The Rising Sun, Chapter 22

The Rising Sun · Chapter 22

p. 229CHAP. XXII. Of Christ his healing the soul. Diseases of his People.

WIth healing under his wings.]

Doct. Christ the Sun of Righteousness will not only rise with light to dispel darkness, but with healing to remove all the Spiritual Diseases of such as fear God.

He is the great Physician of bodies as well as soules. Hee healed all manner of sicknesse, Matth. 4. 23 & 8. 16.Matt 4:23Matt 8:16and every Disease among the people.

But this is to be understood of Spiritual Diseases. Christ is not a Natural, but Spiritual Sun; hath not Natural, but Spiritual wings, and gives Spiritual health.

The people of God are as so many impotent persons lying by the pooles side, attending on his Ordinances, in expectation of cure from Christ. And as the Diseases of the body are many, not easily numbred, so those of the soul more.

One is troubled, as Peters mother in LawMark …. 30▪ 3. 1 with a Feaver, sometimes very cold, sometimes a hot fit, no even Temper. Another hath a withered hand, can by no meanes stretch it out to act Faith; a third hath an universal Palsie, which takes away the use ofMark 2. 4Mark 2:4 all his limbs, can do nothing to help himself, p. 230but must be born on other mens shoulders, and saved by the communion of Saints; another hath by some great fall broken his bones, as David, and he lyes by it, full ofPsalm 51Ps 51 aches and complaints; another hath a soreLuke 4. 18Luke 4:18 rupture in his heart which much torments him; another a bloudy issue of foul corruption continually running; another sore woundedLuke 10. 30Luke 10:30 by falling among Cutters and Robbers; another Luke 13. 11Luke 13:11hath a spirit of infirmity, which bows him downe to the ground, cannot lift up himself to a heavenly conversation; another complaines of barrenesse, Ordinances have2 Kings 22 Kgs 2 no fruitful efficacy as to him, but like the unsavoury waters: another of bitternesse, Exodus 15. 23Exod 15:23Ordinances seeming to be the savour of death to death (he fears) and causing to miscarry, as those waters, 2 Kings 2. 19. Another sadly complaines of an universal Cachexia, Atrophy, and dislike, a sad Disease called, Non proficiency, which is next door to a Consumption; of such the Text speaks, they shall be healed, and then grow as the fatted Calves. Another againe complaines he is not one Disease, but all Diseases,Isaiah 1. 6Isa 1:6 from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot wounds, blaynes, putryfied sores. Totum pro corpore vulnus. Christ will undertake the cure of all.

Many other Diseases there are incident to several Christians: But five especially all the people of God are afflicted with.

p. 2311 They all alike partake of that morbus Ezekiel 16Ezek 16naturae, described by the Prophet, borne children of wrath, brought into the world naked, crying, defiled, lying in their bloud, unable to help themselves, uncapable of help from creatures; these doth Christ pity to see them dying, and saith Live, washeth, annointeth, feedeth, closeth, nurseth, adorneth, at last glorifieth them.

2. Besides this, all the godly are born blind, as he John 9. and are not like many otherLeonum & canum catuli, &c. creatures whose young see not for certaine dayes, but after that nature gives them sight; but we should never see, if Christ did not annoint our eyes with his eye-salve.

3. After these two are cured, all the Elect complaine yet of another, the most dangerous disease in the world, whereof Pharaoh 1 Sam. 25. 37.1 Sam 25:37died without remedy, and Nabal without sense; the Stone, the Stone of the heart, Ezek. 36. 26Ezek 36:26worse then that in the rains or bladder, which Nature may expell, or Art may cure, but nothing will help here but manus Christi: He quite taketh away the stone, and filleth it up with flesh.

4 After he is cured of this, every child of God comes to be stricken and sick of the Plague (the worst Disease) in his heart (the worst place) a painful, killing, tormenting Disease, and besides infectious. The Plague infects the breath, sweat, urine, cup, dish, so this plague of heart infects all our duties, acts, desires, Sacramental Cup and Bread; p. 232Every one hath his plague in his heart, and1 Kings 8. 381 Kgs 8:38 when he seeth it, and cryeth …ut to Christ, he will cure it; This all the Godly have, but it ripens, breaks, runs, and none dye of it. The wicked have taken the like Infection, but it lyes within them, never breaks to put them to that paine, but they irrecoverably dye of it.

5 After this, there is another Disease still. whereto all the godly are subject, the Falling sickness, ever since that fowle fall of our Parents. As Mephibosheth and his nurse2 Sam. 4. 42 Sam 4:4 fell together, and he lame all his life after. We are subject to Relapses, and new fits of Stone and of the Plague, subject to many stoppings, haltings, and that which theJe… ▪ …. 12, 14. 22 Hosea 14▪ 4Hos 14:4 Prophets c…l backslidings. These wil Christ heal as well as the former.

These are the five ordinary Diseases of the Godly, but there are three extraordinary, which befal some, not all; but Christ wil cure them too.

1. To be sick of love. A sad Disease, (ifCant. 5▪ 6Song 5:6 I may call it a Disease) but a safe Disease: Morbus vitalis, as Luther called a Godly Ministers sicknesse. Many complain of it, none dye of it. There be two sicknesses that are the sicknesses only of Saints.

1. To be sick of love to Christ. This is no Disease, but the best Constitution.

2 To be sick of sin, that sin revives, and Rom. 7. 9 Eccles. 7. 26Rom 7:9Eccl 7:26we dye. Such are safe, they shal find Gods p. 233savour sweeter then life, who find sin to them more bitter then death.

But there are two Diseases opposite to these which are killing.

1 To be Love sick to the Creature; Amnons 2 Sam. 132 Sam 13sickness cost him his life; love of theRomans 8. 6Rom 8:6 world (earths sickness) kills all, to be carnal minded is death.1 John 2, 151 John 2:15

2 To be sin sick, not of it, but for it, Ahabs, Amnons, Absaloms, Hamans Disease. This Hells sicknesse, and the Damned have no worse.

2. There is a worse Disease then that former; to be Serpent stung, Satan-bitten, Hellbeaten, buffeted, wounded with fiery darts, terrified with Satans rage and fowle accusations: and more, vexed with his ugly and odious representations, accusing God to us, as he did to our Parents, solliciting to the perpetrating of most abhorred acts, as he did our Saviour, injecting blasphemous thoughts, disputing and arguing thee into distrust, darknesse, disuse of means, solitarinesse, despondency, yea, to utter despair. Yet thus are the Israel of God stungNumbere 2… 1 John 3. 8 Acts 10. 38 foreign ▪ …. wholly subjugated, subdued, and under the power of the …. P. 8…. 7, 14▪ 161 John 3:8Acts 10:38 with fiery Serpents, and by the brasen Serpent cured. Christ came to dissolve the works of Satan, and healeth those who were oppressed by the divel.

3 A worse Disease then both those, is to be stricken of God, to have his face hid from us, and his indigration lying on the soul; his fierce wrath going over us, and his …err…rs p. 234cutting us off. How doth the soul take on when this scorching Sun, and scalding East wind beats upon the naked soul? The poyson of these arrowes drink up the spirits. WhoJob 6 Ps. 90. 11Job 6Ps 90:11 knoweth the terror of the Lord, or the Power of his wrath? None can expresse it, not the Damned that feel it: none can conceive it; but they who have lyen under it. The rack Stone, Gout, Child birth paines nothing to this. The wounded spirit who can bear? Iob Prov. 18 14 Job 6. 2, 3, 4Prov 18:14Job 6:2Job 6:3Job 6:4speaking of this, said, if his grief were weighed and put in the ballances, it would be heavier then the sands of the Sea, therefore my words are swallowed up, (he had not words to express it) for the arrowes of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit. The terrors of God set themselves in aray against me. Iob had patience to bear much, Job had not patience enough to bear this, but cryed out. This is the saddest Disease in the world, and is next door to hell, yet Christ recovereth these also.

These three last Diseases are Opprobria Medicorum, & Theologorum, not opprobria Christi. Christ giveth ease, and cureth all these.

Reas. 1. He is the great Physician, whose curing vertue and Office is set out by those many Resemblances in Scripture. 1. He isNumbers 21Num 21 the Brasen Serpent, upon which they that were stung with fiery Serpents were to look, and were cured. 2. He the Samaritan, whoLuk. 10 30, 31Luke 10:30Luke 10:31 when the Priest (Aaron with all his Sacrfices,) p. 235and the Levite (Moses with all Legal works of Righteousnesse) passed by and looked upon, unable to help, took pity on the wounded Traveller, bound up his wounds, and took care for his cure, and undertaketh to defray all charges. 3. HeRev. 22. 2Rev 22:2 the Tree of Life, whose fruit is our meat to feed to everlasting life, whose leaves our Medicine to prevent everlasting death. 4. He the good Shepheard, who taketh care of the whole flock of God, Seeking that which Ezek 34 16Ezek 34:16was lost, bringing again that which was driven away, binding up that which was broken, and strengthening that which was sick. And lastly, He the Sun (Phoebus) God of Physick: The Sun is the universal Physician of the inferior world, curing the Diseases and Distempers of the year, earth, aire, and creatures. The vernal Sun dryeth up the Ayrie Distillations, driveth away the earths cold, healeth barrenness, cureth Rheumes, Catarrhs, Agues, and other cold diseases in mans body. How many graves doth our Autumn Sun departing, dig? And how many new births and resurrections doth the March and May Sun produce? Christ is this Sun to the soul.

Reas. 2. The Commission given him by the Father upon this his undertaking enableth and obligeth him to this Charge. The Commission was sealed, Isa. 61. 1, 2. and openly read, Luke 4. 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach p. 236the Gospel to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the Captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. As therefore the Disciples substituted and subcommissioned by him to do some part of this work Ministerially, were enabled and assisted to heal all Diseases, cleanse Lepers, raise dead, castMark 6, 13Mark 6:13 out Divels; much more Christ who received the Original commission from the hands of his Father.

Reas. 3. His own disposition inclines him, as much as his Office or Commission betrusts him: He is the compassionate Samaritan; the merciful High Priest. How often is it said in the Gospel? He was moved with compassion and healed the sick. Hee took our sicknesses, and bare our infirmities: BareMatth. 8. 17Matt 8:17 them in his body by his Passion, bare them in his soul by compassion. Bajulavit, Bare them as a Porter the burden which was too heavy for us to bear. Christ is in his Office and Element when among languishing souls; where should the Physician be, but among the sick? Christs Church is the Pool, the proper Receptacle and Rendezvous of impotent persons. Christs Church is an Hospital, Nosocomion, the Spittle or Colledg for the Diseased. Moses Law excluded the Leprous 2 Kings 5 2 Chro. 26. …0.2 Kgs 52 Chr 26out of the Camp; Gehazi went out from Elisha's presence; Uzziah was driven out of the Temple when the Leprosie appeared: but Christ bringeth them into the Camp p. 237into the Church. David banished the blind2 Sam. 5. 82 Sam 5:8 and lame out of his City; Christ sendeth for the lame, blind, and halt, and setteth themLuke 14▪ …Luke 14 at his table.

Quest. What doth this healing imply?

Resp. 1. That Christ will ease the grief, heal the sore, as Physicians or Chiturgians do in bodily Diseases.

2. Purge out the peccant humors, and draw out the corruption.

3 When one is healed, the decumbent is revived, cheered, raised up; so those whom Christ doth heal shall say now, I am Isaiah 33. 24Isa 33:24not sick, the Lord hath forgiven my iniquity.

4 When one is healed, he hath strength in the weak part, and use of the disabled part; he can labor, travel, &c, David after his broken bones were set again, could pray, praise God, believe, resist sin, performe any Duty, as well as ever he could in all his life.

5 Then the danger of death is over; no danger to them that fear his name; Christ hath undertaken your cure, and yet never Patient dyed under his hand.

6 When one is healed, hee is restored to his perfect health to be as wel as ever he was; yea, some are made more healthful by Physick then ever they were before. Christ, whom he healeth, maketh to be as wel as before they fell ill; yes, in as good condition (for safety) as Adam before his fall; and in p. 238a better (for Glory) then could have been if Adam had not sinned. Adams sin cast us out of Paradise; Christ lets us into Heaven. Adams sin drove him from the Typical, Christ hath brought us to the Celestial tree of Life. Therefore this Sanitas is vera salus, Health and Salvation, or saving health. And Christ is not only foreign, but foreign. And as the Prophet joyned them in his Prayer, so Christ in his Promise, Heal me, and I shall be healed; Jer. 17. 14Jer 17:14save me, and I shall be saved.

Qu. 2. What are the means Christ useth in this healing?

Answ. Four especially.

1 His Word. He sendeth his word and Psalm 107. 20.Ps 107:20healeth them. He sends it, and the Minister is he that brings it. I create the fruit of the Isaiah 57. 20Isa 57:20lips peace, and I will heal him. The waters issuing out of the Sanctuary are healing waters,Ezek. 47. 9Ezek 47:9 and the Sabbath day was oft the day of Cures. The good word of a man makes theLuk. 13. Joh. 5 Proverb 12. 25Luke 13John 5 bones fat, and cheeres a drooping spirit: How forcible is the good Word of God then!

2. His bloud: By his stripes are we healed, every blow given Christ was a blow toIsaiah 53 1 Peter 2. 24Isa 531 Pet 2:24 our sin, every wound of Christ was health to our souls. The bloud of Christ, who through Hebrews 9. 14Heb 9:14the eternal Spirit offered himself to God, is only that which can ease the troubled, purge the defiled, and heal the wounded conscience. Christs spittle could cure the blind, his touch Mark 8. 23Mark 8:23open the eares and mouth of the dumb and p. 239deaf, his word could send home health toMark 7. 33 Matth. 8. 13 9. 20Mark 7:33Matt 8:13 the Centurions servant, his very garment stop an Issue of bloud, but only a plaister of his bloud can heal a broken heart, purge out old festered sores, and allay the Inflammations of the soul. This is present remedy against the venemous stings of Satans rage, and the poisoned Arrowes of Gods wrath.

It is not thy tears, if thou shouldest weep out thine eyes, nor thy bloud, if thou couldst bleed out thy heart, can heal thee: but this bloud perfectly cleanseth us from all sin, (all without exception.) It is Soveraign against1 John 1 71 John 1:7 all sores, sins, blasphemies, fear, despair it self. If Ahab and Saul, yea, if Cain and Judas had gone to this bloud, they had been saved. He whose sins are as Scarlet, shall become (being washed in this fountaine) as white as Snow. He that hath a bloudy Issue of bloudy crying Crimes (Davids bloody Issue or Manassehs) the blackest Malefactor; he that hath a bloody-flux of Oathes or Blasphemies, may be healed and saved, (Pauls bloody-flux of Blasphemy and Persecution.)

Many Diseases are Opprobria Medici, none Christi. Many sinners are dangerously sick, none can be desperately that he takes in hand The Divels case is desperate, mans not There is an impossibility they should be saved, but a possibility of every mans (even the vilest sinner) but a certainty of the Salvation of all that fear his name.

p. 2403 The Spirit of Christ. This is the oyl the Samaritan applyed to the wounded man, the former was the wine. Christ with his bloud washeth the sore, then with his Spirit softeneth, suppleth, closeth the wound. Justification and Sanctification are of an even length: to whom one, to him both belong, That is Purgative, this Restorative; that expels old ill humours, this breedeth new spirits.

4 His love and favour. In his favour is Psalm 30. 5Ps 30:5life, health, Salvation. This is Christs extreme unction which he useth; after this the soul is ready and willing to depart. The lovesick soul is only curable by the love of Christ shed abroad into the heart. This healing is under the wings of Christ: a Metaphor taken from birds, who cherish their young under their wings. It is the nearer approaches and warmer embraces of Christ that are our health. David calls The help of Gods countenance, Psal. 42. 5. the health of his own countenance▪ ver. 9. The sick child is half cured by lying in his Mothers bed and bosome. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort Isaiah 66. 13Isa 66:13thee, and thou shalt be comforted, saith the Lord to his afflicted people.

Christ is said to have wings for four Reasons.

1. The wings are to cover. The Cherubims with their wings covered their bodyes. Christs are covering (sin covering) wings.

p. 2412 The dams wings with their warmth recover the drooping young. Christs are sincovering, but soul-recovering wings.

3 The wings are used to secure the young. The Eagle carryes her young upon her wings, she …eareth nothing above, but only fromDeut. 32. 1…Deut 32:1 below, and it must pie…ce her first, if hurt her young. The hen hideth her chickens under her wings, nothing from below hurts them, but the Kites above. How safe areMatth. 23. 37Matt 23:37 the Godly whom Christ doth secure both wayes? beareth them on his wings, as the Eagle; hideth them under his wings as the Hen; that whether Satan above strike at the chicken, or the world below shoot at the young Eagle, both are safe; and Christ must bee first wounded ere wee are hurt.

4. The wings are given to hasten the flight, and speed the way. Christ is said to have wings, to shew when he comes how speedily he will come, and will not tarry; therefore is he for strength called a Gyant; he travelleth in his strength, mighty to save: Isaiah 63. 1 Canticles 8Isa 63:1Song 8for his expedition likened to the Roe, that is the swiftest Creature of foot; and yet for more swiftnesse, to the winged fowle whose motion is swifter then the Roes: He is said to ride upon the Horses and Chariots of Salvation; Hab. 3. 8Hab 3:8yea, for more swiftnesse yet, he is said to ride upon Cherubims, or the wings Psalm 18 Luke 17. 24Ps 18Luke 17:24of the wind; yet swifter his pace is as the lightning.

p. 242Quest. But there is a sad and serious Question to be answered If Christ have promised to come with healing, how is it that many fearing God remain uncured?

Ans. 1. It may be they are not healed, and then it is their sin.

2. It may be they are cured, and then it is their Error.

1. It may be they are not cured, and then it is their sin.

1 They go not to this Physician. They go from Doctor to Doctor, and from Duty to Duty, as shee that spent all on Physicians,Mark 5. 26Mark 5:26 and came to Christ in the last place. These are not better, but worse by Duties. The Silkworm spends the first part of her life in eating and sleeping; the latter in working; and dyes in working out of her owne bowels, Our last is not better then our first, if we are changed only from an idle to an operative (not believing) life, and from neglect of Duties go no further then to a performing and resting in Duties.

2 They go not to this Physician that they John 5. 40John 5:40may have life; but (may be) think they may wear it out, by strength of nature, orPsalm 32Ps 32 power of Grace. David thought once to get his peace, by holding his peace and keeping silence, but it would not be. And a godly soul sometimes gives over by too much contentedness and despondency, and saith, Wo is me for my hurt, my wound is Ser. 10. 19grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief▪ p. 243and I must bear it: Must bear it! as if no remedy but patience. But is there no Balm in Gilead for a wounded soul? is there no Physician there with healing in his Jer. 8. 2….Jer 8:2wings?

3 They do not believe Christ able, ready, self-sufficient; therefore Christ did not cureMatth. 13. 5…Matt 13:5 some because of unbelief.

4. They think to lick themselves whole by duties and endeavours. They repent, mourne, watch, fast afflict themselves mingling Christs blood with their own. It is as if a person infected with the Pestilence should think to heal himself by his spittle, breath, urine, licking his sores. All these are infected; it must be somewhat withoutLuke 7. 38Luke 7:38 him. Our tears of love may wash Christs feet, not our own though tears of greatest Repentance; onelyonly Christs water washed the Disciples feet, and his bloud all our hearts.

We are as Naaman **2 Kin. 5. Magis honorificum est habere aliquid ex merito quam ex donatione sola. Bellarm. Nobiliu… est aliquid habere … se, & per se, quam ab alio & per alium. Durand. Ab…it ut justi vitam aeternam ut pauper eleemosynam expectarent; multo namque gloriosius est, ipsos quasi victores & triumphatores eam possider… …anquam palmam suis sudoribus debitam. Tapper.2 Kgs 5, who would not receive health upon so easie termes, Wash and be clean; he could not believe it: He would have undergone it rather if the Prophet had required some harder service. Herein we are too much of affinity with that Popish Doctrine, who are not willing to give the whole glory of our Salvation to Christ and free Grace, but think it too much for Christ to give all, and too little for them to take all of p. 244grace, free gift, without any consideration of congruity, if not condignity of merit.

5. Or they neglect the rules and Physick prescribed, as too strong, too stirring, and too much weakning nature. Psal. 32. 3. David laid by Confession, Humiliation, Mortification, and such strong purging Physick, as not necessary for a person once justified. He thought a while, that once come to faith, and past repentance, (a justified person might after so fowle acts as comfortably apply the Promise, as confidently make prayers, as if he had never sinned) What need pardon be asked for a person once beloved? But he was taught another lesson ere he regained true peace. Nathan was sent to lance and cut such a ripe Impostume, and to apply sharp Corrosi…es to take down such proud flesh. The Apostle tells us in such a case, there must be mortifying Physick taken; weColossians 3. 5Col 3:5 must kill sin, or it, will kill us: Mortifie your earthly members; mortifie the deeds of the body, and live. There must be crucifying Galatians 5. 24Gal 5:24the flesh: now how much a do is there to get sin to the Cross! There must be cutting off of a rotten member, and how paineful that!

Answ. 2. They are cured, and it is their mistake to think they are not. For,

1 They expect a perfect cure, but that is not here. Christ hath two Hospitals, one in heaven of such as are perfectly cured; another in earth for such as are under cure.

p. 2452 One may be said to be healed, who is at ease to what he was, and when the danger of death is over, although he be not yet foreign, every whit whole. Israel wasJohn 7. 23John 7:23 delivered when by Moses brought out of Egypt, although not yet settled in Canaan. Thy case is good to such as lye still in their bloud, dead in trespasses and sins. The blind man was much better then before, when upon the first touch of Christ he saw men as trees walking; the second touch of ChristMark 8. 22, 23Mark 8:22Mark 8:23 made him see clearly. The first touch of Christ gives a dim sight of faith; the second touch at death, gives the clear sight of vision.

3 He is in a way of cure who complaine more of his sicknesse and paines, which hee felt lesse when he was in more danger. When the Plague sores break and run, it is more painful and noisom then in those who dye of it. What doth thy mourning for sin, and resisting of it imply, but thou art alive from Romans 6. 13Rom 6:13the dead. God seeth it meet to keep us humble; therefore after greatest favours some Messenger of Satan, thorn in the flesh, or stroke in the hollow of the thigh, to make us go halting and humbly to the grave. God to prevent further danger, sees it good to leave an Issue open (of godly sorrow) to carry away those humours which otherwise were more dangerous.

There are three Fountaines you read of in Scripture; these do not all run together; p. 246when one is open, another is shut.

1 The Fountain of sin; like her foreign a bloudy fountain; while this runs theMark 5. 29Mark 5:29 other are shut.

2 The Fountain of godly sorrow. When the hear… is a Spring, and the eyes Conduits as Mary M…gd…lens was, then is the former fountain dryed up.

3 The fountain of Grace opened forZachary 13. 1Zech 13:1 sin, foreign, a Fountain of blood, which is shut up and sealed to such as live in sin, but opened to such as have the fountain of godly sorrow opened in them. In that day there shall be opened to the house of David a fountain for sin and for uncleanness.

Jesus Christ is not one benefit, but many.Applic. Here are four promised, 1. Hee is a Sun, 2. of Righteousness, 3. with Healing, 4. with Growth. He is made of God, Wisdom, Iustification, … Cor. 1. 30Sanctification, Redemption, saith the Apostle; and here the same. 1. The Sun, here Wisdome. 2. Of Righteousness, there Justification. 3. Healing, there Sanctification. 4. Growth, there Redemption. He is All in All (as I said before) who is best resembled by those rare fruits, the Cocos and the Melt, whereof that divine Du Bartas thus in English.

—The Cocos f…r richer Wonders yeildsThe third day of the first week

Then all our groves, meads, orchards; gardens, fields.

p. 247What? wouldst thou drink? the wounded leavs drop wine,

Lack'st thou fine linnen? dress the tender rine;

Dress it like flax, spin it, and weave it well,

It shal thy Cambrick and thy Lawn excel.

Long'st thou for butter? bite the poulpy part,

And never better came to any Mart.

Needest thou oyl? then boult it too and fro,

And passing oyl it soon becometh so.

Or vinegar to whet thine appetite?

Then Sun it wel, and it will sharply bite.

Or want'st thou Sugar? steep the same astound,

And sweeter sugar is not to be found.

'Tis what you wil, or will be what you would;

Should Mydas touch't (I think) it would be gold

And in another place as much of the Melt, or as others call it, the Metle-tree.

There mounts the Melt which servs in MexicoDu Bartas Eden

For weapon, wood, needle and thred (to …ow)

Brick, hony, sugar, sucket, balm and wine,

Parchment, perfume, apparel, cord and line;

His wood for fire, his harder leaves are fit

For thousand uses of invencive wit.

Sometimes thereon they grave their holy things

Laws, Lauds of Idols, and the gifts of Kings:

Sometimes conjoyned by a cunning hand

Upon their roofs for rowes of tiles they stand:

Sometimes they twine them into equal threds;

Smal ends makes needles, greater arrow heads.

His upper sap the sting of serpents cures;

His new sprung bud a rare Conserve endures;

p. 248And they extract from liquor of his feet,

Sharp vinegar, pure hony, sugar sweet.

2 No mans sin or misery can make his case desperate where Christ is Physician. The Leprosie, dead Palsie, Stone in the heart, Bloudy Issue, heart Ruptures, Plague in the heart, the stinging of Serpents, strokes of divine vengeance; or whatsoever else is incurable by men or Angels, Christ doth perfectly cure without difficulty or danger.

3 Oh how then are we bound to God for sending such a Doctor from heaven when mans case was desperate? How much to Christ Jesus who voluntarily undertook such a low Imployment, to be master of the society of Cr…pples, lame, blind, impotent persons? When Charles the Great had perswaded Ayg…andus, an Affrican King; & … Mahometan, upon his voluntary promise to become a Chri stian, to receive Baptism, he entertained him at his Court & placed there a company of poor and lame people, at whom the barbarous King wondring, the Emperor told him they were the servants of our Master Jesus Christ; at which he grew offended, and refused to be a Christian, because he saw Christs servants to be in so mean condition. But it is the glory of Christ to have the greatest respect to such: What a speech is that? Heaven is my Isaiah 66. 1, 2Isa 66:1Isa 66:2throne, and earth my footstool, but to this man will I look who is of a contrite spirit and poor. p. 249God will leave heaven and earth, to look after a poor distressed soul. As a mother that hath other children whom she leaveth her ma…ds to look after, but one is sickly whom she saith, Ile look to this my self, I'l trust none of you'all, I'l sit up with it, stay by it, I'l not stir from it. So Christ chargeth the Angels to look after other of his Servants, but him that is poor and contrite in heart, saith Christ, I'l look to that poor soul: all you Angels have not skil, nor care, nor compassion enough, I'l not from him, but look to him; and he is wel looked to whom Christ looks to.

4. Here is then a singular encouragement for all distressed souls to go to Christ. To whom did he ever say, Thy case is past cure? Whom did he ever cast out, and reject with repulses and denyals? And now he is not absent, though invisibly present. His passion he hath put off, but not his compassion. Therefore, wouldst thou bee made whole? observe these five Directions.

1 Before all other means used, come to2 Chron. 16 Mark 5. 262 Chr 16Mark 5:26 Christ A…a was never cured because he only used meanes. The Haemorr…oesse never mended while she used means and came not to Christ.

But it must be, 1. A coming with Faith. Matth. 8. 2▪ & 8. 9Matt 8:2Matt 8:9The Centurions and the Lepers coming. Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make mee clean.

2 With Prayer, importunate Prayer, as p. 250that father, who besought Christ for his son, and put Omnipotency upon it, If thou canst Mark 9. 22Mark 9:22do any such thing, as ever thou didst help poor Creature, as ever thou wilt, have compassion on us and help us. This was the coming of the Canaanitesse, who when she had begg'dMatthew 15Matt 15 and waited for an answer, and at length was called dog or little better, shee retorts the terme, Lord I am a dog. But as ever kind Master threw crumb to dog, or as ever thou scatteredst the least crumb of mercy to poor unworthy creature, think upon mee. Her faith and importunity prevailed.

3 With Repentance. This Mary Luke 7 Luke 23Luke 7Luke 23Magdalens coming; and thus came the penitent Thief at the last hour and was saved; but the impenitent Thief dyed at the foot of Christ. Impenitency damnes while Christ looks on; and is trodden downe while it looks on the plenty that it self never tastes of. Were Christ to dye a thousand times, he would not save one Impenitent person.

2. Direction. After coming to Christ, then use of means, not before. Then must we go and wash in five waters.

1. In the water of Repentance▪ This was Magdalens wash, and wash seven times in this Jordan (with Naaman;) David washt2 Kings 52 Kgs 5 seven times, making so many Penitentiall Psalmes, upon his Penitential washings, and was cleansed. In this sense, we must be all Anabaptists, yea, Hemerobaptists; God p. 251commanded divers Baptisms, or washings, Heb. 9. 10. So oft as any touched a dead body, or any thing unclean, he was to wash againe; so we, so oft as we are defiled by any dead works (as they are called:) In whichNulli rei natus nisi ad poenitentiam. respect we may say with Tertullian, I am born to dayly repentance.

2. In the water of Baptisme, a more sacred laver, which we may not despise or neglect; it is a Gospel fountaine of Christs own opening. This our Poole of Siloam, to which all Christs are sent. Arise, why tar…yest Acts 22. 16 Ephes. 4. 5Acts 22:16Eph 4:5thou, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins. This washing is but once; there is one Lord, and one Baptism.

3. In the water of the Word. This is the Churches wash, wherewith Christ hath afterEphes. 5. 26 Ezra 47Eph 5:26 Baptism further cleansed his Church. That he may sanctifie and cleanse it by the washing of water with the word. The Word is as the water of the Sanctuary, Healing water. Wherewith shal the young man cleanse his way? Psalm 119 9Ps 119:9By thy Word. This is the Churches Holy water.

4. In the Bloud of Christ. This the most precious Bath above all the rest; the Kings Bath. Herein those sealed Saints had washed their long robes, and made them so white Rev. 7 14Rev 7:14in the Bloud of the Lamb.

5. After all these, the last washing is in the Sanctifying water of the Spirit. Christs Bloud fetcheth out the guilt, the Spirit the staine. This the Apostle calls the Laver of p. 252Regeneration▪ and Renovation of the Holy Tit. 3. 5.Titus 3:5Ghost. Christ Jesus comes with water and bloud. This was shadowed ou… in the Ceremonious1 John 5. 6.1 John 5:6 cleansing of the Leper▪ where there was the bloud of a slain bird applyed with another living bird, and running water, Lev. 14. 6 & 51Lev 14:6Lev 14:51and the person was pronounced clean. Besides the blood of a dead Saviour, there must be the application of running water, and a living spirit. Therefore beg after all the former washings, another dipping ofPsal. 51.Ps 51 the spirit; Lord wash me throughly from mine Iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin. If we be not thus Anabaptized, our first baptisme is null as to salvation. Except a man be born of water, and of the spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdome of God.

3. Direction. Then to Duties, (here is their proper place, not before) take up thy bed and walk; expect not Christ to say, thy sins are forgiven, goe in peace, be whole. AndMatth. 9. 6. John 5. 8, 9.Matt 9:6John 5:8John 5:9 that he should carry thy bed after thee, and bear thy yoake. There is some duty required after cure, when strength is given thee, from recovering and assisting grace; grace assisting must be sin resisting grace.

Israel was delivered from the Egyptians while they struck not a stroake, God fought for them; they must not expect they should alway stand still and see the salvation of God; and that the Canaanites should be overcome without battel; God will fight for them, they must go before the Lord armed, and p. 253fight under him. Justification and first conversion is Gods work, not ours; Christ fights for us, dyed for us; we stand still and see that salvation: Sanctification must be carried2 Cor. 7. 1. Phil. 2. 12.2 Cor 7:1Phil 2:12 on by our Endeavours also.

4. Direction. Then take heed of relapses. Remember that Item, Behold thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse evil come unto thee. Thou mayst sin thy self into a worseJoh 5. 14.John 5:14 condition then before; thou mayest sinne away thy peace, pardon, comforts; If thou return againe to folly. Great care must be had of taking cold in Physick taking, and ofPsal. 85. 8.Ps 85:8 relapses after a begun recovery.

5. Direction. Then wait after all for the Appearing of Christ. The rising of this Sun, with his neerer approaches; be still fearing his name, and ly at the Pool in use of means. His appearance will make thee whole and grow up, giving both strength and growth. All the Godly waite for the appearing of1 Cor. 1. 7. 2 Tim. 4. 8.1 Cor 1:72 Tim 4:8 Christ. A twofold appearance thou maist waitfor:

1. Here for a more full discovery of his favour, and a more sensible manifestation of his presence, which will cheer thy heart, and chase away all former feares and troubles.

2. A perfect manifestation of him selfe to thee at death, saying, Lord Iesus come, Rev. 22.Rev 22come quickly; this wipes away all tears from the eyes of Gods people.