The Works of William Bridge Volume 1, Part 1 · Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
HEBREWES 2.17, 18.
Wherefore in all thing it behoved him,Preached at Stepney May. 16. 1647. to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful, and faithful High-Prieſt, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the ſins of the people. For in that He himſelfe hath ſuffered being tempted, he is able to ſuccou them that are tempted.
IT hath been opened and applied, that the work of the High-Prieſt, was, and is, To ſatisfie for the ſins of the people; to make Interceſſion for them; and to offer up their Gifts unto God the Father; all which Chriſt doth for us.
I ſhall ſpeak of one work more of our great High-Prieſt, and that is, To bleſs the people. We reade in the Old-Teſtament, of two ſorts of High-Prieſts: One according to the order of Aaron, the Levitical High-Prieſt, (as I may ſo ſpeak) and his work was, for to Bleſs the People; as we may reade in the 6. Chapter of Numbers, & the 23. verſe: Speak unto Aaron, and unto his Sons, ſaying, On this wiſe ye ſhall bleſs the Children of Iſrael, ſaying unto them &c. There was another High-Prieſt; not according to this order of Aaron; and that was Melchiſedec: and he alſo did Bleſſe Abraham. And the Apoſtle ſpeaking of him as a great Type of, and in relation to Jeſus Chriſt our great High-Prieſt, in the 7. Chapter of this book of the Hebrews, and the 6. verſe, ſaith, That he bleſſed Abrabam: But he whoſe deſcent is not counted from them, received tithes of Abraham, and Bleſſed him that had the Promiſes. So then, this Bleſſing of the people, being the work of both the High-Prieſts; and both Aaron and Melchiſedec being great types of Jeſus Chriſt our High-Prieſt; Surely, it muſt needs be one of the great works of our High-Prieſt, for to bleſſe the people.
For the opening, and cleering up of this Truth, I ſhall endeavour to diſcover:
Firſt, What the Bleſſing of Chriſt our High-Prieſt is, wherein conſiſts, and what Chriſt doth when he doth Bleſs the people.
Secondly, That it belongs unto Jeſus Chriſt eſpecially, for to Bleſs the people.
Thirdly, That our Lord and Saviour Chriſt, our great High-Prieſt is exceeding willing for to Bleſs poor ſinners; and that this Bleſſing of the people, is a work whereunto he is much inclined, and wherein he is much delighted.
Fourthly, That he doth this, and doth it fully.
Fifthly, according to our method: How all this doth conduce unto our Comfort, and unto our Holineſs.
Firſt If ye aske me, What the Bleſſing of Chriſt, Queſt. 1 and of the Goſpel is; and wherein it conſiſts?
I anſwer Firſt in the General, That the Bleſſing of the Goſpel, Anſw. and of Chriſt, conſiſteth in Spiritual things eſpecially, and not in Temporal. And therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, in that 1. of the Epheſians, and the 3. verſe: Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath bleſſed us, with all Spiritual bleſſings, in Heavenly places in Chriſt. The Curſe, and Judgments of God, that do befal men now under the Goſpel, are not in outward afflictions, and bodily troubles ſo much; as in Spiritual miſeries, Blindneſs of mind, and Hardneſs of heart: And ſo alſo on the contrary, the bleſſing of the Goſpel, doth not conſiſt much in Outward things, as in Spiritual, Who hath bleſſed us with Spiritual bleſſings. Indeed, if we look into the old Teſtament we ſhall find, That when Moſes did bleſs the people, he bleſt them much in Temporal bleſſings. in the 28. of Deuteronomy, and the 2. verſe. All theſe things ſhall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou ſhalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God. What bleſſings are thoſe? Bleſſed ſhalt thou be in the city, and bleſſed ſhalt thou be in the field: bleſſed ſhall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattel, the increaſe of thy kine, and the flocks of thy ſheep: bleſſed ſhall be thy basket and thy ſtore. Thus he goes on in outward bleſſings. But now, if we look into the Goſpel, and conſider the bleſſings of Jeſus Chriſt, and lay them together with Moſes, we ſhall find them to be Spiritual bleſſings. In the 5. of Matthew, and the 3. verſe, &c. Bleſſed are the poor in ſpirit, for their's is the Kingdom of Heaven: Bleſſed are thoſe that mourn, for they ſall be comforted. Indeed the promiſe of the earth comes is at the 5. verſ; but he returns again to Spiritual bleſſings: Bleſſed are they which hunger and thirſt after rightouſneſs; for they ſhall be filled. Bleſſed are the pure in heart; for they ſhall ſee God. Here are Spiritual bleſſings; this is the ſtream of the Goſpel, it runs this way. When the Lord bleſſeth a man, he gives him that which is ſutable to him. In the times of the Goſpel, men are more Spiritual than they were in the times of the Law; therefore Goſpel-bleſſings, they are Spiritual bleſſings. Every thing gives, and communicates to another, according to what it hath it ſelf: The Sun communicates light unto the world; becauſe it hath light it ſelf: And man communicates the nature of man unto his child, becauſe he hath the nature of man himſelf. So our Lord Chriſt, when he Bleſſes, he communicates according unto what he hath himſelf; and his bleſſings eſpecially conſiſting in ſpiritual things, ſo he doth bleſſe. Indeed, as in the times of the Old Teſtament there were Spiritual bleſſings, that were mixt with Temporal, by vertue of the Covenant that was made with Abraham: So now, Outward bleſſings are thrown in as an overplus: but yet notwithſtanding, though they be not ſpiritual in their nature, they are ſpiritual in their end; and ſo it is true to ſay, That the bleſſing of the Goſpel, and of Chriſt is a ſpiritual bleſſing.
But more particularly, if yet ask me wherein this conſiſteth? I ſhall name but Two things:
Firſt, This Bleſſing of the Goſpel, or of Chriſt, it conſiſts in a ſupernatural, and ſpiritual injoyment of God in Chriſt, the love and favour of God in Chriſt. When the Prieſts bleſt in the time of the old Teſtament, in that 6. of Numbers, they ſaid, The Lord cauſe his face for to ſhine upon you. The Lord make his face for to ſhine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee: the Lord bleſſe thee, and keepe thee. Verſe, 24, 25, 26. Which the Spoſtle Paul expounding, in the 2 Cor. the 13. Chapter and the 14. verſe, renders it thus: The grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghoſt, be with you all. Amen. The Lord bleſſe thee, the Lord cauſe his face to ſhine upon you; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you: Three times, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord; noting the Trinity; which the Apoſtle here explains by the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. Bleſſed are the pure in heart: Mat. 5.8for they ſhall ſee God. Seeing of God, is a bleſſing out of the mouth of Chriſt, a Goſpel-bleſſign. And what is it for a man to ſee God? In the phraſe of the old Teſtament, the Hebrew, to See, it is ordinarily uſed for to Injoy. In the 4. Pſalme. Who will ſhew us any good? The word in the Hebrew is, Who will make us to See any good? that is t Injoy good. So then, to ſee God, it is to injoy him. When Jacob injoyed God, he ſaw him; and the place it was called, Peniel; for he had ſeen the Lord, and there the Lord bleſt him. There's no ſeeing of God but in Chriſt. And therefore I ſay, that herein confiſts the bleſſing of the Goſpel, in a ſupernatural, and ſpiritual in joyment of God in Chriſt, the favour and love of God in Chriſt.
Again, It conſiſts alſo, in the Inhabitation of the holy Ghoſt in our hearts: the giving out of the holy Ghoſt unto the hearts of men. And therefore it is added in that place of the Corinthians; And the Communion of the holy Ghoſt, be with you all. Amen. That muſt needs be the great bleſſing of the Goſpel, and ſo of Chriſt; that is the thing promiſed in the Goſpel. What is that? If we look into the 1. Chapter of the Acts of the Apoſtles, and the 4. verſe, It is ſaid there of the Diſciples, That they ſhould wait for the promiſe of the Father. Chriſt commaded them that they ſhould not depart from Jeruſalem, but wait for the promiſe of the Father. What is that? We know what it was, and is, that which befel afterward; it was the giving out of the holy Ghoſt: the holy Ghoſt fell upon them, & this is called THE promiſe of the Father. That as in the times of the Old Teſtament, the promiſe was, the giving of the Son, and coming of the Second Perſon: So after Chriſt came, the great promiſe was, the coming of the Third Perſon, and the giving of the holy Ghoſt. When I am gone (ſaith Chriſt) I'le ſend ye another Comforter. He that beleeveth, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water. This he ſpake concerning the Spirit, which was not yet given, in thoſe extraordinary emanations of giſts and graces, becauſe he was not yet gloriſied. So then, the great Bleſſing that was to be given unto the children of men, the great Goſpel-bleſſing, was the giving out of the holy Ghoſt: this is a Goſpel-bleſſing indeed.
Well, Queſ. But what doth Chriſt do, when he doth Bleſs?
It's obſervable, Anſw. 1 that when any Superiour did Bleſſe; a father did bleſſe his child, or the like, he did obſerve what was the choice mercy, and good in thoſe times, and he did wiſh that unto his child, or unto his inferiour. And ſo in Iſaac, and Jacobs time; the choice good it was, The dew of Heaven: and when they did bleſſe their children, they wiſh't unto them the dew of Heaven. So now, when our Iord Jeſus, our great High-Prieſt doth bleſſe any man; obſerving that the choice mercy of the Goſpel, is the injoyment of God in Chriſt, the favour and love of God, and the giving out of the holy Ghoſt into a mans heart; he doth wiſ all this good unto him, and he ſaies unto God the Father; Lord, let this poor ſoul have thy favour; Oh! cauſe thy face to ſhine upon this poor ſoul, and give out the holy Ghoſt unto it that it may walk after the ſpirit.
In the Second place, It's obſervable, That when the Prieſts did Bleſſe the people, they did not barely wiſh good unto them, but they did Authoratatively pronounce them bleſſed.Numb. 6.27. They ſhall put my name upon them (ſaith the Lord) when they bleſs. So when the Lord Chriſt, our great High-Prieſt, doth Bleſſe a man, he does not barely wiſh him good, The Lord cauſe his face for to ſhine upon that ſoul, in a way of wiſhing: but the Lord Chriſt being a High-Prieſt, when he bleſſeth, he doth authoratatively pronounce ſuch a ſoul to be Bleſſed.
Thirdly, When the Prieſt Bleſſed, he did not only pronounce the people Bleſſed: but in the Bleſſing of the Prieſt, there was a kind of Binding-power; it had the power, force, and efficacy of an Abſolution. And therefore as Chriſt ſaies unto his Diſciples, Go, and whoſoever ſins ye remit, they ſhall be remitted: I'le ſtand by you in it. So ſaith the Lord in that ſame place, the 6. of Numbers. On this wiſe ſhall ye bleſs the children of Iſrael, ſaying unto them, The Lord bleſse thee, and keep thee. and at the 27. verſe, They ſhall put my Name upon the children of Iſrael, and I will bleſſethem. I'le ſtand by them in this. So when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, our great High-Prieſt, doth Bleſſe; he doth not only pronounce a man to be Bleſſed, but he doth Abſolve him from all his ſins; & (ſaith he) by authority that is given to me from my father, the Keyes that are put into my hand, I do Bind this bleſſing upon this poor ſoul.
Further, The Prieſt when he bleſſed, indeed he could wiſh well, and he could pronounce a man bleſſed; and he might Abſolve: but he could go no further, he could not confer the Bleſſing, he could not beſtow the Bleſſing: But our Lord Chriſt, being an High-Prieſt beyond all the High-Prieſts that ever were before him in this reſpect too; where he doth Bleſſe, he beſtoweth the Bleſſing, being God and man, he beſtoweth the Bleſſing.
In the Fifth place, This our great High-Prieſt, being God and Man; look how God Bleſſeth, ſo doth he Bleſſe. In the Scripture, ye ſhall find, That when God the Father Bleſſed, he ſaid unto thoſe things that he bleſt, Increaſe and Multiply: ſtill when he bleſt, Increaſe and Multiply. So the Lord Jeſus Chriſt our High-Preiſt, when he comes to bleſſe, he doth not barely wiſh good unto a poor ſoul, or pronounce him bleſſed, or beſlow a good thing upon him; but ſaith he, O ſoul, Multiply in this good; the Lord increaſe thy Graces, and thy Gifts, and thy Comforts; poor ſoul, Increaſe and Multiply herein. This the Lord Chriſt our great High-Prieſt doth. Thus it's cleer what the Blſſing of the Goſpel is, wherein it conſiſts; and what our High-Prieſt doth, when he doth bleſſe the people.
But Secondly, Queſt. 2 Does this Bleſſing properly, or ſpecially belong unto Jeſus Chriſt?
Yes,Anſw. For he was made a curſe for ſin; he and none elſe made a curſe for ſin: and therefore it belongs unto him above all the world for to bleſſe. For look what evil Jeſus Chriſt endured, the contrary good he merited for the children of men, a power to beſtow that good. Now he above all was curſed, hung upon the Croſſe, and died a curſed death, he was made a curſe; therefore it belongs unto him above all for to give the bleſſing, for to bleſſe poor ſinners. Primum in quolibet genere &c. The firſt in every kind is the cauſe of the reſt. The Sun is the cauſe of all the light we have here below, and 'tis the firſt light body. And the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he is the firſt bleſſing: Therefore hath they God bleſt thee for ever. There are Three that we reade of in Scripture eſpecially that did bleſſe: The Father, the King, and the Prieſt: The Father did bleſſe his Children; the King bleſt his Subjects, and the Prieſt bleſt the People. Now the Lord Jeſus Chriſt He is our Father, The Everlaſting Father; He is our King, I will ſet my King upon my holy hill; And he is our great High-Prieſt: and therefore, all theſe relations meeting in him, it belongs unto him above all for to bleſſe the people.
But is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt Willing for to Bleſſe poor ſinners, Queſt. 3 and inclin'd unto it?
Yes, Anſw. He is very Willing: this bleſſing of the people, it is a work whereunto he is much inclin'd, and wherein he is moſt delighted. Ye ſhall obſerve therefore, what abundance of bleſſings Chriſt ſcattered among the people when he was here upon the earth. Ye don't reade that ever he curſed any man, formally curſed him: Once indeed, he pronounced a Curſe, but it fell upon a barren fig-tree, not upon a man: But take your Bibles, and turne over from leaf to leaf, and ſee how frequent he was in bleſſing: and conſider whether you do reade in al the Bible, of any Preacher, or Prophet, that ever in the way of their preaching, pronounced ſo many Bleſſings as Chriſt did? He begins bleſſing, Bleſſed are the poor; and Bleſſed are thoſe that mourn; and Bleſſed are thoſe that hunger and thirſt; and Bleſſed are thoſe that are perſecuted for my Names ſake: Bleſſed are thoſe that hear the Word of God and keep it: He took little children into his arms and Bleſt them. Do but mark in all the Goſpel, how frequent Chriſt was in Bleſſing, never in Curſing; more frequent in bleſſing, than ever any Preacher was in all his Sermons: What's the reaſon of this? Becauſe this work of Bleſſing the people, is a work wherein the Lord Jeſus Chriſt our High-Prieſt, is much delighted, a work whereunto he is moſt in clined.
Well, But doth he do it? Queſt. 4
Yes, He doth do it, and doth it fully. Anſw. The ſame place that I named will prove it, the 1. of the Epheſians, and the 3. verſe, Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings in beavenly places IN Chriſt. Nor only meritoriouſly, but by the hand of Chriſt. And (ſaith he) He hath done it: with all ſpiritual bleſſings, and he hath done it by Jeſus Chriſt.
You will ſay, We don't ſee that men are thus bleſt by Chriſt: Oject.for where Chriſt bleſſeth, he doth not only wiſh well, and good unto a wan, but he beſtoweth it, yea, he doth not only beſtow good, but he doth increaſe and multiply; But upon this account, how few are there in the world that are bleſt by Chriſt!
For Anſwer, Anſw. 1 It is a hard thing (ſometimes) unto a Chriſtian for to diſcern-this Bleſſing of Chriſt. Ye can ſee the Boughs, Fruit, Body, Bark of the Tree; but if ye will ſee the Root, ye muſt dig, and take pains for to ſee it: it's an eaſie thing to ſee the Leaves, &c. but if you would ſee the Root, ye muſt dig and take pains for it. This Bleſſing of Jeſus Chriſt, it is the Root of all; and if you will ſee this, you muſt dig and take pains to ſee it, it does not lie open to every ones view. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt our High-Prieſt, does not Bleſſe as man bleſſes; and ſo his Bleſſing is very much hidden from our eyes; he does not bleſſe as we do; he does not bleſs as the world does: if the world ſees a Rich man, it pronounces him bleſſed: Oh! there's a bleſſed man, and there's a happy man! what an excellent Dwelling hath he, how healthful! his Table is ſpread &c. The world bleſſes Rich men, pronounces them Happy and bleſſed. But our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he does as Jacob did; when Joſeph brought his two Sons to Jacob to be bleſt by him; he ſet Ephraim the younger at the left hand of Jacob; and he ſet Manaſſes the elder at the right hand of Jacob; that Jacob might give the right-hand bleſſing to the Elder, and the left-hand bleſſing to the Younger: but when Joſeph had ſet them thus before Jacob, Jacob croſſes hands, and he turns the right-hand bleſſing to the Younger. So, two men are brought before Chriſt; a Rich man (it may be) and a Poor man: and in the eye of the world, the Rich man muſt carry the bleſſing: Oh! but our Lord Chriſt, he croſſes hands, and he laies the bleſſing upon the younger brother many times. And ſo in regard of Ordinances. Two ſorts of Ordinances are brought before Chriſt; Gods Ordinance, and Mans Ordinance; and Mans Ordinance, in the eye of the world, is the Elder brother, and Gods Ordinance the Younger brother; and both theſe are brought before Chriſt for a bleſſing, and the Ordinance of Man is ſet at the right hand of Chriſt by the world; but the Lord Chriſt, he croſſes hands, and he laies the bleſſing upon the younger brother in this reſpect. And ſo, two men are brought before him; a proud Phariſee, and a poor broken-hearted ſinner; the Phariſee comes unto the right-hand of Chriſt, & thinks for to carry the bleſſing: but the Lord Chriſt, croſſes hands, & laies the right-hand bleſſing upon the poor broken-hearted ſinner, and paſſes by the proud Phariſee. The Lord Chriſt doth not bleſſe as the world bleſſeth.
Again, As he doth not Bleſs as the World Bleſſeth, Anſw. 2 ſo he doth not Bleſs alwaies as Profeſſors Bleſs. Profeſſors, they do ordinarily Bleſſe men, according unto their outward Priviledges, Goſpel, and Church-Priviledges: Oh! ſaies the woman unto Chriſt, Bleſſed is the womb that bare thee: and bleſſed are the paps that gave thee ſuck. Chriſt croſſes hands. Nay but (ſaies Chriſt) Bleſſed are thoſe that hear the word of God, and keep it, and do my Commandements. You bleſſe according to Outward Priviledges; I don't go that way of bleſſing, ſaies Chriſt: He does not bleſſe as Profeſſors bleſſe alwaies.
Thirdly, He does not bleſſe as Godly men do bleſſe alwaies; Anſw. 3 as Gracious men bleſſe, not alwaies. For, you that are Godly, you pronounce ſuch a man bleſſed, as hath much Grace, and hath Aſſurance of the love of God in Chriſt; and one that hath ſtrong, and great Parts, and able to carry away whole Sermons word for word; and of ſtrong Memory, and large Gifts, that are head and ſhoulders above their fellows: But the Lord Jeſus Chriſt does not alwaies bleſſe thus: Bleſſed are the poor in ſpirit, ſaies he. Bleſſed are thoſe that mourn. He don't ſay, Bleſſed are thoſe that rejoyce; or, Bleſſed are thoſe that have the Aſſurance of Gods love; or, Bleſſed are thoſe that are ſtrong in grace: No, but doeſt thou know a poor, weak Chriſtian, a mourning ſoul like a dove of the vallies; ſaies the Lord, I bleſſe him.
Thus I ſay, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt our great High-Prieſt, he does not Bleſſe as We bleſſe; he does not bleſſe as the World bleſſes; he does not bleſſe alwaies as Profeſſors bleſſe; he does not bleſſe alwaies as Godly men Bleſſe; and therefore no wonder that his Bleſſing is hidden. Children when they are very young, are often bleſt by their Parents, and they don't mind it, or take notice of it; children of two or three year old: And ſo it is with many a gracious ſoul, bleſſed by Jeſus Chriſt, and don't take notice of their fathers bleſſing. But the Lord Chriſt doth alwaies bleſſe his people; only, there are ſeveral times, ſpeciall ſeaſons that he gives out his bleſſing: let me tell ye of thoſe times a little, that ſo ye may come for his bleſſing while his hand is in, as it were: ſo that you may be crowned with ſpiritual bleſſings in and from Jeſus Chriſt.
Firſt, When Chriſt our High-Prieſt doth ſee that a man is weak in Grace, or weak in Gifts, and hath ſome work, or ſervice for him to do, ſome imployment to call him forth unto; then the Lord Chriſt doth Bleſſe him. There are Two times eſpecially (as I remember) that the Lord ſpeaks thoſe words concerning man, Increaſe and Multiply. Once in the beginning, when he had made man and woman; And once in the 9. of Geneſis, when he had brought Noah out of the Ark: Why does he rather chooſe for to ſpeak thoſe words, Increaſe and Multiply, at theſe Two times eſpecially, rather than at any other time? In the beginning there was but a little ſtook of man-kind, and the Lord had a deſign upon man, to make uſe of him in the world; and therefore in the beginning ſaies he, Increaſe and Multiply: but afterward, that the floud had ſwept away man, Noah and his family being preſerved, when he came out of the Ark, the Lord having yet a further deſign upon man, to uſe him, he reneweth thoſe words again, Increaſe and Multiply. So when the Lord Chriſt ſees, that a mans heart is upright, and ſincere with him, and he hath ſome work and ſervice for him to do, then the Lord comes forth and bleſſes him; O ſoul, Increaſe and Multiply, increaſe in thy Gifts, and Graces, and Multiply. That is one.
Again, As the Lord doth bleſſe weak Gifts, and Graces, when he intends to uſe them: ſo alſo, when as he hath made uſe of a man; when a man hath done the work of God, and done it to purpoſe, then the Lord bleſſes that man. Melchiſedec, a great Type of Chriſt, here when Abraham had been upon a great ſervice, ſlaying Kings, and reſoued Lot, then Melchiſedec the High-Prieſt▪ comes forth and bleſſes him. So when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt our great High-Prieſt, ſees that a poor ſoul hath been upon his work, upon his ſervice, and hath done his work faithfully; then he comes forth and bleſſes that ſoul, O ſoul, live for ever.
Again, As he does bleſſe at this time, when a man hath done his work; ſo alſo, when a man is willing for to leave all his Relations, and natural ingagements for to follow him, to cleave cloſe unto him, and to his waies, and ordinances. The Lord bleſſed Abraham, Thou ſhalt be bleſſed. In Bleſſing I will Bleſſe thee, and thou ſhalt be bleſſed. Upon what occaſion? Abraham (ſaies he) get thee out of thy Country, and go to a land, and place that I will ſhew thee. and Abraham did ſo, Abraham puld up his Tent, and went after the Lord, and left his own Relations: and thereupon the Lord fell upon him, and bleſt him. So when the Lord Chriſt our High-Prieſt, ſees a ſoul willing, even to trample upon his Relations for to follow him; willing to leave all natural ingagements for to be his ſervant; then the Lord Chriſt comes out, and ſaies he, This ſoul do I bleſſe: In bleſſing I will bleſſe thee, and I will bleſſe thee exceedingly. That is a Third time.
Fourthly, The Lord Chriſt our High-Prieſt, does bleſſe, when the world Curſes. a ſpeciall time of Chriſts bleſſing is, when the world Curſes. When Rabſhekah reviled, blaſphemed and Curſed, then God bleſt. When Balak hired Balaam for to Curſe the people of Iſrael, then the Lord bleſt them by the mouth of Balaam himſelf. And ye ſee what Chriſt ſaies to this purpoſe, in that ſame 5. chapter of Matthew, at the 10. verſe. Bleſſed are they which are perſecuted for righteouſneſſe ſake: But when are they bleſſed? Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of evil againſt you falſly for my ſake. Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall perſecute you. I but, ſuppoſe it don't come to a bodily perſecution, men may not be thrown in priſon, or brought to the ſtake. Saies he, Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall Revile, perſecute you with the tongue, and ſay all manner of evil againſt you for my ſake. When the world ſaies of ſuch a poor ſoul, That he is an Hypocrite, a diſſembler, and ſpeaks all manner of evil that can be diviſed againſt a poore ſoule for the Name of Chriſt; that is the very time, that Chriſt comes for to bleſs that ſoule, then doth Chriſt bleſſe; it's a bleſſed ſeaſon.
In the Fift place, The Lord Chriſt does alſo Bleſs, when as People do graciouſly injoy the Ordinances, purely, and Evangelically adminiſtred. It is ſaid concerning Zion, There commanded he his bleſſing for ever,Pſa. 89.15. Bleſſed are the people that hear the joyful ſound: they ſhall walk in the light of his countenance. It is written of the Prieſts in the times of the Old-Teſtament, that when the people, the Congregation were come together, they bleſt them: when the People were come together, for the injoyment of Ordinances according to Gods own appointment, then the Prieſts bleſt them. And did their High-Prieſt bleſſe them then? and ſhall not our High Prieſt do it now? Did their High-Prieſt bleſſe them when they ſate under Moſaical Ordinances? and ſhall not our High-Prieſt bleſſe the people that ſit under Evangelical, and Goſpel-Ordinances purely, & Evangelically adminiſtred? The people then might make account of the greateſt bleſſing; and ſo may you do alſo, of the bleſſing of Jeſus Chriſt when thus you do enjoy Ordinances. Only there is this difference: (other differences there are, but this only I ſhall ſpeak of) Then the Prieſt did bleſſe the people when the Congregation was diſmiſt: but now, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt our great High-Prieſt, he is bleſſing of the Congregation all the while; he is going up and down in the Congregation all the while that the Word is preached, and Ordinances adminiſtred, and he is bleſſing poor ſouls, as they ſit longing after him, and ſighing towards him; he is bleſſing of them all the while. Thus he does bleſſe, and though you don't alwaies perceive it, yet he doth bleſſe his people. Queſt. 5 And that's the Fourth thing.
But yet you will ſay, How does all this conduce unto our Comfort, Anſw. and unto our Holineſs?
Much every way:
Firſt for Comfort, Beloved, Is it not a Comfortable thing to be bleſſed by Jeſus Chriſt? Children counted it a great matter to be bleſt by their parents. when as Jacob had gotten the Bleſſing from Eſau; Eſau goes and fits down, and mourns, he could not be comforted becauſe the bleſſing was gone: and Jacob, though he were thruſt out of doors, yet becauſe he had gotten the Bleſſing, he went away cheerfull; and it was but an Iſaac's Bleſſing. But behold a greater then Iſaac is here! Oh! was it ſuch a matter to have an Iſaac's Bleſſing? what is it then to be Bleſſed by Jeſus Chriſt? Beloved! when as Chriſt doth bleſs, he turns all our Curſes into Bleſſings, and our Miſeries into Mercies. When God Curſes, he turns our Table into a Snare: and when Chriſt Bleſſeth, he turnes our ſnare into a Table, quite contrary. Jacob pronounced a Curſe upon his two ſons, Simeon and Levi (you know upon what occaſion) They ſhould be divided and ſcattered in Iſrael: afterward the Tribe of Levi ſtands up at the cōmandement of God to execute Juſtice & Judgment, & the Lord bleſt them: And how did he bleſs them? They were to be the Preachers unto all the Tribes; and ſo that they might be Preachers unto all the Tribes, they were to be ſcattered into all the tribes, & ſo Jacobs curſe was turned into a bleſſing to them.
Is it not a Comfortable thing, for a man to have all his Curſers, to be Bleſſers? It's a Comfortable thing, for all a mans Curſes, to become Bleſſings: But now I ſay, it's a Comfortable thing, for al a mans Curſers, to be Bleſters to him. Whē the Lord Chriſt Bleſſes, he will make mens Curſers, whether they wil or no, (in the day of their viſitation at leaſt) for to Bleſs. Ye know that Balaam would have Curſed Iſrael, but the Lord had bleſt them. Balaam got upō a high mountain, and from thence he would have Curſed Iſrael, but it would not be. Then he gets upon another high Mountain, & from thence he would have Curſed Iſrael, but it would not be. Then he gets upon another high Mountain: thinking that would have done it, and from thence he would have Curſed Iſrael, but that would not do it. Oh! ſaies he, The Lord hath ſeene no iniquity in Iſrael, and therefore he Bleſſes them: the Curſe is turned into a Bleſſing: So there are many that deale thus by the people of God in theſe daies: They get upon ſuch a high Mountain, ſuch a great and high means, and they think to Curſe the people of God from thence, but it won't be. Then they get upon another Mountain, another means, thinking from thence to Curſe the people of God, but it will not be. Then they get upon another high Mountain or hill, and think then to Curſe the people of God, and do them miſchief, but it will not do it. Why? for the Lord Chriſt ſees no iniquity, the Lord Chriſt hath bleſt them: and ſo at laſt, in the day of wicked mens viſitation, they are forced to ſay, Theſe are the people of God, and theſe are Bleſſed, and ſhall be bleſſed. We know what is ſaid in the Scripture, The bleſſing of the Lord maketh rich: and he addeth no ſorrow therewithal. Is it not a good thing then, to be bleſt by Chriſt? If a man be bleſſed by Jeſus Chriſt, he may bleſſe himſelf in the Lord, and he may comfort himſelf in every Condition, and he may ſay thus, Well, though I be a Poor man, yet I am bleſt by Chriſt: And though my Eſtate be ſunk, and decaied, yet I am bleſt by Chriſt: And though I be reproached, and hated by men, yet I am bleſſed by Jeſus Chriſt; a man may comfort himſelf in every condition.
But you will ſay, Object. Indeed if a man be aſſured that Chriſt hath bleſt him, he may do thus; but I am afraid that Chriſt hath not bleſt me, or that he is not willing to bleſs me: if I could be aſſured, that this great High-Prieſt, had once laid his hand, his bleſſinghand upon me, I ſhould have comfort in all conditions.
Give me leave to lay Two or Three things before you concerning this. Anſw.
Firſt, When the Lord bleſt Abraham, he ſaid unto him, In thee, and thy ſeed ſhall all Nations be Bleſt. It's a ſign unto Abraham, that he was bleſt, becauſe others were bleſſed by him. So now, when a mans Parts, Gifts, Graces, and Comforts are bleſſings to others, it is an argument that that man is bleſt himſelf.
Further, When a man is bleſſed by God, or Chriſt; he is drawn nearer to God by all outward things, by all things: Come ye Bleſſed, Go ye Curſed. Bleſſing hath an attractive Nature, Come ye Bleſſed: when the Lord Chriſt does bleſs a man, he does draw him, Come ye Bleſſed. When a man is brought nearer to God by Affliction, he is bleſſed: when a man is brought nearer to God by his Eſtate, by any Comfort, by any Sorrow, here is bleſſing, Come ye Bleſſed. Bleſſing draws one nearer to God with a cord of love.
Thirdly, Where the Lord does Bleſs, he does cauſe a man to Increaſe and Multiply, in that thing wherein he is Bleſt. Increaſing and Multiplying, is ſo natural unto Bleſſing, that in the Original tongues of the old and new Teſtament, Plenty is put for Bleſſing. I will give you but one clear place for it in the new Teſtament, the 2 Cor. 9. Chapter, 5. verſe. Therefore I thought it neceſſary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto ye, and make up before hand your Bounty. The word is, your Bleſſing. Whereof you had notice before; that the ſame might be ready as a matter of Bounty. The word is, as a matter of Bleſſing. But eſpecially in the next verſe. But this I ſay, he which ſoweth ſparingly, ſhal reap ſparingly: and he which ſoweth bountifully, ſhall reap bountifully. And he which ſoweth with Bleſſing (as it is in the Original) ſhall reap with Bleſſing: And here 'tis oppoſed to Sparingly, and tranſlated Bountifully. Where the Lord does bleſſe, he does alwaies cauſe a man to Increaſe and Multiply.
Now beloved in the Lord, I appeal unto all your ſouls, you that make this Objection, that are afraid the Lord Chriſt hath not bleſt you as your High-Prieſt, hath not laid his hand upon you, and bleſt you: yet don't ye know more of Chriſt than ye have known before? hath not the hidden truths of the Goſpel been increaſed and multiplied upon your hearts? hath not your hearts been brought neerer to God by Affliction? hath not your ſouls been drawn neerer to God by his outward dealings with you? And as Abraham was therefore bleſt, becauſe he was made a bleſſing to others: So I appeal to ye, have not your Parts, Gifts, and Graces, in ſome meaſure been bleſſings unto others, even unto your poor Family, and unto others alſo? Then be of good Comfort (man or woman) where ever thou ſtand'ſt, the Lord Chriſt hath bleſt thee, and thou ſhalt be bleſſed, hold up thy head poor bleſſed ſoul, the Lord Jeſus hath bleſt thee: when the Lord did lay this bleſſing upon thee, I cannot till thee, but I find thee a bleſſed man, ſtay thy ſelf upon the Lord, cheer up thy drooping heart, thou art a bleſſed ſoul.
But you will ſay, Queſt. How does this make unto our Holineſs? I confeſs this is a very Comfortable Cordial, That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is in office to bleſs poor ſinners; but how does this conduce unto our Holineſſe?
Very much: Anſw. This holds forth great incouragement, unto all poor ſinners for to come to Chriſt, and to come without delay. Why? Once come to Chriſt and bleſſed; but without Chriſt and Curſed: an enemy to Jeſus Chriſt and a Curſed man: Curſed in thy ſtore-houſe: Curſed in thy basket; and Curſed in all things that thou putteſt thine hand unto. Oh! then, will you not come to Chriſt, that you may be Bleſſed: That day that a poor ſoul comes unto Chriſt, whatever he hath been he is bleſſed: that day may be called Gilgal, for then the Curſe is rouled away from him. Bleſſed is the man whoſe iniquity is forgiven, and whoſe ſin is pardoned. The firſt day, the firſt minute that he comes to Chriſt, his ſin is pardoned, and he is bleſſed. Who would not then come unto Chriſt preſently, that he may be bleſt for ever? When as Eſan had ſold his Birth-right for a meſs of pottage, the Lord look't upon him as a Prophane man, and he ſtands upon record in Scripture for a Prophane man unto this day, becauſe he ſold his Birth-right. And ſaies the text, Though he ſought the Bleſſing (it was a bleſſing) with tears, he never recovered it. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he is now among us, and offering to bleſs us; and if I will rather keep my ſins than come unto Jeſus Chriſt, the Lord will look upon me as a Prophane man; and I may go and ſeek the bleſſing with tears, and never recover it again. Oh! here's that (me thinks) that ſhould make every wicked man; if there be ever a Drunkard, Swearer, or Unclean wanton that reades this book, mind what is ſaid for your Everlaſting peace: I ſay, here's that (me thinks) that ſhould make every wicked man, to look upon the Godly, as David did upon the ſparrows, and upon the ſwallows: Saies David, Theſe birds full nigh thine Altar may, have place to ſit and ſing: as ye have it in your ſinging Pſalms. Theſe birds can come and make their neſts; but as for me, I am kept at a diſtance: He was provoked by the ſparrows, and ſwallows making their neſts neer the Altar. So may a wicked man ſay, There's a godly man indeed, he may go to Jeſus Chriſt, he may go to Prayer, and he may offer up his Gift to God the Father by the hands of Chriſt, he can come neer to God by Chriſt: But as for me, I am yet without Chriſt, I am not yet gone to Jeſus Chriſt; I am ſuch a curſed Swearer, I am ſuch a prophane Drunkard, I am ſuch a vile, wretched Wanton, ſuch a Notorious, Scandelous ſinner: Oh! theſe people are bleſſed, but I am Curſed, but now through the Lords grace I will go unto the Lord Chriſt that I may be bleſſed.
Yea, My beloved, here is (me thinks) a ſtrong Invitation, unto all thoſe that are young people for to come unto Jeſus Chriſt: even thoſe that are very young. Hear the word of the Lord ye Children. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt received Children into his armes, and he bleſt them. You that are nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen years old; you can be ſolicitous for your fathers bleſſing, and have gone down upon your knees often unto your father, and you have ſaid, Pray father, pray to God to bleſs me. Oh! will ye go to your outward father for his bleſſing? and will ye not go unto Jeſus Chriſt? He is an Everlaſting Father, this your earthly father will be dead erelong; He is an Everlaſting father (children) and he is able to bleſs ye, and willing to bleſs ye. Have ye gone down upon your knees to your outward father? Oh! children, down, down upon your knees before the Lord Jeſus Chrit, and go to him for his blſſing. Some of you (it may be) never went yet to Chriſt for his bleſſing; ye have lived ſo many yeers, ten, eleven, or twelve yeers, and never went to Chriſt as a High-Prieſt, for his bleſſing all this while: Oh! what a mighty incouragement is here unto all men to come to Chriſt, that they may be bleſſed by him.
But yet further, As there is an incouragement for to come unto Chriſt: So this argument does alſo incourage us to go on in the good waies of Chriſt, notwithſtanding all oppoſition that we meet withall: (I ſay) it does ſpeak incouragement, to go on in the face of all oppoſition. For when Abraham had been at battel, then came Melchiſedec the High-Prieſt to bleſs him: And when a poor ſoul goes out to battel for Chriſt, then comes our great Melchiſedec, our High-Prieſt, and bleſſes that ſoul. The time of oppoſition, it is the time of Chriſts bleſſing. Therefore, why ſhould I be dilcouraged, or beaten out of the way of Chriſt, by reaſon of any oppoſition, though it be never ſo great? Times of oppoſition are Chriſts bleſſing-time.
Again, This argument, does not only ſpeak incouragement againſt all oppſition: But it does alſo incourage us to go on in the good waies of God when we are called unto it, though we have but little ſtrength, and weak parts. Though there be but little oyle in the Cruſe, though there be but little meal in the barrel, if Chriſt call to the work, he will bleſs a man in it: and when Chriſt bleſſes, he does multiply and increaſe a mans parts in the uſing of them. As when he commanded them to ſit down, and eat, he did multiply, and increaſe the bread in their eating: So now, does Chriſt call me to any work or ſervice, well then, though I am weak, though I have not oyle enough, though I have not meal enough, though I have not ſtrenght enough; yet the Lord Chriſt will bleſs, and when he bleſſes, he does increaſe and multiply: and therefore, why ſhould I not go on upon his work, if he do call mee thereunto, though I have never ſo little ſtrength.
And yet further, If all this be true: Why ſhould not a man be contented with his condition, though it be never ſo mean? Beloved in the Lord! is there not enough in Chriſts bleſſing? Truly, He is too covetous, whom the bleſſing of Chriſt will not ſatisfie. Well, what ever my condition be, yet I may be bleſſed by Jeſus Chriſt; and hath the Lord bleſt me? then will I be contented with my Condition, though it be never ſo mean, I have-All, as Jacob onceſaid, I have All.
Yea in the Fift and laſt place: Here is that, (which if wel ſtudied and conſidered) will provoke us all for to bleſs the Lord, and continually to bleſſe the Lord! What is the life of a Chriſtian here, but a continuall bleſſing of God? 'tis Heaven begun: and in Heaven, they do nothing elſe, but bleſſe and praiſe the Lord; and, I ſay, our life here, is Heaven begun: and therefore a Chriſtian ſhould be alwaies bleſſing and praiſing the Lord.
Well, But what will make a man to be alwaies Bleſſing, Queſt. and Praiſing of God in Chriſt?
The knowledge that a man is bleſſed by Chriſt, Anſw. wil make a man bleſſe God for Chriſt. And therefore conſider how the Apoſtle reaſons, in the 1. of the Epheſians, & the 3. verſ. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Why? Who hath bleſſed ƲS. When once a man can come to this, for to ſay, That the Lord Chriſt hath bleſt him; then he will break forth into bleſſing and praiſing of the Lord; Oh! Bleſſed be the Lord: Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoul; & bleſſe the Lord all that is within me: For the Lord hath bleſſed me with ſpiritual bleſſings. Do you therefore deſire to be alwaies in this work of bleſſing the Lord? think much of this.
To conclude al; give me leave to cal upon you, to remember what ye have read. Ye have read, That it is the work of our great High-Prieſt, To Satisfie for the ſins of the people. To anſwer unto all Accuſations that are brought againſt them: To offer up all our Prayers, and Gifts vntounto God the Father: And to Bleſs poor ſouls. Now then beloved, according to all your Wants, and according to all your Temptations; I do beſeech you in the Lord, Go to Jeſus Chriſt, unto this High-Prieſt; try and ſee if you don't find it true, That the Lord does make good all this unto you. In caſe that you be under any ſpiritual Want, or Temptation; put your ſouls unto this Disjunction: Come, O my ſoule, Either the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is our great High-Frieſt; or elſe he is not: If he be not, what means this and that Scripture? And if the Lord Jeſus Chriſt be our great High-Prieſt; then ſurely he being faithful, will do all the work of the High-Prieſt for my ſoul. Indeed I have ſinned, and ſinned greatly; but O Lord, it is the work of our High-Prieſt to Satisfie: Now, Lord Jeſus, I come to thee as mine High-Prieſt, Oh! Satisfie for me. Indeed, I confeſſe, mine own Conſcience does Accuſe me, Satan does Accuſe me, Moſes does Accuſe me: but it is the work of our great High-Prieſt, to take off all Accuſations brought againſt poor beleevers: Now Lord, I do come unto thee, as to my great High-Prieſt, Oh! take off this Accuſation that any poor ſoul does labour under. Indeed, when I look upon mine own Duties; there is ſo much deadneſs, ſo much hardneſs of heart, and ſo many diſtractions that do accompany them, that I am afraid they will never be accepted: but, O Lord, it is the work of our great High-Prieſt, to take away the weeds of the Duty, and to preſent the Duty; now O Lord, I come unto thee as mine High-Prieſt, Oh! carry my Prayers into the boſom of God the Father. Yea, when I look upon my former life, Lord, I cannot but conclude my ſelf, a poor curſed finner: but yet notwithſtanding, it is the work of our great High-Prieſt, for to bleſſe the people: O Lord, I do therefore now come unto thee as mine High-Prieſt, Oh! bleſſe me, and ſay unto all my graces, Increaſe and Multiply.
FINIS.