When Jesus Christ comes to the soul he brings joy to the soule Esay 9. 3. They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest and as mon rejoyce when they divide the spoile When the Eunuch had his soul bedewed with this raine He went on his way rejaycing Acts 8. 39. The ground of his rejoycing you may see v. 32 33 35. Philip had acquainted him with Christ and Christ upon Philips preaching had rained down a soaking shower upon his soule that created a holy gladnesse in his heart Christ is the onely cheerer of the heart He can remove spiritual melancholy he can take off spiritual heaviness and put unspeakable joy into the soule 'T is true many of the members of Christ want spiritual joy This ariseth either from the restraining of this raine or from their not discerning of this raine When ever the distressed soul shall come to the feeling of these showers it will rejoyce and be no more sad The Doctrine of Christ is a cheering Doctrine The whole Doctrine is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Doctrine of good tidings All the Ordinances of Christ are cheering Ordinances I will make them joyful in my house of prayer God hath planted Jesus Christ as a root of joy to his people As he is a plant of salvation so he is a plant of consolation no joy is either real or lasting which is not bottomed upon Jesus Christ That soul that hath received this raine into his heart shall have some joy here and he shall have everlasting full soul-satisfying joy in Christ and with Christ and from Christ in the other world This is the second Christ is like raine in respect of usefulnesse 3. Christ is like the raine if we consider the manner of its descending There is a great similitude between the manner of Christs descension upon the soule and the descension of the rain upon the earth I shal instance in seven particulars First The raine comes down successively and gradually now a little and then a little The raine doth not fall down all at once but it comes now a shower and then a shower as the earth stands in need of it God pierces now one cloud and then another in a pleasant succession Jesus Christ comes now a little and then a little as the condition of the soule requires A drop in one Ordinance and a drop in another Ordinance A shower falls in this Sermon and a shower at another Sermon This is that which the Prophet mentions Esay 28. 10. Precept must be upon precept line upon line here a little and there a little Now one comforting influence comes down and then another now one quickning impulsion then another now one promise is rained down then another 1 Jesus Christ would have his people in a constant dependance on himself 2 He would have them wait constantly upon every Ordinance 3 He would not have them surfet either upon his Doctrines or comforts therefore he observes a succession in his distillations of good things upon them 4 He would have every Doctrine and every comfort soak into their hearts Luke 9. 44. 5 Christ would have nothing lost which he is pleased to bestow 6 Christ would endear every drop of his grace to his people 7 The soules of his people are like narrow mouth'd vessels they cannot receive much at once without spilling 8 We are such bad husbands that Christ dares not trust us with much at once For these and such like reasons doth he cause all he gives to distill in a way of succession Jesus Christ doth in a way of wisdome parcel out all the good which he raines down upon the souls of his people Secondly The rain comes down irresistibly When God doth by his Word of command speak to the cloud to distil its moisture upon the earth it is not in the power of all the creatures in heaven and earth to hinder its falling down As the clouds cannot open their own veines till God give the word no more can they â—â—â—â—ch themselves when God sets them a bleeding Jesus Christ comes down upon the hearts of men with an irresistible power and efficacy whether we understand it of his Doctrine or of his Scepter or of the influences of his Spirit he doth descend with a forcible and mighty power His Word is called a powerful Word Heb. 4. 12. The Word of the Lord is quick and powerful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Scepter is called a Scepter of strength Psal 110. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Sion His Spirit is a Spirit of might and it s said to work mightily in the hearts of his people Col. 1. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let Pelagians and Arminians talk what their wilde fancy dictates of the resâ—stibility of grace the Scripture mentions no such thing the raine will come down whether men will or no and let the earth be never so hard it will soak into it When Christ by his Word and Spirit descends it is with a mighty power that the soul is not able to resist it I shall shew the power of Christs Word Spirit and Scepter in three great works Conviction Conversion Consolation To speak particularly to these 1. For Conviction When Christ comes down with an intention thoroughly to convince the conscience of sinne and righteousnesse the soul though it may stand out for a time yet it is through the mighty smitings of Christs Word and Spirit so powerfully over-ruled that it cannot but yield we have an instance of this in Paul Act. 9. 6. Jesus Christ doth with such an invincible evidence come upon his conscience that though he was in a violent motion carried on in a contrary course yet he yields up himselfe as a prisoner into his hands crying out Lord what wilt thou have me do He hath no strength to stand out any longer nay not so much as to dispute it with Christ Of this convincing power the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. Jesus Christ when he comes down with a purpose to bridle the conscience doth deal so effectually that the proudest sinner is brought upon his knees and made to passe sentence against himself Yea with such a mighty power doth he come down upon the soule that even those who are not savingly brought in have their mouths stopped and are unable to say any thing for themselves Thus it was with those that brought the woman taken in the act of Adultery to Christ John 8. 9. They were so mightily convicted by the Word and Spirit of Christ that they were not able to abide in his presence but shrunk away one by one as men self-condemned Thus it was when Christ descended in the word of Stephen Acts 6. 10. Though they would not yield yet they were so powerfully convinced that they could not resist the Spirit by which he spake Christ doth so demonstratively smite the conscience that carnal reasoning hath no door of evasion Of this powerful
to remember what they had done and what they were like to suffer Thus it was with the Publican Luke 18. 13. He smote his breast saith the Text his heart was overwhelmed with grief shame feare sorrow There was a mixture of all these passions in him at once Thus it is with all those that are spiritually sick This is that which our Saviour calls labouring and being heavy loaden Mat. 11. 28. Sicknesse when 't is seen is evermore accompanied with paine and anguish Fourthly Dis-satisfaction with the present condition This follows upon the former And you will finde it hath ever been in such as have seen their spiritual sicknesse What is the meaning of those questions which were propounded by the three thousand Acts 2. 3â— By the Jaylor Acts 16. 30 And by Paul Acts 9. 6. Do they not cleerly evince that they were unsatisfied with their present estate It was no pleasing thing to them to continue any longer in that condition As if they should have said 't is no abiding in this estate 'T is such a kinde of reasoning as the foure Lepers had among themselves when the famine was so raging in Samaria 2 Kings 7. 3. Why sit we heare until we die Whatever the successe or event be 〈◊〉 must think of some other course Just so iâ— is with a conscience-wounded sinner he cannot be contented with that estate Though he know not how to get out yet he cannot be content to abide there Fifthly Despaire of deliverance by any thing in himselfe He that is sick of sinne looks upon himselfe as utterly unable to help himselfe This is that which is called in another place spiritual poverty And saith Calvin Nemo spiritu pauper nisi qui in nihilum apud se redactus Thus it was with those sick sinners before-named Their asking so seriously what they must do did clearly imply that they themselves knew not what to do something they thought must be done and yet they knew not what it was No man is truly sick but he that doth clearly see that in regard of himselfe he is both helplesse and hopelesse Self-insufficiency is one ingredient of spiritual sicknesses Self-denial and soule sicknesse are evermore companions This is cleare from the Publicans confession and prayer Luke 18. 13. He goes out of himselfe to God acknowledging that if ever he was healed he must be healed by mercy Sixthly A willingnesse to take any course God would have him so he may be healed This is implied in that question so often mentioned Acts 2. 37. Acts 9. 6. Acts 16. 30. They are very ready to follow the advice of God given by his Ministers for a speedy cure Cut them lance them scar them bleed them purge them any thing to free them from sinne any thing to save them from wrath which is ready to devoure them They will stick at nothing let God take his own way and use his own medicines whatever he prescribes they are resolved to drink it down be it never so bitter be it never so unsavory be it never so contrary to their corrupt constitution They hope he can heal them they are willing he should use his own method for the healing of them This is the first thing wherein spiritual sicknesse consists 2. That Christ is ready to heal such sinners as these This appears three ways 1. He inviteth such to come to him for cure The invitations of Christ are not empty complements as the invitations of men often are but real things He is not in jâ—st but in good earnest when he bids men repaire to him Never did one friend send to another with so much heartinesse as Christ doth to men Now we shall finde him inviting sinners under this qualification That 's a famous place in Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy loaden and I will give you râ—st And againe Esay 55. 1. Ho every one that thirstâ—th come ye to the waters c. Who is he that thirsteth who is he that hath no money but such sinners as I have described These are the patients which Christ invites 2. He hath promisâ—d to take care for the curing â—f such The promises of Jesus Christ are not false ambiguous or fallacious as the promises of men too frequently are He is the faithful witnesse the Amen Rev. 3. 14 All his words are spoken in simpliciâ—y and verity Now 't is his promise to cure heart-wounded sinners That in Mat. 11. 28. hath an expresse promise annexed to the invitation The promise of refreshing or giving rest is as good â—â— if he had said I will heal you To this agrees that in Mat. 5. 3 4 6. Poverty of spirit mournfulnesse of spirit hungring and thirsting do all go in into the description of the sicknesse of the soule and to each of these doth Christ make expresse and ful promises of spiritual healing Christs Promise is the best security Heaven or earth can afford 3. God the Father hath promised it in Christs behalf You will many times finde that the Prophets which have prophecied of him before his incarnation have by Gods appointment and in Gods Name engaged themselves that he should heal such sinners That is a very full place amongst others Esay 42. 3. that it 's meant of Christ is clear from Matth. 12. 20. where this text is applied to Christ and it 's applied to him upon this account that he healed the man with a withered hand v. 10. 13. and multitudes of other diseased persons v. 15. whereupon this of the Prophet is brought in Behold my servant c. A bruised reed shall he not break c. The words are a Meiosis more is understood then is expressed He shall not bruise the meaning is he shall strengthen it he shall not quench the meaning is he shall cause it to flame and nourish it By the bruised reed and the smoaking flax we are to understand such sinners as are bruised and bowed down under the sense of their great wretchednesse these sinners Christ will be ready to cherish You have it set out by another Metaphor Chapter 40. 11. He shall carry the lambs and gently lead them that are with young Who are the lambs and such as with young but broken-spirited Christians that are overwhelmed and pressed down with the apprehension of their own misery Christ will be so farre from neglecting these that he will put them in his bosome a place of warmth tendernesse and security 3. Why Christ is so ready to heal such sinners 1. He doth it in obedience to his Commission God the Father when he sent him into the world gave him a very special charge concerning these persons He was on purpose anointed to the place and office of a Physician that he might take care of such as these You may read his Commission set down at large Esay 61. 1 2 3. There you have the Patients described and the Physick applied and the Authority enjoyning and enabling The Patients
He shall come down like the rain upon the mowen grasse This seems to be more agreeable to the meaning of the Holy Ghost especially because of the clause following which is added by way of Explication As the showers that water the earth As the showers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rain and showers differ onely as lesse and more raine signifies smaller showers and showers signifie greater raine Deut. 32. 2. Raine falling in multitude of drops is called a shower That water the earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word Zarziph which is here translated water is onely used in this place in all the Bible it signifies to water by dispersion to water by drops The showers are dispersed in drops all over the face of the earth in a very regular and artificial way God hath divided saith Job a water course for the overflowings of waters Job 38. 25. The raine is from the cloud spouted out by drops after such a manner that every part hath its share Thus much for Explication The Observation is this Doct. Jesus Christ is to his Church as the rain to the mowen grasse as the showers of rain that drop down upon the earth Jesus Christ is the spiritual raine of his Church Jesus Christ is a mystical shower to the hearts of his people When God gave Christ out of his bosome he did then if ever raine a golden shower upon the world The Prophets do use this Metaphor in their predictions of Christ Esay 45. 8. Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies poure down righteousnesse c. Though it be expressely a prediction of that great return of the Church from their captivity Yet as Calvin well observes it relates to the spiritual Kingdome of Christ when all this should be compleatly fulfilled The heavens did never drop down salvation they never rained righteousnesse so abundantly as when they rained down him who is the Lord our righteousnesse In the handling of this Doctrine I shall open three things 1. What that is which in Christ may be compared to the rain 2. Wherein lieth the resemblance between Christ and rain 3. Wherein lies the disproportion there I shall shew how Christ excels all other raine For the firste This Metaphor of raine doth relate to three things of Christ It respects three particulars 1. It hath relation to his Doctrine It is usual in Scripture for Doctrines to be compared to the raine My Doctrine saith Moses shall 〈◊〉 at the raine my speech shall distil as the dew 〈◊〉 Ordinarily the preaching of the Prophets Deut. â—â— â— â—â— câ—lled Dropping Ezek. 20. 46. Drop thy word â—oward the south and Prophecy Ezek. 21. 2. Drop â—â—y word toward the holy places Prophecy against the land of Israel I finde divers Expositors interpreting that Text of Christs Doctrine Saith Chrysostome the coming down of the rain upon the grasse or upon the fleece of wool as he renders it signifies the preaching of Christ in the Synagogue And certainly Christs Doctrine if ever the Doctrine of any person may be well compared to the raine His Doctrine is from above and it hath all the properties of raine The Prophet makes the comparison Esay 55. 10 11. 2. It hath relation to the spiritual Government of his Kingdome The administration of judgement is many times set out by the descending of the raine Job speaking of himselfe as a Magistrate useth this Metaphor Chap. 29. 22 23. My speech saith he dropped upon them They waited for me as for the raine and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter raine Evill Governours are compared to a parching drought whereby the estates of the Subjects are withered they are like those destroying Gardeners that pluck up the very roots of the herbs but good Governours are like Gardeners that do daily water the flowers and so cause them to thrive Jesus Christ is such a Governour as seeks the wealth of all his Subjects he drops down rain upon them whereby they are multiplied and increase The Prophet speaks of this Hos 6. 3. His going forth is prepared as the morning he shall come unto us as the raine as the latter and former raine unto the earth Christs government tends not to the impoverishing but to the enriching of his Subjects In his dayes shall the righteous flourish verse after the Text. Jesus Christ is not a waster but a waterer of the spiritual estates of those that are under the Government of his Scepter The Psalmist compares his Scepter to dew Ps 110. 3. It hath relation to the influences of his Spirit The influences of Christs Spirit are compared to the raine The Prophet useth this Metaphor to set out the distillations of his Spirit upon his Câ—uâ—â—h Joel 3. 18. It shall come to passe in that day that the mountains shall drop down â—â—to â—iâ—e and the â—illâ— shall flow with milk c. When Jesus Christ hâ—d communicated his Spirit to the Church See whâ—t she saith Cant. 5. 5. I opened to my beloved and my hands dropped with myrrh and my fingers with sweet â—â—â—â—lling myrrh upâ—n the handles of the lock Christ did there come down as the raine by the secret vertue of his Spirit he caused many precious drops to fall upon the soul of his Church Calvin expounds this Text of the secret distillations of Christs grace upon his people so that whether we respect Christs Doctrine or his spiritual Government or the secret influx of his Spirit in regard of all these doth he come down as the raine upon the mowen grasse and as the showers that water the earth This is the first thing Qui respectus For the second Quae propoâ—tio Wherein stands the resemblance between Christ and raine I shall mention three particulars 1. The raine is the immediate and proper work of God The Scripture doth by this put a difference between the true God and Idols Jer. 14. 22. Man can neither set abroach the vessels of heaven to cause raine nor can he stop them when God hath set them abroach The key of the raine hangs at Gods girdle Man may speak long enough to the clouds before they give a drop of moisture but if God do but lift up his finger they are dissolved As he brings forth the wine our of his treasures so doth he draw the raine out of his Cellars Jesus Christ comes down like the raine in this respect for he is the immediate and proper gift of God This raine had never fallen from heaven if God had not of his own accord bestowed it had all the Angels of God been conven'd in an Assembly how to restore lost man they could never have found out this way The Scripture attributes the whole work of giving Christ to God alone My Doctrine is not mine Joh. 7. 16. but his that sent me His Doctrine is from God John 12. 49 His Scepter is from God Psal 110. 2. His King he is called Psal 2. 6. He prepared him a body Heb. 10. 5.
This raine hath no Father but God alone 2. The raine is very useful to the earth Jesus Christ is very useful to his Church Consider this in five particulars 1 The raine hath a cooling vertue When the aire is heated through the scortching beams of the Sunne the raine doth refresh and coole it we find a great cooling after one nights rain even in the heat of Summer Jesus Christ hath a cooling vertue when the soul burnes with lust when it is scortched with fiery temptations one shower from Jesus Christ cools it againe Jesus Christ by the droppings of his Doctrine and by the secret distillations of his grace quencheth the unholy heats of the soule God complaines of his people that they are as an Oven heated by the Baker Hos 7. 4 The best of Gods children finde in themselves such inordinate heats Sometimes they burn with worldlinesse sometimes they are hot with envyings sometimes they rage with passion and distempered anger Jonah had a flame of anger in his soule when he fell so foul upon God Chap. 4. init There 's no way to extinguish such burnings but by the cooling drops of Jesus Christ he sends down a shower upon the heart and â—o brings it to its own temper againe How did Christ cool Paul when unconverted Acts 9. 1 3 4. 2 The raine hath a mollifying nature When the earth is like iron under our feet by long droughts or hard frosts a few good showers supple it and make it tender Psalm 65. 10. David speaking of the earth saith Thou makest it soft with showers Jesus Christ hath a softening vertue sometimes the heart is hardened by the deceitfulnesse of sinne The soul is like the frosty earth no hammers will break it no judgements will dissolve it at such a time a few drops from Jesus Christ will soften it The heart of Peter was once grown as hard as a stone he denies Christ forswears Christ curses himself if ever he knew him Luke 22. 55 56 c. no sooner doth Jesus Christ open the cloud and raine upon him but he melts into teares v. 61. The heart of the Church was once frozen very hard Christ comes and knocks she sleeps he continues knocking she gives him a scornful answer Cant. 5. 2 3. no sooner had he let fall some drops of myrth but she is softened v. 4. Before her bowels were troubled at his knocking but now her bowels are more troubled that she made him knock twice Christs Word and his Spirit have a softening power and vertue the unconverted hardnesse of the heart is mollâ—fied by this rain If Christ would but now drop a few drops from heaven the veriest flint in the Congregation would be turned into a fountaine of waters How comes the stony heart to be turned into an heart of flesh but because these showers fall upon it One good shower of this raine upon the heart of a Judas would make it like melting wax And then 3. The raine hath a cleansing vertue A good shower makes the very chanels cleane store of raine makes the very sinks sweet You observe the fields have a sweet perfume after rain Jesus Christ hath a cleansing and sweetning vertue Those hearts that are as filthy as sinks those soules that are as nasty and stinking as your common shores after a good shower of this raine are both cleane and fragrant Mary Magdalen was a very sink of sinne she was full of devils yet when this raine fell powerfully upon her how cleane was she See what the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. What a company of filthy creatures are these Fornicators Idolaters c. yet v. 11. one good shower washeth these cleane Christ hath a cleansing vertue Let the soule be never so leprous or filthy a few good showers from him will make it cleane The Prophet calls him a fountaine for sinne and for uncleannesse Zech. 13. 1. And then 4 The raine hath a fructifying vertue The feed which is sowen doth not thrive the grasse in the pastures doth not grow if God withhold raine All the labour of the husbandman comes to nothing if either the former or the latter raine be denied The Psalmist sets out this vertue of the raine Psal 65. 9 10 11 12 13. want of raine brings a famine upon the earth Those three yeares of famine which followed one after another in the dayes of David were occasioned by want of raine 2 Sam. 21. 1. compared with v. 10. The sonnes of Saul were to be hanged till God by sending raine did signifie that he was appeased The raine is the very life of the fruits of the earth the clouds are the sucking-bottle of the fruits of the earth they dwindle if these bottles continue for any space stopped up See Jer. 14. 4 6. There is in Jesus Christ a fructifying vertue He makes the barren soul bring forth and be a fruitful mother of children See v. 16. after the text John 15. 5. He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit The Word of Christ is a fructifying word The Spirit of Christ is a fructifying Spirit the Church is acquainted with the fructifying vertue of Christ therefore she goes to him Cant. 4. 16. if Christ do not raine there will be no fruits but if Christ will drop down his dew the pastures will be green All the labour and paines of the spiritual husbandman will come to nothing if the raine come not down from Christ And if he please to poure down showers let not the Eunuch say I am a dry tree Though your heart be as dry and withered as the rod of Aaron was yet if Christ will raine upon it it shall both bud and blossom and bring forth Almonds The husbandman useth to say of his corne in a time of long drought that it is stocked yet that corne when the raine comes will shoot up Grace is sometimes stockt in the soul yet if Christ rain plentifully upon it iâ— will get up and gather strength again Davids grace was stockt when he lay sleeping in his blood and uncleannesse for so many months together yet when God opened this cloud and poured moysture upon him he revived 5. The raine hath a recreating 〈◊〉 It causes a gladnesse and cheerfulnesse in the heartâ— of men and it begets a kinde of brisknesse in the sensitive creatures the birds chirp the beasts of the field rejoyce in their kinde yea there is a kinde of joy in the very inanimate creatures The Prophet speaks of this in Psal 65. 13. The pastures are cloathed with flocks the valleys are covered over with corne they shout for joy they also sing When raine comes after a long drought there is melody made by all creatures in this lower world Jesus Christ hath a cheering vertue he doth fill the soul with joy when he comes down into the soule The heart that was dead and dull and heavy is made pleasant and joyful when these showers fall upon it
Out of his fulnesse have we all received and grace for grace John 1. 16. Christ doth not exhale vapours from the earth but sends down vapours from himself to the earth All his materials are in himself and from himself if Jesus Christ could not raine upon us till we did furnish him with materials we should be out of hopes of receiving one drop from him to the day of our death We can furnish him with materials for fire and brimstone but the ingredients of his comfortable raine are from himself alone 3. The raine is not necessary at all times There are seasons when the husbandman craves no raine He is sometimes afraid of showers and wishes for Sun shine rather then showers As snow in Summer and raine in harvest so honour is not seemly for a foole Prov. 26. 1. But now Jesus Christ is never unnecessary This raine can never faill unseasonably There 's no time but the drops of Christs doctrine come welcome to the soul There 's no moment wherein the influences of Christs Spirit are not grateful to the soule That day that is not a rainy day is a mournful day The earth may be too full of raine but the soule can never be too full of this heavenly moisture Si dixisti sufficit periisti 4. The raine is sâ—metimes hurtful to the earth Immoderate raine is as prejudicial as immoderate drought A poor man that oppresseth the poore is like a sweeping raine that leaveth â—â— food Prov. 28. 3. As parching heat doth sometimes dry up the fruits of the earth So excessive raine doth often drown the fruits of the earth Sometimes men and cattel are drowned sometimes houses with their inhabitants are swept away by overflowing showers But now Jesus Christ is never prejudicial to the soul If ever this raine do any annoyance to men it is by accident because it is not received or improved The distillation of Christs Doctrine is sometimes the savour of death 2 Cor. 2. 15. but this is onely because men are not bettered by it The Scepter of Christ doth break many in pieces Psalme 2. 9. but this is because men do not submit to it The influences and strivings of Christ by his Spirit are sometimes the occasion of the hardning of mens hearts and so consequently of their destruction but this is because they do resist and oppose them This raine hath intrinsecally no hurtful destructive property in it If it ever prove destructive it is because of some evil quality in them upon whom it falls 5. The raine is no distinguishing Argument between good and bad It falls promiscuously upon the righteous and unrighteous This our Saviour tells us Matth. 5. 45. The raine indeed sometimes falls in one place when it doth not fall on another Amos 4. 7. but on whatsoever City or Village it falls it comes down equally on all As fat drops fall upon the sluggards field as upon the field of the most diligent man But now this spiritual raine is more distinguishing Though all where the Gospel is preached have the same common Doctrine and all have some common influences of Christs Spirit yet there are special drops distilled upon the Elect which others never partake of Some are hardned others are softned some are rained upon to conversion others are rained upon for obduration some are melted and dissolved others are stiffned and enraged The peculiar drops of special grace are not communicated to all alike from Jesus Christ Arminians may talk of Universal grace that Christ doth no more for Peter then for Judas but the Scripture speaks of peculiar grace which is not communicated to all Why is it that thou wilt reveal thy self to us and not unto the world John 14. 22. There is hidden Manna which Christ never intended to bestow on all There are secret drops which Christ lets fall on one soul in a Congregation and doth not distill upon others This raine falls with a most exact distinction He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy saith the Apostle Rev. 2. 17. and whom he will he hardeneth Rom. 9. 18. Christ hath excluded some from the benefit of his prayers John 17. 19. And they that are shut out of the benefit of his prayers are excluded from the saving merit of his blood His propitiation is not extended further then his mediation 1 John 2. â— 2. The peculiarity of the descending of this raine is cleerly shewed by our Saviour in the answer he gives to that question of his Disciples concerning his preaching to the people in Parables Mat. 13. 10 11 12 13 14 15. Though the raine of Christs Doctrine fall down indifferently upon all yet the special grace of understanding applying and improving that Doctrine is not given unto all 6. The rain can make nothing spring where nothing hath rooted The showers are able to make both grasse and corne and other plants grow up but if either the earth be barren or if there be no foundation of roots the showers can do nothing the raine can make nothing grow up out of rocks It cannot make wheat grow where none was sowen But now Jesus Christ doth not onely make seed grow where seed is sowen but he makes seed grow where none was sowen Christ by the drops of his Doctrine and by the influences of his Spirit makes the rocks bring forth fruit He doth not onely cause plants to spring in good soyle but by the dropping of his grace turnes a barren soyle into a fruitful soyle one good shower from Christ will make the barren Heath as good ground as the fruitful valley The Word of Christ is called seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. it doth not onely make seed grow but it is seed it self Christ by raining down turnes the Thorne-tree into an Apple-tree He changes the thistle into wheat Other raine brings up something where something was but this rain brings up something where nothing was Other showers bring forth figs from Fig-trees but these showers bring forth figs from thistles Other raine brings up a crop where a crop was sown but this raine brings forth a crop where none was sown Those three thousand you reade of Act. 2. 37. had not one root in them when Peter began to preach but before he had done raining upon them their hearts were a nursery of all living plants The Uses of this Point 1. How justly may Christ expect fruitfulnesse from his people My beloved saith the Prophet had a vineyard planted in a very fruitful hill And he fenced it and gathered out the stones c. and he looked that it should bring forth grapes Esay 5. 1 2 3. It is but equal that they that live under Christs Doctrine and Scepter and under the influences of his Spirit should bring forth both good fruit and plenty of fruit the people of God are compared to a tree planted by the rivers of water which bringeth forth his fruit in his season Psal 1. 3. Christ is spiritual raine he is both
cleansing raine and fatning raine They that live under such droppings will be one day found inexcusable if they be not very fruitful those pastures that are manur'd every year if they have seasonable Sun-shine and showers are laid open to the wilde champion if they be not fruitful Remember seriously that of the Apostle and lay it well to heart Heb. 6. 7 8. No Argument can be used to plead for those that live under these fat showers without abundance of fruit 2. Behold the necessity of Christ Is not rain necessary for the ground are not seasonable showers necessary for the fields and pastures can any plants live long if they be not watered No more can any plants that are in the soul live without continual supply from Christ The Doctrine of Christ is not unnecessary the Scepter of Christ is not unuseful the influences of Christs Spirit are not in vaine Christ in all these respects is as necessary to the soule as the raine and dew are to the earth He is either blind or proud that doth not see an absolute necessity of Christ Egypt is fruitful though it have no raine the yearly overflowings of the river Nilus is instead of showers Jesus Christ is as the river Nilus to our Egypt did not he by the overflowing streams of his grace water our hearts they would neither bud nor blossom nor bring forth He is both the husbandman that plants our fruits he is the soyle that beares them and he alone is the rain that waters them Never think of the need the earth hath of the rain but meditate of the need your souls have of the droppings of Jesus Christ 3. How blinde and wicked are they that are offended at the Doctrine of Jesus Christ When Christ was on earth many were scandalized at his Doctrine And there are many still even amongst Christians that are offended at it He is to this day a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to them that stumble at his Word Rom. 9. 33. Men finde out many wayes of stumbling at the Doctrine of Christ To instance in a few 1 Some are offended at the strictnesse of his Doctrine Christ by his Doctrine doth condemn not onely the outward acts but the inward motions of sinne in the heart Mat. 5. 28. He commands the plucking out of the right eye c. Duri Sermones durioris Magistri have some said of these Precepts which are indeed the commendation of Christs Doctrine 2. Some are offended at the simplicity of his Doctrine Thus the wise Greeks were offended at him The Apostle mentions this 1 Cor. 1. 17. 18. They were of opinion that Tully and Demosthenes did far excel the Doctrine of Christ for eloquence 3 Others are offanded at the spirituality of his Doctrine They think his Doctrine is too mystical and sublime This was that which made many take offence at him John 6. 51 52 60 61. They thought it was a strange kinde of Doctrine that Christ should give them his flesh to eat 4 Others are offended at the Divisions which follow upon his Doctrine Though the Doctrine of Christ be in it self a Doctrine of peace yet accidentally meeting with the corruptions of wicked hearts it s an occasion of division Luke â—2 49. I am come to send fire on the earth and Matth. 10. 34 35. Think not saith our Saviour that I am come to send peace an earth I am not come to send peace but a sword c. These accidental divisions which follow upon Christs Doctrine cause many to be offended at him And if any can receive his Doctrine yet they are offended at his Government This is a general offence Psal 2. 2. 3. Let us break their bonds asunder c. His Scepter is too strict too severe c. Let all that are offended with Christ any way know that these are groundlesse offences They are Scandâ—la accepta not scandala data For Christ comes down not as poison to destroy men but as the raine to preserve and nourish men Take heed therefore of being offended at Christ remember he comes down both in his Doctrine and Government not for the ruine but for the salvation of men Christ hath all the good properties of the raine but none of the bad properties Whosoever is offended at him is offended at his own mercy 4. Lay your hearts open to receive the distillations of Christ. When any of this raine descends let the vessels of your souls be set wide open to receive it When Christ drops in his Doctrine when Christ distils upon you by his Spirit let your hearts be in a readinesse to drink it in The raine doth no good unless it be taken in All the drops of Christ will do you no good if you do not take them in When men are beleaguered in a City and want water they set out all their vessels when a shower comes that no drop may be lost Gods children are in this world as in a besieged City you want raine O let not one drop of Christ fall besides you Open your mouths wide that you may take in yea take down all the pleasant drops of Christ Two things are necessary for those that would have this raine First they must get under the cloud The publick Ministery is the cloud by which the raine droppeth Esay 5. 6. abide where you see these clouds gathering thickest And when Christ drops down thorough these clouds be sure your vessels be set out uncovered to receive what-ever falls 5. What a miserable condition is it to be without Christ It 's made the top of all misery Eph. 2. 12. He that is without Christ is as parched land without raine The Scripture threatens with holding of raine as a sore judgement Amos 4. 7. I have with-holden the raine from you when there were yet three moneths to the harvest 'T is threatned as a judgement against them that came not up to keep the feast of Tabernacles that on them there shall be no raine Zech. 14. 17. If it be so sore a judgement to want the natural raine what is it to want this spiritual raine Pity such as want Christ more then you pity those that want other raine 6. When ever you see a shower fall down upon the earth meditate on Jesus Christ For this reason doth Christ resemble himself to all these things that we might have remembrancers every where to put us in minde of him Let every drop of raine be a natural preacher to put some serious thought of Christ into your hearts 1 PET. 2. 6. Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner XVIII SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. Decem. 19. 1652. stone elect and precious THe Apostle at the second verse of this Chapter doth earnestly intreat the scattered Jewes to whom he writes this Epistle that they would as new borne babes receive the sincere milk of the Doctrine of the Gospel He presseth this by many Arguments As 1. God had appointed this to be the
Iohn 13. 10. he that is washed needeth not to wash save his feet He that hath the least measure of this oyntment shall as certainly finde all the effects of it as if he had the whose vessel poured upon him 5. He excels all other oyntments in the manner of composition All other oyntments are compounded and made by men they are called the oyntments of the Apothecary Eccles 10. 1. God created the materials and he it is that hath given man skil and understanding how to make use of them but the composition is made by men But this precious oyntment is not made by men but by God It is he that hath compounded this golden box of oyntment It was God that anointed Christ with the holy unction of the Spirit Psal 45. 7. and it is he that hath designed him to be oyntment unto others Yea the truth is this oyntment is God himself Though the humanity be a creature yet the Divinity is the Creator Christ is not only unguentum Dei the oyntment of God but unguentum Deus that oyntment which is God himself The Uses These I shall draw 1. From the general Doctrine 2. From the particular resemblances First In general We may take notice of 1. The excellency of Christ He is compared in Scripture to all things that are necessary and to all things that are pleasant and delightful One great piece of the study of Christians in this life is to search into the excellency of Christ To know what Christ is in himself and what he is to us comprehends a very great part of a Christians study in this life Paul desired to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. This one resemblance shews him to be a precious one he is so excellent that all the choice things in nature are made use of to shadow out his glory His Name saith the Prophet shall be called wonderful Esay 9 6. how wonderful is that Name which is comâ—â—sed of so many excellent things 2. This should draw our hearts exceedingly towards the Lord Iesus It should beget in us desire after him and delight in him Precious oyntment draw the affections of men towards them The best oyntment is but a drug to Jesus Christ If we be not enamoured with him we do despise him He that looks on him as oyntment cannot but be greatly delighted in him It follows in the text Therefore do the virgins love thee draw me we will runne after thee That man doth not value Christ as oyntment that doth not love him and desire to be drawn after him 3. The excellency of grace 'T is the graces of the Spirit in Christ that makes him compared to ointment his sweet oyntments are his meeknesse patience holinesse and the rest of those heavenly graces True grace is a choise thing the Scripâ—ure compares it to the choisest things in all the world Cant. 4 13 14. Next to God and Christ and the Spirit there 's nothing in heaven or earth comparable to Christ 4. That the grace of Christ is not a thing common to all His common graces are communicated to all his special grace is more confined His Name is oyntment The holy oyntment in the Law was poured upon none but upon consecrated things and persons Exod. 30. 2â— 24 25 30. It must not be poured on mans flâ—sh v. 32. Christ is compared here to this oyntment A select number the Elect of God onely those that are spiritual Priests these and these onely â—e made partakers of Christ and his graces Thuâ— much for the general doctrine Secondly particularly First from the fragrancy of Christ 〈◊〉 may learne four thing 1. How unsavoury they are that want Christ Wicked men have animam pro salâ— their soules keep their bodies sweet but what have they then to keep their soules sweet the holy Ghost compares men that are in the state of nature to that which is most unsavory Psal 14. 3. They are unsavory both in their persons and in services that want this oyntment A heart unanointed casts the worst smell of any corrupt thing in the world 2. Acknowledge from whence it is that all your fragrancy proceeds If there be any good smell upon your souls it is because this oyntment hath been poured forth upon you Jesus Christ mentions the sweet smell of his Spouse Cant. 4 10 11. and indeed every beleever is a sweet savour unto God The precious oyntment of the graces of Christ poured upon your head at your conversion is the onely reason of this good savour 't is great pride and ingratitude not to own it 3. This teacheth us all how to make and keep the soul sweet Satan labours to make it musty by breathing the ill ayre of sinne into it and if you would have it smell sweetly you must anoint it with this oyntment every day Drop but every day a drop of this oyntment upon it by prayer meditation or some other holy duty and it will preserved sweet notwithstanding the thick fogs of sinne and temptation Carry Christ in your bosome and you will smell very sweet in every company 4. When ever you smell any sweet savour think on Christ The best use which we can make of perfumes and oyntments is to make them remembrancers to put us in mind of him who perfumes both earth and heaven And then Secondly from the cheering vertue of this oyntment learne two things 1. Whither to go for heart reviving When you finde your spirits dull and melancholy when your hearts are tired out and your souls languish smell to this precious oyntment and it will revive you It 's Christs work to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite The smell of the oyntment either of Christs satisfaction or of his promises or of his intercession is the speediest and surest way to be rid from the power of spiritual heavinesse 2. Let them that have this oyntment maintaine spiritual cheerfulnesse God calls for spiritual gladnesse as well as spiritual sorrow Phil. 3. 1. A well grounded cheerfulnesse honours religion as much as holinesse The Scripture was written for consolation as well as for conversion John 15. 11. Rom. 15. 4. The Spirit is a comforter as well as a sanctifier John 15. 26. You that have this oyntment maintaine a holy light-heartednesse There is a vaine mirth and there is a sinful and sensual mirth avoid these but the holy mirth must be kept up It s a disparagement to the holy oyntment to see anointed ones droop in the blackest seasons And then Thirdly from the mollifying vertue of this oyntment learn two things 1. The Scripture remedy against hardnesse of heart It 's a disease the best are troubled with lesse or more chafe this suppling oyntment 〈◊〉 to it and it will grow soft This oyntment was never used aright but it did in time remove the spirituâ—l hardnesse of the soul 2. Ascribe all heart softnesse to Christ Had not this
conviction we may understand that of the Prophet Esay 11. 4. Where speaking of Christ he saith that he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall slay the wicked When Christ sets upon the work of conviction he comes with so much efficacy that he smites some to submission all to silence 2. For Conversion When Christ descends upon the soul in the work of Conversion what strength doth he put forth the strong holds of sinne are battered down every high thing that exalts it self against the knowledge of Christ is brought into captivity to the obedience of his Scepter 2 Cor. 10. 4. Devils are cast out of the possession which they have kept for many yeares without the least disturbance Strong lusts are mortified and the very constitution of the soul is changed What aileth thee O thou sea that thou fleddest thou Jordan that thou wast driven back ye mountaines that ye skipped like rams c. Ps 114. 5 6. The Prophet speaks those words of the powerful entrance of the children of Israel into Canaan The like is done by Christ in the conversion of a sinner Jordan is driven back the whole course of the soul is altered The mountaines skip like rams There are many mountaines in the soul of a sinner as pâ—ide unbelief self-conceitednesse Atheisme profaneness c. These mountains are plucked up by the roots in a moment when Christ begins the work of Conversion See how the Prophet doth allegorically set out the powerful descension of Christ in this work Esay 11 6 7 8. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb c. All the woolvish ravenous and brutish qualities and affections of the soul are powerfully subdued and brought under All that have known a person before wonder at the great change which is wrought and he wonders more at himselfe then all others can do Christ put his bridle of power into his lips and turned the current of his soul he scarce knows how When Christ came upon the heart of Elisha what a mighty power was put forth 1 Kings 19. 19 20 21. Elijah casts his mantle upon him the Spirit of Christ descends in that action and see how the man is changed He left the oxen and ran after Elijah forsakes all his friends to wait upon the Prophet When Christ by his Word and Spirit descends upon the heart of the Jaylor what a strange work is wrought upon him Acts 16. 33 He takes the Apostles the very same houre and washes their stripes Had any one that had over-night seen him beating the Apostles so cruelly as he did told him well before the morning-light thou shalt wish that all those stripes had been upon thy own body thou shalt before the Sunne arise wash those bloody stripes with thy tears would not he have thought him mad and yet all this came to passe Jesus Christ comes down with so much power that though the will would stand out against him yet it cannot resist Many a person comes to Church perhaps with an intention to laugh at the Preacher Christ poures down a shower upon him which hath so much power that he that came a scorner departs a mourner Zacheus is upon the Sycamore tree Jesus Christ lets a few drops upon him and he is so powerfully subdued that he comes down speedily at the first call Luke 19. 5 6. Matthew sits at the Excise-office gathering tribute Christ raines down but one shower and that hath so much power that the man leaves all and follows him he cannot stay to take one mans money more he ariseth from his profitable seat and runnes after Christ Matth. 9. 9 10. Peter and Andrew are busie as Christ passes by mending their nets Christ distils a few drops upon them in that call of his Follow me and I will make you fishers of men and how mightily are they overpowered they will not stay one tyde more yea they will not give another stitch but arise and follow him Mat. 4. 18 19 20. 3. For Consolation When Christ comes down with a purpose to comfort a sadded heart he comforts it with power See the promise Esay 66. 13. I will comfort you and ye shall be comforted The Consolations of the Word and Spirit of Christ come with such efficacy that the soul cannot shut them out the mourning is presently turned into dancing The Consolations of Christ are called strong consolations Heb. 6. 18. not onely in regard of the matter of them but in regard of the reception of them where ever they come they come with strength Hannah is in bitternesse of Spirit for a time Jesus Christ doth but as she is at prayer poure down a few fresh drops upon her and she goes away and is no more sad 1 Sam. 1. 18. Mary Magdalen stands at the Sepulchre full of sorrow she weeps many a brinish â—eare John 20. 11. Jesus Christ doth but open the cloud and drop a few drops upon her and what jâ—y is in her heart Take the most melancholy and persive sinner though he be like Rachâ—l that would not be comforted yet one promise of Christ rained down upon him and set on by his Spirit will make him lay aside his mourning garments Though Ministers cannot answer the objections of sorrowing Christians yeâ— Christ can answer them so powerfully that the soul shall have nothing to answer againe This is the second particular Thirdly The raine comes down voluntarily undeservedly The Prophet tells us how the dew and showers fall They tarry not for man nor wait for the sonnes of men Micah 7. 5. The raine doth not expect any humane concurrence or causality Though it come down upon us yet it comes down without us The raine descends for our advantage but not for our deserving The distillation of Christ comes down undeservedly on our part The soule meets with many a shower from Christ when it deserves no such thing The good either of Christs Doctrine or his Scepter or his Spirit are not merited by us Should we have no raine from Christ till we did deserve it we should suffer an eternal drought The first grace of Christ is preventing grace I am found of them that sought not after me Esay 65. 1. And all the after-grace of Christ is undeserved grace We do as little to deserve the influences of Christ as we do to deserve the distillations of the clouds All that Christ doth for us is onely from the meer motion of his own grace Esay 55. 1. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth James 1. 18. We must say Grace grace to all the soul-fatning drops that come from Christ He forgets that Christ comes down as the rain that dreams of merit All the sonnes of men want Christ but none of the sonnes of men can deserve Christ Fourthly The raine comes down unexpectedly Sometimes when the skie is black with clouds the winde riseth and driveth them away without so much as a drop
At another time the raine falls plentifully when no shower is expected Jesus Christ comes down upon the soules of his people many times when they look for no influences from him the Church observes this Cant. 6. 11 12. I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates budded Or ever I was aware my soul made me like the chariots of Aminadab Here a shower fell upon her head when she did not look for it The soul sometimes comes to an Ordinance ful of misgiving thoughts expecting no good and before it depart it 's wet from top to toe with the distillations of Christs Spirit The Church found it so when she had the least reason that could be to expect it Cant. 5. 5. She might have expected to have found flames of brimstone in regard of her dealings with Christ and behold she findes the droppings of sweet-smelling myrrh Sometimes in the night-watches Christ raines upon the soule when it never expects any such thing David made his bed to swim Psalme 6. 6. he could not have watered his couch with his teares if Christ had not first watered his heart with his grace Sometimes the soule comes to the Throne of grace parched with hardnesse perhaps as dry as the rock in the Wildernesse and Christ suddenly sends down a shower that it goes savourâ—y weeping from his presence Did not our hearts burne within us while he talked with us by the way Luke 24. 32. Jesus Christ did desâ—end suddenly upon them while they were in conference with him Sometimes a servant of God takes the book of God into his hand when his soul is dry and withered and before he hath read half a Chapter he findes the clouds melting and his soul bedewed with a shower of grace never did a shower comedown so suddenly as the grace of Christ hath sometimes comedown upon the soul Fifthly The raine comes down not for its own benefit but for the benefit of the earth What advantage hath the cloud by all the moisture that drops down from it It empties it selfe that it may enrich the ground Jesus Christ doth by his Word and Spirit and Scepter descend for the benefit of men His Doctrine the influences of his Grace are for the enriching of his Elect. Christ came down at first in his incarnation for our sakes 2 Cor. 8. 9. and all his other descensions are for our good For the filling of our empty soules for the quickning of our dead souls for the comforting of our straitned and distressed souls it is that Christ comes still down into the world His preaching his knocking his striving is onely and meerly for our benefit What profit is it to God that thou are righteous Job 22. 3. Christ hath no more advantage by all the drops he sends down upon thy soule then the clouds have for all the showers they let fall upon the earth Sixthly The rain comes down variously sometimes after a more stormy manner sometimes after a milder manner Christ comes down somtimes by promises comforts enlargments in a way of mildness sometimes he descends in a way of severity by rebukes threatnings The Church hath as much need of stormy showers as milder showers of cold raine as of warmer drops Christs more angry drops are as useful for his people as his more pleasant drops His chiding and frowning distillations make his comforting droppings more sweet His milder showers comfort us but his stormy showers try us more If Christ should not rebuke us as well as comfort us he would indeed lose us The great raine of his anger keeps us from stragling when â—he small raine of his love occasions us to wander Seventhly The raine comes down plentifully Not a drop or two but whole showers Though it come not down all at once yet as much comes down as is useful for the earth Jesus Christ comes down plentifully he doth not scant the soul he doth not give one comfort but many comforts Eat O friends drink abundantly Cant. 5. 1. He hath enough in him to give The soul wants more then a little He is not niggardly but bountiful therefore he gives plentifully and then as the raine falls down in many places at once so doth Christ All the earth for many miles together is sometimes rained upon at oâ—e and the same time the rain waters many fields at once Jesus Christ comes down abundantly he can if he please water many soules yea many Congregations at once So many Churches so many Fleeces so many Congregations so many Pastures Christ can rain upon this Congregation and he can water other Congregations at the same time Jesus Christ if â—e pleaseâ—â— an send down such a shower as shall water every Congregation yea every soul in the world aâ— one and the same time As the drops of a shower cannot be numbred no more can the drops which fall from Jesus Christ upon his Church If we receive not plentifully from Christ 't is because we ask not plentifully For the third particular Quae disproportio And here I shall shew the excellency of Christ above all material raine in six particulars 1. Christ comes down from the highest heavens The raine descends from the visible heavens Philosophers divide the aire into three Regions the highest the middle and the lowest Region Now they all hold that the raine descends onely from the middle Region there it is generated and from thence it descends upon the earth But now Jesus Christ comes down from the invisible Heavens There he sits at the right hand of God Acts 5. 31. and from thence doth every drop which distills upon the hearts of men descend This is that which Peter tells the Jewes Act 2. 33. Being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which now ye see and hear All the good of his Word of his Scepter of his Spirit comes down from the Heaven of heavens There the royal throne is and from thence doth the raine fall You must look above the highest Region of the aire yea above the highest star in the firmament if you expect any drop from Jesus Christ 2. The raine that descends upon the earth doth first ascend from the earth A cloud which is the womb of the raine is a cold and moist vapour exhaled by the heat of the Sunne out of the earth or waters into the middle Region of the aire where it is by the cold condensed and there hangeth till by the heat it be dissolved into a shower So that the showers which do drop upon the earth are first drawn out of the earth Psal 135. 7. But now all the drops which distil from Christ are generated in heaven Jesus Christ is not beholden to the earth to furnish him What ever he distils either in his Word or by his Spirit is originally in and from himself