THE MIGHTY CHRIST THE Saints Help OR A cleer Discovery of the MIGHTINESSE and Excellency of CHRIST in all things of and concerning him from the first Promise of him to his last Appearing and Kingdome With Application thereof to the severall States and Conditions of Men. BEING The Substance of severall Sermons preached at Northwalsham in Norfolk upon PSAL. 89.19 I have laid Help on One that is MIGHTY By RICHARD BREVITER M. A. a poor Labourer in Christs Vineyard Commended by divers Ministers of Jesus Christ in LONDON Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed Garments from Bozrah this that is Glorious in his Apparel traveling in the Greatnesse of his strength I that speak in Righteousnesse Mighty to save Isa 63.1 LONDON Printed by M. S. for Henry Cripps at the first Shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Lombard street 1662. TO ALL The FRIENDS and ENEMIES of our LORD JESVS CHRIST especially in England Scotland and Ireland FOR Christs and your sake this plain Treatise which about two years since was composed for a more private use is now by the importunity of divers of the LORDS Servants held forth to publick view And though a sense of my own weaknesse and great unworthinesse might have deterred me from this undertaking yet the excellency weightiness and suitablenesse of the Subject to your present conditions which will I hope make way in your hearts for its entertainment hath encouraged me to present it to your considerations It s chief design and aime is to lift up the SON OF MAN who both in his Person Merit Spirit Ordinances and Servants is by more than ordinary unbelief profanesse superstition persecution and abounding of all sorts of iniquity so greatly despised and rejected of men yea to the great reproach of Christianity of those that in words professe to magnifie him above all How it will be accepted and of what benefit it will be to you who as yet are his ENEMIES in your minds by wicked works Col. 1.21 I know not This I can say in all the Reproofs Cautions Counsels and Exhortations I have had it in my heart earnestly to desire to be instrumentall to deliver some of your souls at least from perishing in your disobedience and rebellion against CHRIST For though you say peace and safety while you walk in the imaginations of your own hearts yet great is the danger that you are in through your provoking this MIGHTY ONE against you How easily and suddenly can He break you with his rod of Iron and dash you in pieces like a Potters Vessel as Psalm 2. And what though through his patience and long-suffering you should walk many years in the wayes of your hearts and in the sight of your eyes yet know you must at last and how soon you cannot tell appear before the Judgement Seat of this Mighty One that you may receive the things done in your bodies according to what you have done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 And what account will you then be able to give to him of all your pride covetousness and some of you of your cursing swearing deceit drunkenness malitiousnesse uncleannesse contempt of his Ordinances persecution of his Servants and other high and horrid wickednesses scarce to be paralelled among the worst of Heathens O fear and tremble before the true and living GOD against whom you have sinned trust not in your power policy friends honours estates and such like worldly enjoyments which will not profit nor help at all in the great day of the wrath of the Lamb Prov 11.4 I shall leave with you Luthers Caution to some in his dayes viz Take heed you be not found among those roaring haughty Gentlemen and Heaven-breakers who do resist the Holy Ghost and Gods Word and boast of their own strength and ability And further in the spirit of meeknesse love and pity I beseech you so to consider and lay to heart the things that are here following written touching the GREAT KING OF THE WHOLE EARTH as to humble your selves under his Mighty hand to trust in his mighty name and to be obedient to his holy will that your sins and transgressions being blotted out you may in the end be made partakers of his Heavenly Kingdome and Glory AMEN And You the FAITHFVL and precious servants of the LORD especially the least and weakest of the flock who are fearing and ready to faint under the weight of present pressures and apprehension of future troubles For your furtherance and joy of faith in this Wilderness I have set my selfe to demonstrate the MIGHTINES and ENGAGEMENT of CHRIST to HELP you in all Conditions And though I may truly say I have not told you one halfe of the Greatness of his power and wisdome yet I hope what is here in much weakness displayed before you shall become mighty through God in some measure to support and comfort you in your several solitudes and sufferings here below such being the portion here of all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim 3.11 Acts 14.22 Which that it may be I entreat you not cursorily to reade as the manner of most is but seriously to weigh and carefully to hide in your hearts the words of truth contained in this Book And because I would not detaine you from the perusal of what followeth I onely yet earnestly beseech you by all the help you have received from Christ by all the consolation you have in him and by all the hope you have of future Glory through him that you give all diligence to walk more worthy of that grace wherein you stand by being more serious spiritual humble and holy in all manner of conversation especially now when you are made to eate the bitter fruits of former wantonness Oh sin no more lest worse things come unto you O love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ not in word and in tongue the common and onely sacrifice of most that are called Christians but in deed and in truth In a word be very faithfull to him make his work your business his commandements your Rule his life your example his SPIRIT your HELP his name your refuge and his glory your end And if you do these things you shall never fall Now what is here humbly offered for common good may by a blessing from on high be of some use for the turning of the feet of some sinners from the wayes of wickedness and for the strengthening the weak hands of some Saints in the work of righteousness to continue therein unto the end to the Glory and praise of this MIGHTY ONE the LORD JESUS CHRIST is the prayer of Your souls friend and servant RICHARD BREVITER From my Study in Norwich this 2d of the 4th Moneth June 1662. WE who desire the Exalting of our LORD JESVS CHRIST that MIGHTY ONE on whom the LORD GOD his father and ours in him hath laid HELP having observed the holy end and scope of these Sermons on Psal 89.19 Blessing
accordingly accomplished to and upon his Disciples to the astonishment and amazement of all Acts 1.5 with Acts 2. from 1. to 13. vers Fourthly His conference he had many conferences with very acute and subtil adversaries and he overcame them all with the chief Priests and the Elders Math. 21. They could not answer him vers 27. with the Disciples which the Pharisees sent unto him with the Herodians after they had taken council how they might intangle him in his talk the issue was when they had heard his answer to their subtil Question they marvelled and left him and went their way Matth 22.22 The same day the Sadduces came and put a Question to him and when the multitude heard his answer they were astonished at his Doctrine vers 33. The Pharisees hearing that he had put the Sadduces to silence gathered together and one of them which was a Lawyer asked him a question which he answered and when the Pharisees were gathered together he asked them a question and no man was able to answer him a word neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions vers 34. to the end of the Chap The Ruler of the Synagogue fell upon him with great indignation because of his healing on the Sabbath day whom when he had answered all his adversaries were ashamed and all the people rejoyced for all the glorious things that were done by him Luke 13 15 ad 18. And conferring with the Lawyers and Pharisees about his healing on the Sabbath day it is recorded They held their peace they could not answer him again to these things Luke 14.4 6. We may see also how mighty he was in his conferences with the Jews John 8. and 10. Chapters and also with the Devil the subtillest enemy whose several Temptations he answered by Scripture and the conclusion of all was The Devil leaveth him and behold Angels came and ministred unto him Mat. 4.1 ad 11. vers More need not be added to shew that he was mighty in Conference Secondly He was mighty in his works respecting the bodies of men and others which will appear in severall particulars First In the nature and kind of them his works were not common and ordinary but special and extraordinary and therefore it is said He did mighty works wrought miracles and wonders among the people works above and beyond the constituted order of Nature and he wrought not only mighty works as they are distinguished from the common works of others but as they are distinguished from the mighty works and miracles of others therefore the people astonished cryed out What wisdome is this that is given him that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands Mark 6.2 He cast out Devils we never read of any before Christ that cast out Devils though some other miracles they did therefore when he cast out a Devil the multitudes marvelled saying It was never so seen in Israel Matth. 9.33 He opened the eyes of one born blind and as the man said Since the world began it was not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind John 9.32 He healed such diseases as other Physitians could not the woman that had the issue of blood twelve years after she had suffered many things of many Physitians and had spent all that she had and was nothing bettered but rather grew worse she did but come behind Jesus and touch him and straightway the fountain of her blood was dryed up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague Mark 5.25 26 27 28. When the Lunatick child whom the Disciples could not cure was brought to Christ he rebuked the Devil and he departed out of him and the child was cured from that very hour Mat. 17 15 16 18. He did among the people the works which none other did John 15. 24. and he is a mighty One that can do that which others of great skill and power cannot do Secondly In the multitude of them he did many mighty works many miracles others before wrought a few Moses a few Elijah and Elisha a few by anothers power but Christ wrought many healed multitudes of sick persons all manner of sicknesses and diseases among the people If I should enumerate the miracles written which Jesus did they would appear to be many and yet he did many more than are written it is said John 21.25 at the close of the history of the life of Christ There are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it self could not contain the Books that should be written Of those things which are written that he did most of them are wonders or else have wonders in them as I have in part and shall further make to appear Now if we count him a mighty one that doth a few great things in his life time now and then a wonder how mighty must he needs be whose miracles are more than all the other actions of his life the multitude of his miracles speak him to be a mighty One according to that of the people recorded concerning him John 7.31 Many of the people believed on him and said When Christ câ—meth will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done Thirdly In the variety of them not a multitude of miracles of one kind as to heal multitudes of one disease only but he healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diseases as blindness witheredness lameness fevers dropsies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Languishings weaknesses consumptions diseases which are not so painful as wasteful of the body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tortures wracks aches convulsions palsies lunacy painful diseases and he did not onely heal all diseases but he also raised the dead cast out Devils gave sight to the blind rebuked and stilled the winds turned water into wine walked on the Sea fed thousands with a few Loaves and it cannot be said of Christ he was only excâ—llent and eminent in some one thing but he was mighty in every thing the variety of his miracles is a very cleer demonstration of his mightinesse Fourthly In the celerity and speediness of them he did them swiftly suddenly he healed diseases immediately when he bad them arise they arose presently the Evangelists have observed and recorded it as that which adds glory to Christs miracles of healing and other works that he did them so quickly many being healed the same Hour that he undertook their cure in as is evident Math. 8.13 Math. 9.22 Math. 17.18 The blind immediately received sight the lame immediately rose up and walked the crooked were immedately made straight Devils came immediately out of those that were possessed he stilled the winds on a sudden he cursed the fig-tree and it presently withered away yea it is said In the same Hour he cured many of their infirmities plagues
and of evil spirits and unto many that were blind he gave sight Luke 7.21 Christ did not take a week month or half a years time to heal in as others do and yet famous but what he did he did quickly and how mighty an One must he needs be who works miracles so speedily Fifthly In the facility of them they were easie First In respect of the Agent Christ himself his mighty works were not hard nor grievous but easie to him he did them without pain or toyl to himself for he did ordinarily heal and work other miracles by speaking a word or two by touching of persons difficulties were not difficulties to him but were his pastime and pleasure for it was his delight and his meat to do the will of him that sent him he is a mighty One who doth such mighty things so easily Thirdly In respect of the subject upon whom he wrought any wonderfull works when he healed others he did not as the manner of other eminent ones is put them to great nor yet to any pain in order to their cure but forthwith freed them from their present pains yea their very healing was without pain which sets up his mightinesse above mans Sixthly In his constant fitnesse and readinesse to do them when ever he had any call however he did seem to be distracted with much businesse he was alwayes ready and prepared for the work he was called to he never sent any away uncured unhealed never excused himself saying I am now busie come some other time he did not so much as make any delay to do for them according to their desire only he sometimes took occasion to try and commend the faith of some no time was untimous to him when people came to him After he had been teaching his Disciples upon the Mount without question some considerable space of time when he was come down great multitudes followed him he healed the Leper the Centurians servant and Peters wives mother and having spent the day in working when the Evening was come they brought unto him many that were possessed with Devils and he did not so much as defer it till the morning but he then cast out the spirits with his Word and healed all that were sick Matth. 8.16 Seventhly In the visibility and publicknesse of them many of his works being wrought before multitudes he was not of a cowardly and fearfull spirit he did not choose to work them in a corner or in some private place though he wrought some privately as he had occasion but openly in the chief publick places in Cityes as Corazin Bethsaida yea in Jerusalem that great and famous City in the Synagogues and in the Temple whether the Jews alwayes resorted see Matth. 21.14 In the presence of the Scribes and Pharisees Luke 5.21 25. Even when the Scribes and Pharisees were watching him Looking round about them all he said unto the man which had the withered hand Stretch out thy hand and he did so and his hand was restored whole as the other Luke 6.6 10. He oft healed and cast out Devils in the presence of the multitude he turned water into wine publickly at a marriage feast in Cana of Galilee And to this agreeth Peters description of him to the Jews in his exhortation to them Acts 2.22 Ye men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by Miracles wonders and signes which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know Eighthly In the opportuneness and seasonableness of them being alwaies suitable to occasions offered as may be seen in some instances in the miracle of feeding five thousand and more with five loaves and two fishes it was when they were hungry for they had continued with Christ three dayes when they had nothing to eat and when they were in the Wildernesse and could not tell how to get any and it was when it was evening and the time to return past then Christ works a miracle Math. 14.15 16 c. Math. 15.32 33. He rebuked the winds and the sea it was when there was a great tempest in the sea insomuch that the ship was covered with waves yea the waves did beat into the ship so that it was now full and the Disciples were in jeopardy Math. 8.24 Mark 4.37 Luke 8.23 He raised Lazarus it was when some of the Jews said Could not this man which opened the eyes of the blind have caused that even this man should not have dyed and after Lazarus had been dead four dayes he turned water into wine it was when they wanted wine when the mother of Jesus said unto him They have no wine John 2.3 Ninthly In the subjects of them First In the largeness unlimittedness of them he wrought his miracles almost upon all sorts and kinds of Creatures as Devils Men Beasts Fishes Sun Earth Aire Water Stones Trees as might be shewed which plainly manifest that all Creatures were in his power And Christ Jesus was if I may so say indifferent upon what Creature he wrought his miracles whether upon Man Beast or Devil Sea or Land strongest or weakest it was all one to Christ his power was not bound to this or that particular subject but did extend it self to all the Creatures to the living as well as the dead to the mightiest resisting raging Devils as well as to the most feeble fearful and submitting men and women Secondly In their unrulinesse in themselves and towards others as the Winds the Seas yeelded to him which made the men marvel saying What manner of man is this that even the Wind and Sea obey him Math. 8.27 Yea Legions many fierce unruly Devils submitted themselves to him such as no man could bind no not with Chains neither could any man tame though they were unruly in râ—spect of others yet not unruly when Christ came to deal with them which shews Christ to be a Mighty One Thirdly In their utter indisposition unto his works he wrought his miracles of healing upon peâ—sons that had their diseases a long time he healed a woman that had an issue of blood twelve years he healed another woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteeen years as also a man that had an infirmity thirty eight years these by the long continuance of their diseases were the more unfitted for healing he gave sight to a man that was born blind greatly indâ—sposed to the receiving of fight he cured a man that had Devils a long time Luke 8.27 He raised Lazarus when he had been dead four dayes altogether indisposed to live again and the greater indisposition is in the subject unto the work the greater is the power of the Agent that performeth it Tenthly In the perfection and compleatnesse of them what he did he did perfectly The man sick of the Palsie arose took up his Bed and went before them all insomuch that they were all amazed Mark 2.12 As many as touched the
blood as a mighty Advocate he plead for them in a way of Justice And upon this the servants of God may and do bear themselves in case of sin according to that heart-unholding word 1 John 2.1 My little chilâ—â—â—n these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous Upon this did that good woman that we read of in History bear her self who being charged and accused and much put to it by the Devil said Though I cannot answer thee my Advocate can meaning Christ And the Apostle did apprehend so much of the mightinesse of Christ in his performance of this part of his Priestly work as that he layes the stress of his peoples eternal salvation upon it Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Thirdly To offer up the gifts and services of the people Heb 5.1 8.3 And this Christ doth also and that powerfully and effectually for he doth not take the prayers praises and spiritual services of his people and barely offer them up to the Lord but by and through him presenting them they are acceptable to God 1 Pet. 2.5 His very presenting the persons and performances of his people unworthy and imperfect in themselves is sufficient to make them acceptable to God and therefore he is mighty in that part also of the work 〈◊〉 a Priest Fouâ—â—â—ly To blesse the people Numb 6.23 24 25. This also Christ doth and in this he is mighâ—ier than all other Priests which were before him which is evident in that First He blesseth more than they they blessed but a few in comparison of those he blesse they but the Nation of the Jews at the most they but one Nation he all the Nations of the world both the Jews and the Gentiles also according to the promise of God of old to Abraham so often repeated That all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed in him And for this end did God send him according to the words of Peter to the Jewes Acts 3.25.26 Ye are the children of the Prophets and of the Covenant which God made wite our Fathers saying unto Abraham and in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed Vnto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to blesse you in turning away every one of you from your iniquities And Paul tells the Galatians That Christ hath redeemed them from the curse of the Law being made a curse for them that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ Gal. 3.13 14. Secondly He blesseth with more and more choice blessings than any other Priest he blesseth not onely with bodily but with spiritual and with all spirituall blessings with blessings for this life and all estates and conditions therein and with blessings for the life to come Thirdly He blesseth more eminently than they he doth not only wish blessed but make blessed he doth not only pray for a blessing for his people but he doth authoritatively pronounce them blessed Seventhly In the unchangeableness and everlastingness of his Office when the Lord made him a Priest it was for ever The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec And by this also doth the Apostle exalt Christ above all other Priests Heb 7.22 23 24. They truly were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death but this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priest-hood wherefore he is able to save c. Thirdly Christ is a mighty Prophet this plainly appears by the words of the Disciples to himself inquiring about the things which came to passe in those dayes Luâ—e 24.19 which they said to be concerning Jesus of Nazareth which was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people His mightiness in this respect is manifest First In his Original for though all other true Prophets be of Gods raising up and sending yet he more especially it is peculiarly prophecyed of him Deut. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee He is a Prophet of Gods special sending he sent him in a more eminent way than he did others he sent him immediately from himselfe Nicodemus exalting him above others saith John 3.2 We know thou art a teacher come from God He came from God otherwise than other Prophets did it is said of him alone That he came out from God even from the bosome of the Father where he was Secondly In his Qualification he came out from God and he came throughly furnished for the discharge of this Office even with the whole mind of God and with a sufficiency of power to make it known the Lord speaking of him saith Isa 42.1 Behold my servant c. I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles and himself saith Isa 61.1 2. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me he hath anointed me to preach good tydings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives c. He was full of the Spirit and of power by the Spirit of the Lord. Thirdly In his Commission and his Commission is answerable to his Qualification God gave him largely of his Spirit and he gave him a large Commission abundance of teaching-power and abundance of teaching-work See both his Qualification and his Commission Isa 42.1.6 7. I have put my Spirit upon him I 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 darknesse out of the prison-house As also Isa 49.6 He is not only Gods servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel but saith God I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth He is the great Prophet he hath the grand Commission the whole work of teaching and saving souls is committed unto him alone and he hath undertook it he is the Lord of the Harvest and all other faithfull Teachers they are but his servants and labourers he is the chief Shepherd all others are inferiour to him being appointed by him to feed the Flock of God in a word the Father sent him and gave him all power both in Heaven and Earth and he sendeth others even all that are sent Mat 28.18 19 20. Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father c. Fourthly In his Execution and exercise of this Office
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
and what God hath anointed and appointed Christ to do the Saints may beleeve and hope for Thirdly It shews the righteousnesse faithfullnesse and goodnesse of God in his commands to and dealings with his people He is no hard Master looking to reap where he hath not sown nor to gather where he hath not strawed but as he hath appointed work for his people to do and afflictions for them to endure so he hath appointed and provided help for every imployment and condition Fourthly It shews whence it is that the people of God have been and are able to do such great things it is not of nor from themselves but from Christ their helper and help It was the Lords bâ—ing with and helping his Servants of old which made them do so valiantly and worthily It was not by the Apostles own power and holiness but by the name of the Holy Child Jesus Gods appointed help and helper that so many signes and wonders were done by them Acts 3.12 4.30 Hence saith Paul Phil 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me 1 Cor 15.10 II. VSE of REPROOFE First To the prophane ones of the world who insult and triumph over Gods people as if they were altogether helpless and utterly forsaken yea they say concerning the Righteous There is no help in God for him Psal 3.2 God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him Psal 71.11 This Doctrine tells such that they lie and speak not the truth and which is worse they make God a liar for God hath sworn it by his holiness that he will not lie herein Psal 89.35 19. and saith I have laid help and help enough help upon one that is mighty and they say there is no help for him And thus do many contradict the Lord himselfe but they shall one day finde that God is true and they are liars Jer 44.28 for God will performe every Good word which he hath spoken concerning the help deliverance and salvation of his people as Jos 21.45 Jos 23. 14. I shall onely say to such speak no more so foolishly Secondly To the proud ones of the earth who trust in themselves and in their own works for salvation saying in their hearts though not with their tongues that there is no need of the help of Christ no need of his being made to them Wisdome Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor 1.30 hereby frustrating the grace of God and making the death of Christ of none effect Gal 2.21 Such will one day finde though now they say they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing that they are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked and stand in need of his gold that they may be rich and of his white rayment that they may be clothed that the shame of their nakedness may not appeare Rev. 3.17 8. Let such heare and consider what God speaks to them Isa 50.11 Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled this shall ye have of mine hand ye shall lie downe in sorrow As also what Christ saith in his parable Luke 18.9 10 11 12 13 14. Two men went up into the Temple to pray the one a Pharisee and the other a Publican The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himselfe God I thanke thee that I am not as other men are extortioners unjust Adulterers or even as this Publican I fast twice in the week I give tithes of all that I possesse And the Publican standing a farre off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be mercifull to me a sinner I tell you this man went downe to his house justified rather than the other Thirdly This also reproves those that trust in their own strength for preservation and deliverance from danger that say in their hearts We will deliver our selves our own swords shall save us as also those that conceit their own hands sufficient for their designes How proudly did Pharaoh speak Exod 15.9 I will pursue I will overtake I will divide the spoil my lust shall be satisfied upon them my hand shall destroy them And yet he was so far from being able to performe his enterprise that he and all his host miserably perished in the mighty waters Sennacherib likewise was so confident of prevailing against Jerusalem that he made a scorne at all opposition which should be made against him And yet was not able so much as to come before it with Shields nor to cast a bank against it And the Angel of the Lord smote in his Camp an hundred and fourscore and five thousand in one night Isa 37. Neither have they onely been frustrated in and punished for their confident boasting in themselves but other Mighty Ones also and as many as shall yet glory in their might shall faint and be weary and utterly fall in the end Isa 40.30 31. Fourthly This also reproves DESPAIRING ONES First Those that despaire of eternal salvation and they are Either GREAT SINNERS such as have sinned so long so much and so grievously that they conclude their iniquitie is greater than can be forgiveâ— and their filthiness is such as cannot be washed away and that there is no hope that ever they should be saved To such I say though you have exceedingly provoked the Lord by your Rebelling against him Why should you further dishonour him and endanger your selves by distrusting and despairing of that help which God hath laid upon Christ for you And know if you have abundantly sinned he can AND WILL abundantly pardon the Returning sinner Isa 55.7 Jer 3.1 12 13. Hos 14.1 2 3. Why should any despaire of help from him who is not onely able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Heb 7.25 but is also appointed of God thereunto John 3.16 17. Or WEAK SAINTS such have sometimes said that there is no help in Christ for them but that they shall perish in their Transgressions and fall at last by the hand of some Temptation or other But how injurious are such to the grace of God and their own soules not considering that God laid help upon his servant David for all Israel especially for the weak of the flock yea because his people are weak and that they might not trust in themselves but in Christ he hath appointed him to be an help for them 1 Tim 1.15 Rom 4.5 Secondly Those that despaire of deliverance or any promised prosperous condition And this is when Gods people have prayed much and waited long in a low and suffering estate and the mercy seemes as far off at last as it was at first and the providence of God seemes to run crosse to his promise