The Mighty Christ the Saints Help, Approbation
WE who deſire the Exalting of our LORD JESƲS CHRIST that MIGHTY ONE, on whom the LORD GOD his father (and ours in him) hath laid HELP; having obſerved the holy end and ſcope of theſe Sermons on Pſal. 89.19. Bleſſing his Glorious Name for his ſo aſſiſting his faithful ſervant herein; and finding the Matter according with what the Author hath well expreſſed in this his Epiſtle; doe therefore heartily joyne with him therein, in what he hath written to all the Friends and Enemies of our LORD JESƲS CHRIST.
James Nalton Miniſter of Leonards Foſter Lane.
Thomas Brooks.
Robert Bragge.
William Adderley.
H: Jeſſey.
THE MIGHTY CHRIST THE Saints Help.
PSAL. 89.19.
I have laid help upon One that is Mighty.
THe precedent Pſalm contain a mournful complaint to the Lord powred out in a way of prayer. This (eſpecially the former part of it) is a pleaſant Song of praiſe.
The ſubject of it, is the Lord.
The things which he mentions as moſt ſweetly refreſhing his own ſoul, and moſt eminently conſpicuous in the Lord towards his people, are his mercy, faithfulneſs and power.
Firſt, His mercy, Verſ. 1. I will ſing of the mercies of the Lord for ever. So verſ. 2. I have ſaid mercy ſhall be built up for ever.
Secondly, His faithfulneſs, verſ. 1. With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulneſſe to all Generations; verſ. 2. Thy faithfulneſſe ſhalt thou eſtabliſh in the very Heavens; both manifeſted in his Covenant which he made with David and his ſeed; verſ. 3. I have made a Covenant with my choſen, I have ſworn unto David my ſervant; thy ſeed will I eſtabliſh for ever, and build up thy Throne to all Generations.
Thirdly, His power, verſ. 6. Who in the Heaven can be compared to the Lord? who among the ſons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? verſ. 8. O Lord God of Hoſts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? manifeſted by his works of
Firſt, Creation, verſ. 11. The Heavens are thine, the earth alſo is thine; as for the world, and the fullneſſe thereof, thou haſt founded them; Verſ. 12. The North and the South, thou haſt created them.
Secondly, Providence, verſ. 9. Thou ruleſt the raging of the Sea, when the waves thereof ariſe thou ſtilleſt them, ſhewed
Partly towards his enemies in their deſtruction, verſ. 10. Thou haſt broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is ſlain; thou haſt ſcattered thine enemies with thy ſtrong arme.
Partly, Towards his people in their ſalvation, verſ. 16, 17, 18. In thy name ſhall they rejoyce all the day, and in thy righteouſneſſe ſhall they be exalted; for thou art the glory of their ſtrength, and in thy favour our Horn ſhall be exalted: for the Lord is our defence, and the holy One of Iſrael is our King.
The Pſalmiſt having ſpoken largely of the power of God, returns to that with which his heart was moſt affected, The precious Covenant of God made with David, expreſſed verſ. 3. and ſhews at large the particulars of it, what great things God would do for him, and how great and mighty he would make him: and for a confirmation of faith in this great promiſe of God, the Pſalmiſt declares
Firſt, The Original of Davids power and authority, viz: that it was from God, from Heaven: he was no Uſurper, nor Obtruder, neither of mans, nor his own, but of Gods exalting, for ſo God ſaith, I have exalted one choſen out of the people, I have found David my ſervant, with my holy Oyle have I anointed him. So Pſal. 2.6. Yet have I ſet my King upon my holy Hill of Sion. Peter and the other Apoſtles ſpeaking of Jeſus before the Council ſaid, Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour. And therefore the Lord challengeth a peculiar propriety in David above all the Kings of the earth, calling him his King, My King.
Secondly, The Lords diſcovery of it before he did it; And to whom? Not unto the Princes of this world, but unto his holy One Samuel, who anointed David in the midſt of his brethren, 1 Sam. 16.1, 3, 13. By ſome the word is tranſlated in the Plural Number, Sanctis tuis, to thy holy Ones, to wit, the Prophets, Samuel, and Nathan, one of which anointed David, and the other fore-told of the perpetuity of his Kingdome, 2 Sam: 7.12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Yea, the Lord ſpake the ſame thing to his holy One David by the mouth of his ſervant Nathan, 2 Sam: 7.17. According to all theſe words, and according to all this viſion, ſo did Nathan ſpeak unto David.
From the diſcovery of it, we may
Firſt, Obſerve; That it hath been Gods way of old, when he hath had any great, and remarkable thing to do for, or upon a people, to reveal it unto his ſervants the Prophets.
Amos 3.7. Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his ſecret unto his ſervants the Prophets.
More particularly
Secondly, Obſerve; That the diſcovery of Gods exaltation of Chriſt, his True, and Great Holy One, ſanctified and ſeperated above his fellows, was firſt made to his Holy Ones.
Thirdly, The manner of diſcovery thereof, and that was by viſion, God in divers manners ſpake in times paſt unto the Fathers, ſometimes, but rarely by Oracle, it being a wonderfull condeſcention on Gods part, and more than ordinary honour to the perſon to whom he ſo ſpake; this honour God put upon Moſes, as he told Aaron and Miriam, With him will I ſpeak mouth to mouth, Numb. 12.8. Sometimes, and more commonly, In viſions, and in dreams, Numb: 12.6. It was in viſion God ſpake to his Holy One, when he made diſcovery of his Grace; Then thou ſpakeſt in viſion to thy Holy One.
Here are two things chiefly to be enquired into.
Firſt, The mercy provided, and that is a King; not a mean, weak one, unfit for the Throne, but a Mighty One, I have laid help upon One that is Mighty: if it be askt, Who is this King? the 20. verſ. is in anſwer, I have found David my ſervant, with my holy Oyle have I anointed him. Of him the Lord hath ſpoken, ſaying, By the hand of my ſervant David, I will ſave my people Iſrael out of the hand of the Philiſtims, and out of the hand of all their enemies, 2 Sam. 3.18. It is both David the ſon of Jeſſe, and Chriſt the ſon of David according to the fleſh, who was alſo Davids Lord, of whom David, eſpecially in his Kingly Office was a Type and Shaddow, who is alſo called David, Hoſ. 3.5. And Ezekiel propheſying of the Kingdome of Chriſt, a long time after David the ſon of Jeſſe was fallen aſleep (having ſerved his Generation according to the will of God) ſaith, I will ſet up one ſhepherd over them, even my ſervant David, I the Lord will be their God, & my ſervant David a Prince among them, Ezek. 34.23, 24. Again, David my ſervant ſhall be King over them; my ſervant David ſhall be the Prince for ever, Ezek. 37.24, 25. This is that David that liveth for ever, the Lord Chriſt that Mighty One, mightier, and higher than all others, as the Lord hath promiſed, verſ. 27. Alſo, I will make him my firſt-born, higher than the Kings of the earth; which words agree exactly to the Lord Chriſt, who is ſaid to be The firſt-born of every creature, the Beginning, the firſt-born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preheminence, Col. 1.15, 18. And by John, to be The firſt begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, Rev: 1.5. And this is he that the Pſalmiſt principally ſings of, as he doth alſo in other Pſalms, who is, and ſhall be ſo great a bleſſing to Gods people.
Secondly, The people who partake of this mercy, over whom this King, this Mighty One was ſet, that he might help them, are not all the people of the world, not his foes, ſuch as hate him; not the proud and mighty ones of the earth, who deſpiſe and oppoſe him (though he be Lord over them alſo) but they are Gods people; one Tranſlation addeth, I have put help upon a Mighty One for my people. They are Gods people Iſrael, the weakeſt and ſmalleſt of all people, not onelyonly Iſrael according to the fleſh, but alſo Iſrael according to the ſpirit, Jer. 23.5, 6. Luke 1.32, 33. Who by reaſon of their weakneſſe, and ſmallneſſe, the craftineſs, mightineſs, and multitudes of their enemies, ſtand in as much need of the Lord of Chriſt, the ſon of David, (That Mighty One) to help and ſave them, as ever Iſrael after the fleſh did of David the ſon of Jeſſe, (That Mighty One) to deliver them from their Oppreſſors.
I have laid, or put help upon One that is Mighty, A Champion, one ſtrong, and able to help my people.
Theſe words may be conſidered
Firſt, Generally and largely, as they contain the care, and goodneſs of God in General to his people.
Secondly, Specially and ſtrictly, as they point out the particular thing wherein God is ſo good to his people.
From the General and large Conſideration of the words
Obſerve; That the condition of the people of God in this life, is ſuch as they ſtand in need of help.
Though this be not expreſſed in words, yet it is neceſſarily implyed; for help ſuppoſeth need, and we are ſure that the Lord the moſt wiſe Agent, doth nothing in vain, he doth not ſend help to them that need it not.
For demonſtration of which (ſeeing I intend not to inſiſt long upon it) I ſhall only mention
Firſt, The many and mighty Perſecutors under whom they have lived (who have been ſtronger than they) the four great worldly Monarchies, viz: Babylonian, Perſian, Grecian, and Roman, ſet forth by the four terrible Beaſts mentioned Dan. 7. whoſe natures are to tear and devoure: of which the laſt (under whoſe power yet they are) is moſt dreadfull, and exceeding ſtrong: whereupon they ever did, and (being not yet delivered out of the hands of all the mighty Ones that hate them) do ſtill want the help of ſome other.
Secondly, The ſore bondage and oppreſſion whieh their enemies have, and do keep them in (for the ſeed of the Serpent eſpecially being prevalent, cannot but perſecute the ſeed of the woman) by reaſon of which they have in their ſeveral Generations ſighed, groaned, and howled (as they do alſo to this very day in the Nations of the world, do plainly ſhew that they have, and ſtill ſtand in need of a ſtronger arm than their own to deliver them.
Thirdly, The ſtrong cryes, and earneſt prayers heretofore, and now alſo put up to the Lord for help (which elſe were to no purpoſe, except to mock the Almighty) do ſpeak aloud the truth of this Aſſertion; That their condition is ſuch, as they ſtand in need of help. And it is not the worſe, but the better for the people of God, that their condition is thus; for though it be a manifeſt evidence and demonſtration of their own weakneſs, and ſelf-inſufficiency; yet the great goodneſs and deep w…ſdom of God is in it, thereby with-holding occaſion from them of truſting, and glorying in themſelves (an evil which they are exceedingly prone to) and as it were neceſſitating them (of whom otherwiſe he ſhould too ſeldome hear) to a daily recourſe to, and continual dependance upon himſelfe for help in every time of need; by means of which they are ſafely preſerved, and their Heavenly Father is daily glorified.
Secondly, Obſerve; The Lord himſelf doth provide help for his people in their ſeverall conditions.
I have laid help, &c. He doth not leave them without help in trouble (as the gods of the Heathen do thoſe that ſerve them) neither doth he leave it to others who are unable and cannot, or unfaithful and will not do it; but that they may not be failed in any time of need (they being a peculiar treaſure unto him above all people) he undertakes it himſelf for them (though he doth oftentimes make the meaneſt and weakeſt creatures an help to them,) ſo that they may truly ſay, Our help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth. And this is the great priviledge and advantage which the people of God have above others, that they are the people whom the Lord careth for, according to that of Jacob, Deut. 33. ult. Happy art thou O Iſrael, who is like unto thee O people ſaved by the Lord, the ſhield of thy help, and who is the ſword of thy excellency.
Thirdly, Obſerve; The Lord doth lay in a ſufficiency of help for his people in their various conditions.
What God doth, he doth to purpoſe; he diſpenceth full mercies and bleſſings to his people. I have laid help upon One that is Mighty. The Lord layes in a ſufficiency of help for ſervice, as alſo to ſave and deliver out of trouble.
Sometimes he layes help upon Angels, thoſe Mighty Ones, who excell in ſtrength, for his people, as he did in Hezekiahs time, he ſent an Angel who ſmote in one night 185000 in the Camp of the Aſſyrians, Iſa. 37.36. He ſent an Angel to the help of the three children in the exceeding hot furnace, who did ſufficiently help, For the fire had no power upon their bodyes, nor was an hair of their head ſinged, neither were their Coats changed, nor the ſmell of fire had paſſed on them, Dan. 3.27. And alſo to Daniel, when he was in the Lyons Den, who did help effectually, for he was taken up out of the Den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, Dan. 6.23. And likewiſe to Peter in Priſon, Acts 12.7, 10.
Sometimes he layes help upon men, who of weak, he makes mighty to help; he made Moſes and Joſhua mighty ones, and ſent them to the help of his people, he made Gideon a mighty man of valour, and ſaid unto him, Go in this thy might, and thou ſhalt ſave Iſrael from the hand of the Midianites; he made Ehud a man left-handed, as alſo Deborah a woman, mighty for the help and deliverance of his people. (Jude 3.4.)
Sometimes he layes help upon other Creatures, as upon the Stars, Judg. 5.20. The Stars in their courſes fought againſt Siſera; upon Hail-ſtones, for with them the Lord holpe Iſrael againſt the five Kings of the Amorites, and it was help ſufficient, for they were more which dyed with hail-ſtones, then they whom the children of Iſrael ſlew. (Jude 10.11.)
Reaſons why the Lord doth lay in a ſufficiency of help for his people.
Reaſon 1. From that All-ſufficiency, and perfection of power which is in the Lord; every thing as it is in Eſſence and Being, ſo it is in act and operation; and according to this Maxim, the Pſalmiſt ſings of the Lord, Pſal. 147.5. Great is our Lord, and of great power. As alſo, Pſal. 86.10. Thou art great, and doſt wondrous things; ſo that the Lord being Allmighty, and All-ſufficient in himſelf; for him to lay in a ſufficiency of help for his people, is but to act according to himſelf.
Reaſon 2. From that height of affection which is in the Lord towards his people, they being his peculiar treaſure above all people, his ſons and daughters, the people of his love; this Moſes mentions as the cauſe of that ſufficiency of help which the Lord afforded to them in Egypt, Deut. 7.8. Becauſe the Lord loved you, &c. hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the houſe of Bond-men, from the hand of Pharoah King of Egypt. This is alſo recorded, Jer. 31.3.9. as the reaſon of the great things God will do for Iſrael. —I have loved thee with an everlaſting love. —For I am a Father to Iſrael, and Ephraim is my firſt-born.
Reaſon 3. From his exceeding tenderneſs of his own Name, leſt that ſhould ſuffer, upon this account the Lord oft ſpared his people, Ezek. 20.9.14.22.44. I wrought for my Names ſake, that it ſhould not be polluted before the Heathen. So God will help ſufficiently fot his Name ſake, leſt the enemy (who is alwayes ready to blaſpheme) ſhould reproach him, and either ſay, God would not help his people according to their need, and ſo the glory of his goodneſs ſhould be ſomewhat darkned; or elſe he could not, and ſo the glory of his power ſhould be eclipſed; with this Argument Moſes pleaded with God to help and ſave his people, Numb: 14.13, 14, 15, 16. Deut. 9.26, 27, 28.
I ſhall add no more to the confirmation of that which the Saints of the moſt High have ſo much experienced in their ſeverall Generations. And leave alſo the improvement of all to Gods faithful Ones in their various conditions; and haſten unto a more ſtrict and particular conſideration of the words, which will afford theſe two Obſervations;
Firſt, That Chriſt Jeſus is a Mighty One.
Secondly, That the Lord hath appointed this Mighty One to be for an help to his people.
Firſt, Chriſt Jeſus is a Mighty One.
The Pſalmiſt ſinging of him, ſaith, Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, O moſt Mighty, Pſal. 45, 3. Iſaiah prophecying of him, ſaith, His Name ſhall be called Wonderful, Councellour, The Mighty God, Iſaiah 9.6. The Angel declaring unto Mary his Mother what manner of Son he ſhould be, ſaith, He ſhall be great, and called the Son of the Higheſt, and the Lord God ſhall give unto him the Throne of his father David, &c. Luke 1.32. John alſo teſtifying of him according to the Revelation of him which God gave unto him, calleth him Allmighty, Rev: 1.8. I ſhall forbear to add more particular places, the whole Scriptures both of the Old, and New Teſtament, being a large proof of this thing.
Mighty, is a word of large Extent, and of various Acceptation. Sometimes it is taken Generally, for any eminent, excellent One, that is greater than others; ſo it is uſed Gen: 10.8. where it is ſaid of Nimrod, He began to be a Mighty One in the earth, i. e. One great, and famous, excelling others; and in this ſenſe Chriſt is a Mighty One, greater than others, In all things having the preheminence; as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, and as ſhall be ſhewed at large.
Sometimes it is taken particularly, and ſpecially.
Firſt, For one that is rich and wealthy; thus it is uſed Ruth 2.1. where it is ſaid, Naomi had a kinſman of her husbands a mighty man of wealth. Alſo 2 Kings 15.20. The rich man is uſually called mighty: in this reſpect Chriſt is a Mighty One, he is a rich, wealthy One, and that both in reſpect of
1. Spiritual and Heavenly things, he is ſo rich, That in him dwelleth all the fullneſſe of the God-head bodily. He hath more of the Spirit than others, being full of all grace, wiſdome, and knowledge; yea, full of Unſearchable Riches, according to that of Paul, Epheſ. 3.8. That I ſhould preach among the Gentiles, the unſearchable Riches of Chriſt.
2. All other things, for he is heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. All corn, wine, wool, and flax, all the beaſts of the Forreſt, and the Cattel upon a thouſand hils, all the Fowls of the mountains, and every thing that moveth in the waters, are his; yea, the earth is his, and the fullneſſe thereof, the round world, and all that dwell therein, Pſal. 24.1. See what an inheritance his father hath given him, Pſal. 2.8.
Secondly, For one that hath power and ſtrength: ſtrong men are mighty men; and in this ſenſe Chriſt is a Mighty One, being full of power and ſtrength. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of him, ſaith 1 Cor. 1.24. Chriſt, the power of God.
Thirdly, For one that is exceeding valiant, that doth moſt vigorouſly put forth, and act his ſtrength, ſuch an one is ſaid to be a mighty man of valour, full of courage, in this ſenſe alſo, Chriſt is a Mighty One; he hath not onelyonly ſtrength, but he doth mightily exert, and put it forth, ſo that he makes his power to be ſeene, the very ſpirit of Might doth reſt upon him, Iſa. 11.2. which he doth ſhew forth in all his workes.
Fourthly, For one that hath rule, and Authority, he is a Mighty One, and thus Chriſt is a Mighty One.
Firſt, He is Mighty in regard of the extent, and univerſality of his power, and Authority, as to the ſubject of it; it is over all, for God hath put All things in ſubjection under his feet; he hath left nothing that is not put under him, he hath
Firſt, All in the Church under him, All Ordinances, all offices, all gifts, all Adminiſtrations, all conſciences under him, Eph. 1.22. He hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church.
Secondly, All in Heaven under him, he ſaid of himſelfe, Math. 28.18. All power is given unto me in Heaven; and it is ſaid, 1 Pet. 3.22. that he is gone into Heaven, and is on the right hand of God, Angels, and Authorities, and powers being made ſubject to him, ſo that all in heaven is under him, the Father onelyonly excepted, who did put all things under him, 1 Cor. 15.27.
Thirdly, All in Hell under him, the Devils themſelves being ſubject unto him.
Fourthly, All in this world under him, He hath all principality, power, might and Dominion under him; he hath power over all the Kings, and Kingdomes of the world, therefore he is ſaid to be the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, and to be Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, Rev. 1.5. & 17.14.
Fifthly, All in the world to come under him; ſo much is hinted, Heb. 2.5, 8. For unto the Angels hath he not put in ſubjection the world to come, that is, Honour peculiar to his Son, under whoſe feet he hath put all things in ſubjection (though now we ſee not yet all things put under him) ſo much is expreſſed Eph. 1.20. God hath ſet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, farre above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named not onelyonly in this world, but alſo in that which is to come.
Secondly, He is Mighty in rule, and Authority, in regard of the Meaſure of it, he hath not onelyonly power over all, but he hath all power over all, Math. 28.18. All power is given unto me in Heaven, and Earth; he hath an Abſolute diſpoſe of all things; he doth whatſoever he will in the Church, in Heaven, in Earth, in Hell; God hath ſet him up over all, and left all things to him. Joh. 5.22. The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all Judgement to the Son, ſo that he hath power to ſet up, and pull downe, to ſave and to deſtroy, what and whom he will. Thus it appeareth that Chriſt Jeſus is a Mighty one in every ſenſe, and acceptation of the word.
Chriſt may be Conſidered,
Firſt, In reſpect of his Eternall Eſſence, and being, as he was one with the Father before the Foundation of the world was laid, and ſo conſidered he is a Mighty One, the onelyonly Mighty One from everlaſting, the true God bleſſed for ever; the Apoſtle ſpeaking of him with reference to his eternall eſſence, ſaith, Phil. 2.6. Being in the Forme of God, thought it not Robbery to be equall with God; thus he is the Mightieſt, Higheſt God.
Secondly, In reſpect of his Mediatourſhip as he took upon him to come between God, and man, to tranſact all matters between them; and thus conſidered, he is a Mighty One.