And to this agreeth also the Prophesie of Ezekiel which saith I will make with them a Covenant of peace and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the Land and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleepe in the woods They shall be safe in their Land and shall know that I am the Lord when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them out of the hands of those that served themselves of them and they shall no more be a prey to the Heathen neither shall the beasts of the Land devoure them but they shall dwell safely and none shall make them afraid Ezek 34.25 27 28. Thirdly It shewes us the aggravation of the evâ—l of unbeliefe were Christ a meane weak one there might be some plea for unbeliefe the unbeleever might excuse himselfe saying I was afraid to trust him I durst not commit my soule body name estate and concernments into his hand but when a soul refuseth to beleeve on him who is declared and manifested as well by work as word to be so mâ—â—hty in every respect it is inexcusable The men of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonas and the Queene of the South who came from the uttermost parts of the Earth to heare the wisdome of Solomon shall rise up in the Judgement with such and condemne them seeing a Greater than Jonah and Solomon is with them The Evangelist John mentioneth the wonderfull workes which Christ did among the Jewes as the Aggravation of their unbeliefe Joh. 12.37 Though he had done so many miracles before them yet they beleeved not on him Thence Christ is said to Vpbraid the Cities wherein most of his mighty workes were done because they repented not it being a greater evil in them not to repent than in others amongst whom Christ did not shew himselfe so mighty To heare and not to beleeve on Christ the Mighty Lord who speakes from heaven is that which makes unbeliefe to be such a mighty sinne Heb. 12.25 Fourthly It discovers a ground for the Saints Expectation of great things The Saints are in expectation of perfect Redemption and most glorious salvation to be wrought for them by Christ and there is good ground for it for besides the promise of God who is faithfull here is the Ability of Christ who is Mighty to performe the Fathers will Great ones use to be active The Mighty Kings and Princes of the Earth do not alwayes sit still only waite for opportunities for great and weighty undertakings This Mighty One the Lord Christ though he hath done great and marvellous things will shew himselfe yet more glorious than ever for he hath yet but begun to shew his servants his Greatness and his Mighty hand onely he waites till the set time be come and then he will arise and redeeme Israel from all his iniquities and troubles Psal 130.8 The Disciples of Christ who saw his might and power in the dayes of his flesh became expectants of great things to be done by him We trusted said the two Disciples speaking of Jesus of Nazareth a Prophet mighty in deed and word that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel Luke 24.19.21 The Apostles when Christ was assembled together with them asked of him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore againe the kingdome to Israel Acts 1.4 6. His Answer was no check to their expectation but a reprehension of their over-curious affectation to acquaint themselves with the particular time in which they should behold the glorious accomplishment of so certaine a blessing And seeing this Mighty One is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb 8.1 his servants may expect that he will appeare in the presence of God for them yea that he shall appeare the second time without sin unto their evident and everlasting salvation Heb 9.28 Paul speaking of himselfe and other faithfull followers of Christ saith Phil. 3.20 21. Our conversation is in heaven from whence also we looke for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himselfe Fifthly For the discovery of false Christs The true Lord Christ hath told us that in the last dayes there shall arise false Christs as well as false Prophets Math. 24.24 And this doctrine doth informe us how to know them from the true The true Christ is thus mighty and it follows that others who are not so mighty whatsoever they may pretend are not the true Christ Therefore when false Christs shall arise and shall come and say I am Christ beleeve them not neither go after them but labour to know their power and not their speech onely 1 Cor. 4.19 for the kingdome of God is not in word but in power vers 20 whether they be mighty as the true Christ is And though they should shew signes and wonders to deceive you try whether they be equall with this Mighty One who thought it no robbery to be equall with God For though some may boast themselves and their mouths speak great swelling words of vanity yet their deficiency and insufficiency for such things as he did speak them to be false Christs and deceivers As there never did heretofore so there never will any one arise in every respect so mighty as Christ by which he may be knowne to be the true Christ from all others Vse 2. Of conviction to false worshippers who neglect and slight this Mighty One. First To the Jews who do not beleeve that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ the Messiah that was promised and the main plea which they have for their unbelief is because he did not appear to be so mighty as become the Saviour of the world he came not in worldly glory he had no stately Palace was not cloathed in Purple did not fare deliciously he was not in form and fashion like the mighty ones of the earth and therefore they expect and look
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
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