The Tombstone, Sermon · Part 3
Branch 3. Jeſus Chriſt is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah.
Firſt, And according to the Letter, He was King of Iudah. He had a juſt right, and title to the temporall Crowne and Kingdome. He was of the Seed of David according to the fleſh; lineally deſcended Rom. 1. 3.from his loynes, and by undoubted ſucceſſion the King and Prince, being of the Kingly race. This will appear by the Genealogies. Saint Matthew, chap. 1. ſets downe the Pedegree of Ioſeph, the Huſband of Mary, his ſuppoſed Father. Hee deſcended from David through the loynes of Solomon. Saint Luke, chap. 3. 23. deſcribes the Pedegree of the Virgin Mary his Mother that bare him; ſhee deſcended from David through the loynes of Nath…n.
The Husband and Wife were both of the ſame Family; and therefore Chriſt had a title to the temporall Kingdome, Crown, and Dignity, both by the Fathers and Mothers ſide. Heralds came from the Eaſt to proclaime him King there, ſaying, Where is he that is borne King of the Iewes? For we have ſeen his ſtarr in the Eaſt, Matth. 2. 2. This Pilate ſubſcribed, and would not revoke it, Ieſus of Nazareth the King of the Iewes.: He was a Lyon true bred.
But as for this temporall Kingdome and Dominion over Judah & the other Tribes, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt would not meddle with it. Hee had indeed, jus ad rem: but would never take poſſeſſion. They would have taken him by force to make him King, Joh. 6. 15. but he perceiving it, departed, and hid himſelfe in a Mountaine. Hee departed from his owne right: abdicated the earthly Kingdome, and would not meddle with it.
Therefore ſecondly, By the Tribe of Judah, wee muſt underſtand the ſame thing that is ſignified by Mount Sion, and the City of the living God: and, the heavenly Jeruſalem, Heb. 12. 22. And what is that? Verſ. 23. will tell you, The generall aſſembly and Church of the firſt borne, which are written in Heaven. The whole company of the Elect, who are ordained to life eternall.
Chriſt is the King of his Church, and the Church is Chriſts Kingdome: The Elect, the company of true Beleevers are his ſubjects, and none elſe. Pſal. 2. 6. I have ſet my King upon my holy hill of Sion: that is, over the Church. As Pharaoh made Joſeph Governour over all his Houſe, ſo God the Father made his Sonne Jeſus Act. 7. 10.Chriſt King, and Governour of the houſe of God; that is, the Church of God. This Nathanael confeſſeth in his little Creed; John 1▪ 49. Thou art the ſon of God: thou art the King of Iſrael: His peculiar juriſdiction is over the Church,
Queſt. But is not Chriſt a great King over all the Earth? Pſal. 47. 2.
Anſw. Chriſt hath a twofold Kingdome.
1. Regnum potentiae: his Kingdome of power; by which, as God, together with the Father, and the holy Ghoſt, hee powerfully rules over all Creatures in Heaven and Earth. And ſo all Men and Women in the World are his Subjects; yea, whether they will or no.
2. Regnum gratiae, The Kingdome of grace: Whereby as Mediator, hee calls and governs his Church and choſen: And in regard of this latter he is ſayd properly, and peculiarly to be the King of his Church, and of his Church onelyonly.
Thus you have ſeen:
1. That Chriſt is a Lyon, a King.
2. That he is the Lyon, the onelyonly King.
3. That he is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah.
Now attend to the reaſon of all together. Why muſt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt be ſuch a Lyon? ſuch a King?
He muſt be a Lyon, a King, becauſe he is Mediator of his Church. This great and Reaſon.high office of a King was ſo neceſſary, that the Church could never have been ſaved, except Chriſt had born it.
A Mediatour is for the reconciling of parties that are at variance: and hee that undertakes the work, muſt be in grace and favour with both parties, and he muſt deal, not onelyonly between, but with both parties; with the party offended, and the party offending. Here the parties at odds, are God and Man. God is the party offended, Man is the party offending: You know how the quarrell began; man by tranſgreſſing againſt the Commandement, and eating of the prohibited Tree, highly provoked God: here came in the enmity, and man caſt under Gen. 3.an eternall …curſe; and muſt have remained under the ſentence of death for ever, without a Mediator to take up the quarrell, and make peace. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt undertakes this office. There is one 1 Tim 2. 5.Mediator between God and man: the man Chriſt Jeſus. He therefore muſt deal and negotiate with both parties; and to this end he puts himſelf upon a threefold office, of a Prophet, Prieſt, and King.
1. And firſt hee deales with the party offended; with God for men. This hee doth in his Prieſtly office. Every high Prieſt Heb. 5. 1.ſaith the Apoſtle, is taken from among men; is ordained for men [foreign] in things pertaining to God; that he may offer gifts and ſacrifices for ſin. Here you ſee, he deals with God, on the behalfe of men offending, and how? by offering ſacrifices: that is, by way of ſatisfaction. The ſentence was our, That day thou eateſt, that day thou ſinneſt, thou ſhalt dye certainely. Gods juſtice now could not be ſatisfied, nor any reconciliation made without death; no nor without the death of ſuch a perſon as was without ſin, without any exception; yea ſuch a perſon as muſt be God as well as man, becauſe the ſatiſfaction muſt be infinite. Jeſus Chriſt is willing (Oh the infinite grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt!) to negotiate in this great buſineſſe with his Father: and on mans behalfe he doth three things. 1. He ſuffers whatſoever man ſhould have ſuffered, to ſatisfie God and acquit ſinfull man. They write of the Lyon, that he alwayes hath a quartain ague: I am ſure Jeſus Chriſt, the Lyon of the tribe of Judah, hee had a quotidian for us. Hee was a man of ſorrowes, well acquainted with griefe, from his birth to the Croſſe: Yea, he dyed a bloody and a moſt accurſed death, to appeaſe the wrath of God, and ſlay the enmitty. And Eph. 2. 16.here the Lyon becomes a Lambe; brought as a Lambe to the ſlaughter: and is the very Iſa. 53. 7.Lambe mentioned in the next Verſe, which ſtood in the midſt of the Elders, as it Rev. 5. 6.had been ſlaine. Thus he ſatisfieth.
A ſecond buſineſſe he doth for man, is, as a Prieſt, to pray, and intercede to, and with his Father, that his Sacrifice may be availeable, and effectuall to the ſalvation of his Church. I pray (ſaith Chriſt) for theſe with me now, and for all them alſo Joh. 17. 20.that ſhall beleeve on me.
Thirdly, He doth ingage to his Father, that all that the Father hath given him, ſhall beleeve. That hee will work faith in them by his Spirit, John 6. 3. All that the Father giveth me, i. e. all the Elect, ſhal come to me, i. e. they ſhall beleeve. Thus Chriſt is an agent for man with God. And in this Prieſtly office, he purchaſed his Kingdome: Therefore, ſaith God the Father, will I divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhal divide the ſpoyle with the ſtrong; becauſe he hath poured out his ſoule unto death; and he was numbred with the tranſgreſſors, and he bare the ſins of many, and made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſors.
Againe ſecondly, it is neceſſary, that he deale and negotiate on Gods part, with men; and this he doth as a
Prophet.
King.
1. As a Prophet: He is ſent out of the boſome of his Father unto men, to open the Book, Revel. 5. 7. 9. to declare and Joh. 1. 18.make knowne the ſecret counſell and will of God concerning the great work of redemption: what a new contract is drawne up between the Father and the Son; what Jeſus Chriſt hath done for man; how he hath ſatisfied his debt, which he was not able to pay, and how God hath accepted of it, for all thoſe that do beleeve in him. The ſumm of which negotiation you have, John 6. 40. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth the Son (i. e. beleeveth on him) may have everlaſting life: and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day.
2. As a King: To impute and apply that great benefit of Redemption to man, and to make it effectuall: And to accompliſh this, he muſt be a Lyon, he muſt be a King, and that for theſe cauſes.
1. To gaine and gather his Kingdome: To gaine them firſt into the Kingdome of grace, and at laſt to gather them into the Kingdome of glory. Now to effect this, he muſt be a Lyon, a potent King; for he muſt conquer before he can raigne, yea he muſt make a double conqueſt. 1. Hee muſt conquer his ſubjects; he finds them all Enemies at firſt, all Rebels: it is truely ſayd of all the Children of Adam: This people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart. Now theſe rebellious hearts Chriſt muſt ſubdue, and bring into ſubjection, making them a beleeving, a loving, a willing people. Chriſt cannot gaine a Subject into his Kingdome but he muſt firſt conquer. 2. He alſo muſt conquer another Lyon, the Enemy-Lyon: he is deſcribed by Saint Peter, Epiſt. 1. chap. 5. Verſ. 8. Your adverſary the Devill, as a roaring Lyon walketh about ſeeking whom he may devour. In the pawes of this Lyon are all men and women in the World by nature. The Prince of the power of the ayre, that evill Spirit worketh in the Children of diſobedience, Epheſ. 2. 2. The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, muſt conquer that roaring Lyon the Devill, before hee can gather a Kingdome, and raigne.
Queſt. But how doth he conquer the Devill? how doth he conquer his Subjects?
Anſw. Hee conquerd the Devill, as he was God, by force and might, by his infinite power. As man and Mediator, hee conquered him by his blood, by the merit and efficacy of his paſſion. He took part of our fleſh and blood, that through death hee might deſtroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devill. And deliver them who through feare of death, were all their life time ſubject to bondage, Heb. 2. 14, 15. Hee ſpoyled Principalities and Powers, hee made a ſhew of them openly, tryumphing over them in it: that is, in or upon his Croſſe, Col. 2. 15. Faith ſeeth Chriſt upon the Croſſe, as ſitting in a tryumphall Chariot. Duo (ſaith Origen) in cruce affixi intelliguntur: Chriſtus viſibiliter, ſponte ſua, ad tempus: Diabolus inviſibiliter, invitus, in perpetuum.
Hee conquers the rebellious hearts of his Subjects; and gathers together into one Joh. 11. 52.Kingdome, the Children of God that were ſcattered abroad, by his voice, Scepter, and Sword.
By his voice. The Lyoneſſe, as the learned Vocation.write, brings forth her Whelps dead, and ſo they continue three dayes: then the other Lyon doth ſet out his voice, and roar over them, and then they revive and live. Chriſt is the Lyon, his people are his Whelps: They are all ſtill-borne: Dead Eph. 2. 1:in treſpaſſes and ſinnes. Chriſt lifts up his voice, and roares in the Preaching of the Goſpel, by which he recovers the life of his people. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, ſaith our bleſſed Saviour, Joh. 5. 25. The houre is coming, and now is, when the dead ſhall heare the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear ſhall live.
By his Sceptor: And that is the ſame, even the Preaching of the Goſpell, Pſal. 110. 2. The Lord ſhall ſend the Rod, or the Scepter, of thy ſtrength: that is, the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, out of Zion: and by it, thou ſhalt rule in the middeſt of thine Enemies: Thoſe that were enemies, by that ſpirituall Scepter, thou ſhalt make them loving Subjects, and a willing people, verſ. 3.
By his Sword: And that's the ſame ſtill, the Preaching of the Goſpell. This is the ſharpe two-edged Sword that went out of Chriſts mouth. Revel. 1. 16. this is quick and powerfull, and ſharper then any two-edged Sword, peircing even to the dividing aſunder of ſoule and ſpirit, joynts and marrow. This is the two-edged Sword in the Pſal. 149. 6.hand of the Saints; which binds Heathen Kings in Chaines, and Nobles in fetters of Iron: That is, the Goſpel brings Heathen Princes and people into ſubjection to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. This is that Sword of the ſpirit, even, the Word of God, ſpoken of by Eph. 6. 17.Saint Paul: And there you have the conſummation of the conqueſt: Yes, when the ſpirit ſeconds the Word, when the holy Ghoſt carries it home to the heart. Thus the Lyon, the King, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt conquers, thus he calls his ſubjects together into one Kingdome, by the Word outwardly Preached to the eare, and by the ſpirit effectually working upon the heart; moving, and ſweetly perſwading it to obey the calling of Chriſt.
2. Chriſt muſt be a Lyon, a King, to governe his ſubjects, his Church: Without Government no Society can ſtand; when there was no King in Iſrael, every Judic. 17. 6.man did what ſeemed good in his owne eyes: and all things went to wrack. Chriſt muſt be a King, to give Lawes: So Chriſt: There is one Lawgiver: even this Lyon: and to Jam. 4. 12.rule, ſo Chriſt; he rules in the hearts of his people, and governs them by his ſpirit, They are led by the ſpirit of God, as Rom 8. 14.many as are the ſons of God. Judah, that is, the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, is his Pſal. 60. 7.Lawgiver: And he doth not onelyonly give Lawes, but (that which no King nor Potentate elſe in the World can do) he puts his Law in their inward parts, and writes it in their hearts, Jer. 31. 33.
3. Chriſt muſt of neceſſity be a Lyon, a King, to protect and defend his Church, people, ſubjects. The Lyon will ſtand to the defence of his young ones, even to the death; and having the prey in his paw, the more any offer to take it from him, the faſter he holds it: So the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah.
The Kingdome of Chriſt is ever beſet with Enemies, The Heathen rage, the people conſpire: the Kings of the earth ſet themſelves, Pſal. 2. 1, 2, 3.and the Rulers take Counſell together, againſt the Lord, and againſt his annointed: againſt his Chriſt. They have, not onelyonly, fleſh and blood, but Principalities and Eph. 6. 12.Powers alſo; the Rulers of the darkneſſe of this World, and ſpirituall wickedneſſe in high places, to wreſtle withall. And therefore without a ſtrong Protector, this kingdome would ſoone be diſſolved and layd deſolate. Now the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt undertakes the protection of it. Hee will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her Aſſemblies, a cloud, and a ſmoak by day, Iſa. 4. 5.and the ſhining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory ſhall be a defence. And the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevaile Matth. 16. 18againſt it.
4. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt muſt be the Lyon, the King, to exerciſe judiciary power, to execute judgement.
To bring Malefactors to condigne puniſhment, to deſtroy the implacable Enemies of his Church and Kingdome. He is therefore a Lyon, and a Bear too, Hoſ. 13. 7. Therefore will I be unto them as a Lyon, as a Leopard by the way will I obſerve them. Verſ. 8. I will meet them as a Bear that is bereaved of her Whelps, and will rent the Caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a Lyon: the wilde beaſt ſhall tear them. Luke 19. 27. But thoſe mine enemies that would not that I ſhould reign over them, bring hither and ſlay them before me.
Hee alſo muſt be a Lyon, a King, to diſtribute rewards to his good and faithfull Subjects. The Lyon doth teare in peices enough for his Whelps, and ſtrangled for his Nah um. 2. 12.Lyoneſſes, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with Ravine: So the Lord Jeſus, Divides the ſpoyle with the ſtrong. He ſpoyled Iſa. 53 2. Pſal. 68. 18.Principalities and Powers. He aſcended up on high, hee led Captivity captive, and gave gifts to men, Epheſ. 4. 8. As a King hee will, hee will inrich his ſubjects with grace here, and glory hereafter: he will reward his followers, not for their merits ſake, but for his mercies ſake. He will ſay to one, Well done thou good ſervant, becauſe Luk. 19. 17. 19.thou haſt been ſaithfull in a very little, have thou authority over ten Cities: And to another, Be thou alſo over five Cities. And they that follow him in the Regeneration, Matth. 19. 28. 29.when Chriſt the King ſhall ſit in the throne of his glory; they alſo ſhall ſit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael. And every one that hath forſaken houſes, or Brethren, or Siſters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, to become his ſubjects, ſhall receive an hundred fold, and ſhall inherite everlaſting life.
Thus have you the generall Doctrine.
3. Before I come to make application of it, I will addreſſe my ſelfe to my third task, and returne to the parts of the Text, and take a review of them; and ſpeake ſomething to them, and obſerve ſomething from them diſtinctly and very ſhortly. The parts you may remember are two.
1. The Trumpet ſounded.
2. The ſight, or ſhew preſented.
1. For the firſt: The Trumpet ſounded. Behold! This demonſtrative, as it points to ſome admirable thing, ſo it is a word of command. Here
Obſerve, It is the duty of every Chriſtian to behold the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. As Saint John the Divine is here called upon to behold; ſo is every one enjoyned to eye the Lyon: that is, the Lord Jeſus: John the Baptiſt calls as much upon his Diſciples, to behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the ſins of the World, John 1. 29. Even Pilate could call unto the Jews, ſaying. Behold your King! John 19. 14.
But why muſt we alwayes ſet our eyes Reaſonupon Chriſt? There are many reaſons: I will faſten onelyonly upon one, namely, Wee muſt alwayes behold him, that wee may imitate and follow him. Behold thy King, Zech. 9. 9.ſaith the Prophet Zechariah, how he cometh, he is juſt, meeke, and lowly. And why muſt we thus behold him? Chriſt himſelfe will give you the reaſon, Matth. 11. 29. that you may learne of him to be meeke and lowly in heart. I have given you my example, ſaith the Lord Jeſus, John 13. 15. that you ſhould do as I have done to you. Judah had a Lion in their Standard, and that they were to follow. Jeſus Chriſt is our Standard, The root of Ieſſe: i. e. Chriſt, ſpringing out of Davids ſtock, ſhall ſtand for an Enſigne of the people. Luke 2. 34. Behold, ſaith Simeon, this Childe Ieſus, is ſet foreign, for a Banner, which ſhall meet with contradiction: a military ſigne. It is our duty to follow our Enſigne, and that is a Lyon.
2. You have heard the Trumpet ſounded: I will now lead you to the ſecond part of the Text, Viz. The ſight, or ſhew, The Lyon of the tribe of Iudah: and why of the Tribe of Judah? The Apoſtle ſhall give you the reaſon clearly, Heb. 7. 14. For it is evident that our Lord ſprang out of Iudah.
Obſerve then, the Pedigree of this Lyon. He came out of the loynes of Judah, the fourth Son of Jacob, and was born in that Tribe. In the words next following my Text, Chriſt is called the root of David: which metaphoricall expreſſion doth imply two things.
1. That Chriſt indeed is Davids root, David ſprang from him. David in ſpirit Matth. 22. 43.called him Lord, and hee might alſo call him Father, for Jeſus Chriſt is the everlaſting Father, Iſa. 9. 6. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made, that was made, Iohn 1. 3. Even David had his originall from him.
Secondly, and moſt properly, the meaning is, that David was the root of Chriſt: that is, Chriſt ſprang from David. God raiſed up Chriſt out of the decayed Houſe of David, by his mighty arme. So plainly Iſa. 11. 1. There ſhall come forth a Rod out of the ſtemme of Jeſſe, and a branch ſhall grow out of his roots.
You have both together, Revel. 22. 16. I am (ſaith Chriſt) the Root, and the Offſpring of David. I bear David, in regard of my Deity: and I come of David, in regard of my Humanity: The whole amounts to thus much, That Chriſt is Man. He is God of the ſubſtance of his Father, begotten before the Worlds: and Man of the ſubſtance of his Mother, borne in the World: Of a reaſonable ſoule, and humane fleſh ſubſiſting. Jeſus Chriſt our Lord was made of the Seed of David, according to the fleſh, Rom. 1. 3. He took our fleſh, he took all our infirmities, ſin onelyonly Heb. 4 15.excepted.
4. I have by Gods gracious aſſiſtance finiſhed the Doctrinall part: I enter now upon my fourth and laſt taske, but not the leaſt: It is, to make application. Put all together that I have ſpoken, and it will be profitable. 1. To inſtruct. 2. To convince. 3. To exhort. 4. To comfort. I ſhall proſecute theſe diſtinctly: the Lord order and direct my tongue, and rightly diſpoſe your hearts for the obedient receiving of the word. Behold, and hearken.
And firſt it wil ſerve for our Inſtruction.1.
From all that hath been ſaid, we may gather divers foreign: Corollaries, Conſectary concluſions; as additions for our better information, concerning this Lion, this King.