Explication of Psalm 110, Verse 2 (3 of 4)

Explication of Psalm 110 · Verse 2 (3 of 4)

p. 210And indeed if we looke into the Church, we shall see what worthy acceptation this Gospell hath found. Zacheus made haste,Luke 19.6.Luke 19:6 and received Christ into his house gladly;Act. 21.17.Acts 21:17 so did the brethren at Ierusalem receive the Apostles; so did the men of Berea receive the Word, foreign,Act. 17.11.Acts 17:11 with all readinesse of minde, or forward affection; so did the Galatians receive Saint Paul with the honour of an Angell, Gal. 4.14.Gal 4:14yea, even as Christ Iesus himselfe (for indeed Christ and his Gospell goe still together:Marke 10.29.Mark 10:29) the man in the Gospell sold all he had for it; the Saints did earnestly contend for it, and take the kingdome of heaven by violence. Though they suffered the losse of all for Christ, yet they counted godlinesse great gaine still. In a shipwrack I throw my goods over-board, and get my life for a prey; in this case I come no loser to heaven; vita sibi merces, a mans life is sufficient treasure in such p. 211an adventure. We are all by nature in maligno positi, every man is a sea and a tempest to himselfe, as impossible to escape ruine, as to put off himselfe. Now in the Gospell, Christ sheweth a man a way to get out of himselfe, and so to escape the tempest, sheweth a way how with him he shall walke upon the sea and not sinke, how he shall be in the world, and not of it, nor swallowed by it. O how willingly will the man who is convinced of his danger, cast off every thing which would presse him downe, and account it a plentifull deliverance to have his soule saved from such a tempest of wrath as was falling upon him? We see what hazards men runne to get temporary riches, to the bottome of rocks for diamonds, to the bowels of the earth for gold and silver: such affections have the Saints had towards the Gospell. If they must digge in mines for Christ (as it was an usuall condemnation, Christiani ad metalla) they were most willing so to doe, they had a treasure there which the Emperour knew not of, they had infinite more pretious wealth from thence than he: If they must fetch Christ in the fire, or wrestle for him, as for a pretious price, with the wilde beasts of the earth; if they be not suffered to weare Christ, except they put off themselves, how willing, how thankefull are they for so rich a bargaine? Looke to your life, said the Governour to Saint Cyprian that blessed martyr, be not obstinate against your owne safetie, but advise well with your selfe,Baron. An. 261. num. 30. fac quod tibi praeceptū est, saith the holy man, in re tam justa nulla est consultatio; Sir, you are my Judge, you are none of my counsellour, doe the office which is committed to you, in so righteous a cause there is no further need of consultation. Take pitie upon your selfe, and sacrifice and save your life, said the officers to Polycarpe; no, saith the martyr,Euseb. lib. 4. hist. cap. 14. this eightie six yeares I have served Christ, and he hath done me no harme, I will not doe what you perswade m…. That rich and blessed Virgin in Basil, who was for Christianitie p. 212condemned to the fire, and was offered, if shee would worship idols, to have her life and state safe restored unto her,Scultet. Exercitat. Evangel. lib. 2. cap. 5. was obstinate in her resolution, Valeat vita, pereat pecunia; I shall have more life in Christ, than in my selfe; all the Emperours, all the Physitians in the world cannot make my life, which I have in my selfe, so long to morrow as it is to day; but in Christ my life is not onelyonly an abiding, but an abounding life, I shall have more of that by losing mine owne; my life in him is an hidden life, free from all injuries and persecutions of men: I shall have more riches in him than in my selfe, even unsearchable riches, which can never be stollen away, because they can never be exhausted. It is as possible for theeves to draw out the mines of India, or to steale away the Sunne out of his orbe, as for any humane violence to take away Christ from a man. Alike honourable was the answer of Frederick the Elector of Saxonie, who being prisoner to Charles the fifth, was promised enlargement and restitution of dignitie, if he would come to Masse, Summum in terris Dominum agnosco Caesarem in coelis Deum, In all Civill accommodations I am ready to yeeld unto Caesar, but for heavenly things I have but one Master, and therefore I dare not serve two; Christ is more welcome to me in bonds, than the honours of Caesar without Christ. Such acceptation hath the Gospell found amongst renowned Worthies heretofore: and the like entertainment should we all give unto it, even preferre it above our greatest glory,1 Thess. 1.6.1 Thess 1:6 and, as the Thessalonians did, receive it with joy in the middest of afflictions, abide with Christ in his temptations,Luke 22.2…, 29.Luke 22:2Luke 22:29 esteeme his Gospell glorious as the Starres are, in the darknesse of the night, or as a torch, which blazeth most when it is most shaken.

This alone it is which proves our love to Christ to be foreign, sincere and incorrupt, when wee embrace his Gospell for it selfe, and can therein in any condition see p. 213Christ full of glory, grace and truth: when a man can with Saint Paul not rejoyce onelyonly in the name and profession of the Crosse of Christ,Gal. 6.14.Gal 6:14 but in conformitie and obedience thereunto, in that vertue of the Gospell which crucifies him unto the world and the world unto him. In dayes of peace and religion men may easily afford to magnifie the Gospell, because they get by it. The Persians, who, had the bloudy decree held, would have beene the slaughterers of the Iewes, yet when leave was given to that people to deliver themselves from the malice of Haman, even many of them turned Iewes themselves, Iohn 4.14.John 4:14because the feare of that people fell upon them. We may observe this affection in the woman of Samaria, the first reason why shee gave some heed to Christ, speaking of his water of life unto her, was, because shee should thirst no more, nor come thither to draw. So long as Ephraim might have her worke and her wages together, shee was contented to doe God some service, like an Heifer which loveth to tread out the corne, Hos. 10.11.Hos 10:11that is, while shee hath no yoke on her necke, no muzzell on her mouth, while she is not put to plow, but to easie and pleasant service, shee is willing to yeeld unto it. To note, that it is but base and hypocriticall obedience, which is supported by no other than present rewards. They seeke me daily, Esay 58.2, 3.Isa 58:2Isa 58:3saith the Lord of the hypocrites among his people, and delight to know my wayes, as a nation that did righteousnesse. But the end was that they might have their owne wils, and as it were oblige God to reward them: and therefore as soone as God seemeth to neglect them and their services, they proudly expostulate with him, and even twit him with their workes, Wherefore have wee fasted, and thou seest not? &c. This then is the proofe of our sincere love unto Christ, which is not raised upon mercinarie respects, when we can receive the Gospell with persecution. aaMarke 10.30.Mark 10:30Persecution is amongst Christs legacies, a part of the Churches portion bbPhil. 1.29.Phil 1:29and of Gods gifts unto p. 214her; cc2 Tim. 3.12.2 Tim 3:12no man that will live godly can be without them. Even in Abrahams house, which was at that time, if not the sole, yet the most glorious Church on the earth, there was a Persecutour, and ddGal. 4 19.Gal 4:19as it was then, so is it now, saith the Apostle. The Saints of God ever have beene, and ever will be to the worlds end esteemed for eeZech. 3.8. Esay 8.18. 2 King. 9.11. Ier. 29.26. Wisd. 5.6.Zech 3:8Isa 8:182 Kgs 9:11Jer 29:26Wis 5:6wonders, and markes, and mad-men, and proverbs of reproch. And hereby the Lord doth provide to make his Gospell more glorious, because hee giveth men hearts to suffer scorne and reproch for it. To receive the word in affliction, and yet with joy, is an exemplary thing, which maketh the sound and glory of the Gospell to spread abroad. Now then, if persecution bee thus an appendant to the Gospell, every man must resolve to receive it in some affliction, when he must be put to discard his wicked companies, to shake off his flattering and sharking lusts, to forsake his owne will and wayes, to runne a hazard of undeserved scorne, disreputation, and misconstructions in the world, and yet for all this to set an high price upon the pretious truths of the Gospell still, is not this to receive the Word in much affliction? And surely till a man can resolve upon this conclusion, I am ready to be bound, and to die for the name of Iesus, I count not my life, much lesse my liberty, peace, credit, secular accommodations deare, so I may finish my course with joy; Lord, my will is no more mine, but it shall be in all things subject unto thee; hee can never give such entertainment to the Word as becommeth so glorious a Gospell. All his seeming profession and acceptation, is but like the Gadarens courtesie in meeting of Christ, which was onelyonly to be rid of him, Matth. 8.34.

Lastly, we should from hence learne a further Christian dutie, which is to adorne this glorious Gospell in an holy conversation.Phil. 1.27. Tit. 2.10.Phil 1:27Titus 2:10 This use the Apostle every where makes of the Gospell of Christ; that wee should walke as becommeth the Gospell, that we should in all things p. 215adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour, that we should walke worthy of him who hath called us unto his kingdome and glory,1 Thess. 2.12.1 Thess 2:12 that we shew forth the vertues of him who hath called us out of darknesse into his marvellous light, that we should not receive so great a grace,1 Pet. 2.8.1 Pet 2:8 2 Cor. 6.1-3.2 Cor 6:1–3as the ministery of reconciliation in vaine, but that wee should walke sittingly to the holinesse and efficacie of so excellent a rule, as becommeth a royall nation,Gal. 6.16.Gal 6:16 Tit. 2.14.Titus 2:14a people of glory, a peculiar and selected inheritance, even zealous of good workes. It was once the expostulation of Nehemiah with his enemies,Nehem. 6.11.Neh 6:11 should such a man as I flie from such men as you?1 Pet. 4.3-6.1 Pet 4:3–6 such should be our expostulation with Satan and our owne lusts, should such men as wee are, who have the Gospell of Christ for our rule, conforme our selves unto another Law? Is not this the end why the Gospell is preached, that we should live unto God? Doth it become the sonne of a King to goe in ragges, or to converse with meane and ignoble persons? Now by the Gospell we have that great honour and priviledge given us to be called the sons of God; and shall we then walke as servants of Satan? Would any Prince endure to see the heire of his crowne live in bondage to his own vassall and most hated enemie? Herein is the greatest glory of the Gospell above the Law, that it is a Law of life and libertie, a Word which transformeth men into the Image of Christ, and maketh them such as it requireth them to be. So that to walke still according to the course of the world as we did before, is, as much as in us lies, to make the Gospell as weake and unprofitable as the Law. How doe you say we are wise; saith the Prophet, and the Law of the Lord is with us? Ier. 8.8.Jer 8:8Certainely in vaine made he it, the pen of the Scribe is in vaine: That is, the priviledge of having the oracles and ordinances of God committed unto us, will doe us no more good, if we walke unworthy of so great a grace, than if those ordinances had never beene written or revealed to men.

p. 216Here then it is needfull to enquire in what manner we are to adorne and set forth the glory of the Gospell? To this I answer, that the first and greatest honour wee can doe unto the Gospell, is, to set it up in our hearts, as our onelyonly rule, by which we are to walke, that we preferre it above all our owne counsels, and venture not to mingle it with the wisdome and reasonings of the flesh; that wee raise up our conversation unto it, and never bend it unto the crookednesse of our owne ends or rules.Col. 2.6.Col 2:6 As yee have received Christ Iesus the Lord, so walke yee in him, saith the Apostle, that is, fashion your conversation to the doctrine of Christ, let that have the highest roome, and the over-ruling suffrage in your hearts. There is all wisdome in the Gospell, it is able to make men wise unto salvation, Col. 1.28.Col 1:28that is, there is wisdome enough in it to compasse the uttermost and most difficult end.2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. Psal. 119.98, 99. Ier. 8.9.2 Tim 3:152 Tim 3:162 Tim 3:17Ps 119:98Ps 119:99Jer 8:9 And what can the reasonings of the flesh contribute to that which was all wisedome before? and which can throughly furnish a man unto every good worke? This glory Saint Paul (though a man of great learning, of strong intellectuals, of a working and stirring spirit, qualities very unapt to yeeld and be silent) did, at the very first revelation thereof, give unto the Gospell,Gal. 6.16.Gal 6:16 Immediatly, saith he, I conferr'd not with flesh and bloud, I did not compare the Gospell of Christ with the principles of my carnall wisdome, I did not resolve to dispute against Gods grace, or to conforme unto this mystery no farther than the precepts of mine owne reason, or the coexistence of mine owne secular ends and preferments would allow; but I captivated all my thoughts, and laid downe all the weapons of the flesh at Christs feet, resting onelyonly on this Word, as a treasury of wisdome, and yeelding up my whole heart to be in all things ordered by this rule. It is an horrible boldnesse in many men to wrest, and torture, and distinguish the Gospell into all shapes for their owne lusts sake. As p. 217we see what shifts men will use, to make the way of life broader than it is, by looking upon it thorow their owne multiplying glasses, what evasions and subterfuges sinne will finde out to escape by, when the letter of the Word presseth sore upon them. O how many sinnes might men escape, how wonderfully might they improve the Image of Christ in their hearts;Psal. 119.24.Ps 119:24 if they did with David make the Law their counsellor, and weigh every action which they goe about, those especially which they have any motions of reluctancie in the spirit of their minde unto, Non in statera dolosa consuetudinum, Aug. contr. epist. Parmen. lib. 3. cap. 2.sed in recta statera scripturarum, not in the deceitfull balance of humane custome, but in the balance of the Sanctuary, the holy Scriptures: If they would seriously remember that they must alwayes walke in Christ, Coloss. 2.6. make him the rule, the way, the end, the Judge, the companion, the assistant in all their workes, that as the members of the body doe nothing at all but in the fellowship of the body, and as they are thereunto applied by the same common soule which animates them all: so Christian men should doe nothing but as parts of Christ, and as actuated by the same gracious Spirit which is in him. This is the meaning of our being Christians, and of that consent which in our Baptisme we yeeld unto the Covenant of Christ, that we will not follow nor be led by Satan, the world, or the flesh, that is, by that wisdome which is earthly, sensuall, or devillish, but that we will be ordered by that Spirit of regeneration, the seale of whose Baptisme wee receive in our sacramentall washing. O then what is become of the Christianity of many men, who forget that they have beene purged? who live as if they had never beene baptized into Christ, who lived as if they had never learned Christ? What a prodigie and contradiction is it, that that tongue, which even now professed it selfe to be Christian, and said Amen to a most cleane and holy prayer, should, like those beasts p. 218which Seneca speaketh of, which by but turning aside their head to some other spectacle, doe immediately forget the meat which they seemed most greedily to eat before, breake forth presently into blasphemies, oathes, lies, revilings, clamours, obscenities, which are the very fumes and evidences of hell in the heart? That those hands which even now were reached forth to receive the sacred pledges and most dreadfull mysteries of salvation, which were even now imployed in distributing almes to the members of Christ, or in helping to heave and lift up a prayer unto heaven, which seemed like the hands of Ezekiels living creature to have wings of devotion over them, should suddenly have their wings melted off, and fall downe to covetous and cruell practices againe? that those feet which in the morning carried men into the Lords Sanctuary, and into the presence of Christ, should the same day turne the backes of the same men upon the Temple of the Lord, and carry them to stews and stages, the nurseries of uncleannesse? that those eyes which even now seemed to have beene nail'd unto heaven, and to have contended with the tongue and the hand which should more earnestly have presented the prayers of the soule to God, should almost in the space of their owne twinkling, be filled with sparkles of uncleannesse, gazing and glutting themselves upon vaine or adulterous objects? What is this but for men to renounce their Baptisme, to teare off their seale, and dash out their subscription from the covenant of grace, to deny the Lord that bought them, to repent of their bargaine which they had made for salvation, and really to dishonour that Gospell which they hypocritically professe? This then is the first honour which wee can doe unto the Gospell of Christ, when we set it up in our hearts as a most adequate rule of all wisedome, and the alone principle of every action.

Secondly, wee continue to honour the Gospell of p. 219Christ by walking in Obedience thereunto as our perfect Rule. First, in the Obedience of faith, receiving it, and leaning upon it, laying hold on the covenant which is therein revealed, as on the onelyonly hope which is set before us: for this is a great acknowledgement of the glorie and praise of God when we trust in him for salvation. Therefore the Apostle having shewed the Glorie of Christ above Moses, maketh this principall use of it,Hebr. 3.3-12.Heb 3:3–12 that therefore we should heare his voyce, and take heed of an evill and unbeleeving heart, in departing from him, Wee, saith he, are to the praise of Gods Glory, Ephes. 1.12.Eph 1:12who trust in Christ.

Secondly, in Obedience of life and Holinesse. When for the honour of the Gospell we can denie our selves, and dishonour our lusts, and part from all that wee had before as from dung and drosse, and expresse the image of Christ in our conversations. aaEph 4.20.22. 1 Ioh. 2.6. 1 Ioh. 4.17. Phil. 2.5. Esay 58.13. Ioh. 15.8.Eph 4:20Eph 4:221 John 2:61 John 4:17Phil 2:5Isa 58:13John 15:8This is indeed the true learning of Christ when we shew forth his life in ours, when we walke as he also walked, when as he was so we are in this world, when the same minde, judgement, affections are in us which were in Christ. Thus the faithfull are said to honour God, when they sanctifie his Sabbath, and to glorie him when they bring forth much fruit.

Thirdly, we honour the Gospell of Christ by constancie and continuance in our faith and obedience thereunto; for standing fast, or persisting immoveably in our course without sorrow or repentance is an argument of the excellencie of the Gospell. bbPhil. 1.27.Phil 1:27Walke, saith the Apostle, as becommeth the Gospell — that I may heare of your affaires, that you stand fast in one spirit. ccNon stant uno loco vitia, sed mobilia & inter se dissidentia tumultuantur, pellunt invicem, fugantur. Senec. de Benes. l. 1. c. 16Lusts ever bring inconstancie with them, and make the soule like weary and distempered bodies never well in any posture or condition; wicked men flye like Bees from one flower to another, from one vanity to another, can never finde enough in any to satiate the endlesse intemperancie of p. 220unnaturall desires: onelyonly the Gospell, being spiritually apprehended, hath treasures enough for the soule to rest in, and to seeke no farther. And therefore falling away from the truth, power, or puritie of the Gospell is said to expose Christ to shame, and to crucifie him againe. For as in ddforeign. Greg. Naz. Orat. 40. de Baptismo. Rom. 2.23, 24.Rom 2:23Rom 2:24Baptisme when wee renounce sinne, and betake our selves to Christ, we doe as it were, expose sinne unto publike infamie, and naile it on the Crosse of Christ: So when we revolt from Christ unto sinne againe, and in our hearts turne backe unto Egypt, and thrust him from us, we doe then put him to shame againe, as if hee were either in his power deficient, or unfaithfull in those promises which before we pretended to relie upon. If Israel, as they consulted, should likewise actually have rebelled against Moses, and returned in body as well as in heart unto Egypt againe, what a scorne would it have wrought in that proud nation, that their vassals should voluntarily resume their thraldome, after so many boasts and appearances of deliverance? If a man should relinquish the service of some noble person, and apply himselfe unto some sordid matter for subsistence, would not the mouths of men be quickly open, or their mindes jealous to suspect that however such a man carry an high name, and there bee great expectations from attending on him, yet in truth he is but a dry matter, whom his own servants doe so publikely dishonour? So when any men turne Apostates from the power and Profession of the Gospell of Christ, presently wicked men are apt to blaspheme, and to conceive desperate prejudices against our high and holy calling. If any man make a boast of the Law, and yet breake it, hee dishonoreth God the more, for (saith the Apostle) The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written, so then constancie in Christs service giveth him the glory of an honourable master, and his Law of a royall law, **1 Pet. 2.15, 16.1 Pet 2:151 Pet 2:16putteth to silence the ignorance of those foolish men, who lie in p. 221waite to take advantages that they may blaspheme the name of God,2 Cor. 6.3. 1 Tim. 6 1.2 Cor 6:31 Tim 6:1 and his doctrine.

Fourthly, the Gospell of Christ is honoured by the unitie of the Spirit, and concurrent judgements and affections of men toward… it. When all the sincere prosessors thereof, doe unanimously strive together,Phil. 1.27. Iud. v. 3.Phil 1:27Judg 5:3 and earnestly contend for it; when all that ever have been or are acquainted therewith doe glorifie it with their suffrages and subscription, Nemo omnes, neminem omnes fefellere, it must needs be a glorious Gospell, if all that ever looked on it doe so conclude: Nothing was ever able to deceive all men, neither did so many ever combine to deceive others. When the Philosophers severally strove for the precedence of their severall sects, and every man, after his owne order, gave the next place unto Plato, it was undoubtedly concluded that his was the most excellent, because after their owne prejudice and personall respects, it was honoured by the equall suffrages of all the rest. How much more must the Gospell needes bee glorious which hath the joynt attestation of Angels and all holy men since the world began to honour it withall? Therefore when the Apostle proveth the greatnesse of this heavenly mystery, he useth a word which importeth the consent of men, foreign, without any doubt, or by an universall confession, Great is the mysterie of Godlinesse. 1 Tim. 3.16.1 Tim 3:16Doth it not much set forth the Glory of a Law, that there should be so much wisedome, power, equitie, majestie, beautie in the face of it, that every true subject in a Realme should concurre in a constant and uniforme love and obedience to it? Let us therfore expresse the glory of the Gospell, not only in our joynt confessions, but in our united obedience thereunto, and in our unanimous zeale and contention for it, in our brotherly affections and compassions to one another therby: for the schismes and disaffections of Christians bring much dishonour upon their holy profession, which in all their miscariages doth p. 222ever by occasion of the unreasonablenesse of wicked men suffer together with them. Therefore the Apostle from the unitie of Christ in himselfe concludeth that such he should be in his members too. Is Christ divided? hath he divers opinions, or hath he the truth of God in respect of persons? such as he is such should you bee likewise, lest by your contentions you seeme to make another Christ, or another Gospell, than that which you have received.

Fifthly, the Gospell of Christ is honoured in our studying of it, and digging after it in our serious and painefull enquiries into the mysteries of it. Saint Paul despised all other knowledge, and shooke off every weight that he might presse forward with the more unwearied affections towards so excellent a treasure. Surely if men had the spirit of the Apostle, or of those blessed Angels which desire to pry into the Gospel of Christ, they would not misse-spend so much pretious time in frothy and fruitlesse studies, nor waste away that lampe of reason in their bosomes, in empty and unnourishing blazes; but would set more houres apart to looke into the patent of their salvation (which is the booke of God) and to acquaint themselves with Christ before-hand, that when they come into his presence they may have the entertainement of friends and not of strangers. Men that intend to travaile into forraigne kingdomes with any advantage to their parts, or improvement of their experience, doe before-hand season and prepare themselves with the language, with some topographicall observations of the Countrey, with some generall notions of the ingenie, manners, formes, civilities, entertainements of the natives there, doe delight to converse with those men who are best learned in these or the like particulars. Surely we al professe a journey to heaven, a pilgrimage in this present world, to have our conversation now where wee looke to have our everlasting abode with the Lord p. 223hereafter. Now in the Gospell of Christ we have as it were a map, a topographicall delineation of those glorious mansions which are there prepared for the Church, we have a taste and description of the manners of that people, we have some rudiments of the heavenly language, in one word, wee have abundantly enough, not onelyonly to prepare us for it, but to enflame all the desires of our soule unto it, even as exiles or captives desire to returne to their native Countrey. Now then if wee no way regard to study it, or acquaint our selves with it, if wee seeme to desire the sight of Christ in heaven, and when we may every day have a most blessed view of his face in the Glasse of his Gospel, we turne away our eyes, and regard it not, we doe as good as proclaime to all the world, that either our hopes of heaven are very slender, or our care thereof little or none at all. And this I take for a most undoubted truth, that there is so much of the knowledge, grace, and spirit of Christ, and through him of the Father in the holy Scriptures (and those onelyonly are the things which make heaven to bee the home and the hope of men) as that whosoever neglecteth the study of them, and suffereth the Scriptures to lye by him as a sealed booke, would bee every whit as unwilling if heaven gates were wide open unto him, to relinquish his portion in the earth, and to spend his time in the fruition or contemplation of that glorious Countrey.

Lastly, wee honour the Gospell when in our greatest distresses we make it our Altar of refuge, our doore of escape, the ground of all our hope and comfort, the only anchor to stay our soules in any spiritual tempest, the only staffe to leane upon in our greatest darkenesse. What ever other carnall comforts men may for a time rejoyce in, they will all prove but as a fire of sparkes, or as a blaze of thornes, which can yeeld no solid or abiding light unto the soule. When sinners in Sion begin once to be affraid, and to be surprized with the fearefulnesse p. 224of a guilty soule, when the affrighted conscience shall put that dreadfull question in the Prophet to it selfe, How can I dwell with devouring fire? Esai. 33.14, 24.Isa 33:14Isa 33:24how can I dwell with everlasting burnings? there will no other answere allay the scorching terrour thereof but that in the end of the same Chapter, The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. A man may as soone drinke up the water of the sea with spunges, or remove mountaines with one of his fingers, as be able to draine out these close and incorporated sorrowes which together with sinne doe soake through the whole substance of the soule, with vaine companie, worldly imployments, or youthfull pleasure. All these doe but respite them for a time that they may returne the stronger. But if thou wilt indeed be comforted, sue out thy pardon, flye to the court of mercy which is erected in the Gospell; This was our Saviours argument to the man that was sicke of the Palsie,Mat. 9.2.Matt 9:2 Sonne, be of good cheere, thy sinnes be forgiven thee. There is no worldly affliction goeth closer to the life of a man than sickenesse, and yet as in the midst of laughter the heart of a wicked man is sorrowfull, because it is still under the guilt of sinne, so in the midst of paine and sorrow the heart of a godly man may be cheerefull, because his sinnes are forgiven.

To conclude this point, we may for our better encouragement in so necessary a dutie lay together these considerations: First, in point of honour we should learne to walke as becommeth the Gospell, for the Gospell is a Christians Glorie, and therefore ought to bee preserved in his heart, as his chiefest priviledge. The Spirit of God will not endure to have holy things profaned as if they were common or uncleane. Belshazzer converted the consecrated vessels of the Temple into instruments of luxurie and intemperance; but the Lord temper'd his wine with dregges, and made them prove unto him as cups of trembling and astonishment. Herod polluted p. 225the sepulchers of the Saints with a sacrilegious search of treasures presum'd to have beene there hidden,Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 16. ca. 11. 2 Mac. 3.5.2 Macc 3:5 and God made fire rise out of the earth to devoure the over-busie searchers. Antiochus ransack'd the Temple of the Lord; Heliodorus emptied the treasures of their consecrated monies; Pompey defiled the Sabbath and the Sanctuarie; Crassus robb'd the house of God of ten thousand talents.Tacit. Hist lib. 5. Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 13. But inquire into the event of these insolencies, and we shall finde that true then, of which latter ages have given many examples, and are still likely to give more, that stollen bread hath gravell in it to choake those that devoure it, that ruine is ever the childe of sacrilege, that mischiefe setteth a period to the lives and designes of prophane men. Now then if the Lord were thus jealous for the types of his Gospell, how, thinke wee, can he endure to see the Gospell it selfe dishonoured by an unsuteable profession, or the bloud of the Covenant trampled under foot, as if it were a common or uncleane thing? In the contempt of the Gospell there is more dishonour done unto every person of the blessed Trinity, than can be by any other sinne. An undervaluing of the Fathers wisdome, that great mysterie and counsell of redemption which was hidden from former ages: and what an indignity is it unto him, for a man to shut out the light of the sunne, that so hee may enjoy that pittifull benefit of darkenesse, to gaze upon the false glistering of rotten wood, or of earthly slime, the deceit wherof would bee by the true light discovered? And undervaluing of his wonderfull love, as if he had put himselfe unto a needlesse compassion, and might have kept it still in his owne bosome. A scorne unto the Sonne of God, when wee suffer him to stand at our doores with his locks wet with the dew of heaven, to put his finger into the hole of the locke, as if he desired to steale an entrance upon the soule; to emptie, to humble, to denie himselfe, to suffer the wrongs of men, and p. 226the wrath of God, and after all this to have that pretious bloud which was squeezed out with such woefull agonies, counted no other than the bloud of a common malefactor, nor that sacred body which was thus broken, discerned from the bodies of the theeves which were crucified with him. An indignitie beyond all apprehension to the spirit of Grace, when wee suffer him to waite daily at our Bethesda, our houses of mercy, and all in vaine, to spend his sacred breath in the ministerie of reconciliation, in doubling and redoubling his requests unto our soules, that we would be contented to bee saved, and we shall harden our hearts, and stop our eares, and set up the pride and stoutnesse of our owne reasonings, till wee doe even wearie him and chide him away from us. Now this is a certaine rule, God will not lose any honour by mens sinnes; if they refuse to give him the glory of his mercy, he will shew the glory of his Power and justice, in treading downe the proud enemies of Christ under his feet. As they that honour him shall be honoured; so they who cast any disgrace upon his truth and covenant, shall be sure to meet with shame and dishonour at the last.

Secondly, to avoid Scandall. The Gospell is the light of a nation: And sinnes in the light as they are committed with more impudence, so likewise with more offence. An offence or scandall tending unto sinne in misguiding the weake, in heartening and confirming the obdurate, in opening the mouthes of adversaries to revile our holy profession; and a scandall tending unto sorrow in wounding the hearts of the godly, and vexing their righteous spirits with a filthy conversation.

Thirdly, wee should learne to walke as becommeth the Gospell, even in respect to the state, for the Gospell is the foundation of true peace and tranquility in a common-weale, and those who shew forth the power thereof are, as it were, Lions about the Throne of their King. p. 227By righteousnesse the Throne is established, but sinne is a reproch unto any people. Prov. 16.12.20.28.25.5.Prov 16:12Prov 16:20Prov 16:28Prov 16:25Prov 16:5One Ioseph in Egypt is a storehouse to all the kingdome; one Elisha an armie of chariots and of horsemen unto Israel; one Moses a fence to keepe out an …oundation of wrath which was breaking in upon the people; one Paul an haven, an anchor, a deliverance to all that were in the ship with him. And now Si stellae cadunt venti sequentur: Arist. Prob. sect. 2…. qu. 25.If the starres fall we must needes looke for tempests to ensue, if the salt be infatuated we cannot looke that any thing should be long preserved. If Christians live as if they had no Gospell, or as if they had another Gospell, what can wee expect but that God should either plague us, or forsake us, either send his judgements, or curse his blessings?

Lastly, the Gospell makes sinne more filthy, if it doe not purge it; as a taper in the hand of a Ghost makes him seeme more gastly than he was before. Sweet ointment causeth ranke and strong bodies to smell worse than they did before.Qui hircos redolent, foediùs olent cum se unguea taverint. Arist. Prob. Heb. 6.4-7, Heb. 10.26.Heb 6:4–7Heb 10:26 So the sweet savour of the Gospell maketh the sinnes of men more noisome and odious in the nostrils of the Almightie. And therefore wee see what a fearefull doome the Apostle pronounceth against those, who having tasted of the good Spirit of God, and been illightened, and in some sort affected with his grace doe yet afterward… fall away, even an impossibilitie of repentance or renovation. From which place, perversly wrested, though the Novatians of old did gather a desperate and uncomfortable conclusion,Vid. Sixt. Senens. biblioth. l. 7. Melch. Can. loc. Theolog. l. 2. c. 10. Greg Tholos. de Rep. lib. 12. ca. 7. that sinne committed after regeneration was absolutely unpardonable (to avoide the danger of which damnable and damning doctrine, some have boldly questioned both the Author and authenticalnesse of that Epistle) yet, all these inferences being denied, wee learne from thence this plaine observation, That precedent Illumination from the Gospell of Christ, doth tend much to the aggravation of p. 228those sinnes which are committed against it. And therefore in all these considerations we should labor to walke worthy of so glorious a Gospell, and of so great a salvation.

Thus have we at large spoken of the Rod of Christs strength, as it is Insigne regium, or Sceptrum majestatis, an Ensigne and Rod of Majestie: we are now to speake a little of it as it is Pedum pastorale, an episcopall Rod, which denoteth much heedfulnesse and tender care. This is the Precept which the Apostle giveth unto the Pastors of the Church that they should foreign, Take speciall heed to all the flocke over which the holy Ghost had made them overseers. Act. 20.28.Acts 20:28And the Apostle againe reckoneth Vigilancie or care over the flocke amongst the principall characters of a bishop:1 Tim. 3.2.1 Tim 3:2 and hee professeth of himselfe, that there did daily lye upon him foreign, The Care of all the Churches. And this consideration affordeth us another note out of the words,2 Cor. 11.28.2 Cor 11:28 namely, That Christ in the ministerie of his Gospell and dispensation of his spirit, is full of care and tendernesse towards his Church. This Christ maketh one maine point of opposition betweene himselfe and hirelings, that these Care not for the flock, Ioh. 10.12, 13. Ioh. 17.11, 12.John 10:12John 10:13John 17:11John 17:12but suffer the Woolfe to come, and to scatter them while they fly away; whereas hee keepeth them, that none may bee lost, and prayeth unto the Father to keepe them through his owne name. The Lord committed the Church unto Christ as their Head, gave them into his hands, not as an ordinary gift, wherein he did relinquish his owne interest in them or care of them (for hee careth for them still) but as a blessed depositum entrusted them with him,1 Pet. 5.7.1 Pet 5:7 as the choicest of his Iewels, as the most pretious casket amongst all the treasures of the Creation,Mal. 3.17.Mal 3:17 that he should polish, preserve, present them faultlesse, and without spot before the presence of his glory at the last day.Iud. v. 24.Judg 5:24 And for this purpose hee gave Eph. 5.26, 27.Eph 5:26Eph 5:27him a Commandement of the greatest care and tendernesse p. 229that ever the world knew, that hee should lay downe his life for his sheepe,Ioh. 10.18. Ioh 6 39. Heb. 2.17.3.2.John 10:18John 6:39Heb 2:17Heb 2:3Heb 2:2 and should lose nothing of all that was given him, but should raise it up at the last day. So that now want of care or compassion of Christ towards his Church, would be an argument of unfaithfulnesse; If he had not been a mercifull high priest, neither could he have beene faithfull to him that appointed him, for he was appointed to bee mercifull, and was by the Spirit of God filled with most tender affections, and qualified with an heart fuller of compassion than the sea is of waters, that he might commiserate the distresses of his people, and take care of their salvations.

Notably doth this Care of Christ shew it selfe: First, in the apportioning and measuring forth to every o…e his due dimensum, and in the midst of those infinite occasions and exigencies of his severall members in providing such particular passages of his Word as may be thereunto most exactly sutable; for this sheweth that his Care reacheth unto particular men.2 Tim. 2.15.2 Tim 2:15 It is the dutie of a faithfull bishop, foreign,Iud. v. 22, 23.Judg 5:22Judg 5:23 to make such a difference betweene men, and so to divide or distribute the word aright, as that every one may have the portion which is due unto him: some are but Lambes in Christs flocke, young, tender, weake, easily offended or affrighted; others sheepe, growne up to more strength and maturity: some in his garner are but Cummin seede,Ioh 20.15, 16.John 20:15John 20:16 others Fitches, and some harder corne, some can but beare a little Rod, others a greater staffe or flaile,Esai. 28.27, 28.Isa 28:27Isa 28:28 and some the pressure of a Cart wheele, that which doth but cleanse some would batter and breake others into pieces: some are great with young, in the pangs of a loaded conscience, in the travaile under some sore affliction,Esai. 40.11.Isa 40:11 or in the throwes of a bitter repentance, as it were in fits of breeding or new forming of Christ in their soule: and these hee leadeth with a gentle hand. Others are, as it were, new borne, past their paines, but yet p. 230very tender, weake, and fearefull; and these he gathers with his arme, and carries in his bosome, shewes them that his care doth not onelyonly reach unto the least of his kingdome, but that his compassions are most enlarged to those that are too weake to helpe themselves,Esai. 66.11.Isa 66:11 that hee hath brests of consolation to satisfie and delight with abundance the smallest infant of his kingdome. Some are broken-hearted, and those he bindeth; some are captives,Esai. 61.1, 2, 3.Isa 61:1Isa 61:2Isa 61:3 to those hee proclaimeth liberty; some are mourners in Sion, and for them he hath beautie, and oile of joy, and garments of praise▪ some are bruized reedes, whom every curse or commination is able to crush, and some are smoaking flax, whom every temptation is able to discourage, and yet even these doth hee so carefully tend, and furnish with such proportionable supplies of his Spirit of grace, as makes that seede and sparkle of holinesse, which hee began in them, get up above all their owne feares, or their enemies machinations,Esai. 42.3. Mat. 12.20.Isa 42:3Matt 12:20 and grow from a judgement of truth, and sincerity (as it is called by the Prophet) unto a judgement of victory and perfection, as it is turned by the Evangelist. In one word, some are strong and others are weake; the strong hee feedeth, the weake he cureth, the strong hee confirmeth, the weake hee restoreth, hee hath trials for the strong to exercise their graces, and hee hath cordials for the weake to strengthen theirs. According unto the severall estates, and unto the secret demands of each members condition; so doth the Care of Christ severally shew it selfe towards the same in his Word: there is provision for any want, medicine for any disease, comforts for any distresse, promises for any faith, answeres to any doubt, directions in any difficulty, weapons against any temptation, preservatives against any sinne, restoratives against lapse; garments to cover my nakednesse, meate to satisfie my hunger, physicke to cure my diseases, armour to protect my person▪ a p. 231treasure to provide for my posteritie. If I am rich, I have there the wisedome of God to instruct me; and if I am poore, I have there the obligations of God to enrich mee. If I am honourable, I have there the sight of my sins to make me vile; and rules of moderation to make me humble: If I am of low degree, I have there the Communion and consanguinitie of Christ, the participation of the divine nature, the adoption of God the Father to make me noble. If I am learned, I have there a law of charitie to order it unto edification, and if I am unlearned, I have there a Spirit which searcheth the deepe things of God, which can give wisedome unto the simple, which can reveale secrets unto babes, which can command light to shine out of darknes, which can give the light of the knowledge of the glory, fulnesse, and love of God in the face of Iesus Christ, which can make me, though ignorant of all other things, to learne Christ, in whom there is more wisdome, more various and admirable curiositie, more filling and plentifull satisfaction, more proportion to the boundlesse desires of a soule once rectified, more fruit and salvation (which should bee the end of every Christian mans learning) than in all other knowledge which either past or present ages can afford. In one word, every where and in all things I am there taught how to want, and how to abound, and how to do all things through Christ that strengthens me. A Christian can be set in no estate, wherein the abundant Care of Christ over him is not in the Gospell wonderfully magnified. And commonly in the greatest straits he sheweth the greatest care, as waters runne strongest in the narrowest passages: when we walk in darknesse and have no light, when we seeke water and there is none, and our tongue faileth for thirst, then is his fittest time to helpe us, and then is our fittest time to stay upon him. Israel were deliverd by miracles of mercy from their Egyptian bondage, and in the wildernesse conducted by a miraculous presence, and fed with Angels food. p. 232Isaak was upon the Altar, and then in the mount was the Lord seene, and his mercy stepped in betweene the knife and the sacrifice. Iacob in great feare of his brother Esau, Marke 16.7. ….Mark 16:7and then comforted by prevailing with an Angell which was stronger than Esau. Peter in sorest distresse for denying Christ, and he the first man to whom Christ sent newes of his Resurrection. Paul in the shippe visited by an Angell. Peter in prison delivered by an Angell. The distressed woman at Christs Sepulcher comforted by an Angell. Such as the extremities of the Saints are, such is Christs care for their deliverances.

And this Care is further commended, that it proceedeth solely from the grace and compassion of Christ: there is no affection naturally in us to desire it,Ezek. 16.6.Ezek 16:6 there is no vertue in us to deserve it: when we were in our bloud, well pleased with our owne pollution, hee doubled his goodnesse, and used a kinde of violence and importunitie of mercy to make us live, when we did not seeke after him, when wee did not so much as aske whether hee were fit to bee sought, when wee were aliens from his Covenant, and strangers to his name, hee even then multiplied his invitations unto us, I said, behold mee, behold me, Esay 65.1.Isa 65:1unto a people that were not called by my name. When we were weake, full of impotencie; when wee were sinners, full of antipathy; when we were enemies, full of obstinacie and rebellion;Rom. 5.6.8.10.Rom 5:6Rom 5:8Rom 5:10 when wee cared not for him, but turned our backes, and stopped our eares, and suffered him to throw away in vaine so many Sermons, so many Sacraments, so many mercies, so many afflictions upon us; when we cared not for our selves, no man repented, or said, what have I done; even then did hee magnifie his compassion towards us; hee cared for us, when we neglected our selves, and despised him; he bestowed his mercy not onelyonly upon the unthankfull, but upon the injurious.

But then a little compassion is enough for those that p. 233had deserved none, for those that had provoked scorne and displeasure against themselves: but herein is the care and tendernesse of Christ abundantly magnified, that it hath in it all the ingredients of a most soveraigne mercy, that nothing more could have beene done,Esay 5.4.Isa 5:4 than he hath done for us. First,Hos. 11.8. Ier. 31.20. Ephes. 3.19. Esay. 55.9. Ier. 29.11.Hos 11:8Jer 31:20Eph 3:19Isa 55:9Jer 29:11 for the foundation and original of al mercy, there is in him an overflowing of love, without stint or measure, a turning of heart, a rouling and sounding of bowels, a love which surpasseth all knowledge, which is a… much beyond the thoughts or comprehensions, as it is above the merits of men.

Secondly, there is a studie and inquisitivenesse how to doe good, a debating within himselfe, a consulting and projecting how to shew mercy, an arguing, as it were, of his grace with mans sinne, and his owne severitie; How shall I give thee up Ephraim? Hos. 11.8. Esay 1.10.Hos 11:8Isa 1:10How shall I deliver thee Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. True it is, thou hast beene unto me as the Rulers of Sodome, and as the people of Gomorrah: But shall I be unto thee, as I have beene unto them? Am I not God, and not man? shall I change my Covenant, because thou hast multiplied thy backslidings? The Lord useth such humane expressions of his proceedings with men, as if their sinnes had put him to a stand, and brought him to difficulties in shewing mercy. I said, how shall I put thee amongst the children, Ier. 3.19.Jer 3:19and give thee a pleasant Land? &c. Thy case is very desperate, and thou hast stopped up the courses of my mercy towards thy selfe; how then shall I make good my resolutions of compassion towards those that reject and nullifie it to themselves? surely there is no way but one, to over-rule the hearts of obstinate sinners, that they may not turne away any more. Thou shalt call mee, my Father, that is, I will put filial affections, awful thoughts, constant resolutions into thy heart, and thou shalt not p. 234turne away from mee. I will melt them and trie them, saith the Lord,Ier. 9.7.Jer 9:7 for how shall I doe for the daughter of my people? The Lord setteth himselfe to study and contrive merciemercy for his people, that as they set up their sinnes, as it were, in pride to pose his Covenant; so he gathereth together his thoughts of mercy, as it were, to conquer their sinnes.

Thirdly, there is constancie and continuance in this his Care:Lament. 3.22, 23.Lam 3:22Lam 3:23 His mercy endureth, his compassions faile not, but are renewed every morning. And therefore the mercies of David, that is, of Christ, for so he is called, or the mercies of the Covenant made with David, Act. 13.34.Acts 13:34are called Sure mercies, they have a foundation, the everlasting love and counsell of God upon which they are built,2 Tim. 2.19. Psal. 89.2. Mal. 3.6. Esay 64.5. Hebr. 13.8.2 Tim 2:19Ps 89:2Mal 3:6Isa 64:5Heb 13:8 they have many seales by which they are confirmed, the faithfulnesse, the immutabilitie, and the oath of God: If there were not continuance in his mercies, if he were not the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever in his truth and fidelitie to his Church; if hee should change and turne from us, as oft as we forsake him, if he should leave us in the hand of our owne counsell, and not afford us such daily supplies of his Spirit, as might support us against the ruinous disposition of our owne nature, wee should be children of wrath every day anew. But herein doth the abundant care of Christ in the Gospell declare it selfe unto us, that though we are wormes in our selves,Esay 41.10-14.Isa 41:10–14 full of weaknesse, and of earthly affections, yet God hath a right-hand of righteousnesse, which can uphold us; that though we are bent to back-sliding, yet he is God and not man, unchangeable in his Covenant with the Persons, almighty in his power and mercy towards the sinnes of men, both to cover them with his righteousnesse, and to cure them by his Spirit, both to forgive for the time past,Hos. 11.7-11.Hos 11:7–11 and to heale and prevent back-slidings for the time to come.

Fourthly, that he might be fit for so meane and humble p. 235a service, there was a lessening and emptying of himselfe; he was contented to be subject to his owne Law,Phil. 2.7, 8.Phil 2:7Phil 2:8 to be the childe of his owne creature, to take upon himselfe not the similitude onelyonly,Gal. 4.5.Gal 4:5 but the infirmities of sinfull flesh, to descend from his throne, and to put on rags,Rom. 8.3.Rom 8:3 in one word, to become poore for us, that we through his povertie might be made rich. Amongst men,2 Cor. 8.9.2 Cor 8:9 many will be willing to shew so much mercy as will consist with their state and greatnesse, and may tend to beget a further distance, and to magnifie their heighth and honour in the mindes of men; but when it comes to this exigent, that a man must debase himselfe to doe good unto another, that his compassion will be to a miserable man no benefit, except he suffer ignominie, and undergoe a servile condition for him, and doe, as it were, change habits with the man whom he pities; what region of the earth will afford a man who will freely make his owne honour to be the price of his brothers redemption? yet this is the manner of Christs Care for us, who though hee were the Lord of Glory, the brightnesse of his Fathers Majestie, and the expresse Image of his Person, did yet humble himselfe to endure shame, and the contradiction of sinners, that he might be the Author and finisher of our faith.

Fifthly, There was not onelyonly an humbling or metaphoricall emptying of himselfe, in that he made himselfe of no reputation; but there was likewise a reall and proper emptying of himselfe, he therein testified his wonderfull Care of the businesses of man, that for them he put himselfe to the greatest expence, and to the exhausting of a richer treasure, than any either heaven or earth could afford besides: yee were not redeemed, saith the Apostle, with corruptible things, as silver and gold from your vaine conversation, but with the precious bloud of Christ, as of a Lambe without blemish, and without spot: That which no man will bestow upon himselfe, and that p. 236which was in nature, and might justly in love have beene neerest to Christ himselfe, even the soule in his body, and the bloud in his veines, he was contented to make a sacrifice for them, who powred it out as the bloud of a malefactour.

Sixthly, besides this great price which he paid to his Father for us, hee hath opened another treasure of his Grace and Spirit, out of which he affordeth us daily supplies, and putteth into our hands, as it were, an heavenly stocke, for the better negotiating and improvement of our salvation. Hee setteth up his Spirit in our hearts, thereby conversing and communing with us, teaching us the trade of the citizens of heaven, and of laying up treasures there, where our finall abode must be, of having our conversation and commerce with innumerable companies of Angels, and with the spirits of just men made perfect, and withall that generall assembly or Church of the first-borne, which is inrolled in heaven.

Lastly, to all this he addeth Preparations and provisions for the future for us,1 Cor. 2.9. Phil. 4.19.1 Cor 2:9Phil 4:19 he doth not onelyonly give, but he prepareth things for those that love him, and what ever is wanting now, he will make it up unto us in the riches of his glory. It was for our expediencie that hee left the Church on earth (in regard of his carnall presence) and went unto his Father againe: Hee was not beholden to change o… place for his owne glory, for his heaven was within him as a fountaine, and indeed it is his presence which maketh heaven to be the place of glory; therefore Saint Paul desired to depart, and to be with Christ (noting that it is not heaven, but Christs presence which is the glory of the Saints:) Therefore, I say, it was for us, Phil … 23. Iohn 7…9. Iohn 1….7.John 7:9John 1:7that he went to heaven againe; for their sakes, saith he, I sanctifie my selfe; it is expedient for you that I goe away. Exp…dient, to seale and secure our full and finall redemption unto us; for as the Leviticall Priest entred not into the holiest of all without bloud, so neither did p. 237Christ into heaven without making satisfaction, hee first obtained eternall redemption for us,Hebr. 9.12.Heb 9:12 and then he entred into the holy place, and expedient to prepare a place for us, that the glory which is given to him, hee may give unto us, that being raised up together,Iohn 14 2, 3.John 14:2John 14:3 we may likewise sit together with him in heavenly places; for when the head is crowned,Iohn. 17.22.John 17:22 the whole body is invested with royall honour: Hee by the vertue of his Ascension opened the kingdome of heaven for all beleevers;Ephes. 2.6.Eph 2:6 even the Fathers before Christ entred not in without respect unto that consummate redemption which hee was in the fulnesse of time to accomplish for his Church. As a man may be admitted into an actuall possession of land, onelyonly in the vertue of covenants, and under the intuition of a payment to be afterwards performed. Thus we see in how many things the abundant Care of Christ doth shew it selfe towards the Church.

And as there are therein all the particulars of a tender care, so by the Gospell likewise, doe all the fruits and benefits thereof redound unto the faithfull. First, in the Gospell he aaPsal. 23 5. Mica 7.13.15. Ezek. 34.14, 23. Matth. 15.26. Phil. 4.12. Heb 6.12. Ioh. 15.4.Ps 23:5Ezek 34:14Ezek 34:23Matt 15:26Phil 4:12Heb 6:12John 15:4feedeth and strengthneth them, even in the presence of their enemies he prepareth them a table, and feedeth them with his rod, and according to their comming out of Aegypt he sheweth unto them marvellous things. And therefore our Saviour calleth his Gospell, The childrens bread. It is that which quickneth, which strengthneth them, which maketh them fruitfull in spirituall workes.

Secondly, He upholdeth them from fainting; if their strength at any time faile, hee leadeth them gently ▪ and teacheth them to goe. bbGen. 33.14. Iohn 10.3. Psal. 78.52. Esay 63.13. Deut. 1.31. Esay 40.11. Esay 41.13. Hos 11 3, 4. Deut 32.11, 12.Gen 33:14John 10:3Ps 78:52Isa 63:13Deut 1:31Isa 40:11Isa 41:13Hos 11:3Hos 11:4Deut 32:11Deut 32:12As Iacob led on his cattell and his children softly, according as they were able to endure: so Christ doth lead out his flocke, and hold his children by the hand, and teach them to goe, and draweth them with the cords of a man, that is, with meeke and gentle institution, such as men use towards their children, and p. 238not to their beasts, and with bands of love. As an Eagle sluttereth over her young, and spreadeth abroad her wings, and taketh them and beareth them on her wings: so doth the Lord in his Gospel sweetly lead on and institute the faithfull unto strength and salvation: he dealeth with them as a compassionate nurse with a tender infant, condescendeth to their strength and capacitie; when we stumble, he keepeth us; when we fall he raiseth us; when we faint, hee beareth us in his armes; when wee grow weary of well-doing, the Gospell is full of encouragements to hearten us, full of spirit to revive us, full of promises to establish us, full of beautie to entice us; when we seeme to be in a wildernesse, a maze, where there is no issue,Hos. 2.14, 15.Hos 2:14Hos 2:15 nor view of deliverance, even there he openeth a doore of hope, and allureth, and speaketh comfortably unto us.

Hos. 14.4.Hos 14:4Thirdly, he healeth our diseases, our corruptions, our back-slidings; easily are the best of us misled out of the right way, drawen and enticed away by our owne lusts, driven away by the temptations of Satan, the frownes or follies of the world, possest with carnall prejudices against the wayes of God, as if they were aaIohn 6.60. Matth. 25.24.John 6:60Matt 25:24grievous, bbIob 21.1… 15. Mal 3.14, 15.Job 21:1Mal 3:14Mal 3:15unprofitable, and ccEzek. 18.25.Ezek 18:25unequall wayes; apt to take every pretence to flinch away, and steale from the eye of God; apt to ddIer. 11.10. Act. 7.39. Psal 14.3.Jer 11:10Acts 7:39Ps 14:3turne aside into every diverticle which a carnall reason, and a crooked heart can frame unto it selfe; for a corrupt heart is like eeAnimalia quaedam, ne invenir… possint, vestigia sua circa cubile ipsum consun…um. Senec. epist. 68. foreign. Clem▪ Alex.a wilde beast, that loveth confusa vestigia, to have intricacies and windings in his holes, it cannot away with strait paths, ffGal. 1 7. 2 Pet. 3.16.Gal 1:72 Pet 3:16but loveth to wrie and pervert the …ule of life. In these cases it is the care and office of Christ to ggEzek. 34 16. Gal 8.1. Ezek. 47.12.Ezek 34:16Ezek 47:12gather that which was scattered, to seeke that which was lost, to bring againe that which was driven away, to binde up that which was broken, to strengthen that which was sicke, and to restore by his Spirit of meeknesse those which are overtaken with a fault; his Gospell is like the trees of the p. 239Sanctuary, not for meat onelyonly, but for medicine too.

Fourthly, as hee healeth our diseases, and giveth us strength, so in the mids of enemies and dangers he removeth our feares, and giveth us comfort and refreshment. hhEzek. 34 25.Ezek 34:25I will make with them, saith he, a Covenant of peace, and I will cause evill beasts to cease out of the Land, and they shall dwell safely in the wildernesse, and sleepe in the woods. iiMica 5.5.When the Assyrian shall be in our Land, and shall tread in our Palaces, then shall hee raise up seven shepherds, and eight principall men, namely, the Ministers of his Gospell, in abundance, to establish the hearts of his people against all dangers. This is that **Scultet exercit. Evang. l. 1. cap. 4.Shilo who should bring tranquilitie and peace into the Church, even when the Scepter should depart from Iuda. When the heart is full of doubts and distresses, disquieted with the feare of Gods displeasure, accused by the Law, pursued by the adversary, and condemned by it selfe; then doth he still the raging of the sea, and command the evill spirit to be dumbe; then kkRevel. 7.17.Rev 7:17doth he wipe away teares from the conscience, and refresh it with living waters, even with the sweet communion of his Spirit, and with the abundance of his graces.

Lastly, hee keepeth a continuall watch over us by his spirituall presence and protection: As llGen. 31.40.Gen 31:40Iacob testified his great care for the good of Laban, that the drought consumed him by day, and the frost by night, and that sleepe departed from his eyes: Psal. 121.4.Ps 121:4so doth the Lord commend his care towards the Church, in that he is the keeper or the watch-man of Israel,Exod. 33.14.Exod 33:14 which doth neither slumber nor sleepe. His presence is with his people to guide them in their pilgrimage, and unto which they have daily recourse for comfort and establishment. In that great tempest when Christ was asleepe in the ship, his Disciples awaked him and expostulated with him, Master, Marke 4.38.40.Mark 4:38Mark 4:40carest thou not that we perish? But when hee had rebuked the wind and the sea, hee then rebuked them likewise, hee p. 240had another storme of feare and unbeleefe to calme in their hearts, who could not see him in his providence watching over them, when his body slept.

The grounds of this great Care, which Christ in his Gospell testifieth towards his Church, are these: First, He is our kinsman, Deut. 25 5. Ruth 3.9.4 5. Levit. 25.25.Deut 25:5Ruth 3:9Ruth 3:4Lev 25:25there is affinitie in bloud, and therefore a naturall care and tendernesse in affection: wee know amongst the Jewes when a woman had buried an husband without fruit of his body, the next of the kindred was to take care of her, and to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance: And if any man had waxen poore, and sold any of his possession, the neerest kinsman was to have the first option in the recovery and redemption of it: And from hence the Apostle argueth to prove the mercifulnesse and fidelitie of Christ, in sanctifying or bringing many sonnes unto glory (for I take those phrases to be in that place equivalent) because he was not ashamed to call us brethren, Heb. 2.11.17.Heb 2:11Heb 2:17but was made in all things like unto us. And wee may observe that in the Scripture he hath almost all the relations of consanguinitie, to note that his care is universall and of all sorts. He is a Father, Behold, I and the children which thou hast given me: Esay 8 18.Isa 8:18and the care of a father is to governe, to nourish, to instruct, to lay up for his children. He is as a mother, Esay 49.15. Esay …0.11. Matth. 23.37. Esay 66.11. Ioh 20.17. Prov. 17.17. Rom. 7 4. Ephes. 5.25.32.Isa 49:15Matt 23:37Isa 66:11John 20:17Prov 17:17Rom 7:4Eph 5:25Eph 5:32he carrieth his young ones in his bosome, he gathereth them as a hen her chickens, hee milketh unto them out of the brests of consolation. And thus he hath a care of indulgence and compassion. Hee is a Brother, Goe to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and unto my God, and your God. And the care of a brother is to counsell, advise, and comfort. A brother is borne for adversity. Lastly, hee is a Husband; yee are married to him who is raised from the dead, and that word compriseth all care, to love, to cherish, to instruct, to maintaine, to protect, to compassionate, to adorne, to communicate both his secrets and p. 241himselfe. A father may maintaine his childe, but hee cannot suckle it; a mother may give it a brest, but shee cannot ordinarily provide it a portion; a brother can give counsell, but he cannot give himselfe unto his brother: A husband may comfort his wife, but it becomes him not to correct her. There is no degree of neerenesse that hath power enough to answer al the offices of love, but in one point or other it will be defective: Therefore Christ is set forth unto us under all relations of bloud and unitie; to note that there can no case or condition of the Church be supposed, wherein the care of Christ shall be impotent or deficient towards it, wherein he is not able to correct, to nourish, to instruct, to counsell, to comfort, to provide for it.

Secondly, He is our Companion in sufferings, he himselfe suffered and was tempted, and this the Apostle maketh a maine ground of his care towards us,Heb. 4.15.Heb 4:15 and of our confidence in him: wee have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities,Heb. 2.17.Heb 2:17 but was in all points tempted as we are, onelyonly without sinne;Hebr. 5.2.Heb 5:2 and therefore he is able to succour those that are tempted, and to take compassion on those that are out of the way, because he was compassed with such infirmities, as were much lesse grievous than the weight of sinne.

Thirdly, He is our Head, and so is One with us in a neerer relation than that of affinitie, in a relation of Vnitie, for he and his members make but one Christ. And being head, hee is the seat of Care, and the fou…taine of influences into the rest of the body; all the wisedome, spirits, senses, which are in the head, are there placed as in a Watch-tower, or Councell-chamber, to consult and provide for the good of the whole; the eye seeth, the eare heareth, the tongue speaketh, the fancie worketh, the memory retaineth for the welfare of the other members,1 Cor. 12.25.1 Cor 12:25 and they have all the same care one for another.

p. 242Fourthly, He is our Advocate, and Mediatour, he is the onelyonly practicer in the court of heaven,1 Iohn 2.2.1 John 2:2 and therefore he must needs be full of the businesses of his Church: It is his office to dispatch the affaires of those that come unto him, and crave his favour and intercession to debate their causes, and he is both faithfull and mercifull in his place,Hebr. 3.2.Heb 3:2 and besides, furnished with such an unmeasurable unction of Spirit, and vast abilities to transact all the businesses of his Church, that whosoever commeth unto him for his counsell and intercession,Iohn 6.37.John 6:37 hee will in no wise cast them out, or refuse their cause: And this is one great assurance we may take comfort in, that be our matters never so foule and unexcusable in themselves, yet the very entertaining him of our counsell, and the leaning upon his wisdome, power, fidelity, and mercy to expedite our businesses, to compassionate our estate, and to rescue us from our owne demerits, doth, as it were, alter the propertie of the cause, and produce a cleane contrary issue to that which the evidence of the thing in triall would of it selfe have created. And as we may observe that men of extraordinary abilities in the Law, delight to wrestle with some difficult businesse, and to shew their learning in clearing matters of greatest intricacie, and perplexitie before; so doth Christ esteeme himselfe most honoured, and the vertue and wisedome of his Crosse magnified, when in cases of sorest extremitie, of most hideous guilt, of most blacke and uncomfortable darknesse of soule, which pose not onelyonly the presumptions, but the hope, faith, conjectures, thoughts, contrivances which the hearts of men can even in wishes make to themselves for mercy, they doe yet trust him whose thoughts are infinitely above their thoughts, Esay 55.8. Esay 50.10.Isa 55:8Isa 50:10and whose wayes above their wayes; who is there among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darknesse and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God: When the soule can goe unto p. 243Christ with such complaints and acknowledgements as these; Lord, when I examine my cause by mine owne conscience and judgement of it, I cannot but give it over as utterly desperate, and beyond cure, my bones are dried, my hope is cut off, I am utterly lost, my sins, and my sorrowes are so heavie that they have broken my spirit all to peeces, and there is no sound part in me: But Lord, I beleeve that thou knowest a way to make dead bones live, that thy thoughts and waies are above mine,Ezek. 37.3. Ier. 29.11. Ephes. 3.8.19.Ezek 37:3Jer 29:11Eph 3:8Eph 3:19 that thou knowest thine owne thoughts of peace and mercy, though I cannot comprehend them, that thy riches are unsearchable, that thy love is above humane knowledge, that thy peace passeth all created understandings, that though I am the greatest of all sinners, and feele enough in my selfe,1 Tim. 1.16.1 Tim 1:16 to sinke me as low as Iudas into hell, yet thou hast not left me without patternes of all long-suffering, of thy royall power in enduring, and in forgiving sinnes. And now Lord, though thou afford me no light, though thou beset me with terrours, though thou make me to possesse the sinnes of my youth, yet I still desire to feare thy name, to walke in thy way, to wait upon thy counsell, I know there is not in men or Angels so much wisdome, compassion, or fidelity as in thee, and therefore if I must perish, I will perish at thy feet, I will starve under thy table, I will be turned away and rejected by thee, who hast promised to cast away none that come unto thee; I have tried all wayes, and I here resolve to rest, and to looke no further, thou that hast kept such a sinner as I am out of hell thus long, canst by the same power keep me out for ever; upon thy wisdome and compassion (who canst make dried bones to flourish like an herbe, and broken bones to rejoyce and sing) I cast the whole weight of my guilty spirit,Esay 66 14. Psal. 51.8. 1 Pet. 5.7.Isa 66:14Ps 51:81 Pet 5:7 into thy bosome I emptie all the feares, cares and requests of my distracted and sinking soule: I say, when a man can thus powre out himselfe u…to Christ, he esteemeth the p. 244price and power of his bloud most highly honoured, when men beleeve in him against reason and above hope, and beyond the experience, or apprehensions they have of mercy; for Christ loveth to shew the greatnesse of his skill in the salvation of a Manasse, a Mary Magdalen, a crucified Theefe, a persecutour and injurious blasphemer, in giving life unto them that nailed him to his Crosse; the more desperate the disease, the more honourable the cure.

Ioh. 17.6.John 17:6Fifthly, He is our Purchaser, our Proprietary, wee belong unto him by grant from the Father, Thine they were, 1 Cor. 6.20.1 Cor 6:20and thou gavest them unto me; and by payment from him unto the Father, yee are bought with a price. There is no good that concernes the Church that he hath not fully paid for with his owne pretious bloud: And Christ will not die in vaine, he will take order for the accomplishing of that redemption which himselfe hath merited. And this is the greatest argument of his care and fidelitie, that he is not as a servant, but as a Lord, and his care is over His owne house. Hebr. 3.6.Heb 3:6An ordinary advocate is faithfull onelyonly ratione officii, because the dutie of his office requireth it; but the businesses which he manageth, come not close unto his heart, because he hath no personall interest in them: but Christ is faithfull, not as Moses, or a servant onelyonly, but ratione Dominii, as Lord in his owne house; so that the affaires of the Church concerne him in as neere a right, as they concerne the Church her selfe, so that in his office of intercession hee pleadeth his owne causes with his Father, and in the miscarriages of them, himselfe should lose that which was infinitely more pretious than any thing in the world besides, even the price and merit of his owne bloud. These are the grounds of the great care of Christ towards his people.

And from hence we should learne faith and dependence on Christ in all our necessities, because we are under p. 245the protection and provision of him who careth for us, and is able to helpe us.2 Tim. 1.12.2 Tim 1:12 A right judgement of God in Christ, and in his Gospell of salvation, will wonderfully strengthen the faith of men. Paul was not ashamed of persecutions, because he knew whom he had beleeved, hee doubted neither of his care or power, and therefore hee committed the keeping of his soule unto him against the last day, and therefore when all forsooke him, he stood to the truth,2 Tim. 4.16, 17, 18.2 Tim 4:162 Tim 4:172 Tim 4:18 because the Lord forsooke him not. The reason why men trust in themselves, or their friends, is, because they are assured of their care and good-will to helpe them: But if men did compare the affections of Christ to other succours, they would rather choose to build their hopes and assurances on him. This consideration of the care and the power of God, made the three Children at a point against the edict of an idolatrous King, Our God is able to deliver us, Dan. 3.16, 17. Hebr. 11.17-19. Rom. 4.20, 21.Dan 3:16Dan 3:17Heb 11:17–19Rom 4:20Rom 4:21and hee will deliver us: And this made Abraham at a point to offer his sonne without staggering, because he rested upon the promise and the power of God, who was able to raise him from the dead, from whence, in a sort, he had received him before, namely, from a dead body, and from a barren wombe.Ier. 17.5-8.Jer 17:5–8 And this is the ground of all diffidence that men consider not the power and the care of God towards them, but conceive of him as if he had forgotten to be gratious, as if he had cast them out of his sight, as if he had given over his thoughts of them, and that maketh them feare second causes, and seeke unto things which cannot profit. And therefore the Lord suffereth second causes to goe crosse, to faile and disappoint a man, because he loveth to be glorified by our dependance on his all-sufficiencie and protection. Hee suffereth friends to faile, to be off and on, promises to be uncertaine, assurances to vanish, projections and frames of businesses to bee shattered, that men may know how to trust him; for man being impotent in himselfe, must needs have p. 246something without himselfe to subsist upon. Now when a man findeth the creatures to be deceitfull, and second causes vaine,Hebr. 11.6. Psal. 73.…8. 1 Pet. 5.7.Heb 11:6Ps 73:81 Pet 5:7 and considereth that God is I Am, a most certaine rewarder of those that diligently seek him, then the soule findeth it good to draw neere to God, to live under his fidelitie, and to cast all its care on him, because he careth for it.

And indeed a right judgement of God will helpe us to imploy our faith in any condition. In wealth men are apt to trust in their abundance, to stand upon their mountaine, and to say, I shall never be moved. But now in this estate, if a man conceive aright of God, that it is he who giveth strength to be rich, & who giveth riches strength to doe us good, that hee can blast the greatest estate with an imperceptible consumption, and in the midst of a mans sufficiencie make him bee in straits, that hee can embitter all with his sore displeasure, and not suffer the floore nor the winepresse to feed him: In great wisdome and deepe counsels, if a man consider that the counsell of the Lord shall stand, and that hee can turne the wisdome of oracles into foolishnesse, and catch the wise in their owne craftinesse: In great provisions of worldly strength, and humane combinations, if he consider that God can take off the wheeles, and amaze the phantasies, and dissipate the affections, and melt the spirits, and way-lay the enterprises of the hugest hosts of men, that he can arme flies, and lice, and dust, and wind, and starres, and every small unexpected contingencie against the strongest opposition; it must need make him set his rest, and hang his confidences and assurances upon an higher principle. Againe, in povertie and the extremest straits which a man can be in, if he consider that God is a God as well of the valleyes as of the hils, that he will be seene in the mount, when his people are under the sword, and upon the Altar; that the Lord knoweth the dayes of the upright, and will satisfie them p. 247in the time of famine, that when the young Lions famish for hunger, (they which live not by the fruits on the earth, but by their prey, they which can feed of the dead bodies of those other creatures whom a famine had devoured) yet even then hee can provide abundantly for his; that when things are marvellous unto us,Zech. 8.6.Zech 8:6 then they are easie unto him; that when they are impossible unto us, then they are possible with him;Marke 10.27.Mark 10:27 that he can lead in a wildernesse,Psal. 136.16.Ps 136:16 and feed with an unknowne and an unsuspected bread; that when the light of the Sun and the Moone shall faile,Ier. 2.6.Jer 2:6 he can be an everlasting light and glory to his people; that as a Father, so he pitieth;Amos 2.10.Amos 2:10 and as an heavenly Father, so he knoweth, and can supply all our needs;Deut. 8.15, 16.Deut 8:15Deut 8:16 that when we are without any wisdome to disappoint, or strength to withstand the confederacies of men, when they come with chariots of iron,Esay 60.19.Isa 60:19 and walls of brasse,Matth. 6.32.Matt 6:32 even then the eyes of the Lord runne to and fro to shew himselfe valiant in the behalfe of those that walke uprightly, that he can then order some accident,2 Chron. 16.9.2 Chr 16:9 produce some engine, discover some way to extricate and to cleere all;Phil. 4.6.Phil 4:6 then will a man learne to be carefull or distracted in nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thankesgiving, make his request knowne unto him who is at hand, and who careth for him.

The like may be said of mens spirituall condition; when men despaire, as Cain, that their sinne is greater than can be forgiven? the onelyonly ground is, because they judge not aright of God in Christ, they looke not on him in his Gospell as a God that careth for them, they doe not leane upon the staffe of his strength. Despaire is an affection growing out of the sense of sin and wrath, as it is, malum arduum, instans, & ineluctabile, an evill too heavie to be borne, and yet impossible to be removed. All victory ariseth either out of an inward power of our owne, or by the assistance of forren power, which is p. 248more than our owne. Now then when we despaire because of sinne, this commeth first from the consideration of our owne everlasting disability to breake thorow sin by our owne strength; and this is a good despaire, which helpeth to drive men unto Christ.

Secondly, it commeth from a misconceiving either of the Power or Care of those which might assist us, sometimes from the mis-judging of Gods power, for the forgivenesse of sinnes is an act of omnipotencie, and therefore when the Lord proclaimeth himselfe a forgiver of iniquitie, transgression, and sinne, he introduceth it with his titles of power, The Lord, the Lord God, Gracious and mercifull, Exod. 34.6.Exod 34:6&c. To pardon malefactours is a power and royaltie which belongeth onelyonly unto Princes. There is much strength required in bearing burdens, and therefore patience especially towards sinners, is an act of power, and impatiencie ever a signe of impotencie. And therefore **foreign. Arist. Rhet. lib. 2. cap. 2.the weakest affections are ever most revengefull, children, old men, sicke or indigent persons, are ever most subject to anger, and least able to concoct an injury: so that to conceive sin greater than can be forgiven, is to mis-judge the omnipotencie of God, but ordinarily despaire proceedeth from the mis-judging of Gods affection and good-will towards men; the soule conceives of him, as of one that hath utterly cast off all care or respect towards it. This is an errour of Gods benevolence, and the latitude of his mercy, and heighth of his thoughts towards sinners. Hee hath declared himselfe willing that all men should be saved, he hath set forth examples of the compasse of his long-suffering,2 Pet. 3 9. Iohn 5.34. 1 Tim. 1.16.2 Pet 3:9John 5:341 Tim 1:16 his invitations run in generall termes, that no man may dare to preoccupate damnation, but looke unto God, as to one that careth for his soule. Let a mans sinnes be never so crimson, and his continuance therein never so obdurate (I speake this for the prevention of despaire, not for the encouragement of security or hardnesse) yet as soone as he is willing to p. 249turne, God is willing to save, as soone as he hath an heart to attend, God hath a tongue to speake salvation unto him. Wee see then the way to trust in Christ is to looke upon him as the Bishop of our soules, as the Officer of our peace, as one that careth and provideth for us, as one that hath promised to save to the uttermost, to give supplies of his Spirit, and Grace in time of need,Heb. 7.25. Heb. 4.16. Ioh. 10.10. Heb. 13.9.Heb 7:25Heb 4:16John 10:10Heb 13:9 to give us daily bread, and life in abundance, to bee with us alwayes to the end of the world, never to faile us nor forsake us.

And we may hereby learne our dutie one to another,Col. 3.12, 13. Eph. 5.2. Phil. 2.4, 5. Rom. 14.7.15.15.2, 3.Col 3:12Col 3:13Eph 5:2Phil 2:4Phil 2:5Rom 14:7Rom 14:15Rom 14:2Rom 14:3 to put on the affections of members, and the minde of Christ, in compassionating, considering, and seeking the good of one another, in bearing one anothers burthens, in pleasing not our selves but our neighbour for his edification, for even Christ pleased not himselfe; that man cannot live in honour, nor dye in comfort, who liveth only to himselfe, and doth not by his praiers, compassions, and supplies imitate Christ, and interest himselfe in the good of his brethren.

Now the ground of all this power, majestie, and merciemercy of the Gospell is here set forth unto us in two words. First, it is the strength of Christ; Secondly, it is sent by God himselfe. The Lord shall send the Rod of Thy strength out of Sion.