The Last Judgment, Tract · Doctrine 41
Ver. 45. Inaſmuch as ye did it nt to one of the leaſt of theſe, &c.
Doct XLI. is this, That the leaſt of Chriſts Saints and Members, are not to be neglected and diſregar…ed in their Afflictions and Neceſsities, for Chriſt takes himſelf as neglected and diſregarded in them, and win make it appear to the wicked at the laſt day.
For opening of which, let me ſhew, 1. Who theſe Leaſt are that he ſpeaks of. 2. Why they are not to be neglected and diſregarded. 3. Why he will take himſelf to be neglected and diſregarded in any one of them. 4. The Uſes.
For the firſt: By theſe leaſt of Chriſts Members, we are to underſtand, 1. Thoſe that are the leaſt in age, the youngeſt of thoſe that are his Members, Mat. 18.10. 2. Thoſe that are the n…eaneſt and pooteſt of them, for they are counted among the leaſt of them. 3. Thoſe that are leaſt in worth, either in their own or others eſteem, Gen. 32.18. 1 Sem. 15.17. 4. Thoſe of them that are of loweſt degree and rank among them, they are reckoned as the leaſt. 5. Thoſe that are leaſt reckoned of, and moſt deſpiſed among men. 6. Thoſe that are leaſt looked and ſought after; and cared for, Jer. 30.…7.
Queſt. 2. Why are they not to be neglected and diſregarded in their Afflictions and Ne…eſsities?
Anſw. 1. They have had the ſame Price paid for their Ramone that others have, 1 Tim. 2.5, 6. 2. They are Chriſts Members and Brethren as well as others: ſo the Text. Chriſt calls poor Fiſhermen his Brethren, John 20.17. Heb. 2.11. 3. They are Partakers of the Divine Nature, as well as others, 2 Pet. 1.4. 4. They are Chriſtians as well as others, and made Kings and Prieſts, Rev. 1.5, 6. & 5.10. 1 Pet. 2.9. Pſal. 45.16. 5. They are Heirs of the Kingdome, James 2.5. Luke 12.32. 6. They have a bleſſed Guard about them, Mat. 18.10. 7. They are the Lords Called and Choſen ones, as well as others, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28. 8. They are ſuch as the Lord counts the world unworthy of, Hebrews 11.38. 9. They are the Deliverers of the places that they live in, Eccleſ. 9.14, 15. 10. They are the Lords excellent ones, as well as others, Pſal 16.3. Now theſe having all this Honour put upon them, it is evident that they are not to be neglected in their Neceſſities.
Queſt. 3. Why wi… Chriſt take himſelf as neglected, in the neglect of one of theſe?
Anſw. 1. Becauſe every one of theſe, helps to make up the Body of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 12.27. 2. Becauſe as in the Natural Body, the Head cannot ſay to the Foot, I have no need of thee, 1 Cor. 12.21. So here. 3. Becauſe every Saint receives Influence and Nouriſhment from Chriſt, Epheſ. 4.16. 4. Becauſe every Saint is knit to Chriſt, Coleſſ. 2.19. 5. Becauſe every Saint, yea the leaſt and meaneſt is an ornament and ſupport to the Body; as the little Finger, the little Toe in the Natural Body: ſo here. 6. Becauſe the leaſt and moſt feeble Members in the Body are much more neceſſ…ry, 1 Cor. 12.22.
Ʋſe 1. for Information: 1. We ſee what neceſſity there is that every Saint be pitied and tendred, for not one of theſe is to be neglected, Mat. 5.42. Luke 6.30. 2. We ſee that the meaneſt and pooreſt Saints, which the men of the world look not after, are in higheſteem with Chriſt, for …e ſayes, Inaſ…uch as ye did it not to one of the leaſt. &c. 3. We ſee that when poor fatherleſs Children are neglected, not cared for, not provided for in their neceilities, the Lord Jeſus is neglected and is a ſurferer in them. 4. We ſee how great the Condemnation of the world will be, that are ſo far from relieving every one of the leaſt of Saints, that they ſu…fer many to die for want of that relief that they might miniſter to them, and no way hurt their eſtates by it. 5. We ſee that the leaſt of Saints, and thoſe that are moſt deſpiſed of men, have one friend that they may ſafely truſt in, though it may be they cannot ſay they have any friend to care for them in the world beſides. 6 We ſee that if the leaſt of the Saints be not to be neglected, but Chriſt takes it as if himſelf be neglected in them; Oh how will he charge it upon them that have neglected them, that they have owed themſelves unto, Philem. 9.19. 7. We ſee that great is the price that Chriſt ſets upon his leaſt Saints. 8. We ſee that the loweſt condition, and moſt deſpiſed in this world, is no ſtop or barre to Chriſts love to his people: His love is great to the leaſt of his. 9. We ſee that one of Chriſts Brethren, yea one of the leaſt of them, is of more worth with Chriſt Jeſus, then all the wicked men in the world. 10. We ſee a reaſon why God gives wealth to wicked men, that he may condemn them the more juſtly for not relieving his leaſt and meaneſt Members, Eccleſ. 5.13. 11. We ſee that wicked men will damn themſelves for a ſmall matter. 12. We ſee how execrable and deteſtable the Sin of Coretouſneſs ſhould be to us, Pſal. 10.3.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour: 1. To all thoſe that rob the fatherleſs of their Right, Prov. 23.10, 11. 2. To thoſe that provide not for them; they do it not to Chriſt. 3. To thoſe that deſpiſe the poor, and miniſter not to them. 4. To thoſe that are of a covetous ſpirit.
Ʋſe 3. for Exhortation: 1. To Wicked men. 2. To Chriſts leaſt and deſpiſed ones.
To Wicked men. 1. To ſee their ſin, in deſpiſing and neglecting Chriſts pooreſt and meaneſt ones, to prevent this Judgement, if it may be. 2. To beware of thinking lightly and meanly of any of Chriſts Members. 3. To tremble at the Judgement that is coming upon them. 4. To come off to every one of Chriſts in a way of mercy.
2. To theſe Saints, how little ſoever. 1. To be content with their condition, how mean ſoever it be, they are dear to Chriſt. 2. To forgive thoſe that are unkinde to them, for Chriſt will reckon with them. 3. To take to heart the indignities that are offered to Chriſt. 4 To rejoyce to think of the day of Judgement, for then Chriſt will own them, though men do not now. 5. To walk weanedly from the world.
Ʋſe 4 for Conſolation: 1. Againſt the Saints neceſſities, and mens hard heartedneſs. 2. Againſt the meaneſt condition that they are caſt into. 3. Againſt mans contempt, … Chriſt own us, it's no matter.