Shepherdy Spiritualized, Tract · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Sheep ſick and weak, the Shepherd cures and heals.
Chriſt to his fainting ones his love reveals.
Obſervation.
HE reſtoreth my Soul: The Phraſe is variouſly rendred and as variouſly underſtood. Briefly it ſeems to hint one iMe languentem refocillat promiſſionibus, Piſc. Me errantem a …ectâ vivendi & credendi ratione reduxit. Gen.of theſe two ſenſes here. Either when my Soul is even gone out of my body, (as in a ſwoon) he returns or brings it back by powerful refreſhings: thus the words are uſed, Lament. 1. 11. 16. or he ſeth me to return, viz. into the good right way, when I wander and go aſtray, Pſal. 119. 176. we may make iſſue both waies, and firſt of the firſt.
The Shepherds care is not only for the ſtrong and healthy Sheep, to provide food for them; but alſo for the ſick and diſtempered ones, that Phyſick may be prepared for them. The variety of diſeaſes to which Sheep are incident, will be our conſideration hereafter, when we diſcourſe to the nature of the Sheep. Our preſent work is to conſider the care which every faithful Shepherd hath of the weak and diſtemper'd Sheep; not to let them lye in the ditch and periſh: but to ſtudy the diſtemper, and a ſuitable remedy, and make ſpeedy and careful application of it. They that are healthy and ſtrong can better ſhift, than they that are weak and infirm, and therefore the greater care is expected of ſuch, that they faint not, droop not, dye not. The neglect of this care 'tis that God reproves his naughty Shepherds for, Ezek. 34. 4. where the omiſſion of their care is noted by their neglect toward thoſe that were not in a good condition, for if theſe be neglected how are the reſt cared for? He reckons up alſo five diſtinct male-affections wherewith he mentions the Sheep to be troubled: diſeaſed, ſick, broken, driven away, loſt, under which all other like troubles are comprehended It's not much worth our time to enquire what may be the difference between one and the other of theſe: probably he calls thoſe diſeaſed, whoſe pain or grief lay in one member or limb: and thoſe ſick, whoſe whole body was diſtemper'd and diſeaſed: that which was broken intends either wounds received from ſome beaſt of prey, or caſual ſlip, &c. that which was driven away is that which was puſht, or had fallen into ſome ditch, hole, &c. This ſpeaks how much it is the duty of Shepherds to have regard to, and care of ſuch as are thus diſtreſſed. Ye have ſomewhat a like complaint of the like falſhood, Zech. 11. 16. where the Prophet hints that the broken and diſeaſed have as much need of cure, as thoſe that are ſtrong and well of care for food. There are in a Flock the hidden or cut off, loſt and gone out of the way, whom it is a fault not to viſit and ſeek out: there are young ones more apt to wander than others, whom it is the Shepherds duty in a ſpecial way to ſeek, and have an eye to: There are the broken with afflictions or any Caſualties, who are to be healed, not cruſhed; and there are that ſtand ſtill for weakneſs, not being able to go on, and theſe are to be fed, and born (as the word is) with tenderneſs and compaſſion, if need be. The good Shepherd therefore in perâ geſtat unguentum, hath his Medicine ready in his ſcrip to apply as need requires: he not only not breaks the ſound, but alſo he binds up the broken. The neglect of this care Virgil reproves kAlitur vitium, vivit que tegendo, Dum medicas adhibere manus ad vulnera pastor Abnegat & meliora Deos ſedet omnia poſcens, lib. 3. Bucol. foreign omnim̄oda rei perditio.as in the margent, the Flock is ſpoild, whilſt the Shepherd neglects his care and cries God help.
Application.
Herein alſo Jeſus Chriſt manifeſts himſelf the great and good Shepherd, according to the word of promiſe, Ezek. 34. 16. however others neglect or ſlubber over their work, he will do it carefully, faithfully, and diligently. We may follow the particulars in the text, and ſee the truth.
Firſt, he ſeeks that which was loſt, loſt with an utter deſtruction as to it ſelf. The Hebrew word * ſignifieth a total ruine, ſuch as reduceth a thing to not being, for it is oppoſed to the generation; ſuch a deſtruction as is joyned with Hell, Pro. 15. 11. and 27. 20. whence the Devil hath his name Abaddon, Revel. 9. 11. tranſlated there into Greek of a like ſignification, Apollyon, in both the Deſtroyer or Deſtruction. This is the ſtate of all the Children of Adam by rebellion againſt God, Children of wrath Epheſ. 2. 2. becauſe of diſobedience; ſo actively, full of wrath and hatred againſt God, God-haters in our corrupt natural ſtate; ſo paſſively, lying under the conſuming and utterly deſtroying indignation and wrath of God. Now the chief Shepherd hath a name directly oppoſite to that of the Angel of the bottomleſs pit; his name is JESUS, in Hebr. a Saviour, whoſe work and imploiment he himſelf tells you what it was, Luk. 19. 10. to ſeek, and to ſave what was loſt; ſo indeed, and ſo in their own apprehenſion Hence his care of Iſrael, in ſending his Diſciples to them, Mat. 10. 6. as being himſelf peculiarly ſent to them, Chap. 15. 24. Theſe this Shepherd lforeign Studioſe quaero, ſummo conatu, ambulatione & pedib….ſeeks: The Hebr. word hath the ſignification of ſedulous diligence, to ſeek with a great deal of care and diligence, to walk up and down that we may find. Chriſt came from Heaven to Earth, from the glory of the Father, to the form of a Servant, and being among men, he went up and down to ſeek and ſave Him that knoweth himſelf not a wandring Sheep only, but quite loſt, even in the Lions paw, his jaws, ready to be devoured, ſuch doth Chriſt take upon his neck, and like a good Shepherd bring home. Thus hath he dealt by all that have been brought to life by him, he hath ſnatcht them out of the mouth of the Lion and Bear, as David did the Lamb; ſnatch them out of the power of darkneſs, Col. 1. 13. He turns them ſrom darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Act. 26. 18.
Secondly, He brings again that which was driven away, puſht away with force, (or as ſome render the word) thruſt into a ditch or pit. Sheep wandring from the Flock and the Shepherds eye, are apt to fall into holes, where they will periſh, if not found, taken out, and brought back. Whether we underſtand it of ſuch as are fallen into ſome ditch of ſin, or wandring from the way of truth and holineſs, it comes to neer one ſenſe. Such Chriſt takes out and brings home. He had given a law for this to the Jews, Ex. 23. 4. Deut. 22. 1. that they might learn pity to beaſts, much more to men, which therefore himſelf extends chiefly to their Souls; and juſtifieth his doing good to the body of a man on the ſabbath day, by this acknowledged practice of their own, Mat. 12. 11. Thus he brought again David after many ſlips and that ſhameful fall in the matter of Ʋriah: Solomon alſo after his wallowing in Adultery and Idolatry, in his Eccleſiaſtes to acknowledge the vanity he had found in all Sins paths, and to manifeſt his return to the Lord, by his rejoyning himſelf to the Church. Peter too after his woful denial of his Maſter, he left not, till he had by a look of grace broken his heart, and by a flood of Tears brought him home: who therefore can affectionately by experience ſpeak of going aſtray like Sheep, and of returning to the Shepherd and Biſhop of Souls. 1 Epiſt. 2. 25. Chriſt ſealed up his love to him, in particularly acquainting him with his reſurrection, Mar. 16. 7. and extracted a mAequum erot, ut̄ triplici abnegationi triplex confeſſio app…n…retur; ne de tanti peccati remiſſione, & restitutione muneris Apoſlolici dubitaret Pet. us. Bez.threefold confeſſion of love from him, to anſwer his threefold denial. And it is very obſervable (as Janſenius notes) that our Saviour after his reſurrection, for the comfort of true Penitents, appeared firſt to Mary Magdalene (not to the Virgin Mary, as Papiſts ſay) and Peter who had been grievous ſinners; yea, we may put in all his diſciples into this number of wandring Sheep brought home, who ſo ſhamefully had forſaken him, and yet he return'd them to his Fold: and the many revolters and wanderers whom he every day returns to himſelf, healing their backſliding becauſe he loves them freely.
Thirdly, he binds up that which is broken, broken and even ſhivered to pieces, with the ſenſe of Sin, and fear of wrath: ſo broken, as if all their bones were rattling in their skin. This was David's caſe, Pſal. 51. 8. by mentioning bones he notes the great grief of his mind for fear of the wrath of God, that it went even to his bones, [Which thou haſt broken] viz. with fear of thy vengeance: It hints moſt exquiſite pain, like him whoſe bones are broken, ye have ſomething like from him, Pſal. 38. 3. by leaping over the pale of Gods Commands, he had broken his bones, and they pained him ſorely, i. e. by his great Sin he had wounded his Soul, which wrought him no ſmall diſquiet. Now the great Shepherd binds up theſe broken bones. For this was he anointed, Iſa. 61. 1. All three offices of Chriſt are by ſome found hinted in that verſe: He preacheth glad tidings, as a Prophet; bindeth up the broken-hearted, as a Prieſt; openeth the Priſon-door to thoſe that are bound, as a King. We may put them together, as good Chirurgions bind up wounds with ſwaths, &c. ſo Chriſt allays the grief of his people, for God's wrath provoked by their ſin, with the tenders of his grace. He hath manum medicam: He is the true Samaritan, Luk. 10. 33, 34. not the Phyſician only, (Exod. 15. 26.) but the Chirurgion alſo of his People. cataplaſmans & obligans, plaſtring and binding up their wounds, given them by the Devil (that wicked Thief) then when the Prieſt and Levite, the Law both moral and ceremonial, have paſſed them by, and yielded them no help at all. He hath ſplinters for broken Leggs, and Cataplaſms for green wounds: Wine and Oyl to pour in, to cleanſe and heal the Wounds of Sin-ſick-ſouls. He that hath adviſed his ſpiritual ones to have a tender Ladies hand with a Lions-heart in reſtoring a fallen Brother, Gal. 6. 1. (foreign, ſet him in joynt again; The Phraſe is borrowed from Chirurgions, who being to deal with a broken bone will handle the ſame very tenderly;) will not but ſhew much tenderneſs himſelf to ſuch: He will reſtore comfort to ſuch mourners, Iſa. 57. 18. they that mourn in Sion, and they that mourn for Sion, have ſpecial regard from God, and for them he creates the fruit of the lips, peace, peace, i. e. full and perfect peace.
Fourthly, He ſtrengtheneth that which is ſick; turns Phyſician too as well as Chirurgion: gives ſomething inwardly to cure the Diſtempers that are within. Ah how ſick doth ſin make the Soul! Sin and Wrath, like a Diſeaſe and Phyſick in the Stomach, make ſad work, till it be vomited up. Chriſt hath both purging and cordial Phyſick for his: He works upon their corruptions to drive them out, by the bitter Aloes of affliction he kills the Worms, which ſweet meats have cauſed; he purgeth their filthineſs out, by giving them bitter things to drink, Iſa. 27. 9. the taking away of noxious humours, is the ready way to add ſtrength to the body. It was good for David that he had been afflicted, Pſal. 119. 71. it rid him of thoſe two evil humours, high-mindedneſs and earthly-mindedneſs, Pſal. 131. 1. And when he hath well cleanſed them, he gives dainty reſtoratives, whereby their ſtrength is renewed. He addeth ſtrength to his in their way, Job. 17. 9. Heb. ſhall add ſtrength, i. e. ſhall be fortified more and more; ſhall ſtrengthen himſelf more in his piety and good waies. When I am weak, then am I ſtrong, ſaid Paul, 2 Cor. 12. 10. ſtrongeſt through hope in Chriſt, when weakeſt through ſenſe in my ſelf, not only by an intrinſecal diſpoſition, that we are more inclined to ſeek help and ſtrength; but indeed by a ſpiritual capacity, Jeſus Chriſt is more ready to beſtow ſtrength, when we are ſenſible of our own weakneſs.
Reflections.
Have I many Infirmities? Am I ſenſible of many wounds and diſtempers, For the poor weak and ſickly Believer.inward, outward, that attend me? And am I ſometimes afraid, leſt I may be born down, and carried away by ſuch weakneſſes? Lo, here! what matter of refreſhment? My Shepherd is for curing the ſick and weak, as well as for feeding the ſtrong and lively. He not only hath care to provide and drive his to paſtures that may be ſweet and refreſhing to them; but he alſo is tender to find out relief for thoſe that are weak and under any debility. David knew this by experience, and therefore under the ſenſe of his weakneſſes he addreſſes to God, Pſal. 41. Heal my Soul, nDi…it animam, non corpus, quòd ſciret peccata cauſam eſſe morbi, nec dubitabat, quin convaleſcente animâ per expiationem peccatorum, corpori quo que rectius eſſe futurum, Mu. ex K.for I have ſinned againſt thee. He mentions his Soul, not his body, becauſe he knew ſin was the cauſe of all his bodily ails, and doubted not but if his Soul were recovered through the pardon of ſin, it would be well enough with his Body. Or, he may intend properly, his Soul, oAnimam propriè intelligit cùm & alibi David in oerumnis etiam externis fundamenti loco praerequirat integritatem animae, Gei.for it is uſual with David even in outwardtroubles, to begg integrity of Soul, as his ſupport. Thus, to be healed, Iſa. 6. 10. is to have their ſins forgiven, Mar. 4. 12. O Lord, heal my Soul of ſin, and then my body of ſickneſs, or elſe if thou pleaſe to keep me ſickly ſtill, I ſhall bear it better, and improve it to more advantage. Why ſhould I deſpond, and ſay, I ſhall one day periſh through this or that ſickneſs? What though it be dangerous, and this dangerous diſeaſe be inveterate? Yet, to an pOmnipotenti Medico nullus inſanabilis occurrit morbus, Iſidor.Omnipotent Phyſician no diſeaſe is incurable. I am, it's true, bent to back-ſliding, 'tis my great evil, and I do lament it, but that is high encouragement, Hoſ. 14. 4. I will heal their back-ſlidings, I qNon dicit delicta, errores, ſed ponit atrox nomen, defectionem a Deo; ut oſtendat ſe vel atrociſſima peccata ſanaturum. Calv.will love them freely. The Lord calls not their ſin by an eaſie and ſoft term, but by the moſt heinous, back-ſliding, diſobedience, rebellion, that he might ſhew how he heals, pardons the worſt that men commit; becauſe the Phyſician is great, and the Phyſick fit, the Bleſſed JeſusrSanabo] nempe per Christum; qui eſt medicus animarum, Dru….
Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bleſs his Holy For the healed and refreſhed Believer.Name. Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all (no not any of all) his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diſeaſes. Pſal. 103. 1, 2, 3. O my ſoul! how ſhouldſt thou be carried out of thy ſelf, even as far as Heaven, to admire the Lords goodneſs, and to render thanks to his Majeſtie? How hath he ſet the bones, which Sin had once broken, that thy broken bones may rejoyce in him? Canſt thou not look back, O my Soul! and conſider the time when thou wert full of Diſtempers, from head to foot little ſoundneſs in thee: yet, how hath He reſtored health and ſtrength to thee? Well mayeſt thou cry out, Jehovah Rophe Exod. 15. 26. the Lord, the Phyſician, is he that healeth me. As he teacheth, none like him, ſo he healeth none like; inſide, outſide, corporal, ſpiritual diſeaſes, he doeth all away; he cureth his People on both ſides, and maketh them whole every whit. He ſmiteth and he healeth, Iſa. 19. 22. Bleſſed be the Lord, that hath given me to experience this Grace; that hath given me in any meaſure to know what holineſs is, that my Soul may deſire and embrace it. Surely it's health to the navel, and *Quod ſanitas i… corpore id ſanctitas in corde.marrow to the Bones: May my Soul grow and thrive, that my youth may be renewed as the Eagles, Pſal. 103. 5. Bleſſed be the Lord, that when I was going aſtray as a loſt Sheep, (ready to periſh) did ſeek his Servant, Pſal. 119. 176. and hath cauſed me to return unto the Shepherd and Biſhop of my Soul▪ 1 Pet. 2. 25.