Sips of Sweetness, Section 1
SECT. I. Declaring Chriſts ſweet carriage to all his weake members.
Iſaiah 40.11.
He ſhall feed his flocke like a ſhepheard; he ſhall gather the Lambs with his arme, and carry them in his boſome; he ſhall gently lead thoſe that are with young.
CHAP. I. The Introduction to the Text, with the drift and ſcope of the words.
IT hath ſtill been the deſigne of the Enemy of our ſalvation, Sathan; to keep ſoules from cloſing with the Author and Captain of our ſalvation, Heb. 2.10. foreign.Jeſus Chriſt. Now for the advancement of this his deſigne,Eph. 6.11. foreign. he doth ſtill endeavour (amongſt other his wiles) to raiſe and nouriſh in the hearts and mindes of poore ſoules very hard thoughts of Jeſus Chriſt. If Sathan cannot keepe ſoules in his ſlavery (as he doth the Indians) by repreſenting himſelfe to them as terrible, he will (if poſſible) keep them from entring into Chriſts ſervice, by perſwading them that he is not mercifull. Indeed it is the Devills maine deſigne, to detaine a poore ſoule alway under his owne yoake; and to this end he would faine delude the ſoule, by making it beleeve tis all golden; but if he miſſe in this, his next method is to diſſwade the ſoule from taking up Chriſts yoak; and therefore he endeavours to deceive, by preſſing the ſoul that tis all iron: and if a ſoule deſert him, and will ſerve Chriſt, he muſt look (ſo the Serpent inſinuates) to meet with hard imployment, and a harſh Maſter, in whoſe ſervice he muſt expect many ſorrows, but few joyes, great worke, and little wages
But in all this Sathan acts like himſelfe, a lyar, and ſpeaks of himſelfe, lies. For ſurely never did poor ſoul give up its name (and with that its heart) to the ſervice of Jeſus Chriſt, but found both in the Maſter and the ſervice incomparable ſweetneſſe. 'Twas but a ſlanderous, and ſlender excuſe of him in the Parable,Luk. 19.22. foreign. that ſaid he knew Chriſt was an auſtere maſter. The faithful ſervants found Chriſts bounty, fully confuting that ſlander. Indeed Chriſt is a Lion, and ſo knowes how to be angry, and teare in peeces ſuch as forget him and themſelves, & forſake their owne mercies, by hearkning to lying vanities, preferring Sathans ſlavery, before his ſervice. But Jeſus is alſo a Lamb (and ſo fitted to be kinde) and he knows how to follow ſuch poore ſoules with embraces of love, as love themſelves by loving him; and cleaving to him forſake all things elſe. True it is, Chriſt is great, and if ſinners ſtubbornly ſtand out, they ſhall feele that he is ſevere; but with all he is good: and if ſoules ſincerely come to him, they ſhall taſte that he is ſweet. Indeed the Lord Jeſus is a flame of fire to conſume thoſe that obſtinately refuſe to hearken to the Goſpell: but withall he is a ſea of love to comfort all thoſe that cordially obey it, by taking him. However Goats out of his fold ſhall finde him dreadfull; poore Lambs within the fold both doe, and ſhall finde him mercifull. This is that which this great Prophet in this place propheſieth concerning Jeſus Chriſt. Where ſpeaking of Chriſts carriage towards all his members, he ſaith that, before time, which beleevers ſeale to in time. viz. That never did any ſoul, which received Chriſt as tendred in the Goſpel, miſcarry either through want or weakneſſe: For Chriſt ſtill fed and carried it, &c. This I conceive to be the ſcope of this Propheticall ſpeech concerning Chriſt: namely, that his carriage ſhould be full of ſweetneſſe towards all his members, eſpecially ſuch of them as are weaker then the reſt.
CHAP. II. The Context, with the Diviſion of the words and the Doctrines ariſing from them.
IN the beginning of the Chapter, the Prophet brings in God, commanding to preach comfort to his people. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people ſaith your God. The coherence and dependance of the Text.Its Gods mercy that he hath provided; and Miniſters duty they ſhould preach comfort to the godly.
Being commanded to preach comfortably, he brings in the Baptiſt, uſhering in of Chriſt, v. 3. If comfort be to be preached, Chriſt is to be the Text.
Speaking of Chriſt he preſents him comming with a ſtrong hand, v. 10. Indeed ſuch a Saviour doth the ſoule need, who hath a ſtrong hand able to reſcue the poore Lamb, out of the mouth of the devouring Lion. And that Chriſt might be ſeen to be a ſuitable and ſweet Saviour, the Prophet addes; that as he was powerfull, and ſo able to reſcue the poore ſinner: in like manner he was mercifull, and ſo willing to feed the ſoule when it hungred, and to gather it in caſe it wandred, and in caſe of weakneſſe, to carry it in his boſome. So that in theſe words Chriſt is held out, under the ſimilitude of a Shepherd, carrying himſelfe in all things, as a Faithfull and mercifull ſhepherd to poor ſouls. In generall 'tis ſaid he ſhould feed his flock; and anſwerable to particular neceſſity of the weake of the flock, he is alſo particularly deſcribed to be carefull: As in caſe the ſoule wander, (as ſometimes the beſt ſheep doe) It is ſaid, he ſhall gather it, the word is, foreign which ſignifies a carefull gathering, and therefore ſo uſed, Gen. 41.48. Joſeph was not more carefull in gathering up the food of the ſeven years, then Jeſus is in gathering wandring beleevers. And in caſe of weakneſſe (as Lambs will be) Chriſt is ſaid to carry them; the word is, foreign from foreign which is not onelyonly to carry, but to take up, (as ſuppoſing they may be fallen) and carry. And laſtly, in caſe of breeding, or being with young. It is propheſied of Chriſt, that he would lead them. Yea and that all theſe acts of Chriſt might be ſet out in their full ſweetneſſe; every one of them is hightened by its manner of performance. He will gather the wandring with his arme, and carry the weakling in his boſome, and lead the breeding gently in his hand, for ſo the word foreign ſignifies, as I ſhall ſhew hereafter. So that now the words holding out, Chriſts ſweet carriage towards his members, doe eaſily divide themſelves into theſe particulars.
1. The Generall carriage of Chriſt towards all his, he ſhall feed them.Diviſion of the words.
2. The ſpeciall carriage of Chriſt towards the weake; held out in the
1. Subſtance, which (as the golden apples) is ſet down in three particulars.
1. For the wanderers; he will gather them.
2. For the weak ones, the Lambs, he will carry them. And
3. For the Ewes (as I may ſo ſay) he will lead them.
2. Circumſtance, which ſets out the golden apples in pictures of ſilver. He will doe all theſe in a ſweet and ſafe way gather with his arme, carry in his boſome, and lead (Jacob-like) very gently, thoſe that are with young.
I might obſerve divers Doctrines from theſe words; As,
1. Jeſus Chriſt is the great Shepherd of the ſouls of all Gods Elect.1 Pet. 2.25. foreign.
2. As God the Father hath made Chriſt chiefe Shepherd of our ſouls; ſo be did, doth, and will diſcharge his truſt carefully, faithfully, and tenderly.
3. There are diverſities of formes in Chriſts fold: ſome are Lambs, weak; ſome Ewes, big with young.
4. Jeſus Chriſt carrieth himſelfe in a ſuitable way to all the ſoules that be in his flocke.
Theſe, and many ſuch I might note, but I paſſe them as not aiming at any thing in this Diſcourſe from this place, but onelyonly the carriage of Chriſt, as it is deſcribed with reference to his weake ones
CHAP. III. The maine Doctrine propounded and opened.
THe chiefe thing which I aime at, being the comfort of weake Saints, in obſerving the carriage of Chriſt towards ſuch: I ſhall hold it out in this Doctrine.
Jeſus Chriſt carries himſelfe very weetly, and tenderly, The Doctrine.as towards all his members, ſo towards his weake members eſpecially: Or,
Chriſts carriage, is ſpecially ſweet and tender, towards every poor, weake beleever.
I ſuppoſe it lyes fully and cleare in this place, as I ſhall ſhew hereafter. For the opening of this Doctrine,Explication. it being a Theologicall Propoſition; I ſhall firſt explaine the ſubject, and then the predicate thereof.
1. The ſubject of the Doctrine, and diſcourſe, is the carriage of Chriſt. What Chriſts carriage isAnd this is nothing elſe, but the way, or manner of Chriſts manifeſting of himſelfe through ſundry, and various diſpenſations towards the ſoules of his.
2. The predicate, or the thing which we affirme of this demeanour of Chriſt, is, that it is ſweet and tender; now although the full meaning o… theſe words, as they relate to Chriſt carriage, cannot be ſufficiently … preſſed (which is its glory) yet I ſhal… offer what I intend in two ſteps.
1. Negatively, Chriſt doth not carry himſelfe in harſh, ſowre, ſevere manner, … ſome doe: Indeed the wicked ſervan… ſaid, that be, Chriſt, was an auſte… man (the Syriac ſignifies a hard man.) But however he ſaid; thoſe that hav… taſted Chriſts carriage, can confut… this ſlander. None of his have any juſt ground to complaine of Chriſt, as he in the Poet of a ſelf-conceited ſervant-deſpiſing-Maſter.Ariſtophanes, foreign. Howeve… Nabals carriage gave juſt occaſion to his ſervants complaint, that he wa… ſuch a ſonne of Belial, that they kne… not how to ſpeake to him, as 'tis, 1 Sam. 25.17. Chriſts carriage was never ſuch He forbids his under-ſhepherds ſever…-lording over his flocke, and he (who is the chiefe Shepherd) abhors that,foreign. 1 Pet. 5.3. which he forbad them. Beleeve it, (Chriſtian) Chriſt's carriage was not, is not crabbed.
2. Poſitively. Jeſus Chriſt demeanes himſelfe ſoftly, ſweetly towards his. In every manifeſtation he diſcovers himſelfe meeke, and milde. He ſpeakes ſo, as if his deſigne were (as 'tis) to tye the hearts of hearers to his lips with ſilken threds (as 'tis phancied of the French-Hercules) he acts ſo, as one that makes good Platoes counſel, i.e. to tye his ſervants by love-neceſſities to his ſervice.foreign. In this Titus (if the Hiſtorian do not hyperbolize) was a type of Chriſt, who carried himſelf ſo, as that none ever went ſad from him. As he came to Jeruſalem meekly, ſo he carries himſelfe towards his members ſtill; Love is his name, and love is with him; tis his nature, as well as his name. This all the members of Chriſt can ſeale to, as a ſure experienced truth; but eſpecially ſuch of them, as are, or have been weake. And this I am to prove.Proofe of the Doctrine. All the ſervants of Chriſt can witneſſe for their Maſter. All his Epithites ſpeake him ſweet. Lamb is a name of love. Husbands carriages are (or ſhould be) ſweet, and tender. However they (as men) may forget themſelves. Chriſt (as God) is unchangeable. He bore his people of old,Exod. 19.4. as on Eagles wings. And of late, and ſtill, in his owne armes. Indeed he commanded the Angels, Pſal. 81.11 12.to beare his people in their armes, but (as if they were not ſoft enough) he takes them into his owne. He bare their ſins on his backe, and their ſoules in his boſome. If the ſoule walke abroad, Chriſt walks with it, and carries himſelfe kinde. All the way ſhall be paved with love under their feet,Cant. 3.10 that it may be ſoft; and over their head he will ſpread a banner of love, Cant. 2.4.that they may be ſafe: If the ſoul be ſicke, and muſt lye downe, he wil… make the bed, Pſal. 40.1.and ſit by; and that he may ſhew himſelfe tender and ſweet, he will put one hand over, and the other hand under. Cant. 2.6.But what need I hold up a candle to let you ſee the Sun. God the Father undertooke for him, He ſhould not cry, Iſa. 42.2.3.nor lift up, &c. i.e. (not to exclude other ſenſes) he ſhould not be lofty and majeſticall, but lowly, meeke, and mercifull. Bruiſed reeds, and ſmoaking flaxes i.e. weake and feeble ſoules, ſhould not be broken, nor quenched by him, i.e. they ſhould tenderly, and gently be dealt withall; in a ſweet way (anſwerable to their weake condition) ſhould they finde his carriage. Search (ſoul) the Annals of his life: See, did not all his actings towards weake ones, ſpeake love? Inquire of thoſe with whom he did converſe? this will teſtifie to this truth concerning his carriage; that he was indeed very tender, and ſweet to all, but eſpecially ſo, to ſuch ſoules as were feeble. All the flocke, but eſpecially the weake of the flocke, found him a ſurpaſſing carefull, kinde Shepherd, in all his carriage.
CHAP. IV. A more full explication of the point, and a generall demonſtration of the truth thereof.
BEcauſe the Text chiefly (in my eye) carries out the ſweetneſſe of Chriſt towards weake beleevers; and as I ſaid, this was my ſole deſigne in the diſcourſe to hold out comfort for ſuch (as being indeed moſt ſuitable to my owne ſtate) I ſhall therefore more amply open the point,The point amplified. and illuſtrate it in three particulars, viz. by ſhewing.
1. Who theſe weake ones are.
2. Wherein the ſweetneſſe and tenderneſſe of Chriſts carriage to them doth appeare.
3. Why Chriſt doth carry himſelfe in ſuch a way, eſpecially towards them.
Who are weake.Firſt, that it may be knowne who theſe weak beleevers are (with reference to whom this Tract is chiefly pend) you may be pleaſed thus to diſtinguiſh of weake beleevers.
1. Some there are, who are habitually weake.
2. Others there are accidentally weake.
Habitually weake.Of thoſe that are habitually weake; I ſhall ſpeake under this firſt generall Doctrine and ſpeak to the other, particularly by themſelves, and that alſo, out of this Text.
Now I call ſuch ſoules habitually weake, who by reaſon of their age in Chriſt, or the forme and ranke in his Schoole, have not attained to any great ſtrength in Chriſt, or any full meaſure of the graces of the Spirit. In whom, the life, and habits of grace (which I humbly conceive might in more apt phraſe be called the breathings, or fruits of the Spirit) are but yet, in a low, feeble, ſcanty meaſure, or degree. And theſe I ſuppoſe may be reduced to two heads, for illuſtrations ſake.
1. Beginners, or under-graduates in Chriſts Schoole: Grace at firſt being but little (and therefore compared to the leaſt of graines, mustard-ſeed.) And Saints at firſt being but feeble (and in that reſpect likened to the feebleſt of creatures, Lambs.) Theſe are the firſt ranke of weake perſons, whom I call beginners (who yet are in a capacity of more ſtrength, as they prove in time, proficients in the Schoole of Chriſt; but) for preſent are but weake, as all beginners are.
2. Babes in Chriſts houſe, (called in the Text, Lambs in Chriſts fold) ſuch as were ſo a long time, as thoſe 1 Cor. 3.1. Or alway, as ſome are, 1 Joh. 2.12.13. for it is in Chriſts houſe, as in yours, many that are borne there, Pſal. 87.5. foreignlive not beyond the age of babes and children, but dye (as it were) in their infancy; who albeit they attaine to the meaſure appointed them, yet they come not up to the meaſure of a full age in Chriſt,foreign as the word ſignifies, Eph. 4.13. But as babes dye; having indeed the truth of life, and the divine nature; and ſo the breathings, or fruits of the Spirit; yet (infant-like) in a very feeble degree, all their dayes.
Under theſe heads, I thinke all may not unfitly be conſidered, whom I call habitually weake, to diſtinguiſh them from others, who are accidentally ſo: of which hereafter.
Now both theſe rankes are weake in a threefold reſpect.
Firſt, in reſpect of life; in whom indeed the Spirit breaths but faintly, Some weake in reſpect of life.whoſe pulſe beats but feebly, whoſe heart pants but weakly, in whom the very principles of Religion are laid, indeed ſure (being upon the foundation Chriſt) but yet the practiſe of Religion (which is as the ſuperſtructure of that foundation) is not high, nor ſublime, whoſe ſoules are alive, but whoſe actions are not lively; who pray, and read, and heare, &c. from a true internall principle, or power of ſpirituall life; but yet ſo, as it plainly appeares to them (yea and to others) that they are rather the pantings, liſpings, eſſayes of beginners, and babes, then the performances of Graduates, and men in Chriſt Jeſus.
Secondly, in reſpect of light; for there is not in every beleever the ſame knowledge, Some there be, who are weake, in reſpect of knowledge.i.e. not the ſame meaſure of knowledge, 1 Cor. 8.7. Indeed the Sunne of wiſdome (Chriſt the wiſdome of God) ſhines in them, but through many clouds, very dimly. In them there is the knowledge of the Alphabet, that Chriſt is the firſt letter, Alpha, and the laſt, Omega. They underſtand the rudiments of Religion, and ſome maine axioms, or concluſions, they are able to read and heare, to interpret, and underſtand ſome plaine, and neceſſary places, and truths; but yet ſo, as that they can rather apprehend, then hold out divine truths, & can better dye, then diſpute for Chriſt, ſo as that they are ſtill rather lovers of knowledge, then maſters;foreign whom you may call learners, but not learned, and to whom the life of the Goſpell is come, but not in a meaſure ſtretched out (that I may elude to that Pſal. 19.foreign and 2 Cor. 10.13, 14. and Rom. 10.18.) ſouls who in truth are ſchollers, foreignbut not Doctors in Chriſts ſchoole,Heb. 5.12. who know rather how to learne themſelves, then how to teach others.
Thirdly,Some ſouls weak in faith. foreign in reſpect of faith; for there are ſome true beleevers, and yet weake in faith, Rom. 14.1. Indeed they doe receive Chriſt, and free grace, but 'tis with a ſhaking hand. They have (as Divines ſay) the faith of adherence, they will ſticke to Chriſt as theirs; but they want the faith of evidence, they cannot ſee themſelves as his. They are beleevers,foreign Mat. 16.8. but of little faith. They will truſt, though he kill them: But they doe not know fully that he will ſave them. They hope that Chriſt will not caſt them off, but are not ſure that he will take them up. They would beleeve that Chriſt will not reject them, becauſe he commands others to receive them, Rom. 14.1. but cannot conclude that Chriſt will imbrace them. Beleevers you may call them, and indeed they are Abrahams children, but yet they are but Babes, not (as their Father was, ſtrong in faith, Rom. 4.20. Indeed Abraham (their father) was not, (but they as children) are weake in faith as 'tis, Rom. 4.19.
Thus you ſee the firſt thing, who they are that I call weake members of Jeſus Chriſt.
For the ſecond head: wherein doth the carriage of Chriſt appeare to be ſweet, Demonſtrations of the truth of the Doctrine from the Text.and tender toward theſe. I ſhall (if God will) in a particular Tract ſhew it, with reference to each of theſe ſorts, by declaring that Chriſt [is] ſweet, and [how] to thoſe whoſe life, and light, and faith, is but weake and little; onelyonly from this Text, I ſhall hold it out in a generall way, how Chriſts carriage, is tender towards all theſe, and ſuch as are thus, for (at leaſt) diſtinctions ſake, habitually weake; whom the Prophet calls his Lambs in this place.
Now this appears from the Text in two things.
1. He will gather them, and that with his arme.
2. He will carry them, and that in his boſome.
Firſt, Chriſt carries himſelfe very tenderly towards his weake Lambs, is that he will gather them. Lambs, all the flock are but weake, and ſo apt to wander, if not looked to. Now Chriſt he will gather, and that with much care (for ſo the word ſignifies) his poor weake members, that are apt to wander. Chriſt, thou (poore weakling) will carefully look to thee. That thou mayeſt not wander (at leaſt too far) he will make bare, and ſtretch out his arme to gather thee. The poore ſoule ſaith I am weake: which is worſe; I am wicked; I have a ſtragling heart. I ſhall goe aſtray like a loſt ſheep; Pſal. 119.176.will Chriſt ſeek me? Yes poore ſoule, he hath a tender heart, and he will ſeeke thee carefully, and he hath a long arm. He will gather thee ſurely. Thou doſt not forget him (as David intimates) and he doth not forget thee, nor himſelfe. He is thy ſoul-ſhepherd, hee will therefore gather thee; O thou weakling of his flock!
Secondly, Chriſts carriage is very tender, for he will carry thoſe that cannot goe. The weake Lamb lyes downe, it cannot goe; the Shepherd takes it up, and bears it. The weake beleever cannot walke with Chriſt: Now Chriſt will ſtoop downe, and take it up, and carry it, ſo the word ſignifies. Oh, ſaith the weake ſoule, I would follow Chriſt, but I cannot; I would, walke with him hand in hand, but I am weake. Well beleever, thou art weake, and Chriſt is kinde; thou lyeſt along, and he will take thee up. Thou canſt not goe, he will carry thee. Oh but how! will he put me on his backe, expoſe me to wind and weather? No poore ſoule, he will carry thee in his boſome, and keepe thee warme and ſafe there; True, he will lay thy ſinnes upon his backe, and beare all the laſhes of his Fathers wrath for thy wickedneſſe; but he will carry thy ſoule (O beleever) in his boſome, and cheriſh thee there with the warmth of his love, becauſe of thy weakneſſe.
Dear ſoul! I hint things but briefly, that I be not burthen ſome; read the Prophet, thinke of what is ſaid; tell me, doth not Chriſt carry himſelf tenderly, and ſweetly, towards weak beleevers, in gathering them with his arme, and carrying them in his boſome.
CHAP. V. Six particulars further ſetting out Chriſts tender carriage towards his weake members.
HAving in a generall way hinted the ſweetneſſe of Chriſts carriage towards his weake members, as 'tis held out in this Text by the Prophet; I ſhall now endeavour, in a more particular manner, to acquaint you how ſweetly and tenderly Chriſt carries himſelfe to weake beleevers; and,
1. The ſweetneſſe of Chriſts carriage appears in this, that he is ready to entertain any poore ſoule (though never ſo weake) that comes unto him. He ſtands with open armes, yea and heart alſo, to give thoſe, ſweet embraces, that deſire to embrace him. He proclaimes it,foreign Joh. 6.37. that he would not caſt off, or out in any wiſe, any that come to him. Though the approaches of the ſoule to him be in much weakneſſe, yet he accepts of the approach, and embraces the ſoule with much tenderneſſe. Never did any that came to him, finde him harſh. If their comming were but ſincere, his entertainment was alway ſweet. Thou poore ſoule! who haſt a deſire to come to Chriſt, becauſe thou ſeeſt thou ſhalt periſh without him; and yet doſt doubt whether thou ſhalt be entertained by Chriſt, becauſe thou findeſt thy ſelf (as thou thinkeſt) unfitting for him: why, goe and try; Taſte and thou ſhalt ſee, that Chriſt is ſweet and tender; he will not caſt thee off, if thou wilt come to him. His invitation is generall, If any thirst let him come to me, and (not doubt,Mark. 10.46, 48, 49. but) drinke. Aske blinde Bartemeus, who ſate by the high way begging, when Chriſt went by; and he will tell thee, though men were harſh, and bid him hold his peace, and would not let him cry to Chriſt; yet Jeſus was ſweet, and not onelyonly let him cry, but bid him come to him. Thou weake beleever, that ſayeſt I would goe to Chriſt, but I doubt whether he will embrace me being blinde: Ariſe and goe, and thou ſhalt finde the Lord Jeſus, tender, and ready to entertaine thee ſweetly, yea and ſo far, from rejecting thee, for thy blindneſſe, that he will receive thee to give thee ſight. One would have thought that if ever Chriſt would reject any, he would have ſurely rejected Nicodemus, Joh. 3.who was ſo weake as being either afraid or aſhamed (or both) to owne Chriſt in the day, he comes to him in the night. What might (as one would thinke) Chriſt have ſaid, Nicodemus is thy deſire after me ſo faint, as that thou feareſt to come to me in the day time? or am I ſo unworthy, as I am not to be owned but out of ſight? Haſt thou either ſo low an eſteem of me? or beareſt thou ſo little love to me, as that thou commeſt thus now in the night? Go, returne as thou cameſt, I will not accept thee in the dark, who wouldſt not acknowledge me in the light. I will not entertaine thee in the night, who wouldſt not embrace me in the day. No, No, Chriſt hath not a ſyllable of theſe ſad ſayings. But preſently (knowing him to be but a beginner in ſpirituall, though a Dr. in literall Iſrael) he entertaines him, embraceth him, inſtructs him; gives him leave to reply to what he ſpake: beares with all the ignorance, and abſurdities that were in his queſtions; ſtoops low to his capacity, that he might lift him high in Spirit: And in all things carries himſelf as a ſweet tender-hearted ſhepherd, to a poor, weake faint hearted Lamb.
Secondly, The carriage of Chriſt is diſcovered to be tenderly ſweet to weake beleevers, in that he cheriſheth and preſerveth thoſe little buddings of grace that are in them. Oh! ſaith the weake beleever, my fire is ſo litle (ſuch a litle ſparke in ſo many aſhes) that I feare 'twill out. My candle gives ſo litle light (and burnes ſo weakly in ſuch mighty winds,) that I doubt I ſhall be in the darke: my pulſe beats ſo faintly (there is ſuch little vitall ſtrength under ſo many mortall ſinnes) that I thinke I ſhall ere long give up the ghoſt, and dye. But ſtay weake ſoules! why ſay ye thus? Chriſt is ſweet and tender; what he hath begun, he will preſerve. Thy ſpark of fire ſhall not be extinguiſhed, thy dim light ſhall not be blown out; thy weake life ſhall not decay. No, No, Chriſt will preſerve, maintaine, cheriſh theſe true (though weake) beginnings of grace that are in thee. 'Twas the Prieſts office to keep the fire in the Sanctuary from going out. And 'tis Chriſts worke to doe the ſame in thy ſoule. Chriſt is this Prieſt, and that ſpirituall ſparke of fire, which God from above hath laid upon thy heart (the altar) in the Sanctuary of thy ſoule, he will looke to, that it goe not out. Though thou be fearfull, remember Chriſt is faithfull; he will be tender of thee, and thou ſhalt finde his carriage ſweet, in cheriſhing thoſe weake graces that are in thee. Maries faith was very feeble; and when ſhe was ſecking ſorrowfully her Lord in the garden,Joh. 20. her faith was like to fire that is going out; yet ſhe ſeems to doubt whether Chriſt were God, and able to raiſe himſelfe, and ſpeaks as if he were but Man, Ver. 13.and that ſome had ſtolne him away. Sir (ſaith ſhe) if thou haſt borne him hence (as if Chriſt could not goe without carrying) tell me where thou haſt laid him, Ver. 15.and I will take him away (as if ſhe were ſtronger then he;) Maries faith you ſee is weake: ſurely this ſparke will out, if not preſently blowne: why marke now, Chriſt diſcovers himſelfe to be ſweet and tender; and therefore that he might cheriſh her faith in him, he ſpeaks to her, Mary. The like carriage you ſee in Luke 24. towards thoſe weake Diſciples, who diſcourſe doubtingly concerning his Deity, Luke 24.and begin to ſpeake, as if they queſtioned, whether he were the Meſsias, the Redeemer, yea or no. Their faith began to flag (ſaid they) ver. 19. Wee truſted it had been he, that ſhould have redeemed Iſrael; and beſides all this, to day is the third day ſince theſe things ver. 20. were done. Weake hearts; three dayes delay makes them diſtruſt; ſurely their faith is almoſt out. But marke, how ſweetly Chriſt ſpeakes (indeed ver. 25. he checks their doubting, as arguing folly; and though their heart was ſincere,See v. 26, 27. he intimates 'twas but ſlow to beleeve, &c. yet) he cheriſheth and preſerveth their faith from dying; and carries himſelfe very tenderly in arguing from Moſes and the Prophets, to keep their faith alive. That place in the Prophet diſcovers Chriſt as ſweetly carefull to preſerve the leaſt buds of grace in his, Eſa. 65.8. Thus ſaith the Lord, as the new wine is found in the cluſter, as one ſaith, deſtroy it not, for a bleſsing is in it, ſo will I doe for my ſervants ſake. Calvin in locum.How ever ſome ſeem to carry the meaning of this place, as if it related to Gods ſparing and preſerving the righteous, while he is puniſhing the wicked; yet I think, we are rather to underſtand it, as relating to the tenderneſſe of Gods carriage, for Chriſts ſake, to elect Iſrael. God found them indeed weake. Rather as having wine in them potentially, then as being wine actually, as the wine in the cluster, i.e. they had ſome few faint buddings of grace: And Chriſt ſaid (for he was that One) Doe not deſtroy it Father, there is a bleſſing in it; though it be but yet weake, 'twill in time be ſtrong: cheriſh it, preſerve it, there is a bleſſing in it. You ſee Chriſt is very tender over his weake members. He is carefull to preſerve their bloſſomes, their buds. Take us the foxes, the little foxes that ſpoyle the vines, Cant. 2.15.for the vines have tender grapes, Cant. 2.15. Chriſt will have a tender care of cheriſhing the tender graces, that he ſees in weake beleevers.
But thirdly, Chriſt diſcovers a ſweet carriage not only in preſerving the weake beginnings of grace, in the hearts of beleevers, but alſo in ſtrengthning their weakneſſe every day. Its note-worthy, that Chriſt doth not onelyonly not breake the bruiſed reeds, nor quench the ſmoaking flaxes, i.e. cheriſh the faint graces which are in feeble Saints, but he ſtrengthens & increaſes them. He makes an augmentation, brings forth judgement unto truth, Eſa. 42.3. The meaning is ſaith (Dr. Sibs ſweetly) That the gracious frame of holineſſe, ſet up in our hearts by the Spirit of Chriſt, ſhall goe forward, or increaſe, till all contrary power be brought downe. My feet (ſaith the poore ſoul) are ſo feeble, that I am ready to ſtumble at every ſtraw. Sure, I ſhall never be able to ſtride over a log, to goe over a mountaine. Doubt not, O thou of little faith. Chriſt will carry himſelfe tender towards thee; and though thy feet be now weake as Lambs feet, that thou art ſcarce able to goe over a mole-hill, without ſliding, he will make them ſtrong as Hindes feet, that thou ſhalt be able (ere long) to leap over a mountaine. He maketh my feet like hindes feet, ſaith David, Pſal. 18.33. Chriſt is very carefull to carry on the ſoule from ſtrength to ſtrength, Pſal. 84.7. He therefore gave ſome Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, &c. that they might be for the perfecting of the Saints; that weake beleevers who are but Infants, may grow ſtronger and ſtronger, till they come to mens age, as tis Eph. 4.13. Ah ſaith the poore ſoule, my light is but little; will it ere be bright. Tis but as the dawning of the day. I thinke the day of grace is riſen in my ſoule, but 'tis but glimmering as the early morne, will it ere ſhine gloriouſly? ſhall it ever be noone? ſhall it be in my boſome as the Sunne in the meridian? will it ever riſe ſo high? Yes poore ſoule; ſtay a little, and it will be lighter. The path of the righteous is as the ſhining light, and ſhineth more and more to the perfect day, Prov. 4.28. Chriſt will make it day and a perfect day in thy heart; though it be morning now, and but even Sun riſing. Oh how ſweet is Chriſts carriage to his weake members! that thus he ſtrengthens their weake graces every day. He will cheriſh thee O beleeving babe, till thou grow bigger, in his boſome.
Fourthly, weake beleevers have found Chriſts carriage very ſweet, in that he hath borne with thoſe many infirmities which he hath found in them. Weak ſoules are apt to ſlip, and Chriſt ſweetly ſmiles, notwithſtanding thoſe ſlips. Lambs are feeble, and ſometimes they fall, but the ſhepherd paſſes it by. Chriſt rather pities his members for their weakneſſe, then caſts them off. Peter was weake in refuſing Chriſts tender of waſhing. Joh. 13.But Chriſt was ſweet; Ver. 7.he knew Peter was rather ignorant then obſtinate. Chriſt tells him (and in that excuſeth his weakneſſe) that he did not know what his intention was in that action; What I doe thou doſt not know, and therefore though Peter carryed himſelf weakly, in refuſing the waſhing; yet Chriſt carried himſelfe ſweetly, and paſſing by that weakneſſe, comes and waſheth his feet.Cant. 1, 2.3. 'Twas an infirmity of largeſt allowance in the Spouſe, to put off Chriſt with ſuch a poore excuſe after he ſtood ſo long waiting, I have put off my coat. Childiſh, as if ſhe could not put it on againe: And becauſe ſhe could not riſe to let him in; Chriſt muſt go away in the morning, though he had ſtood knocking all night. Yet Chriſt bears all. And (though the Spouſe might feare, he would take the buſineſſe ſo heynous as never more to come to her houſe) he came againe afterward. Indeed he permitted ſome lordly watchmen to whip her for her lazy weakneſſe. (and it was kindneſſe thus to fetch it out) But carried himſelfe tender ſtill,Chap. 6.2, 3. and admitted her into his garden ſweetly, albeit ſhe kept him out of her houſe ſluggiſhly. Surely Peter, and James, and John failed much, to ſleepe while their Lord ſorrowed; and not to regard his ſorrow, though he choſe them out (as it were) on purpoſe, to watch with him. Indeed, Chriſt ſighs to ſee them ſo weake, as not to be able to watch with him one houre; yet he carries himſelfe ſweet, and inſtead of chiding their unwatchfulneſſe, he excuſeth their weakneſſe. Mat. 26.41The ſpirit is willing, ſaith he, but the fleſh is weake. Our children ſometimes doe faults, break glaſſes, &c. but we ſay, alas poore hearts, 'twas their weakneſſe. Chriſts children are as weake as ours; onelyonly he is kinder to his, then we can be to ours. He beares with more infirmities, and paſſeth by more faults then we doe or can. Poore Thomas is very weake, hee'l not beleeve except he may open Chriſts wounds afreſh, and put his fingers in the print of the nailes. Chriſt is very ſweet, beares with all this, and is willing to have his wounds opened afreſh, to helpe Thomas his faith;Joh. 20. ſurely Thomas ſaw Chriſts heart through his wounds; I will put in my fingers, ſaith Thomas, or elſe I will not beleeve, v. 25. Ah poor weake ſoule! come and thruſt them into my ſide (ſaith Chriſt:) Oh tender Saviour!V. 27. ſurely Chriſt will puniſh me (ſaith the poore ſoule) I am ſo wicked. No, Chriſt (poore heart) will pity thee, becauſe thou art ſo weake. Ah Lord! how many frailties, infirmities, nay inormities doſt thou paſſe by in thy poore weake Lambs? verily thou carrieſt thy ſelfe like a tender, loving, ſweet ſhepherd towards us.
Fifthly, Its eaſie to diſcover in Chriſts carriage, much ſweetneſſe and tenderneſſe to weake beleevers, in that he puts them upon no duties above their ability. As he will not permit them to be tempted above their abilitie, 1 Cor. 10.13. ſo neither doth he put them upon any buſineſſe which is above their power. Though Chriſt hath many workes, about which he will put his members, yet he will tarry till they are able for them. I have many things to ſay unto you, but ye cannot beare them now, Jo. 16.12. Becauſe they were not able to beare, Chriſt was not willing to ſpeake. Alas, I ſee great works to be done, hard leſſons to be learned; ſure I ſhall never be able to doe that one, or learn the other, ſaith the weake ſoule, at leaſt, not yet; for I am but a babe, very weake: why, Chriſt is content to ſtay till thou ſhalt be ſtronger. As yet thou art unable, and as yet he is unwilling. Faſting, it was a weighty worke; and Chriſts diſciples were as yet but weake: He therefore forbears them, and puts them not upon it. And when ſome wondred (who indeed knew not the weight of the worke) that Chriſts diſciples ſafted not at all, Luke 5.33.when Jeſus did often, Chriſt excuſes his diſciples, and by two parables apologizeth for them; and the drift of both is this, the worke was as yet too high for them; they were weake, and that was weighty. Its worth noting, Chriſt would not have the Apoſtles goe from Jeruſalem, till they had received power from on high. He would not leave them while (at leaſt comparatively) low, to go about a worke which was ſuperlatively high, i. e. Apoſtolicall. Never trouble thy ſelfe poore ſoule! about this or that worke, which is too high for thee, above thy power, thy ability, if thou canſt cleare that ſincerely, Chriſt will carry himſelfe ſweetly, never call thee to it, never put thee on it.
Sixtly, Its apparent enough, and one that runs may read ſweetneſſe, and tenderneſſe, in the carriage of Chriſt toward his weake members, in that be kindly accepts of what they doe in his ſervice, though accompanied with many failings. What the poore ſoule doth ſincerely, that the precious Saviour takes ſweetly; and though it be done but ill, yet he accepts it well. Chriſt remembers himſelfe, if he gave the ſoule but two talents, and he looks not for ten. And Chriſt conſiders the poore ſoule, that it hath not much; and therefore he is pleaſed with a little. The poore creature works but bunglingly, and Chriſt accounts the worke brave; he accepts the prayer, though imperfact; and yet that the Father may look upon it as perfect, he mingles his incenſe with our prayers, Apoc. 8.3.and ſo imperfect prayers from us are put up perfect by Chriſt to the Father. The weake childe cannot ſpeak articulately, and yet the indulgent mother accepteth, with much love, its poor prattle; ſo doth Chriſt:foreign Let me heare thy voyce (ſaith he) for it is ſweet, Cant. 2.14. the word ſignifies any ſound, ſuch as bruits or birds make. Chriſt accounts ſtammerings as ſweet: Meih, Meih, ſaith the little one, and the mother accounts it muſicke. The poore ſoule, many a time, at beſt, and moſt, when it comes to pray can but ſigh; and the Lord Chriſt takes it as a ſweet ſong, and is pleaſed with it. Our drinke offerings have much water in them, and but litle wine, and Chriſt accepts of the little wine, though mingled with much water. Some thinke there were many failings in the womans obtruding of her ſelfe into the Phariſees houſe,Luk. 8.37. and troubling Chriſt while he ſate at meat. However Chriſt ſaw much love in the action, and not onelyonly paſſeth by, but excuſeth the womans ſeeming failings, Luke 7.37. Woe be to me ſaith the poore ſoule! my gold is mixed with much droſſe! my righteouſneſſe, with much unrighteouſneſſe; ſurely Chriſt will reject all, and me too. No, Chriſt is kinde, and albeit thou carrieſt thy ſelfe, in thy choiſeſt performances very weakly; yet he will carry himſelfe, even towards thy failings, very ſweetly; and will accept of that which thou doſt kindly, although done in much infirmity. Ah could I but worke neater, pray better, ſing, read &c. better, I could thinke Chriſt would accept. But alas! I doe all that I doe ſo badly, and every prayer, &c. is mixt with ſo many infirmities, that I feare if Chriſt do not caſt them backe with anger into my face, yet ſure be will not take them up with love into his hand. I were therefore as good ſit ſtill, and doe nothing. Say not thus, O weake creature! up and be doing. Carry thy ſelfe but with ſincerity, and thou ſhalt finde that Chriſt will carry himſelfe ſweetly; and accept of little actings with great love, and be pleaſed with thy performances, though accompanied with many infirmities.
CHAP. VI. Containing ſome reaſons of the point.
HAving ſhewed ſome particulars in which Chriſts carriage appears ſweet and tender towards weak beleevers. I ſhall now give ſome reaſons why Chriſt carries himſelf thus to them.
Firſt, God the Father who did appoint him to be a ſhepherd, did alſo appoint him to be ſweet. 'Twas the Fathers will that Chriſt ſhould take the care of his flocke, and that he ſhould manage the care with much tenderneſſe, eſpecially towards the Lambs. Looke as Chriſt, though he had a ſingular care of all the flock (and therefore bid Peter feed them all) yet he had a ſpeciall care of the weake of the flocke, i. e. Lambs, and therefore eſpecially he commanded Peter to have a care of them; and as ever he would declare his love to himſelſe,Joh. 21. he ſhould be tender over the Lambs, and be ſure to feed them (which might be another inſtance of the ſpeciall care and tenderneſſe of Chriſt to weak beleevers.) In like manner God the Father, when he gave Chriſt his commiſſion, in which he committed the whole flock of the Elect to his care, did put in as it were a ſingular clauſe, that he ſhould be very tender of, and very indulgent towards the weak of the flock. I looke upon the Text not onelyonly as a Propheſie of the carriage of Chriſt, what it would be, but alſo as the commiſſion of Chriſt, wherein the Father gives him (as it were) inſtructions what his carriage ſhould be towards the Lambs, i.e. the weake ſoules of the Saints. It may not be paſſed by ſlightly, that the tender carriage of Chriſt towards bruiſed reeds, and ſmoaking flaxes, is built upon this, that he was Gods ſervant, as it were for that purpoſe ſent by God, Eſa. 42.1. Chriſts ſweetneſſe to weake beleevers, is his ſervice to his Fathers appointment. God the Father did appoint Jeſus Chriſt to this carriage, when he gave him his commiſſion. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he hath anointed me to preach good tydings to the meeke, Eſa. 61.1.he hath ſent me to binde up the broken in heart. The Father charged Chriſt in ſpeciall to carry himſelfe kindly towards them. Indeed the great thing (next to the ſweetneſſe of his owne nature, which ſet him on to undertake the office) that moves Chriſt, either to take freely any poore ſoule into his care; or to demeane himſelfe ſweetly in his carriage towards it,Joh. 6.38. is his Fathers will, which he came to fulfill, Joh. 6.38. Now it was the Fathers will that Chriſt ſhould be very tender in his carriage towards the weak.
Secondly, The very weakneſſe of beleevers, workes a tenderneſſe in Chriſts bowells, which he cannot but expreſſe in his behaviour. Weakneſſe, is a word in it ſelfe ſpeaking for tenderneſſe. And a ſweet diſpoſition (ſuch as Chriſts is) needs no other Oratory to move pity, but neceſſity. Jeſus Chriſt knows how to heare the cry of the ſoules of his.Exod. 3.7. Affliction hath a cry that can be heard as high as heaven. Thou weake beleever thy ſecret ſighs come up ſhrilly to thy Saviour. If thy boſome breath, Chriſts bowells heare. And the very weakneſſe that is in thee is argument enough with him (ſuch is his ſweetneſſe) to declare himſelfe very pitifull, and tender towards thee, in his carriage. The head takes care of the whole body, and every member in particular; but eſpecially of the weake; and that, becauſe ſuch; Beleevers!1 Cor. 12.27. Chriſt is the head of his body, and ye are members (yea ye weake little ones) in particular: And doubtleſſe the bead, becauſe wiſe, will have a tender care of the toes, becauſe weake. I feare I ſhall breake ſaith the weake ſoule; ſurely if Chriſt be not the kinder to me, I ſhall dye; my ſpirit will faile very ſoone, if his carriage be not very ſweet. Chriſt knowes thy feare, O thou feeble ſoule! and 'tis his feare too. His language ſeems to be ſuch.Eſa. 57.17. The ſpirit would faile before me, and the ſoules which I have made. Adam marr'd thee poor ſoule, Chriſt made thee; and ſurely he will not ſuffer his worke to fall, which would, if thy ſpirit ſhould faile. We let our bigger boyes run by themſelves, while we lead our little ones in our hands, and ſhew much tenderneſſe to them; and this we doe, becauſe our leaſt is the weakeſt. Chriſt is that, and more then that (in point of under carriage) to his children, that we are to ours. Surely if we who are evill, know how to be tender in our carriage towards our weake children: How much more doth Chriſt (who is the everlaſting, yea and ever-loving Father) know how to expreſſe much ſweetneſſe and tenderneſſe in his carriage towards his children, and that upon this very ground, their weakneſſe.
Thirdly, Christ will carry himſelfe thus, that his carriage may be convincing. Evill men have hard thoughts of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſometimes they ſpeake as they thinke. Wretches thinke that Chriſt is like them, becauſe they want bowells, they conclude that Chriſt wants too. Their bowells are braſſe, and they will not beleeve that Chriſts are better. Now Chriſts ſweet carriage towards weake beleevers, confutes all this, and might convince, that his nature is as his name, love: (weak (beleevers) Chriſt will make you his witneſſes. And that you may teſtifie his carriage to be ſweet to all his ſervants, he will be ſweet to you who can doe him but little ſervice. Chriſt reſolves to make his Lambs beare him witneſſe againſt the Wolves. His carriage ſhall beare him record, that he would have gathered ſoftly and ſweetly, like as a hen gathers her chickens. Mat. 23.27 Mat. 25.44.And becauſe he knows Goats will be apt to word it (as at the laſt day) he will appeale to the experience of his Lambs, to teſtifie for his carriage. He that had but two talents and uſed them as well as he could, ſhall be evidence enough againſt the evill ſervant, that Chriſt is not an auſtere man. That Chriſt may ſtop their mouthes that are idle, and will not worke, he will fill their mouths that are ſincere, though weake. Thy little ciſterne (O weake beleever) ſhall be filled with ſweetneſſe, becauſe Chriſt will uſe thy ciſterne as an evidence of his ſea. Chriſt will at once evince, and convince others wickedneſſe, by the ſweetneſſe of his carriage towards thee, notwithſtanding thy weakneſſe.
CHAP. VII. Some Ʋſes of all this.
I Am loath to let ſo precious a point goe without its application. It may be of ſingular uſe, if Chriſt will be ſo ſweet as to helpe; I hope hee will, and therefore,
Firſt, this might informe us in the difference between Chriſts carriage and the creatures. We have a proverb, The weakeſt is turned to the wall; but men practiſe otherwiſe, caſt them into the kennell, and trample upon them there. Ah Lord! how unlike are men to Chriſt? He is very tender to wards his weake members; they are very harſh. Chriſt carries weake Saints in his boſome, and men will not let them be in their land. O England, England, thy unkinde carriage to Chriſts weake ones, makes me much feare leſt he deſtroy thee! How dareſt thou be cruell to them to whom Chriſt is kinde. Verily Chriſt will deſtroy thee if thou ceaſe not from theſe unkinde (that I ſay not unmercifull) carriages of thine towards his. Thoſe that he embraceth, thou perſecuteſt. Feare leſt he teare thee like a Lion, for miſ-uſing of his Lambs. I have ſometimes wondred, that ever any who pretend to be ſhepherds under Chriſt, ſhould preach, or preſſe a nonbearing ☜ with thoſe in the Kingdome, whom Chriſt beares in his boſome. Surely theſe ſub-ſhepherds differ very much from the ſupreme-ſhepherd, who is kinde and tender to all; but eſpecially the weake of his flocke.
Secondly, This doctrine, might beget in us lamentation over many, who are indeed Chriſts Lambs, but are apt to utter unkinde and untrue ſpeeches of their ſhepherd. It makes me ſad to heare a Lamb of Chriſt, ſigh, and ſay, Surely Chriſt will caſt off me; I am ſo feeble that I can do nothing that is good, and ſo foule, that I doe much which is bad. I am ſo weake that I cannot come to him; and therefore I cannot thinke that he will be ſo kinde to come to me. Ah poore ſoules! when did you ever finde Chriſt ſo unkinde in his carriage, as to make you ſpeake thus? when was Chriſt a wilderneſſe to thee? what harſheneſſe haſt thou ever found in him, that thou ſpeakeſt thus hardly of him? Surely I lament to heare thee ſaying, 'tis in vaine to wait on Chriſt. But I bleed to heare thee crying (as they Jer. 23.1.) Thou wilt never more come at him: why poore ſoule? why? is not Chriſt ſweet? is not his carriage tender? doth he not gather with his arme? doth not he carry in his boſome? I, he doth ſo by ſome, but he will not ſo by me. Yes by thee (O poore ſoule!) 'tis his cuſtome to be ſweet, in his carriage, to his weake members, ſuch as thou art: verily I lament to heare any ſpeake otherwiſe of Chriſt, then he is, and they ſhall finde.
Thirdly, the ſweetneſſe of Chriſts carriage, reproves the ſowreneſſe of ours, towards his weake members. The Prophet asketh the queſtion (as if it were ſtrange) who hath deſpiſed the day of ſmall things? Zach. 4.10. Though few, or rather none ſhould, yet many do deſpiſe; ſhall I ſay, or diſcourage, or both, or worſe, ſuch, as in whom the day of grace is but dawned. But be reproved ye rugged ſpirits; Chriſt beares much with his weak ones, and you bear but little. Thou dareſt not deny, but that ſuch are in the faith: but thou wilt ſay, they come not up to beleeve all that thou doſt, they are weake: what then, wilt not thou beare with them? ſhall the elder ſon beat the little childe, his brother, becauſe he is not ſo big as he? ſhall the Dr. in Chriſts Schoole diſdaine, and abuſe the under-graduate, becauſe not ſo profound as himſelfe? ſhould the ſtrong beat the weaks, becauſe they are not ſo ſtrong as they?Rom. 15.1. foreign i.e to beare upon our ſh…ulders. ſhould not they rather beare with them? what? becauſe ſome of the Lambs cannot follow ſo faſt as the ſtrong of the flock, ſhall they be caſt off for that? Ah Lord! ſhall children be whipped, and ſcourged, for not going as faſt as men? Did you ever read of ſuch a thing in Chriſts commands? did you ever ſee ſuch an inſtance in Chriſts carriage? Surely we muſt rejoyce to hear ſome ſpeaking in Jacobs voice, ſweetly for unity, &c. but we muſt reprove them, when we feel them with Eſau's hands, handling weake ones roughly, for want of uniformity. Chriſt reproves (and then 'twill be to purpoſe) thoſe that carry themſelves contrary to that carriage, which they ſee in him, to wards weake beleevers.
Fourthly, Chriſts carriage being thus, towards weake beleevers; it muſt needs comfort them to thinke of it. Ah Lord what a weake creature I am! why, be of good comfort; thou art weake, and Chriſt is ſweet to ſuch as thee.
Ob. The dugs of divine love are full; but I am very feeble: I cannot ſucke, though Chriſt open his boſome, and I muſt needs dye, my weakneſſe cannot live.
Anſw. Be of good comfort poore creature! Chriſt will not onelyonly open his boſome, but thy mouth. He will take thee up in his armes, and carry thee in his boſome; will not this refreſh thee?
Ob. Yes: But I cannot fetch out the milke that lies in his breaſt; I want a ſtrong faith to draw, I am but weake.
Anſw. Be of good comfort (weake ſoule) Chriſt is ſweet, and with his fingers he will force out the milke of mercy, into thy mouth (as the mother doth to the weak infant) if thou canſt but open thy mouth, though thou be without breath (i.e. ſtrong faith to draw) Chriſt will fill thee.Pſal. 81.10.
Ob. My feet are ſo feeble, that wheras I ſhould run the way of Chriſts commands; I can hardly goe; I am fain to creep upon all foure to follow Chriſt, and yet am faint when I doe but thus. Ah Lord! ſaith the poore ſoule, I ſhall be left behinde.
Anſw. Say not ſo. Jeſus Chriſt will tarry, and take thee in his hand; and rather then he will leave thee behinde, he will carry thee in his boſome. Remember it, and rejoyce O beleevers. Chriſt is very ſweet in his carriage, towards his weake members.
But ere I proceed further in this Uſe, its meet I put in ſome ſignes of thoſe ſoules, to whom I chiefly intend this comfort. We muſt muzzle the dogs, while we feed the Lambs.
Firſt, This may comfort thee, O poore heart, whoſe griefe it is to thinke how much ſin thou haſt, and how litle grace; who mourneſt to ſee ſelfe high, and Chriſt low in thy heart. Me thinks I heare thee cry, O wretched ſoule that I am! my corruption is ſtrong, it makes me doe the evill which I would not; my grace is but weake, I cannot doe the good which I would. O woe unto me! my heart is hardned to Chriſts wayes? I cannot fetch a turne in them, but my feet are ſwift to evill. Verily thus 'tis with me; and I am ready to dye to thinke that it ſhould be thus: What a little ſparke of fire is my grace? but what a vaſt ſea of water is my corruption; my heart breakes with feare to think leaſt Chriſt will caſt me off, and have nothing to do with me. If I pray, or rather liſpe, tis with much deadneſſe, and little life. If I read, hear, &c. 'tis with little ſincerity and much infirmity.
Q. What will Chriſt be kinde to me?
A. Yes poore Lambe, he will: His carriage was, is, and will be very tender, and ſweet to ſuch weake ones as thou art.
Secondly, Thou that canſt doe but little for Chriſt, and weepeſt to thinke or ſee, any doe much against Chriſt. Ah Lord! what a poore worme am I, that cannot kiſſe Chriſt, while others ſpit upon him; others can, and doe crowne him with thornes; but woe is me! I cannot crowne him with gold. Others can, and doe buffet him, but poore I cannot embrace him. It goes to my heart, to ſee ſome putting a reed into his hand, while I want a Scepter to put there (which is a thouſand times more fitting.)
Q. Will ever Chriſt regard me that cannot cry Hoſanna, while others cry crucifige? what will Chriſt kiſſe me that do not, cannot give him wine, while others give him vinegar. Other wretches thruſt him through with a ſpeare, and I wretch cannot embrace him that while. I beſeech you Sir, will ever Chriſt owne me, look upon me?
A. Yes, yes, poore heart, Chriſt loves thee that thus weepeth for him: he takes it well that thou goeſt in mourning, while he is in ſackcloth: though thou cannot take him downe from the croſſe, yet he accepts of thy weeping while thou ſtandeſt by, and canſt but look on. If thou haſt but a Lamb-like love to mourne while thou ſeeſt thy ſhepherd ſmitten, Chriſt hath a ſhepherd-like ſweetneſſe to pity thy weakneſſe, though thou cannot reſcue him.
Thirdly, This comfort is for thee, that albeit thou mourneſt that thy grace is but little, yet thou prizeſt it ſo much as that thou wilt not part with it for a thouſand worlds. Ah Lord! my life ſaith the poor ſoul, is but weake: I am rather dying every day, then alive at any time. My faith is ſo weak, that you may better call it a painted hope, then a powerfull beliefe. My light is ſo dim, that it is more like the gloworme in the bedge, then a ſtar (though of the leaſt magnitude) in the firmament. Be it as thou ſayeſt, O weake ſoule.
Q. What wilt thou take for thy life?
A. Not a million of Rocks of Diamonds.
Q. Wilt thou part with thy faith?
A. No, not for all the riches of the creatures.
Q. Shall I buy thy light?
A. No, if you would give me the light of Moon and Sunne, and the Stars to the bargaine too. Well, comfort thy ſelfe, O thou poor Lamb. Thy Shepherd is very tender to all, but eſpecially to ſuch as thee. His tenderneſſe will take the advantage of thy weakneſſe to abound the more. As thy weakneſſe ſhall abound, ſo ſhall his ſweetneſſe alſo towards thee. O conſider this text and truth, you weak of the flock; yee who are weake in your life, that can hardly ſtir, and weake in that light, and can ſcarce ſee; and weake alſo in your faith, and can hardly beleeve. Be of good comfort, the Lord Chriſt, who is the Shepherd of your ſoules, will have a ſpeciall care of you his Lambs. He is ſweet and tender in his carriage to all, but eſpecially his weake members. Comfort ye one another with theſe words.
Fifthly, This doctrine ſerves to incourage you to duty. Work O poor ſouls, though weake. Chriſt will be ſweet in his carriage towards you; pray, read, beare, &c. doe all that Chriſt calls for; though thou be weake, yet ſtand not out; Chriſts kindneſſe will paſſe by thy weakneſſe. If thou be ſincere, remember he is and will be ſweet. Let this grace make thee to abound with, and to overflow in actings of duties, as demonſtrations of love. If thou act from love, Chriſt will receive in love.
Sixtly, This doctrine calls for imitation. Chriſt is tender in his carriage towards his weake members; ſo ſhould we. Doe not diſhearten, but incourage weake ſoules. Be ye full of bowells of love, as Chriſt is. His carriage is ſweet, let not ours be ſowre. Chriſt deales tenderly with weake beleevers: O my Brethren, Be ye followers of Chriſt as deare children.
Ob. But theſe, & theſe differ from me.
Q. But in what? in fundamentals?
A. No, they hold all there as I do, Chriſt is my foundation, and no other foundation doe they lay.
Q. Doe they differ from thee in practiſe?
A. No, as to the maine, both of worſhip, and walke, we are alike; I pray, read, expound, heare, &c. and they do ſo too. I walk godly, and they labour in all things to have a good conſcience.
Q. Wherein then is your difference?
A. Its in government.
Q. What, will not they be governed by Chriſt? will they have any other ruler, as to ſpiritualls, but Jeſus? or do they deny lawfull obedience to civill power?
A. No, but yet in matter of Church, order, and government, they will not doe as I; they doe not hold as others.
Q. Is it out of wilfulneſſe, or weakneſſe, that they doe thus?
A. I feare the firſt; ſure I am, 'tis by reaſon of the ſecond, their weakneſſe. O friends, I beſeech you then, remember, Chriſt beares with weake Lambs; doe ye the like: His carriage was ſweet to all weake beleevers: let ours be ſo too, for they are our weak brethren: You that are ſtrong, ought to beare with them that are weak, Rom. 14.1.
Laſtly, This doctrine cryes loudly to ſuch as yet wander from Chriſt, that they would come in. Friend, Chriſts carriage is, and 'twill be ſweet. Abſoloms carriage was ſeemingly ſweet, and 'twas ſtrongly perſwaſive; many followed him in the ſimplicity of their hearts, becauſe of the appearing ſweetneſſe of his. Beleeve it, that which was but a ſhew in Abſolom, 2 Sam. 15.is a ſubſtance in Chriſt. He kiſſes every ſoule that comes to him. And when he takes the government in any heart, he carries himſelfe uprightly, and tenderly too. You all love a mild government. You hate tyranny,Pſal. 75.2. Talis Rex eft Chriſtus. Mollerus in locum. and its your deſire to be under a Scepter managed with ſweetneſſe. Every one would ſerve a Lord whoſe name is love. O that you could but beleeve this truth. Chriſt is a moſt gracious Sovereigne. Sweetneſſe is his Scepter. Alphonſus won much upon the people, by taking a ſheep out of the ditch. Jeſus Chriſt takes not one, but all his ſheep out of the ditch. He gathers them, though dirty, with his arme, and carries them in his boſome. Will not this, win yet thy heart to ſerve Chriſt? If this will not, then think of the ſeverity of Sathan, whoſe ſheep thou art, all the time that thou keepeſt off from Chriſt. When God would diſſwade the people of Iſrael from that kinde of government, which it ſeems, his ſoule liked not, and under which, he was unwilling they ſhould be, ſaith God by his mouth to him. He will take your ſonnes, 1 Sam. 8.11, 12, 13, &c.and appoint for himſelfe; for his chariots, and to be his horſemen, and ſome ſhall runne before his chariots; and be will take your daughters to be Confectionaries, and to be Cooks, and to be Bakers, &c. ſo goeth on to ſhew how that in all things he would ſeek himſelf, & not them, ſo that they ſhould cry out, &c. It ſeems, God foreſeeing the miſery of ſuch a condition, that they would be in, if they ſhould come under that government which they fooliſhly (and ſinfully too) deſired; would diſſwade them, by telling them of that before, which he knew they would feele afterward. In like manner, let me tell you, if you will ſerve Sathan (and you muſt ſerve him if you will not ſerve Chriſt.) Sathan will be a cruell King to you. He will ride thy ſoule and body too. He will make thee onelyonly to ſerve his luſts (though thou thinke it be thine owne.) Ah poor ſoule! me thinkes I ſee the Devill ſitting upon thy ſhoulders. He laſheth thee cruelly; though thy brawny backe doe not feele it; he will ride thee off thy legs, and he is on the way to hel; and when horſe Thou, and rider Sathan, fall into that pit, thou wilt cry out. But O then 'twill be too late. Therefore be wiſe now. Kiſſe Chriſt to day, and he will preſently kiſſe thee. Enter into his ſervice, and thou ſhalt experience his ſweetneſſe. His carriage is very kinde in ſundry particulars, and upon all occaſions as you have heard. Come, taſte and ſee; and you ſhall finde Chriſts carriage to be ſweeter to thy ſoule, then thou canſt expreſſe. He gathers his Lambs with his arme; he carries them in his boſome. He is the faithfull, yea and the mercifull ſhepherd of his flocke. This is his name, this his nature. Becauſe of the ſweetneſſe of this name, which is as an ointment powred forth, the virgins love him, doe thou too. Oh that in the ſavour of this odour, thy ſoul could run after him. Oh that theſe cords of love might draw thee to Chriſt, and binde thee to him. Verily who ever thou art, if thou come into Chriſt, and embrace him, thou ſhalt finde his carriage to be exceeding tender; and though thou mayeſt ſee much weakneſſe in thy ſelf, yet thou ſhalt experience much ſweetneſſe in Chriſt; for 'tis his office, his charge, his care, his carriage, to be ſweet and tender towards all his, eſpecially thoſe of his that are weake.