was more neglected then Jesus Christ Isai 53.3 he is despised and rejected of men though he was employed in the great work of our Salvation 1 Sam. 18.23 I am poor and lightly esteemed 4. The fourth affliction of poverty if the poor do never so little anger vex or stand in the light of the proud carnal world they will despise and curse them Joh. 7.48 49. have any of the Rulers and Pharisees believed in him but the people who know not the Law are cursed Ioh. 9.28.34 they reviled him they said thou wert altogether born in sin and dost thou teach us and they cast him out Prov. 14.20 the poor is hated even of his own neighbour but the rich hath many friends Prov. 19.4 wealth maketh many friends but the poor is separated from his Neighbour Prov. 19.7 all the brethren of the poor do hate him how much more do his friends go far from him he pursueth them with words yet they are wanâ—ing to him Thus it was with Iesus Christ Joh. 7.5 for neither did his brethren believe in him 5. The fifth affliction of poverty is when a man is poor men think that God despiseth them as they themselves do Thus they dealt by Iesus Christ Isai 53.4 we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted Ier. 5.4 poor and foolish poverty renders a man destitute forlorn despicable poverty layeth a man by like a broken potsheard good for nothing Prov. 10.15 the destruction of the poor is his poverty 6. The sixth affliction of poverty is every one will be bold to afflict wrong tread upon the poor man Psal 10.2 8 6 14. the wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor his eyes are fiercely set against the poor he catcheth the poor when he draweth him into his net men are bold to injure the poor because they know they are not able to revenge themselves and they think no body else will they think not of God that he hath taken the protection of the poor and that he will behold their mischief and spight Psal 10.14 thou hast seen it for thou beholdest mischief and spight to require it with thy hand the poor committeth himself to thee thou art the helper of the Fatherless Am. 2 6. Thus saith the Lord for three Transgressions of Israel and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they sold the righteous for siâ—ver and the poor for a pair of s oes tâ—us they dealt with Jesus Christ and most severâ—ly hath the Lord viâ—ited the Iews for such inâ—uries done unto our Lord Iesus 7. The seâ—enth affliction of poverty is that it draws a vail or Curtain over all humane excellencies it taketh away the matter and means whereby he may excell in the world among men he cannot do any great and honourablâ— works in his Generation he hath not wherewith to do them as rich men have Isai 3.6 7. whâ—n a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his Father saying thou hast cloathing be thou our Ruler and let this ruine be under thine hand in that day shall he swear saying I will not be an healer for in my house is neither bread nor cloathing make me not a Ruler of the people What ever other virtues or wisdome he hath if hâ— want wealth he is disabled darkened and laid aside from a capacity of doing any great service among his people Thus it was with Iesus Christ his poverty did disable him from carrying any breadth among men Yet Jesus Christ by his divine power did many wonderful and miraculous good works in healing all manner of diseases in feeding the hungry in a time of need he entertained and fed many thousands at one time and that in a wilderness he filled all their bellies and no doubt all their pockets bags or baskets and when all had taken what they would they still left many baskets full No Prince on Earth did or could make such a bountiful Feast his poverty is no hindrance to his divine power from doing such acts of noble liberality and so it was with the Apostles afterward though they were poor yet that hindred not them from doing great acts of beneficence to men Act. 3.6 silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I thee in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazaret rise up and walk 2 Cor. 6.10 as poor yet making many rich and that with the best and most true riches in the world rich in Faith though poor in this world Iam. 2.5 Quest Why did Iesus Christ undergo poverty such deep poverty Answ 1. For the satisfaction of the vindictive justice of God for the sin of man all sinless punishment which sin had deserved and justly brought upon man this Iesus Christ suffered of which punishment poverty is a chief part Adam was a rich Lord over the world he had a great dominion but upon his fall he was thrust out of Paradice stripped of all his dominion dignity and glory he was Lord of the world but now an outcast a poor beggar he has nothing but what Gods mercy will bestow on him he hangs upon every creature for relief wool hair hides flesh and many other things he is necessitated to get from the creatures of God for his relief which are drops and branches of his lost dominion and notwithstanding this beggarly condition of man so foolish many are to bedeck themsâ—lves in pride with these things which should be for their humbling This second state of Adam this poor punished condition did Iesus Christ take upon him Phil 2.7 8. though equal with God yet he became a stripped bereaved naked man and of the poorest sort among them This was a chief part of the sufferings of Iesus Christ for the sin of man he bore this effect of Gods wrath upon fallen man to bear it off and away from us 2. Iesus Christ bore this part of the punishment of sin for the sake of Gods elect to sanctifie this state of poverty for them to take out the sting of it and to remove the curse from it that it might become a blessing to them for it is Gods designe and purpose that the state of his Church and Saints in this world should be poor the most part of them and therefore he hath prepared poverty for them by taking the curse out of it 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. ye see your calling Brethren how that not mâ—ny wise after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath châ—sâ—n the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty and base things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen yea and things that are not to bring to nought the things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence 3. Jesus Christ came into the world in this poor condition to leave an advantage to Satan to tempt and prevail
7. in the form of a Servant and in maâ—y other respects as will appear hâ—reafter in the History of his life The sufferings of Jesus Christ fully satisfied vindiâ—tive justice and the active obedience of Jesus Chriâ—t did fully satisfie rewarding jâ—stice every act of Jesuâ— Chriâ—t was pure perfect and meritorious Gâ—d saith in him I am well pleased Mat. 3.17 Every act of Jesus Christ his obedience either active or passive was pure and without sin Heb. 4.15 and 1 Pet. 2.22 who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Heb. 7.26 holy harmless undefiled Every act of Jesus Christ his obedience either active or passive was perfect Heb. 2.10 the Captain of our Salvation perfect Heb. 5.9 and being made perfect he became Author of Salvation to all that obey him Every act of Jesus Christ his obedience either active or passive was meritorious Rom. 5.18 19. as by the offence of one Judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life for as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Eph. 1.11 14. In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will ver 14. which is the earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory This meritorious eminency of the obedience of Jesus Christ springeth from the eminency of his person being God-man The Law never had such a person subject unto it never did nor could any other perform such obedience as this glorious person performed never were or could be such acts of obedience both active and passive performed as were performed by Jesus Christ because he is a publick person by Office he is our Mediator and Surety every act that he did was acted by virtue of his Office in which Office he was from his first Incarnation as it is testified by the Angel Math. 1.21 Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sin Luk. 2.11 unto you is born this day a Saviour in the City of David which is Christ the Lord all that Jesus Christ did and suffered were acts of his Office If Adam a meer man had performed pure and perfect obedience it should have been meritorious how much more eminently meritorious are all the acts of the obedience of Jesus Christ One consideration more I shall add to illustrate the wonderful sufferings of Jesus Christ by shewing that they do infinitely exceed all the sufferings of man either the sufferings of the Elect in this life or the sufferings of the damned in Hell Jesus Christ suffered as a publick person the punishment of all our sin was laid upon him Isa 57.6 he laid upon him the iniquities of us all he had no sin of his own to suffer for but he was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 and all our sins were nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ all the punishment due unto the sin of all Gods Elect was laid upon him The sufferings of Christ were of value sufficient to satisfie justice for all sin though in the application thereof unto us by the new Covenant only the Elect doe receive and partake of the benefit thereof Sufferings of infinite value were necessary to redeem one Soul and sufferings of Infinite value are enough to redeem all the world yea many worlds Our greatest sufferings alass are of small value we merit nothing but hell by our deepest sufferings our sufferings at best are spotted and stained with sin and our sufferings are but personal not publick Ezek. 18.4 the Soul that sinneth it shall dye we suffer for our sins not for the sins of others The sufferings of Gods people are not penal but medicinal so much as may serve to purge out sin and no more Isai 27.9 and alas a little serves the turn through the mercy of Jesus Christ and through the operation of the Spirit The sufferings of Christ are penal he suffered the whole weight of the curse till the Infinite vindictive justice of God was satisfied O the Infinite weight of the sufferings of Jesus Christ yea the damned in hell suffer the vindictive wrath of God but alas they are finite and can bear but drops at once they can never satisfie justice and besides they suffer every one only for his own sin But Jesus Christ suffered the whole weight of Gods wrath due to all sin and all this at once O the unconceivable depth of the sufferings of Jesus Christ and O the Infinite value of them Cap 2. The History of the wonderfull Conception of Jesus Christ and the sad afflictions and sufferings that attended the same LOrd help me with humble Reverence to handle the holy History of the holy life sufferings and death of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ In the first and last periods of the life of Jesus Christ in the world his sufferings and passive obedience were most conspicuous in the intermediate periods of his life his active obedience to the Law of God was most conspicuous as will afterwards appear in the History thereof Though the conception of Jesus Christ was exceeding glorious above the dignity of any man that ever was born of a woman yet was the morning of his life black and tempestuous very dark according to the Prophesy Isai 53.2 as a tender plant as a Root out of a dry ground this I shall open in four particulars 1. His Conception was wonderful and Divine and this appeareth in sundry respects 1. In respect of the Angel whom God sent to be his Messenger to manage and transact this glorious and divine work Luk. 26.27 the Angel Gabriel was sent from God the time of the coming of this Angelical Messenger from God is expressed to be in the sixth Moneth after John Baptist his conception which consideration will be of some use afterward the place he came to was a City in Galilee of the Gentiles named Nazareth a place of little expectation Joh. 1.46 Can any good thing come out of Nazareth this is the place of the first springing of that glorious branch Jesus Christ which is marked by Mathew Math. 2.23 as the fulfilling of the Prophesies viz. those Prophesies where Jesus Christ is called the Branch from which word that city had its Name The person to whom the Angel came was a Virgin espoused lately unto Joseph both of them of the house of David and the next and proper heirs of the crown of David this God knew though the world took no notice of it The Virgins Name was Mary 2. This Conception was wonderful in respect of the heavenly Salutation which the Angel expressed unto Mary haile thou that
birth his first entrance into the Flesh into this World was attended with great sufferings And as his life was the pretious life of a publick person so all his sufferings were the sufferings of a publick person the Redeemer of Gods Elect. And this is to be noted that in all his sufferings he did attend unto follow divine Counsel he did not rashly or without cause or call either expose himself to danger or engage into any difficulties alwayes he attended unto the command and direction of the Lord whatever the Lord appointed to him that he did and suffered in all which he is an holy pattern unto us in all our sufferings And when we celebrate in our Sacramenatl worship the sufferings of Jesus Christ we celebrate all his sufferings even from his first incarnation and these sufferings in his Infancy for all his sufferings are of the same kind and nature In this their flight into Egypt and tarrying there till the death of Herod the wise over-ruling providence of God did accomplish two eminent faâ—ours for them 1. He compleated the Mantle which he drew over the birth of Jesus Christ which was very probably some dayes sooner then the time of their compleating the marriage in the sight of men would be correspondent unto for after her Conception she brought forth her first born according to the ordinary time of of the life of man and that was some distance of time afore the strict account of the time of the consummation of the marriage would allow in which case some observers no doubt were busying themselves but now they being sent away to Egypt and there abiding till the death of Herod all memory of such a critical observation was utterly removed out of the way 2. It may justly be here enquired how this poor couple with their babe subsisted in their long flight and tarriance from home and that among strangers in a strange land What provision had they for their sustenance In this matter Gods eminent providential care over them appeared for the wise men of the east offered gold frankincense and myrrh which were worth gold in Egypt And hereby the Lord made a supply of provision for their subsistence to bear all their charges in this difficult and chargeable flight O what a sovereign high hand of God is here magnified to provide and send men from the East among other ends to bring sustenance and provision for Joseph Mary and Jesus in their flight into Egypt This persecution that Herod raised against Jesus Christ in his Infancy was the first entertainment that he had among the Jews and it was very sharp but reached not his life he had other things to do and accomplish in this world before he left it We read of no more persecutions that he suffered until he entered his publick Ministry and then the chief Priests Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites were his persecutors and they did so malitiously cunningly and effectually follow the matter that they persecuted him to the death under their hands he finished his sufferings in this life which he came into the world to undergoe CAP. V. The Return of Iesus Christ out of Egypt into Israel the Church of God THough Gods dearest children may be banished out of the Church into the world yet they have no quiet and rest to continue there Godly hearts long for the enjoyment of Gods presence in his inâ—tituted worship They can â—â—nd no rest in their souls so long as they are at a distance from the visible presence of God David is a lively Type of all this that Jesus the Son of David suffered Psal 84. per totum is a very lively description of the frame of Davids heart in the time of his banishment and flight and hereby is set forth with what frame of heart Jesus as Mediator and his parents were exercised in the mournfull time of their residence in Egypt all which time is a part of the suffering times of Jesus Christ in this world whereby he sanctified such a condition to his servants when he shall so try them O what longing desires were in their godly hearts to leave that dead world lying in Egyptian darkness and to come into the light of the Lord in the Land of Israel Psal 84.2 My Soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of my God my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God But they were commanded to tarry till the Angel should bring them word and call them to return Math. 2.13 Be thou there till I bring thee word They were commanded to attend to divine direction in all their motions It was a great help to their holy hearts to be and stay in that dark land because God sent them thither it was also a great help to them in patient waiting for deliverance because they had a promise that deliverance should come For these words till I come express a purpose in the heart of the Lord to come who never faileth to accomplish all his purposes of love to his children and it is a promise to tell him when it will be fittinâ— and safe for their return When the time was come the Angel came according to his promise Math. 2.19.20 But when Herod was dead behold an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a Dream in Egypt saying arise and take the young child and his mother and goe into the Land of Israel for they are dead that sought the young childs life This was done Mat. 2.15 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet Hos 11.2 Out of Egypt have I called my Son Gods calling of Israel out of Egypt was a Type of his calling his Son Jesus out of Egypt And this is to be noted that he sends him out of Egypt into the land of Israel out of that dark world into the Church where Gods presence was and where the light of God shined where the communion of Saints was to be enjoyed And when he cometh there he leaveth him to act according â—o his prudence And hereby the Lord put them into another dark and difficult â—ryal as will presently appear Joseph obeyeth gladly no doubt this divine Direction Mat. 2.21 He arose and â—ook the young child and his mother aod went into the Land of Israel Vnto what place â—e went it is not said but he soon heard that Archilaus reigned in his fathers stead â—oseph understanding him to be ambitious of the Kingdome as his father Herod â—ad been he feared to goe into Judea And now was he in a great straight No â—oubt they cryed to God for further divine direction whether to goe Then did â—he Lord give them a further particular direction Mat. 2.22.23 being warned of God in a dream he turned aside into the parts of Galile and came and dwelt in a city â—alled Nazaret This place the Lord did appoint for the place of the education â—f the child Galile was under another Jurisdiction it was a more obscure place where nobody
his Saints compleat Arms even the whole Armour of God and weapons of war that are mighty through God none of our Enâ—mies are able to stand before them the Devil himself will fly from that Christian that is expert to use and improve the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God T mptation is Gods School wherein he doth train up his Children to prepare and sit them for Service on Earth and for glory in heaven when Jesus Christ himself was entering upon his publick Ministry he began in the School of Temptations he began also with fasting and prayer he exercised these preparatories together and come forth of the School eminently filled with the Spirit yea he was fillâ—d with the Spirit when he entered into this School Luk. 4.1 and Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wildern ss The Spirit of God doth attend and assist such as are in Temptations and doth furnish them unto such Services and sufferings as the Lord shall please to call them unto Temptations are Gods usual preparatories of his Children for great services when God was about to call up Abraham to be a Father of the faithful a Corner stone in subordination to Iesus Christ of that Church in which Iesus Christ came into the world and to be a Father in the holy line of the promised Seed we may see that God prepared him for these great services by great Temptations and tryals When God was about to call up Moses to deliver Israel out of Egypt to change the Church polity to be Gods Instrument to create new heavens and a new Earth to erect the Church and common wealth of Israel glorious services we see that God prepared him for all this by great Temptations and Tryals When God was about to call up David to make great Reformation in the Church of Israel to gather up and settle all the scattered parts of Gods instituted worship and fix it in a Temple and to erect a typical Kingdome of Iesus Christ and to fix the line of the Incarnation of the promised seed all of them very great and eminent services with sundry more that I name not only include them in these generals I say when God was about to call up David to these great services O what a storm of Temptations did he arise through When Solomon was called to finish what his Father David had begun in building the Temple and setting in order the fixed national worship of God We read little of his passing through Temptatious to humble and prepare him But we read much of his sensuality whereby he so stained the glory of his high services that it should raise thankfulness to God that pleaseth to call us up to services of renown through a field of very great Temptations We see in our present subject touching the sufferings of Christ that when the Lord was calling him up to that greatest and most honourable of services that ever was performed unto the Lord in this world viz the Redemption of man and the salvation of souls Iesus Christ entered upon the service through many tribulations and temptations it is an experimental saying of holy men that prayer meditation and Temptation make a good Christian a good Minister a good Magistrate it fitteth a soul for any service that the Lord shall call him unto Temptations are humbling providences they are rods of correction and Instruction that wean us from all kind of self confidence or self seeking they rectifie and purge us in our grounds and ends in all our motions and when a Christian is duly sanctified in his grounds and ends he is a fitted instrument to glorify God in any service whatsoever The less of man the more of God Furthermore we see that when Christ was about to enter into this difficult field of Temptation he first received the Sacrament of Baptism to fulfill all righteousness no other Gospel Sacrament being yet instituted Federal Sacramâ—ntal Communion with God doth greatly strengthen Faith We see also that when Jesus Christ was entering into the field of Death he first exercised sacramental Communion with God yea double sacramental communion with God He first eat the Passover and then instituted and celebrated the Lords Supper then entred upon his garden conflict and Agony all the suffering that followed even to his Death By these Examples of Jesus Christ when Gods people are to enter upon any great design especially when they goe upon hazzard of their life they will if they can orderly and regularly receive the Sacrament before they enter upon their design Get as near to God as you can True it is that many doe this superstitiously regard not the regular receiving the Sacrament in the Communion of the Church but minister it in private or in a sick mans chamber but consider that these errors and abuses cannot frustrate the effect of Gods institution regularly attended unto Mans lye doth not make Gods Truth of none effect Rom. 3.3 4. Jesus Christ his thus arming and fitting himself when he was entering upon his greatest Temptation and upon his last conflict with Death it self is ground sufficient for our regular attending upon the Lord in our great concernments in like manner as he did Our coâ—enant communion with God sealed with a divine instituted Seal regularly adminiâ—tred is to be numbred among the greatest external means of Grace for the confirmation of our Faith The evidences of our Faith have the broad Seal of hâ—aven affixed to them And that is also set on by the efficacy of the Spirit who sitteth in his Sealing-Office in the administration of the Sacrament and ratifieth the application of the publick Instituted Seal unto the Soul in particular unto which act of the Spirit in the administration of the Sacraments when a poor doubting trembling Soul doth reverently attend he shall find such an efficacy of the sealing Spirit in his Soul as shall inable him to go away as Hannah did when she received Ely his blessing 1 Sam. 1.18 so the woman went her way and did eat and her countenance was no more sad when we celebrate the death and sufferings of Jesus Christ in our Sacramental Communion with God it doth revive our damped and discouraged Faith it seals our inseperable union to Jesus Christ inabling us to say what shall seperate me it doth also quicken animate and encourage Faith to venture upon the greatest most difficult and dangerous enterprize when called thereunto it enables the Soul to say my life is not dear to me so I may but finish the Lords work unto which he hath called me whatever Sufferings sorrows Tryals Temptations I am thereby exposed unto When Faith is strengthned all grace is on the thriving hand because it is the work of Faith to goe forth to Jesus Christ and fetch out of his fulness whatever Grace we want and to fetch supply to enable us unto any Service in doing or suffering the good