The Abridgment of the Gospel, Sermon 3

The Abridgment of the Gospel · Sermon 3

p. 22THE THIRD SERMON.

VERS. 69.

And hath raiſed vp the horne of ſaluation vntounto vsus in the houſe of his ſeruant Dauid.

THe next thing which commeth to bee handled, is the meanes by which this great worke of Redemption is effected; and that is ſet downe in this verſe. Where we hauehave two things to conſider:The points to be handled in this Sermon. 1. A matter done: (He hath raiſed vp the horne of ſaluation vntounto vsus.) 2. The place where it is done, (In the houſe of his ſeruant Dauid.)

In the former point, two things muſt bee inquired. 1. Who is meant by this Horne of ſaluation. 2. Why the partie meant by this title is ſo ſtiled. He that is heere meant by the Horne of ſaluation, is Ieſus Chriſt: For vnderunder heauen there is giuen no other name whereby we must be ſaued ccAct. 4.12.Acts 4:12, and, to him giuegive all the Prophets witneſſe ddAct. 10.43.Acts 10:43. If he then be the partie whom all the Prophets pointed at, as the alone reſtorer of mankind, if there be no other meanes of ſaluation; who p. 23ſhould bee meant by the Horne of ſaluation, but onelyonly Hee? Now for the next, why hee ſhould be ſo entitled, it will eaſily appeare, if we conſider the vſual forme of ſpeaking in the Scripture. The ſpirit of God is wont by this word (Horne) to note out Power and Strength: as in thoſe words, All the hornes of the wicked will I breake eePſal. 75.10.Ps 75:10, that is, I will take downe and abate the height and ſtrength of the wicked: and Ieremy ſpeaking of the ruine of the kingdome of Moab, ſaith thus, The horne of Moab is cut off ffIer. 48.25.Jer 48:25. The power and greatneſſe of ſtates and kingdomes and common-wealthes is often deſigned in Scripture by that word, as in Daniel and elſewhere. It is a ſpeech borrowed from horned beaſts, whoſe ſtrength lieth in that part, and which vſe it both for defence if they be aſſaulted, and for offence if they hauehave an intent to vanquiſh. So that by an Horne of ſaluation is rightly vnderſtood (as it is vſually tranſlated) a Mightie ſaluation, or, a Sauiour of admirable and exceeding power. Heereupon then wee hauehave occaſion to diſcourſe of the power and ſtrength of our Sauiour, and that two waies. 1. As it concerneth the ſaluation of his Elect. 2. As it reſpecteth the confuſion of the wicked.

Touching the firſt, this is the doctrine: That Ieſus Chriſt is eueryevery way furniſhed with ſufficiencie of power,The 1. Doctrine. for the accompliſhment of the work of Redemption which he vndertooke. This is eaſily prooued. It pleaſed the Father, that in him all fulneſſe ſhould dwell ggCol. 1.9.Col 1:9. If all Fulneſſe, ſurely then Fulneſſe of power: and the word (dwell) is very effectuall, ſignifying the perpetuitie of his power: it is not for a turne or two, but eternally remaining in him, for the beginning, continuing, and perfecting of the ſaluation of his choſen. Againe, it is ſaid of him, that God the Father hath ſealed him hhIoh. 6.27.John 6:27. God hath (as it were) ſet a marke vponupon him, and noted him out, as the onelyonly Sauiour. He hath lifted him vp iiAct. 5.31.Acts 5:31. Now it were a diſparagement to the wiſedome of God, to call the whole world to a dependance vponupon him for their ſaluation, if hee were not in full and abſolute maner able to effect it. Thirdly, p. 24if we conſider the nature of that which hee was to doe for mans redeeming, we ſhall ſee his power to effect it. He had two things to doe, if hee would procure our ſaluation. Firſt he was to ſaue from deſtruction (which was due for the multitude of our ſinnes.) Next he was to inueſt into eternall happineſſe, into which (becauſe of our ſpiritual nakedneſſe) the iuſtice of God could giuegive vsus no admiſſion. To doe the former of theſe, he tooke vponupon him our ſinnes, he bare them in his body kk1. Pet. 2.24.1 Pet 2:24, hee was made ſinne ll2. Cor. 5.21.2 Cor 5:21, and, that hand-writing which was againſt vsus, he tooke out of the way mmCol. 2.14.Col 2:14, and vponupon his croſſe triumphed nnverſ. 15.ouer all our ſpirituall enemies. To accompliſh the latter, hee put vponupon vsus his owne righteouſneſſe, that ſo wee being clothed with that white rayment ooReu. 3.18.Rev 3:18, & with the garment of ſaluation ppIſay 61.10.Isa 61:10, as Iacob with the apparell of his brother Eſau qqGen. 27.15.Gen 27:15, might obtaine the bleſſing. Thus is that fulfilled which was ſaid: God gaue his onelyonly begotten Sonne, that whoſoeuer beleeueth in him ſhould not periſh but hauehave life euerlaſting rrIoh. 3 16.John 3:16. Should not periſh, that he did by being our Redemption ſſ1. Cor. 1.30.1 Cor 1:30: But hauehave life euerlaſting, that hee brought to paſſe by becomming our Righteouſneſſe ſſ1. Cor. 1.30.1 Cor 1:30. Many things might eaſily bee produced for this purpoſe, but theſe may ſuffice. OnelyOnly this one thing is to be noted, that the ſaluation wrought by Chriſt, as it may be called mightie, becauſe of the preſent fulneſſe, ſo doeth it deſerue the ſame name, becauſe, being done nothing is able to vndoe it. Othniel deliuered the Iſraelites from Chuſhan, and is therefore called their Sauiour ttIud. 3.9.Judg 3:9, yet they fell after into the hand of Moab uuverſ. 12.. Ehud reſcued them from the Moabites xxverſ. 28. &c., yet became they ſeruants to the Canaanites yyIud. 4.2.Judg 4:2. And a Phyſician is ſometimes a meanes of health, in one diſeaſe, yet the ſame partie may after ſicken, yea and die for all that. But in this worke of redemption it is otherwiſe: it is a thorow peece of worke. He that beleeueth &c. ſhall not come into condemnation, but hath paſſed from death to life zzIoh 5.24.John 5:24. I giuegive my ſheepe eternall life, they ſhall neuer periſh &c aaIoh. 10.28.John 10:28. Thus wee ſee how Chriſt is a Horne p. 25of ſaluation: The ſaluation procured by him is plentifull, (eueryevery way anſwerable to our ſpirituall need) and perpetuall, no ſinne of man, no malice of hell is able to vndoe it.

The firſt vſe heereof is,The 1. Ʋſe. to let vsus ſee the wrong which Popiſh religion doth to the whole myſterie of Chriſt. He is called (as we hauehave heard) a Horne of ſaluation, becauſe of his abſolute ſufficiencie to effect that worke of ſaluation which he hath vndertaken. Papiſts, as though Chriſt were not ſufficient, or his horne ſtrong enough to batter down the kingdome of the diuel, and fully and wholly to reconcile vsus vntounto God, adioyne other things, as it were to ſupply that which is wanting in him, or to perfit that which hee hath begun: as for example: with his offers of grace, our freewill; with his righteouſneſſe, our good works; with his ſatisfaction for eternall puniſhment, our ſatisfaction for temporall puniſhment, either heere in Earth or in Purgatorie; with his interceſſion, the interceſſion of Saints. Thus they hauehave maymed the worke of Chriſt; and by their groſſe and vnfitting patcheries hauehave vtterly defaced it. We muſt beleeue the Scripture, which calleth Chriſt an Horne of ſaluation, that is, (as it ſeemeth to be expounded by the Apoſtle) one, who hath by himſelfe purged our ſinnes bbHeb. 1.3.Heb 1:3: that which he hath done is a worke complete and entire; hee himſelfe onelyonly, without any aſſiſtance, hath and doeth effect it. Many things are left vntounto vsus by way of obedience, but nothing by way of promoting that which hee hath begun. Thus this phraſe (a Horne of ſaluation) is as an Horne of iron, to breake downe all thoſe vnwarrantable ſupplies, which the Church of Rome conioineth and coupleth with the abſolute and all-ſufficient worke of Chriſt Ieſus.

Secondly,The 2. Vſe. this is a doctrine full of comfort to euerie humbled Chriſtian: as for example: Thou ſeeſt weakneſſe in thy ſelfe, of vnderſtanding, of will, of affection, of action, thou art vnable to doe any thing by which God might be pleaſed, or thine owne ſoule helped forward vntounto life: p. 26Turne now the eies of thy faith to this Horne of ſaluation: thou ſhalt not finde ſo much weakneſſe in thy ſelfe, as thou ſhalt find might and power in him; not ſo much emptines in thy ſelfe, as fulneſſe in him; not ſo much pouerty in thy ſelfe, as plentie in him; & happie thou if the apprehenſion of thine own weaknes, make thee to long to be eſtabliſhed and vpheld by his power. Offenders were wont of old to flie for ſuccour and ſafegard to the Hornes of the altar cc1. Kin. 1.50.1 Kgs 1:50: ſo when thou feeleſt thy ſelfe purſued by Sathan, and euen to be arreſted by the wrath of God, flie to this Horne of ſaluation, labour to hold faſt vponupon it by faith: ſay, as did Iacob to the Angel: I will not let thee goe except thou bleſſe me ddGen. 32.26.Gen 32:26. This is the ſureſt couert: thou ſhalt be ſure vnderunder his feathers, his trueth ſhall bee thy ſhield and buckler eePſal. 91.4.Ps 91:4. Thus much touching the power of Chriſt for the ſaluation of his choſen.

The 2. Doctrine.The next is, that hee is of abſolute power for the full and finall ouerthrow and confuſion of his enemies. For Chriſt is armed either way; he is a Horne, both to defend and to ſtrike: He is a precious ſtone, and he is a ſtone of offence ff1. Pet. 2.6.8.1 Pet 2:61 Pet 2:8, and euen in that that he is an ouerthrow to the wicked, he is a ſaluation to his choſen: according to that ſaying of Pauls, that perſecution, was to the aduerſaries a token of perdition, and to them which were troubled, a token of ſaluation ggPhil. 1.28.Phil 1:28: and ſo the ſame Apoſtle ſaith, that by the Fall of the Iewes, ſaluation commeth to the Gentiles hhRom. 11.11.Rom 11:11: And of this power we muſt conſider neceſſarily: Now what and how great it is, may be gathered out of the ſecond Pſalme. In the beginning of the Pſalme, mention is made of the oppoſition of the world, and of men of all ſorts, againſt the ſpirituall kingdome of Chriſt Ieſus: The kings of the Earth band themſelues &c iiPſal. 2.2.Ps 2:2. Afterwards kkverſ. 9.is ſet downe both the eaſineſſe and the irrecouerableneſſe of their deſtruction. Hee is compared vntounto ſome mightie man, hauing in his hand an iron ſcepter, or mace of braſſe; his enemies are likened to an earthen pot. Now common ſenſe teacheth vsus how eaſie the breaking p. 27of a Potters veſſell is with a rod of iron: A knocke with an inſtrument of much more weakeneſſe were ſufficient to breake it, but, being of iron, the very waight of it alone, muſt needs cruſh it into many peeces. As this compariſon ſheweth the eaſineſſe of the wickeds ouerthrow, ſo it maketh knowen the irrecouerableneſſe too. And therfore the breaking of a potters veſſell is vſuall in the Scripture, to ſignifie an vtter and irrecouerable deſtruction llIſay 30.14. Ier. 19.10.11.Isa 30:14Jer 19:10Jer 19:11. I remember what is ſaid of Antichriſt, one of Chriſts ſtrongeſt aduerſaries, that yet Chriſt ſhall eaſily deſtroy him, euen with the Breath of his mouth, mm2. Th 2.10.. His enemies ſhall licke the dust nnPſal. 72.9.Ps 72:9: He ſhall wound euen kings in the day of his wrath, and ſmite the head ouer diuers countries ooPſal. 110.5.6.Ps 110:5Ps 110:6. This was the ſtone cut without hands, ſeene by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream; which ſmote the image vponupon his feet and brake them to peeces ppDan. 2.34.Dan 2:34.

This is a caueat to all the wicked enemies of the grace and kingdome of Chriſt Ieſus;The Vſe. they may heere ſee the certaintie of their abſolute ouerthrow. A head of glaſſe, againſt an head of braſſe, what will become of it? The thiſtle that is in Lebanon, ſent to the Cedar that is in Lebanon, ſaid Iehoaſh king of Iſrael to Amaziah qq2. Kin. 14.9.2 Kgs 14:9Farre greater is the difference betwixt this Horne of the houſe of Dauid, and thoſe preſuming weaklings, which are not afraid to withſtand him. To all ſuch I ſay with the Apoſtle, Doe yee prouoke the Lord to anger, are yee ſtronger than he rr1. Cor. 10.22.1 Cor 10:22? But (thou wilt ſay to me) who be theſe enemies of Chriſt, whom he thus will quell and deſtroy? I anſwer, they are his enemies, who will not that he ſhould raigne ouer them ſſLuk. 19.27.Luke 19:27. But how doth Chriſt raigne? with his word, this is the ſcepter of his kingdome, and the Rod of his mouth ttIſay 11.4.Isa 11:4. They which obey his word are his ſubiects, they which diſobey are his enemies. But what is it to obey his word; to be preſent now & then at the preaching of it? No: For ſo be many ſleepers, ſcorners, Atheiſts, Church-papiſts, drunkards, whoremaſters, Vſurers, &c. all which notwithſtanding ſhall be p. 28ſhut out of the new Ieruſalem uuReu. 21.8.22.15.Rev 21:8Rev 21:22Rev 21:15. But to obey the word, is, to be ruled by the word, to walke according to the Rule xxGal. 6.16.Gal 6:16of the word. You are my friends, if yee doe whatſoeuer I command you yyIoh. 15.14.John 15:14. If any man heare the word of Chriſt neuer ſo often, yet doe yeeld no obedience to it, hee ſhall hauehave his part among the enemies of Chriſt Ieſus. So then, Chriſt is a Horne of power to bruiſe his enemies. Art thou none of his ſubiects, doeſt thou not ſuffer his word to beare ſway with thee, and to reforme thy corrupt and carnal conuerſation, but liueſt rather in groſſe ſinnes, to the diſgrace of it, and to the reproch of the profeſſion thereof? thou art an enemie to his Maieſtie, and one of thoſe whom he will conſume with the breath of his mouth, and whom with the rod of his wrath he will breake in peeces like a potters veſſell.

We are now come to the ſecond point, the place where this Horne of ſaluation is raiſed vp: In the houſe of his ſeruant Dauid. That we may make the beſt vſe of this place, wee muſt conſider in what ſtate Dauids houſe was then when Zacharie endited this Hymne. The Houſe of Dauid was the ſtocke royall, and to his lawfull heires belonged the crowne of Iudah; but, at this time, Dauids kingdome was decaied, the glorie of it was dimmed and defaced, the gouernment and ſoueraigntie was fallen to ſtrangers, the next heire, as the right of his ſucceſſion was not ordinarily and vniuerſally knowne, ſo he liued in poore eſtate: Ioſeph was become a Carpenter. Out of this decaied familie of Dauid, was this Horne of ſaluation raiſed: It did bud zzPſal. 132.17.Ps 132:17out of this dead ſtocke, euen as a roote out of a dry ground aaIſay 53.2.Isa 53:2. Thus at once were ioyned in Chriſts perſon, Nobilitie and Pouertie. Nobilitie in regard of his birth (hee was of Dauids ſtocke): Pouertie in reſpect of his preſent eſtate, the glorie and pompe of the kingdome being quite ouerthrowne. Out of this, foure profitable points are to be obſerued.The 3. Doctrine.

The firſt is: That that Chriſt in whom we beleeue, is the p. 29verie ſame which was to come into the world, and beſides whom … is to be looked for. The Scripture had foretold that it ſhould be the ſonne of Dauid, and riſe out of his ſtocke. The Lord hath ſworne in trueth vntounto Dauid, and hee will not ſhrinke from it, ſaying; Of the fruit of thy body will I ſet vponupon thy throne bbPſal. 132.11.Ps 132:11. He ſhall ſit vponupon the throne of Dauid ccIſay 9.7.Isa 9:7. I will raiſe vntounto Dauid a righteous branch ddIer. 23.5.Jer 23:5. As it is cleere in the old Teſtament, that the Meſſias ſhould be made of the ſeed of Dauid according to the fleſh; ſo the new Teſtament euidently ſheweth how the ſame was fulfilled in Chriſt: for this cauſe the Euangeliſts doe labour to make manifeſt the deſcent of Ioſeph and Marie from Dauid. Matthew eeMatth. 1.Matt 1maketh it plaine, how notwithſtanding the meane eſtate which Ioſeph was fallen into, yet the right of the kingdome reſted in him. Luke ffCap. 3.ſheweth how Marie was naturally deſcended out of Dauids loines. Both Matthew and Luke ioine in Zorobabel, and from him deriue the line both of Ioſeph and Marie; of Ioſeph by Abiud ggMath. 1.13.Matt 1:13, of Marie by Rheſa hhLuk. 3.27.Luke 3:27. So that our Sauiour, by Marie was borne of Dauid, by Ioſeph was next heire to the crowne: For although he came not of Ioſeph according to the fleſh, yet being the next of his kinne, and Ioſeph being childleſſe, hee was by the law (of force among the Iewes) to ſucceed him as his lawfull heire. This right of Chriſts was apparent: the Starre iiMat. 2.2.Matt 2:2ſhewed it: Herod kkVerſ. 7.perceiued it: Chriſt acknowledged it llIoh. 18.37.John 18:37: Pilate granted it mmIoh. 19.15.John 19:15, and the Iewes when that matter was queſtioned before Pilate, could not tell whom to name againſt Chriſt but Caeſar nnIn the ſame verſe..

This ſerueth notably for the confirmation and ſetling of our faith in a point of the greateſt moment,The Vſe. and in which it is dangerous to be miſtaken. For what reaſon hauehave wee to relie vponupon Chriſt for ſaluation, vnleſſe wee bee aſſured that he is the anointed of God, euen that very Sauior vponupon whom we may boldly depend? Our Sauiour told vsus, that there ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts ooMat. 24.23.Matt 24:23: how ſhall we be able to diſcouer them, and auoid deceit by them, if wee be not p. 30ſetled in this point. It is good for vsus therefore to … how the old and new Teſtament doe heerein agree … out of the harmonie of both, we may for the grounding … our faith deriue a comfortable concluſion.

The 4. Doctrine.The ſecond point obſerued from hence is: That our Sauiour Chriſt is a perſon of great nobilitie, euen the nobleſt that euer was. For one way he was the eternall Son of the moſt high, & another way (as man) lineally deſcended from the Patriarks & renowmed kings of Iudah: It is a very Honorable ſtile which is giuen him in Scripture, far ſurpaſſing the royall ſtile of any earthly monarch: Wonderfull, Counſeller, The mighty God, the Euerlaſting Father, The Prince of Peace ppIſay 9.6.Isa 9:6: I will make (ſaid the Lord) my firſt borne higher than the kings of the earth qqPſal. 89.27.Ps 89:27. And therefore both kings and Iudges are willed to kiſſe rrPſa. 2.10.12.Ps 2:10Ps 2:12him, and to doe homage to him, and the verie Angels alſo are commanded to worſhip him ſſHeb. 1.6.Heb 1:6. And whereas all kingdomes hauehave their ends, and the greateſt Princes die as men, and fall as others ttPſal. 82.7.Ps 82:7; his Throne is for euer and euer uuHeb. 1.8.Heb 1:8.

The Vſe.This teacheth men of birth and blood not to ſtand too much vponupon their Pedegrees and Anceſtors, as though Nobilitie ſtood principally in this, that man is borne of man; If they affect the true nobilitie, they muſt labour to be the children of God by regeneration in Chriſt. This is the beſt ornament of blood: Noble birth without new birth in Chriſt is but an earthly vanitie. Though a man bee able to ſhew neuer ſo glorious a line of progenitors, yet if hee bee not a repentant ſinner, hee is but baſe and vile in the ſight of God. To be by faith ingraffed into Chriſt, is the true Honor, this doeth inueſt a man into that royaltie which is in the Perſon of Chriſt, and maketh him both to bee an heire of the Earth, and to hauehave a title of inheritance into heauen.

The 5. Doctrine.The third obſeruation hence ſtandeth thus: That wheras Chriſt, albeit of Dauids ſtocke, and heire apparant to the crowne, came notwithſtanding when the outward p. 31glorie of the kingdome was vtterly gone, therefore The kingdome of Christ is no earthly kingdome. My kingdome (ſaid he himſelfe to Pilate) is not of this world xxIoh. 18.36.John 18:36. Heereupon was his withdrawing, when the people ſought him to make him king yyIoh. 6.15.John 6:15, and his refuſal when he was requeſted, to determine a caſe of inheritance betwixt two brethren aaLuk. 12.13.Luke 12:13, and his charge to his Apoſtles, not to bee as the Lords of the Gentiles bbMath. 20.25.26.Matt 20:25Matt 20:26. It is one of the Iewes errors to thinke otherwiſe, and his Diſciples were long caried away with that conceit; for euen at the point of his aſcenſion, they propounded him a queſtion that way: Lord wilt thou at this time reſtore the kingdome to Iſrael ccAct. 1.6.Acts 1:6? But Chriſt came purpoſely when the Scepter was departed from Iudah ddGen. 49.10.Gen 49:10, to ſhew that he came to effect a ſpirituall deliuerance, and not to erect an outward ſtate.

This warneth vsus,The Vſe. not to affect nor embrace the profeſſion of Chriſtianitie, as a condition of outward greatneſſe. Our Sauiour muſt not be followed as a great Lord, to grant vsus Leaſes, and Farmes, and good preferment in the world: theſe things muſt not be expected: We muſt follow him rather as one contemned, as the reproch of the world, as a manfull of ſorrowes eeIſay 53.3.Isa 53:3. When Zebedeus ſonnes (dreaming of an outward ſtate) were ſuters to Chriſt to hauehave ſome place of reſpect about him: Chriſt preſently (to put that conceit out of their heads) told them of drinking of the cup, which he was to drinke of ffMath. 20.22.Matt 20:22, that is, of partaking with him in his affliction; ſhewing how much they are deceiued which looke for worldly aduancement by his ſeruice. True it is, he is able to beſtow outward honors vpō his followers, (for the earth is his, and all that therein is ggPſal. 24.1.Ps 24:1,) & he doth often alſo giuegive them to thoſe that feare him: But yet they muſt not be held as matters annexed to the ſtate of a Chriſtian, as though euerie one that hath them, were by and by a good Chriſtian, and hee which hath them not, were to bee reputed as no good ſeruant vntounto Chriſt. For the fatneſſe of the earth was giuen as well to Eſau as to Iacob hhGen. 27.39Gen 27:39, p. 32and it is poſſible for the begger to be carried by A…to Abrahams boſome, when the ſoule of the rich man … demned to hell iiLuk. 16.22.23.Luke 16:22Luke 16:23. So that this is the thing we are taught, … ſeeing Chriſt, although he be a king, yet is no earthly king, therefore we betaking our ſelues to the ſeruice and profeſſion of his name, ſhould not make outward proſperity, and worldly things, the end of our hope, leſt (ſo doing) we runne into one of theſe two extremities; either, if wee hauehave it not, to grow diſcouraged, and to be wearie of our profeſſion; or if we hauehave it, to preſume, that we are therefore highly in Gods fauour.

The 6. Doctrine.The fourth point noted hence is this: That outward greatneſſe is of no value for ſpirituall vſes. Chriſt was raiſed to doe this great worke, and to be the Horne of ſaluation; out of the poore outward eſtate of Dauids houſe: Now if for the ſpirituall vſe, any outward greatneſſe had beene behoouefull, Chriſt would hauehave choſen a time when Dauids houſe was in the higheſt glorie, and not hauehave come now when the honour of it lay euen in the duſt: And this was the reaſon why al things were purpoſely carried after a meane faſhion. The place of his birth was not Ieruſalem (the head citie of the kingdome) but Bethlehem: (litle among the thouſands of Iudah kkMicah 5.2.Mic 5:2:) The houſe, not ſome great Gentlemans place about the town, but a common Inne; in the Inne; not the beſt lodging or faireſt roome, but the ſtable; not laid in ſome rich cradle, but lapped vp in clouts, & thruſt into a manger: The tidings of his birth brought firſt, not to the Scribes and great learned men, but to a few poore ſhepheards; himſelfe followed not with any traine of note, but with men of the meaneſt ranke, contemned in his life, and euill entreated in his end.

The Vſe.This ſerues to put downe the great, rich and mightie men of the world, who doe ſo pride themſelues in their greatneſſe, their wealth, their fulneſſe, their glorie, their abundance, that without theſe they ſuppoſe no great thing can bee effected: They trust (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) in their p. 33goods, and boast themſelues in the multitude of their riches; yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother, he cannot giuegive his ranſome to God llPſal. 49.6.7.Ps 49:6Ps 49:7. Our Sauior in a poore deſpiſed eſtate, hath done that, which all the Monarchs and Politicians in the world, though they had laid all their wealth and wit together, could neuer hauehave brought to paſſe.