The Mighty Christ the Saints Help, Part 10
ƲSE of CAƲTION. Take heed you do not abuſe this Doctrine of the help of Christ.
Firſt, That you be not idle, and negligent. It was never the purpoſe of the Father in his Appointment of Chriſt to help; nor yet of Chriſt, in his willingneſs and readineſs thereunto, to exempt his people from any duty; but to ſtrengthen, and encourage them againſt every difficulty therein. Chriſts help is not to indulge the fleſh, but to quicken the dull ſpirits of his ſervants. Yea the Doctrine of the help of Christ, is ſo farre from being a principle of looſneſs, and ſlothfulneſs, as that it engageth, and worketh up the ſoules of thoſe that do underſtand it aright, unto a faithfull, vigorous, and cheerfull performance of the will of God. And indeed, Chriſts help doth ſuppoſe, as his peoples weakneſs, ſo their willingneſs, and diligence. The help of another, doth imply, that he that is holpen, is exerciſed, and doing what he can in his buſineſſe. And therefore, when Chriſt is helping, be you a working, leſt you provoke him to anger through your ſlothfulneſs; for the ſame Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who helpeth the weak, and willing; will condemne the ſlothfull ſervant, Math: 25.26. (This is not ſpoken to deject thoſe that are grieved, and would grieve more for their own ſlothfulneſs.)
Secondly, That you do not l…mit Chriſt: It was the Jewes fault of old, for which God was ſo angry with them, They limited the holy one of Iſrael, Pſal. 78. therefore do not limit this Mighty one, and his help at all.
Firſt, Not to MEANS, that either he muſt help by this, or that means, by this, or that perſon, or perſons, or elſe not at all. This is too uſuall among men. Naaman will preſcribe meanes, and limit Eliſha to them to accompliſh the cure of his Leproſie. He was wroth, and ſaid, Behold, I thought, he will ſurely come out to me, and ſtand, and call upon the Name of the Lord his God, and ſtroke his hand over the place, and recover the Leper. Are not Abana, and Pharpar, rivers of Damaſcus, better than all the Rivers of Iſrael? may I not waſh in them and be clean? 2 Kings 5.11, 12. This was alſo Moſes's fault, God bade him ſpeak to the Rock, and he neglected that, and inſtead thereof, he ſmote it twice, Numb: 20.8, 11. And ſurely i… is very diſhonourable to Chriſt, and unbecoming Saints, to limit him to means, that can help by what he pleaſeth; and hath uſually holpen, and ſaved his people by weak, and fooliſh things, and things that are not; that no fleſh might glory in his preſence, 1 Cor: 1.26, 27-29, 31.
Secondly, (Limit not the Lord Jeſus) to time, your own time; Chriſt muſt help now, or never, (ſay ſome,) If not now, we are undone; as if Chriſt knew not when to help, or could not help at one time, as well as at another. Indeed there is a ſet and appointed time when Chriſt will more eminently appeare for the deliverance and ſalvation of Zion, yet he is an help to her at all times.
Thirdly, Limit him not to particular ſtraits and conditions; As if Chriſt could help in ſome caſes and conditions onelyonly; thence ſaith ſome Chriſtian in his heart ſomtimes; Chriſt helped, & delivered me out of ſuch, and ſuch a temptation; but he cannot deliver me out of my preſent ſtrong temptation; He hath mortified ſuch and ſuch a luſt, but he cannot ſubdue this unruly luſt; he hath wiped away my reproach, but he cannot break my bonds; he hath provided for me in ſuch and ſuch a condition, but he cannot furniſh a Table for me in the Wilderneſs (as thoſe ſaid, Pſal: 78.19.) What is this but to Eclipſe the glory of this Mighty One, who is an help in all caſes, and conditions, as hath been ſhewed?
Fourthly, Limit him not to particular perſons, to ſome of Iſrael; Let none ſay, as ſome (even of Iſrael) have ſometimes ſpoken, there is help in Chriſt for ſuch, and ſuch; but not for me; I am excluded, and cut off from partaking of it. But ſoule, take heed thou doſt not exclude thy ſelfe from a participation of Chriſts help, which extends to all Zion, to the whole flock, to the weak and ſick, as well as to the ſtrong, and ſound; yea eſpecially to the weak; according to that good word of the Lord, Ezek: 34.15, 16. I will feed my flock, and I will cauſe them to lie downe, ſaith the Lord God, I will ſeek that which was loſt, and bring againe that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will ſtrengthen that which was ſick; yea, it is ſaid of him, He ſhall gather the lambs with his Arm, and carry them in his boſom, and ſhall gently lead thoſe that are with young, Iſa: 40.11. Therefore do not limit this holy One in any wiſe.
Uſe. Seek to Chriſt for help in every time of need; whilſt others are looking and ſeeking to Creatures like to themſelves, for help, and can finde none, their eyes failing for their vaine help; do you look to him who is both Mighty, and ordained of God to help, and then you ſhall be ſure to finde; when you ſeek with your whole heart, (Jer: 29.13. Pſal: 20.7, 8.) He is the great helper, and Saviour, and there is none can help like him.
None ſo Authoritatively, he, having all power both in heaven and earth, he commandeth deliverances for Jacob, Pſal: 44.4.)
None ſo tenderly, and compaſſionately; In his love, and in his pity, he redeemeth, and ſaveth his people, (Iſa: 63.9.)
None ſo ſeaſonably; he is a very preſent help in time of trouble, (Pſal. 46.5.)
None ſo conſtantly; he is an help for ever, (Pſal: 12.7.) therefore ſeek to him above all others.
And having found help from him in time of need, be ſure you carry it well towards him, let your Converſation to him-ward be as becometh this grace; be eſpecially carefull,
Firſt, To SERVE HIM THE MORE FREELY; he both deſerves, and expects it at your hands; had you found him, either unwilling, or unable to ayd you, you might have had ſome plea for your backwardneſs to ſerve him, but ſeeing he hath been ready to aſſiſt you in every buſineſs, how ought you to be ready to anſwer when he calls, to go when he bids you go, and to do what he bids you do, and that with a willing, and cheerfull ſpirit? Let your experience of his help, make you forward to his work, ſo ſhall you finde, that he that hath holpen, will help, and he that hath ſaved, is ſtill mighty to ſave.
Secondly, To CLEAVE TO HIM CONSTANTLY; It will be your wiſdome, and greateſt ſafety to ſtick to him whom you know to be both mighty, and faithfull; oh, forſake not him in any condition, whom you have found an help in every condition.
Thirdly, To PRAISE HIM CONTINƲALLY; make him evermore your ſong, who hath been alwayes your ſtrength, (Iſa: 12.3. Iſa: 38.20.) This did David, as appeares, Pſal: 71.6. By thee have I been holden up from the womb, thou art he that took me out of my mothers bowels; my praiſe ſhall be continually of thee: Yea, give him all the glory of all your works, which are indeed rather his than yours, being wrought by his ſtrength and help. The Apoſtles carriage, as in other things, ſo in this, is worthy of imitation, who when they had wrought miracles by Chriſts power, were carefull to give all the glory to his Name, (as Acts 3.12, 13. Acts 14.13, 14-18, &c.) The like we reade of Charles the fifth, who after he had obtained a great Victory, ſaid, I have Conquered in the Name of Chriſt Jeſus; I ſhall onelyonly ſay, Go you, and do likewiſe; for Worthy is the Lamb that was ſlaine, to receive power, and riches, and wiſdome, and ſtrength, and honour, and Glory, and bleſſing, for ever, and ever. AMEN.
PSAL. 35.10.
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… He: Jehovah quis ſicut tu? eripiens afflictū à forti prae ill….
APOCAL: 15.3.
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Contant—Magna et mirabilia illa opera tui,
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Domine qui Deus omnipotens: juſtae et verae
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Illae viae tua, O Rex Sanctorum.
4 foreign.
4 Quis non timebit te Domino?
THE END.