his teaching was and is with power and authority upon the consciences of men wonderfully convincing of sin and righteousnesse he is a teacher that openeth both the Scriptures and understandings too Luke 24.32 45. He doth not only propound truth to men as others do but he makes them stoop to it which none else can do his Ministration is with such power and efficacy as that he puts the Law of God into the minds of his people and write it in their hearts and this is the sole prerogative of him who is both King Priest and Prophet as hath been shewn Fifthly In the Command of God concerning him viz. to heare him God at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets and his Command to the people was to heare them but God hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son that Great Prophet who is greater than all the Prophets which were before him he being the substance of all their Testimony and he hath commanded that we should heare him This the Voice out of the cloud uttered saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Heare ye him yea this is the speciall and strict command of God Act. 3.22 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me Him shall ye heare in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you and not onely so but the severity of God is and will be towards all those that reject and despise his words for every soule that will not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people Act. 3.23 Therefore he saith See that ye refused not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turne away from him that speaketh from heaven Heb. 12.25 This is his commandement that we should beleeve on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 3.23 Surely he is a mighty Prophet whom the Lord doth so strictly charge the people to heare I thought to have enlarged upon this subject by inserting some of the speciall predictions precepts ptomises and instructions of this Prophet but what hath been already mentioned is sufficient for the present designe viz. to demonstrate his mightiness in thâ—s office also Twenty-secondly In the Carriage of others towards him First In the carriage of the generality of the people as First Their recourse to him we reade not that any of the Patriarchs Judges Kings Prophets or Apostles were so followed and flockt to as he was As soone as he was borne we reade of wise men who came a great journey from the East to Jerusalem to worship him and as soone as he began to teach and worke miracles such multitudes followed him that he was fain to goe up into a Mountaine to teach his Disciples Math. 5.1 and as soone as he was come downe Great multitudes followed him Math. 8.1 He was seldome without multitudes who attended to see his miracles and to heare his wisdome and the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth sometimes there was such an innumerable multitude of people gathered together that they trod one upon another Luk. 12.1 When he was in Capernaum in Simons house healing all the City was gathered together at the doore And rising up early a great while before day he went into a solitary place Simon having found him said unto him All men seek for thee Mark 1.33 37. Sometimes he was so thong'd that they could not bring the sicke nigh unto him in an ordinary way that neither his mother nor brethren could come at him Luke 8.19 When the Apostles gathered themselves together unto him to give him an account of some matters he called them into a desart place to rest a while for there were many coming and going and they had no leisure so much as to eate And though they departed into a desart place by Ship privately the people saw them departing and many knew him and ran a foot thither out of all Cities and out-went them and came together unto him And when he came into the Land of Genesareth came out of the Ship straightway they knew him and ran through that whole Region round about and began to carry about in beds those that were sick where they heard he was and whither soever he entred into Villages or Cities or Countries they laid the sick in the streets and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment Mark 6.30 31 32 33 53 54 55 56. This carriage of the people speak him forth to be oâ—e from whom they expected great things Secondly Their marvelling and wondring at his Doctrine and Workes and that not seldome once or twice onely but often they often marvelled they often wondred they were often amazed they were often astonished as might be shewne and as it was often in respect of time so it was much and great in respect of measure It is said Mark 6.51 when Christ went up unto his Disciples into the Ship the winde ceased and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondred when the Damsel which was dead arose and walked they which beheld it were astonished with a great astonishment Mark 5.42 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were in an extasie in a great extasie they were not themselves for the time so when he healed the man which was deafe and dumbe they that saw it were beyond measure astonished Thirdly Their Rejoycings and Acclamations As he did ride into Jerusalem a very great multitude spread their garments in the way others cut downe branches from the trees and strawed them in the way and the multitudes that went before and that followed cryed saying Hosanna to the Son of David blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Math. 21.8 9. So likewise when he had answered the Ruler of the Synagogue cavilling at him for healing on the Sabbath day it is said All the people Rejoyced for all the Glorious things that were done by him Luke 13.17 Fourthly Their beseechings the great and mighty ones besought him Jairus one of the Rulers of the Synagogue fell at his feet and besought him greatly to come and lay his hands on his little daughter Mark 5.22 23. The Centurion came beseeching him on behalfe of his servant Math. 8.5 6. Yea a certaine Noble man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 4.46 47. Some Princely mighty one went unto him and besought him that he would heale his Son for he was at the point of death yea this was the carriage of the very Devils towards him Math. 8.31 Mark 5.12 Fifthly Their worshipping Many of those that came to him fell downe at his feet and worshipped him the Ruler of the Synagogue and others both good and bad worshipped him all along In his Infancy Math. 2.11 In his Man-age oft After his Resurtection Math. 28.9
his Glorious Name for his so assisting his faithful servant herein and finding the Matter according with what the Author hath well expressed in this his Epistle doe therefore heartily joyne with him therein in what he hath written to all the Friends and Enemies of our LORD JESVS CHRIST James Nalton Minister of Leonards Foster Lane Thomas Brooks Robert Bragge William Adderley H Jessey THE MIGHTY CHRIST THE Saints Help PSAL. 89.19 I have laid help upon One that is Mighty THe precedent Psalm contain a mournful complaint to the Lord powred out in a way of prayer This especially the former part of it is a pleasant Song of praise The subject of it is the Lord. The things which he mentions as most sweetly refreshing his own soul and most eminently conspicuous in the Lord towards his people are his mercy faithfulness and power First His mercy Vers 1. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever So vers 2. I have said mercy shall be built up for ever Secondly His faithfulness vers 1. With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulnesse to all Generations vers 2. Thy faithfulnesse shalt thou establish in the very Heavens both manifested in his Covenant which he made with David and his seed vers 3. I have made a Covenant with my chosen I have sworn unto David my servant thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy Throne to all Generations Thirdly His power vers 6. Who in the Heaven can be compared to the Lord who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord vers 8. O Lord God of Hosts who is a strong Lord like unto thee manifested by his works of First Creation vers 11. The Heavens are thine the earth also is thine as for the world and the fullnesse thereof thou hast founded them Vers 12. The North and the South thou hast created them Secondly Providence vers 9. Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the waves thereof arise thou stillest them shewed Partly towards his enemies in their destruction vers 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces as one that is slain thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arme Partly Towards his people in their salvation vers 16 17 18. In thy name shall they rejoyce all the day and in thy righteousnesse shall they be exalted for thou art the glory of their strength and in thy favour our Horn shall be exalted for the Lord is our defence and the holy One of Israel is our King The Psalmist having spoken largely of the power of God returns to that with which his heart was most affected The precious Covenant of God made with David expressed vers 3. and shews at large the particulars of it what great things God would do for him and how great and mighty he would make him and for a confirmation of faith in this great promise of God the Psalmist declares First The Original of Davids power and authority viz that it was from God from Heaven he was no Usurper nor Obtruder neither of mans nor his own but of Gods exalting for so God saith I have exalted one chosen out of the people I have found David my servant with my holy Oyle have I anointed him So Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion Peter and the other Apostles speaking of Jesus before the Council said Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour And therefore the Lord challengeth a peculiar propriety in David above all the Kings of the earth calling him his King My King Secondly The Lords discovery of it before he did it And to whom Not unto the Princes of this world but unto his holy One Samuel who anointed David in the midst of his brethren 1 Sam. 16.1 3 13. By some the word is translated in the Plural Number Sanctis tuis to thy holy Ones to wit the Prophets Samuel and Nathan one of which anointed David and the other fore-told of the perpetuity of his Kingdome 2 Sam 7.12 13 14 15 16. Yea the Lord spake the same thing to his holy One David by the mouth of his servant Nathan 2 Sam 7.17 According to all these words and according to all this vision so did Nathan speak unto David From the discovery of it we may First Observe That it hath been Gods way of old when he hath had any great and remarkable thing to do for or upon a people to reveal it unto his servants the Prophets Amos 3.7 Surely the Lord will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets More particularly Secondly Observe That the discovery of Gods exaltation of Christ his True and Great Holy One sanctified and seperated above his fellows was first made to his Holy Ones Thirdly The manner of discovery thereof and that was by vision God in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers sometimes but rarely by Oracle it being a wonderfull condescention on Gods part and more than ordinary honour to the person to whom he so spake this honour God put upon Moses as he told Aaron and Miriam With him will I speak mouth to mouth Numb 12.8 Sometimes and more commonly In visions and in dreams Numb 12.6 It was in vision God spake to his Holy One when he made discovery of his Grace Then thou spakest in vision to thy Holy One. Here are two things chiefly to be enquired into First The mercy provided and that is a King not a mean weak one unfit for the Throne but a Mighty One I have laid help upon One that is Mighty if it be askt Who is this King the 20. vers is in answer I have found David my servant with my holy Oyle have I anointed him Of him the Lord hath spoken saying By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistims and out of the hand of all their enemies 2 Sam. 3.18 It is both David the son of Jesse and Christ the son of David according to the flesh who was also Davids Lord of whom David especially in his Kingly Office was a Type and Shaddow who is also called David Hos 3.5 And Ezekiel prophesying of the Kingdome of Christ a long time after David the son of Jesse was fallen asleep having served his Generation according to the will of God saith I will set up one shepherd over them even my servant David I the Lord will be their God my servant David a Prince among them Ezek. 34.23 24. Again David my servant shall be King over them my servant David shall be the Prince for ever Ezek. 37.24 25. This is that David that liveth for ever the Lord Christ that Mighty One mightier and higher than all others as the Lord hath promised vers 27. Also I will make him my first-born higher than the Kings of the earth which words agree exactly to the Lord Christ who is said
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
he shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David and he shall reigne over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdome there shall be no end To the Shepheards Luke 2.10 11. The Angel said unto them feare not for behold I bring you good tydings of Great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is borne this day in the City of David A Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Sixthly The testimony of Enemies and the testimony of Adversaries is of greatest validity The Jews themselves testified that he was a Mighty One Joh. 11.47 48. The chiefe Priests and the Pharisees gathered a Councel and said What do we for this man doth many miracles If we let him thus alone all men will beleeve on him so likewise John 12.19 The Pharisees said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevaile nothing behold the world is gone after him Josephus the Jew who was borne not long after Christ writeth There was at this time One Jesus a wise man if it be lawfull to call him a Man a worker of most wonderfull miracles and a Master and Teacher of all such men as are willingly content to embrace the truth Yea the Jews do grant and record Christs miracles and make mention of many wonderfull workes which Jesus did that are not written by our Evangelists As the Authour of the book call'd Proofes of Christianity observeth The very Turkes give this testimony of him That he was a great Prophet Mighty in word and deed and that the Jews did evill in crucifying of him Yea the Devils themselves confessed and acknowledg'd him to be a Mighty One For they came out of many crying out saying Thou art Christ the Son of God Luk. 4.41 So vers 33 34. A man which had a spirit of an uncleane Devil cryed out with a lowd voice saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee Thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art The holy One of God Sixteenthly Mighty in same he is of Great fame In the dayes of his flesh as soone as ever he began to preach and work miracles his fame went thorowout all Syria In what Land or Country soever he was his fame spread abroad in all that Country his fame was not onely spread thorowout all the Land of Israel but also into many other Nations of the world by the Preaching of the Apostles for he sent them into all Nations into all the world Math. 28.19 Mark 16.15 Repentance and remssion of sin being to be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem and they accordingly went and made him knowne where ever they came and the word of the Lord mightily prevailed and his fame hath spread abroad ever since It hath of late spread in New-England and other parts so that his Name is Great in the world his fame is gone into all Lands even the fame of him as of a Saviour a deliverer a Mighty One Seventeenthly Mighty in his Attendance Not onely men Disciples but the Angels also ministred unto him The Angels declared his Conception and birth and attended him when borne an Angel appeared to direct Joseph for his preservation Math. 2.13 Saying arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt c. When he had been tempted of the Devil Angels came and ministred unto him Math. 4.11 When he was in his sufferings there appeared an Angel unto him from heaven strengthening him Luk. 22.43 At his Resurrection an Angel from heaven came and rolled back the stone from the doore of the Sepulchre and sate upon it and declared his Resurrection to the Women Math. 28.2 5 6. Yea two Angels in white sate the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had layen John 20.12 When he ascended two Angels attended him Act. 1.10 When he shall come againe he shall come attended with his Mighty Angels 2 Thes 1.7 For he shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him Math. 25.31 And when he shall sit upon the throne of his glory thousand thousands shall minister unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands stand before him Dan. 7.10 Rev. 5.11 Eighteenthly A Mighty One in holiness and righteousness so holy as he is called by way of eminency The holy One Act. 3.14 The holy one of God Luke 4.34 None so holy as he so righteous as he is called also the righteous 1 Joh. 2.1 The just Act. 3.14 Righteous before God The Lord calls him his Righteous servant Isa 53.11 Righteous also before men even Enemies Pilate who condemned him did a little before pronounce him a Just person Math. 27.24 he took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying I am innocent of the blood of this Just person And Judas who betrayed him cleared Christ and accused himselfe saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood Math. 27.4 His mightiness and eminency in holiness and righteousness doth appeare First Generally in his obedience to the will of God he said he came downe from heaven not to do his own will but the will of him that sent him Joh. 6.38 and accordingly he made that his great business and designe while he was on earth his mightiness therein may be seene First In the universality of it he did whatsoever his Father required and left nothing of his will undone he kept the whole Law and offended not in One point he did not onely the easiest and pleasant but also the hardest and most grievous part of his fathers will when his soul was exceeding sorrowfull even unto death he prayed not so much for the removing of that Cup as that his fathers will might be done Math. 26.39 42. Hence that of the Apostle Phil. 2.8 He became obedient unto death even the death of the Crosse Secondly In the exactness and perfection of it he kept the whole Law exactly as he was not wanting in the matter so he did not faile in the manner of performing his fathers will there was no defects nothing lacking in his obedience he did all things well what we are pressing towards and reaching forth unto he attained he was perfect in every good worke and stood compleate in the whole will of his father and hence it is that it is recorded of him that he was without sin knew no sin did no sin which could not be if he had failed in any thing Thirdly In the Constancy of it Christ did not obey by fits but constantly though we cannot he continued in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them This righteous one held on his way he did not faile nor was he discouraged yea when persecution and tribulation did arise against him because of his doing the will of his father he
brought forth to the day of wrath and then Christ will repay them what they have done according to that in 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgement to be punished Christ doth not presently destroy wicked men Reas 1. That he might magnifie his Justice and righteousnesse in their destruction The Judge of all the Earth will do no iniquity to the worst of men It shall be said of him when he hath executed his fiercest vengeance upon rebellious Ones he hath not done without cause all that he hath done to his enemies though he doth terrible things yet in righteousnesse Psal 65.5 Therefore he doth not cut off his enemies at first but stayes his hand till they have vented all their malice and acted rebellion to the height not that Christ desireth the increase of their sin for he calls upon them to repent but that he will proportion his judgements to their iniquities He will not bring great destruction upon men for a little wickedness and therefore he deferrs it till their transgressions be multiplyed he will not destroy men for a word or a blow or two against his servants but when they have a long time reproached scorned abused troubled and persecuted his faithful ones then it will appear to be a righteous thing with Christ to recompence tribulation to them that trouble them 2 Thess 1.6 Christ doth not at first judge the whore but lets her alone till she hath brought forth her Abominations till the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication till she hath made her self drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Rev 17.2 4 6. yea till she saith in her heart I sit a Queen and am no widdow and shall see no sorrow and when she hath done thus wickedly then shall her plagues come in one day death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Rev 18.7 8. And after these things a great voice of much people was heard in Heaven saying Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God for true and righteous are his Judgements for he hath judged the Great Whore which did corrupt the Earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand Rev 19.1 2. Reas 2. That he might magnifie his patience and long-suffering towards them that it might appear that he who is so great in power is also slow to anger and doth endure with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction There is not an enemy that the Lord Christ shall destroy but shall be forced to confess that Christ the Great Lord hath had patience with him Reas 3. Because there are some among his Enemies which are to be brought in some in rebellion against him who will submit to him and therefore he gives a space to them to repent in which he waits for their return to himself Peter tells us that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts saying Where is the promise of his coming c. 2 Pet. â— 3 4. They are answered in the 9. vers It is not his slacknesse but his long-suffering it is not his unmindfullness of his promise to his people nor yet of his threatnings against his Enemies but his abounding goodness to impenitent ones being not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Yea there are some of his people among his Enemies whom he will call and draw out from amongst them and because of his favour to them his judgements upon his enemies are deferred for the righteous God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked God did not destroy the old world with water till he had provided for the security of his righteous Servant Noah he did not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah before he had brought forth Lot and set him without the City Gen 19. And we finde before the Lord bring his plagues upon Babylon he calls his people to come out of her Rev 18.4 Babylons Judgements are deferred that Gods people may depart out of her Reas 4. That he might Exercise the Faith and Patience of his Saints while wicked men live and are spared they will be persecuting of Gods servants as was manifest in Pharaoh and others and that the Lords people may live in the exercise of their Graces especially their Faith and Patience he lets the wicked live become old and mighty The Romans could have destroyed Carthage when they pleased but for the Exercise of their Souldiers they let it stand Christ this Mighty One could soon bring down and cut off all the wicked of the Earth but for the Exercise of his Servants Graces he let them stand a while John mentions the Faith and Patience of the Saints as most conspicuous in their soarest persecution under the Beasts Reigne Rev 13.10 Rev 14.12 saying Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints Reas 5. That he may shew forth the greatnesse of his power in their destruction He let them continue to plot and design and to get as high a head against him as may be that so his might may be the more visible in their Overthrow that it may be known he can destroy them when they are at the strongest and bring them down when they are at the highest according to the word of the Lord to Edom Obad 4. Though thou exalt thy self as the Eagle and though thou set thy nest among the Stars thence will I bring thee down saith the Lord. Vse 5. Of CAUTION To the Mighty Ones yea to the greatest and mightiest on the earth to take heed what they do for though they be mighty yet they must know Christ is mightier therefore take heed that you oppose not this Mighty One lest ye perish God made David his Mighty One and you know what became of Saul Absolom Sheba and others who lifted up their hands against him Yea take heed what ye do against his servants for the evill which is done against them is done against him and he so accounts of it Matth. 25.35 40.45 what though they be weak he is mighty to avenge all wrongs done to them The Wiseman speaking of the fatherless cautions others against injuring of them upon this account Pro 23.10 11. Remove not the old Land-mark and enter not into the Fields of the fatherlesse for their Redeemer is mighty he shall plead their cause with thee The Prophet Jeremy also speaking of the oppressed condition of the children of Israel and Judah saith Their Redeemer is strong the Lord of Hosts is his Name he shall throughly plead their cause that he may give rest to the Land and disquiet the Inhabitants of Babylon Jer.
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.
low and helplesse estate calling upon one another to this very thing Lament 3.40 Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord. Thirdly They should humbly acknowledge and really forsake those evils wherewith they have provoked Christ to with-hold his help from them in time of need The Faithful do not onely complain of their misery and troubles but they confesse and forsake their iniquities when Nehemiah considered the afflicted condition of the People he doth not onely put them upon fasting and confession but upon reformation also Neh 13. This is that which the Lord so frequently calls for at the hands of his people Turn turn your selves from all your transgressions And they also call upon God for this Lam 5.21 Turn thou us unto thee O Lord. Fourthly They should earnestly cry to the Lord for help This hath been the course of the servants of God of old whereby they have prevailed with God to lift up his hand to their help in time of trouble The Church lifted up her voice in affliction saying Awake why sleepest thou O Lord Arise cast us not off for ever Psal 44.23 Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and oppression For our soul is bowed down to the dust our belly cleaveth to the earth arise for our help and redeem us for thy mercy sake This is a tryed means saith David This poor man cryed and the Lord heard him and saved him ouâ—â—f all his troubles Psal 34.6 When the men of Gibeon were in great distresse and danger by reason of five Kings coming against them and needed help they sent to Joshua saying Slack not thy hand from thy servants come up to us quickly and save us and help us Joshua 10.6 So should all the servants of the Lord cry to their Joshua the Lord Christ whom God hath made so strong for them to come and help and save them out of all their troubles When the Disciples were in danger on the Sea and wanted help they cryed to Christ to save them they awaked him and said unto him Master carest thou not that we perish and he arose and rebuked the wind Mark 4.38 39. O ye Saints cry to Christ and the more he seems to neglect you cry so much the more earnestly and constantly and give him no rest till he hear and help and redeem you from all evils Fifthly They should patiently wait upon Christ for help Though Christ do not help presently yet wait upon him for he will help in due time Do as Beggars that have but one doore to go to for bread if none hear nor help them presently they lay them down at the door saying within themselves we will wait here may be their compassions will move them as they passe by to help us God forbid that any of Christs Servants should say either with heart or mouth as that person 2 Kings 6.33 What should I wait for the Lord any longer but rather to follow the counsel of the man after Gods own heart mentioned Psal 37.7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for him and for his help though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry and in the mean time know It is a good thing that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD Lament 3.26 Such only shall say and sing in the day that the Lord arise for the help of his people Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us This is the LORD we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Isa 25.9 Quest When may Gods people groundedly expect that Christ will help them Answ First When they are afflicted greatly when their burthens are so heavy that they know not how to bear them then the Lord hath been wont to help them The Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor so that they sighed and groaned by reason of their bondage and the LORD saw the affliction of his people and delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians Exod. 1.13 2.23 3. 7 8. And at another time when God saw the affliction of the children of Israel that it was bitter he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam 2 Kings 14.26 27. This David experienced and acknowledgeth to the praise of God Psal 116.6 10. 16. saying I was brought low and he helped me I was greatly afflicted O LORD thou hast loosed my bonds And he professeth faith in God for the same towards others Psal 18.27 Psal 140.12 Thou wilt save the afflicted soul I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor The Church in her complaint and prayer to God for help spreads the greatnesse of her affliction before him Lament per totum throughout the Book and concludes saying Remember O Lord what is come upon us consider and behold our reproach Lament 5.1 Secondly When they are forsaken utterly when all creature help failes and ceases The LORD will judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up nor left Deut 32.36 And according to this word did the Lord do for Israel for when there was not any shut up nor any left nor any helper for Israel he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash 2 Kings 14.26 27. And the efore God is said to be the helper of the Fatherlesse Psal 10.14 And to regard the prayer of the destitute Psal 102.17 Jehoshaphat seeking help of God urgeth him with their weak and destitute condition 2 Chron 20.12 saying O our God wilt thou not judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee And to raise Gods Servants expectation of help from Christ in their lowest estate it is prophesied of him Psal 72.4.12 13. That he shall judge the poor of the people he shall save the children of the needy he shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper Thirdly When they cry mightily to the LORD for help When Israel was oppressed time after time they cryed to the Lord and he delivered them when the Lord hath a purpose to help his servants he usually poures forth a Spirit of Prayer upon them When the Decree of release from Babylon was ready to issue forth God put a mighty Spirit of Prayer upon Daniel Chap 9. And immediately before God will work deliverance and salvation for Jerusalem he will spirit his servants to cry mightily unto him to do it for them Isa 62.6 7. I have set Watchmen upon thy walls O Jerusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and gâ—ve him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise
to be The first-born of every creature the Beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence Col. 1.15 18. And by John to be The first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev 1.5 And this is he that the Psalmist principally sings of as he doth also in other Psalms who is and shall be so great a blessing to Gods people Secondly The people who partake of this mercy over whom this King this Mighty One was set that he might help them are not all the people of the world not his foes such as hate him not the proud and mighty ones of the earth who despise and oppose him though he be Lord over them also but they are Gods people one Translation addeth I have put help upon a Mighty One for my people They are Gods people Israel the weakest and smallest of all people not onely Israel according to the flesh but also Israel according to the spirit Jer. 23.5 6. Luke 1.32 33. Who by reason of their weaknesse and smallnesse the craftiness mightiness and multitudes of their enemies stand in as much need of the Lord of Christ the son of David That Mighty One to help and save them as ever Israel after the flesh did of David the son of Jesse That Mighty One to deliver them from their Oppressors I have laid or put help upon One that is Mighty A Champion one strong and able to help my people These words may be considered First Generally and largely as they contain the care and goodness of God in General to his people Secondly Specially and strictly as they point out the particular thing wherein God is so good to his people From the General and large Consideration of the words Observe That the condition of the people of God in this life is such as they stand in need of help Though this be not expressed in words yet it is necessarily implyed for help supposeth need and we are sure that the Lord the most wise Agent doth nothing in vain he doth not send help to them that need it not For demonstration of which seeing I intend not to insist long upon it I shall only mention First The many and mighty Persecutors under whom they have lived who have been stronger than they the four great worldly Monarchies viz Babylonian Persian Grecian and Roman set forth by the four terrible Beasts mentioned Dan. 7. whose natures are to tear and devoure of which the last under whose power yet they are is most dreadfull and exceeding strong whereupon they ever did and being not yet delivered out of the hands of all the mighty Ones that hate them do still want the help of some other Secondly The sore bondage and oppression whieh their enemies have and do keep them in for the seed of the Serpent especially being prevalent cannot but persecute the seed of the woman by reason of which they have in their several Generations sighed groaned and howled as they do also to this very day in the Nations of the world do plainly shew that they have and still stand in need of a stronger arm than their own to deliver them Thirdly The strong cryes and earnest prayers heretofore and now also put up to the Lord for help which else were to no purpose except to mock the Almighty do speak aloud the truth of this Assertion That their condition is such as they stand in need of help And it is not the worse but the better for the people of God that their condition is thus for though it be a manifest evidence and demonstration of their own weakness and self-insufficiency yet the great goodness and deep wâ—sdom of God is in it thereby with-holding occasion from them of trusting and glorying in themselves an evil which they are exceedingly prone to and as it were necessitating them of whom otherwise he should too seldome hear to a daily recourse to and continual dependance upon himselfe for help in every time of need by means of which they are safely preserved and their Heavenly Father is daily glorified Secondly Observe The Lord himself doth provide help for his people in their severall conditions I have laid help c. He doth not leave them without help in trouble as the gods of the Heathen do those that serve them neither doth he leave it to others who are unable and cannot or unfaithful and will not do it but that they may not be failed in any time of need they being a peculiar treasure unto him above all people he undertakes it himself for them though he doth oftentimes make the meanest and weakest creatures an help to them so that they may truly say Our help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth And this is the great priviledge and advantage which the people of God have above others that they are the people whom the Lord careth for according to that of Jacob Deut. 33. ult Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency Thirdly Observe The Lord doth lay in a sufficiency of help for his people in their various conditions What God doth he doth to purpose he dispenceth full mercies and blessings to his people I have laid help upon One that is Mighty The Lord layes in a sufficiency of help for service as also to save and deliver out of trouble Sometimes he layes help upon Angels those Mighty Ones who excell in strength for his people as he did in Hezekiahs time he sent an Angel who smote in one night 185000 in the Camp of the Assyrians Isa 37.36 He sent an Angel to the help of the three children in the exceeding hot furnace who did sufficiently help For the fire had no power upon their bodyes nor was an hair of their head singed neither were their Coats changed nor the smell of fire had passed on them Dan. 3.27 And also to Daniel when he was in the Lyons Den who did help effectually for he was taken up out of the Den and no manner of hurt was found upon him Dan. 6.23 And likewise to Peter in Prison Acts 12.7 10. Sometimes he layes help upon men who of weak he makes mighty to help he made Moses and Joshua mighty ones and sent them to the help of his people he made Gideon a mighty man of valour and said unto him Go in this thy might and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites he made Ehud a man left-handed as also Deborah a woman mighty for the help and deliverance of his people Jude 3.4 Sometimes he layes help upon other Creatures as upon the Stars Judg. 5.20 The Stars in their courses fought against Sisera upon Hail-stones for with them the Lord holpe Israel against the five Kings of the Amorites and it was help sufficient for they were more which dyed with hail-stones then they whom
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
The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Lord The Lord frequently It is divers hundred times simply and absolutely ascribed unto Christ The Lord of the Harvest The Lord of the Vineyard The Lord of the Sabbath The Lord our Righteousnesse The Lord of Life The Lord of Glory Lord of Lords King of Kings Eleventhly He was a Mighty One in his Presentation which though in it self it was but for his Parents to do for him after the custom of the Law in which respect he was but as others yet that two such eminent persons both of singular sanctity among the Jews should by the special direction of the Spirit come into the Temple at that time when Jesus was there in his mothers arms and acknowledge and declare him publickly with great affection and thanksgiving to be the Messias and Saviour of the world doth speak him to be some Mighty One Luke 2. from the 22. to the 40. vers Twelfthly Mighty in his Baptisme which though in it self it was but ordinary with water by John in Jordan both as and where others were and by him also by whom others were baptized yet it was attended with three wonders For straightway coming up out of the waters the Heavens were opened unto him and the Spirit of God descended like a Dove and lighted upon him and there came a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Matth. 3.16 17. Thirteenthly Mighty in his fasting so mighty that he fasted forty dayes and forty nights Matth. 4.2 And it was not a partial but a total abstinence from natural food for in those dayes he did eat nothing Luke 4.2 Neither was he hungry all that time for so much is necessarily implyed Matt. 4.2 When he had fasted forty dayes and forty nights he was afterward an hungred And Luke having spoken of the forty dayes the time of his fast saith When they were ended he afterward hungred Moses indeed fasted the same space of time but there was this considerable difference between Christ and Moses in this respect Moses fasted on the Mount where he was eminently assisted and satisfied by his best and greatest friend The Lord Exod 34.28 Christ in the Wildernesse where he was violently assaulted and troubled by his worst and mightiest adversary the Devil Matth. 4.1 2. This is enough to manifest his mightinesse in this particular Fourteenthly Mighty in his Transfiguration which was a glimpse of his Glory he was transfigured before the Disciples And his face did shine as the Sun and his rayment was white as the light so exceedingly glorious was he Peter was so affected with it as he desired the continuance of it he said unto Jesus Lord it is good for us to be here if thou wilt let us make here three Tabernacles c. Math. 17.2 3 4 5. Fifteenthly Mighty in the Testimony which is given of him First The Testimony of himself I am one that bear witnesse of my self John 8.18 And he did testifie of himself that he was a mighty One That he was the son of God Greater than the Temple greater than Solomon That he had overcome the world That if a man had kept his saying he should never see death c. and his own testimony is true But forasmuch as Solomon saith Prov 27.2 Let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth a stranger and not thine own lips I shall consider chiefly what others witnesse of him Secondly The Testimony of the Father who sent him bare witnesse of him The Father hath testified from Heaven that he is his beloved Son Matth. 3.17 Lo a voice from Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Authour to the Hebrews noteth that when God bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Vnto the Son saith he Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Heb. 1 6 8. The Father testifie of him as of a mighty One Thirdly The Testimony of the Spirit I shall instance only in that to John by Vision Rev 1.12 13 14 15 16. I saw seaven golden Candlesticks and in the midst of the seven Candlesticks one like unto the Son of man cloathed with a Garment down to the foot and girt about the Paps with a Golden Girdle his head and his hairs were white like Wool as white as Snow and his eyes were as a flame of fire and his feet like unto fine brasse as if they burned in a Furnace and his voice as the sound of many waters And he had in his right hand seven Stars and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword and his Countenance was as the Sun shineth in his strength This was a Vision of the Son of God The mighty One And according to this Vision are those seven Titles of Christ given to him by the Spirit mentioned in the 2d. and 3d. Chapters of the Revelation These things saith he that holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks Rev 2.1 The first and the last which was dead and is alive vers 8. Who hath the sharp Sword with two edges vers 12. The Son of God who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire and his feet are like fine Brasse vers 18. That hath the seven Spirits of God and the seaven Stars Rev. 3.1 That is holy that is true that hath the Key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth vers 7. The Amen the faithfull and true Witnesse the Beginning of the Creation of God vers 14. All which speak forth the mightiness of Christ Fourthly The Testimony of faithfull men as the Testimony of the Prophets of John who was a man sent from God on purpose to beare witness of him whose testimony of him is recorded John 1.15.32 33 34. The testimony of the foure Evangelists as also of the Apostles who have all spoken of him as of a Mighty One And it were easie if needfull to add the Testimony of other Ancient Writers of Generall Councels of holy Martyrs and many eminent Confessors of Christ who do agree in their Testimony with those fore-mentioned Fifthly The Testimony of Angels those glorious Creatures did testifie of him as of a Mighty One so they testified of him To Joseph Math. 1.20 21. While he thought on these things the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dreame saying Joseph thou son of David feare not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost And shee shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sinnes To Mary Luke 1.30 31 32 33. The Angel said unto her feare not Mary for thou hast found favour with God And behold thou shalt conceive in thy wombe and bring forth a son and shalt call his Name Jesus
for the mighty such as are able to revenge all wrongs done unto them Posse et nolle nobile The Mighty Ones of the world are usually hasty soon angry and presently set upon those that offend them but it is the glory and excellency of Christ that he is great in power and yet slow to anger and bears long with sinners and enemies he doth at this very day with much long-suffering endure the manifold indignities contradictions and rebellions of sinners against himself in which respect he excels other Mighty Ones Sixthly He is Mighty and Allmighty He is Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending The Lord which is and which was and which is to come The Allmighty Revel 1.8 Other Mighty Ones can do great things but he can do all things others are potent but he is the Lord God Omnipotent Rev 19.6 and so higher and greater than they Seventhly He is mighty and alwayes mighty Other Mighty Ones they faint and their strength faile them Isa 40.30 they grow weary and weak and cease to be Mighty at least so mighty as they have been I cannot do as I have done is the voice of other Mighty Ones but Christ the Lord the Mighty One fainteth not neither is weary his strength faileth not he is as mighty as he was when God first put his Spirit upon him as his strength was then so it is now and so it ever shall be He is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb 13.8 His Mediatorship was as powerfull before as after his exhibition in the flesh in which respect he is said to be a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Rev 13.8 and will be hereafter even at the very last end of all things as effectual as it is now or hath been heretofore Eighthly He is mighty and the onely Mighty One he is mighty and none besides him the Father alwayes excepted who hath put all things under him power is Christs peculiar he is Plenepotentiarius the Proprietary of power and the Distributer of it others who are called mighty are not so compared with him for He is the one Lord over all Zech 14.9 and they his Subjects who must bow down before him either freely or unwillingly and therefore he is called by the Apostle 1 Tim 6.15 The blessed and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 9. He is the Mighty One that is truly that and doth that which other Mighty Ones are said to be and are not and do not that which is falsely ascribed to others is truly attributed to him for though the worlds mighty ones are accounted mightier than indeed they are this Mighty One cannot be esteemed mightier than indeed he is History tell us that Canutus King of England being flattered by his Subjects and called King of Kings Most mighty c. went and sate down by the Sea-side commanded the floods arising and coming nigh him nor to touch him nor his cloaths but the floods came and made him start back and he said to his Lords Lo ye call me such a mighty King yet I cannot cause this little water to stay at my command but it is ready to drown me but Christ can do this The Sea and the winds obey him and whatsoever any of the mighty ones of the earth undertake to do and cannot accomplish He is not onely called Mighty but he is mighty and acts mightily He is without any flattery or Hyperbole Most High most Mighty most Sacred most Excellent yea He is Excellency Highness Holiness Mightiness and Majesty it selfe Thus Christ doth not onely appear to be mighty but to be mightier and more excellent than all others we have heard and read of many mighty famous Ones both in Sacred and Common writings as Nimrod Pharaoh Moses Joshua Gideon Sampson David Solomon * Alexander the Great Pompey the Great and others who have done great and mighty things but Christ excels them all and is greater than any than all of them indeed he is so mighty that he is above the understanding of men he is great in power and we know him not we cannot find him out great things doth he which we cannot comprehend Quest How came Christ to be such a Mighty One Answ If we consider him in his Eternal Essence and Being abstractively from his Humane Nature as he is one with the Father from Eternity so his mightinesse and dignity is of himself and not from any other but if we consider him as undertaking and carrying on the work of Mediatorship between God and man in the humane Nature which he assumed so he is said to be made Mighty The Apostle Peter speaking of him as such saith Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 In which respect God is said to do what he did as appears by the words of Peter in the same speech to the men of Israel Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by miracles wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you Acts 2.22 And thus Christ becomes Mighty through the Father First Through the Fathers mission the Father sent him and that 's his strength and therefore he speaks much of it upon all occasions nigh forty times in John besides several other places he hints that the Father sent him and that he came not of himself but proceeded forth and came from God God cannot say of Christ as of those Prâ—phets mentioned Jer. 14.14 I sent them not neither have I commanded them and as they were weak and could not profit the people being not sent of God Christ being sent of God becomes mighty to accomplish whatever he undertook Had not God sent him he could not have spake with such Power and Authority could not have done such wonderful works nor have undergone and suffered such grievous torments as he did but being sent of the Father and knowing that the Father sent him he was full of might courage and confidence to do and suffer what was the Will of his Father that sent him Gods mission makes mighty it was that which enabled Gideon to be a Saviour to Israel Judges 6.14 The Lord looked upon him and said Go in this thy might and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites have not I sent thee He that is sent with full Authority and Power from some mighty Prince to transact his affairs is thereby mighty coming and acting as one sent by him Christ came and acted as one sent from the absolute Monarch of all the world the most high â—od of Heaven and Earth and he having given all power and authority into his hands he is exceeding mighty to perform the will of him that sent him Secondly Through the Fathers Unction he was full of power and might by the Spirit of the Lord the Anointing of the Lord makes mighty It was that which
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
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
Christ did not many mighty works in his own Countrey because of their unbelief Math. 13.58 If thou dost not beleeve that he can and will help thou canst not expect he should help Secondly When they set about any work without his call The Lord hath been wont to help in those things he hath called his Servants to as might easily be made manifest in Moses Josuah Gideon David and others but when his People have run and he sent them not they have been without his help in such undertakings When the children of Israel would invade the Land of Canaan without Gods call they were smitten and discomfited Numb 14.44 45. And though Josiah was a good man yet going to fight against Pharaoh Necho contrary to the mind of God he dyed for it 2 Chron 35.20 21 22 23. They that act without Christs call are like to act without his help Thirdly When they undertake any work though never so good and excellent in at self in their own strength without engaging him to their help he helps them not as in the case of Peter it was a good work and much conducing to the honour of Christ which Peter undertook but trusting to his own strength Christ left him to miscarry in it John 13.37 38. Fourthly When the eyes of his people are upon some other besides him or when they joyn some other with him to help then he usually leaveth both him that helpeth and him that is holpen to fall together Isa 31.3 The Lord was Israels help when he was their God alone and none other with him Deut 32.12 The LORD alone did lead them and there was no strange God with him When the Spouse shall lean upon Christ her Beloved and upon other Lovers also then Christ withholdeth his help from her Fifthly When they have any sinister ends and aims in what they do for though the work be good yet if a mans end be bad Christ doth not usually further him in it as when a man in Preaching Praying or any part of Religion seeks not so much Christs honour as his own praise and profit he cannot expect neither doth he ordinarily receive such help from the Spirit of Christ therein They that seek not Christs things but their own shall not prosper Jer 10.21 Haggai 1.4 6 9. Sixthly When they refuse to be holpen by him Christs Servants are sometimes more especially in great dangers and straits and stand in need of his help and though Christ shew himself willing and ready to save and deliver them yet such is the folly and untowardnesse of their spirits that they will none of his help but rather chuse to suffer through walking in the wayes and imaginations of their own hearts than to be delivered in their hearkning to his counsel and submitting to his will and then no wonder Christ helps not this was the frame of spirit and sad condition of Jerusalem which Christ lamented over Jerusalem was in danger Christ would have holpen her but she would not Christ lets her alone and the issue is sad Matth. 23.37 38. O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings and ye would not behold your house is left unto you desolate Quest What shall Gods people do when Christ helps not First Seriously consider and lay it to heart as a matter of greatest concernment and trouble to us So did Joshua when the Lord withheld his help from Israel Joshua 7.6 8. Josuah rent his cloathes and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of the LORD untill the even-tide he and the Elders of Israel and put dust upon their heads and Joshua said Alas O Lord God wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us would to God Hebr O that we had been content and dwelt on the other side Jordan Oh LORD what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies We should look upon it as that wherein both God and his People suffer God suffers in his name when he doth not help his people His and their enemies blaspheme his name Sometimes they cast dirt upon his power saying The Lord cannot help nor save sometimes upon his goodnesse and mercy The Lord will not help sometimes upon his Truth and Faithfulnesse The Lord hath forgotten his people Hence saith Joshua What wilt thou do for thy great name And his people they must needs suffer when he with-draws his hand they are endangered and trampled upon by their enemies and the suffering of Gods Name and the distresses of his Servants must not seem a light thing in our eyes Nehemiah's frame and carriage under such a dispensation is worthy of imitation When he heard that the Remnant that were left of the Captivity were in great affliction and reproach that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire he sat down and wept and mourned certain dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven Neh 1.3 4. And this is that which Jerusalem lamented with much bitterness of spirit Lament 1.15 16. The Lord hath troden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me he hath called an Assembly against me to crush my young men the Lord hath troden the Virgin the Daughter of Judah as a Wine-presse For these things I weep mine eye mine eye runneth down with water because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me It 's just matter of mourning and lamentation when the appointed helper and Saviour doth not help nor save Secondly They should diligently search out the cause and reason why Christ helps not For if the Lord cease to help his People there is some cause for such a dealing as there is for what evil soever the Lord bring upon them Ezek. 14.23 And when the Lord slacks his hand concerning the help of his Servants it s their present work and duty to look narrowly about them and in them to find out the cause thereof When the Lord denyed Israel his help against the men of Ai he told them the cause of it There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee O Israel and commanded and directed them to seek and they found it out Achan was taken and the Silver and the Garment and the wedge of Gold his Sons Daughters Asses Sheep Tent and all that he had and they stoned him and burned them with fire Joshua 7. This was part of Jobs work in his affliction to find out the cause of it and that he might know it he begs of God to shew him wherefore he contended with him Job 10.2 Thus did David also in his distresse Psa 22.1 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me And we find the Faithful in their