Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
Pſal 1 …8.26.
Bleſsed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord, we have bleſſed you out of the houſe of the Lord.
CHriſts triumphant comming into Ieruſalem,aMat 21. is a lively Embleme and cleare repreſentation of his gracious comming in the Goſpell to his people, and in his ſpirituall and heavenly kingdome, to the ſoules of his choſen. Chriſt comming into Ieruſalem, ſent two of his Diſciples to looſe the colt which was tyed, and to bring him unto Chriſt. Chriſt comming in his ſpirituall kingdome, ſends his Miniſters by their preaching to looſe and free the ſoules of men which are faſt chained and fettered to ſinne, Satan, and the world. All men in their naturall eſtate and condition are ſlaves to the world, ſervants of corruption, and bondmen to Satan. Chriſt by the labours of his Miniſters in the Gospell communicates spirituall liberty and freedome to the ſoules of Gods choſen. We all continue faſt tyed with the cords and bands of carnall luſts and affections, till Chriſt ſends his Miniſters amongſt us.
The colt was firſt looſed, and then brought to Chriſt. The powers of ſinne and ungodlineſſe muſt firſt be diſſolved within us, before we can come to Chriſt Ieſus. We muſt be looſed and ſet free from the power of ſinne, Satan, and the world; which formerly ruled and ſwayed like Maſters over us, or elſe we are unfit for Chriſts ſervice: He that will not be untyed and looſed from his ſinne, cannot be united unto Chriſt; the labours of Chriſts Miniſters in reſpect of us are fruitleſſe, if they doe not looſe us from the power of ungodlineſſe.
Chriſt commandeth the two Diſciples to bring the colt to him, not to keep him to themſelves, not to imply him in their owne ſervice. It is the duty of Gods Miniſters to draw the ſoules of men not unto themſelves, but unto Chriſt: They are corrupt and carnall Miniſters that ſeeke to exalt themſelves, and not the Lord Ieſus, in the eyes and hearts of their hearers; the drawing and working home of the ſoules of men to Chriſt Ieſus, is the chiefeſt crowne and honour of all miniſteriall labours; they who make either their owne profit, or applauſe the end of their miniſteriall ſervice, are certainly deceitfull workers.
The Lords and owners of this colt, though they queſtioned with the Diſciples, why they looſed him, yet at their word they readily let him goe. Chriſt makes his word in the mouth of his Miniſters powerfull and effectuall in the hearts of his people to move them to reſigne themſelves and all that they have to Chriſt and his ſervice. Chriſt makes the ſoules of ſuch as belong to Gods Election, to obey the voice of his Miniſters in the Goſpell. Chriſt ſent not his Diſciples to looſe and bring unto him ſome magnificent and ſtately horſe, ſuch as Princes and Nobles uſe to ride on, but the fole of an Aſſe, an ordinary, dull, and plaine beaſt. Chriſt doth moſt uſually ſet up his spirituall throne and kingdome in the hearts of men of meane and low condition, and of little of no esteeme in the world. Men moſt eminent for their morall and temporall endowments, are often found the greateſt ſtrangers to Chriſt and his ſervice: Chriſt is many times carried in triumph in the hearts of poore and deſpiſed people, when ſuch as have the fulneſſe of the world will not vaile and ſtoop to him.
The Diſciples did not onelyonly bring this colt to Chriſt, but they alſo ſpread their cloathes upon him, and ſo prepared and fitted him for Chriſt to ride thereon. Gods Miniſters must by their doctrines garniſh the ſoules of men, that they may be fit for Chriſt to raigne in them. Nothing ſhould be of ſuch eſteeme or uſe with us, but we ſhould readily ſpare it for Chriſts ſervice, be ready to ſtrip our ſelves of all, even our very garments to exalt the Lord Ieſus; we ſhould rather chuſe to make our ſelves naked, then ſuffer Chriſt to be diſhonoured.
The Diſciples having caſt their garments upon the beaſt, they ſet up Chriſt thereon. The exaltation of Chriſt muſt be the prime intendment and labour of every Minister of Chriſt; they muſt never reſt nor pleaſe themſelves in their labours, till they have ſet up Chriſt, and cauſed him to raigne in the hearts of their hearers. That man is very low, and baſe in his undertakings, who ſtrives not to make Chriſt glorious.
Chriſt being by the Diſciples ſet upon this colt, a great multitude ſpread their garments in the way, and others cut downe branches from the trees, and ſtrawed them in the way. When Chriſt is by his Miniſters exalted, and lifted up in the preaching of the Gospell, many ſoules vaile and bow to him, embrace, and reverence him, as their ſpirituall King and Soveraigne, proſtrating themſelves and all that is theirs under him. The multitude did not only ſtraw the way with their garments, and branches, but they alſo cryed Hoſanna to the ſonne of David: Bleſſed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord, Hoſanna in the higheſt. Humble and beleeving ſoules receive and entertaine the Lord Ieſus with very great ioy and gladneſſe. The bleſſed preſence of Chriſt in the Goſpell miniſters matter of very great rejoycing; here is ſuch a ſunne of heavenly light ſhining, ſuch a ſtreame of conſolations flowing, ſuch a ſtore-houſe of ſpirituall treaſure ſet open, and ſuch dewes of grace, mercy, and peace diſtilling, that every man that hath an eye of wiſedome to diſcerne Chriſt, a hand of faith to lay hold on Chriſt, and a heart of love to embrace Chriſts comming in the Goſpell, muſt needs ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Bleſſed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We are bleſſed out of the houſe of the Lord.
Scope of the words.The words are an Acclamation of the people, declaring and ſetting forth the welcome of Chriſt to all beleeving ſoules; their ioy, and rejoycing, conceived upon the comming of Chriſt among them; their gratulation and thanksgiving for Chriſts appropinquation and comming nigh unto them; their vote and exoptation of all proſperity, bleſſed and happy ſucceſſe to Chriſt in his kingdome.Note. Chriſts comming proves moſt ioyfull to them that lovingly receive and entertaine him. All true beleevers are holy and hearty welwiſhers to the Goſpell and Kingdome of Chriſt Ieſus, all manner of bleſſings attend and wait on the Lord Ieſus, in the humble and gracious uſe of his ordinances. True Chriſtians have ſuch experience of the benefits and bleſſings, mercies and comforts flowing from Chriſt in the miniſtery of his Goſpell, that with great joy and thanksgiving they cry out; Bleſſed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We have bleſſed you out of the houſe of the Lord.
Analyſis.In the words we have in the generall two things conſiderable:
1. A Gratulation, uttered by the people, Bleſſed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord.
2. A Benediction pronounced by the Miniſters of the Lord, We have bleſſed you out of the houſe of the Lord.
1. Agens. Note.In the gratulation, there is 1. the Agent, the people, they bleſſe, they rejoyce, they are thankfull for Chriſts comming. Man hath greateſt cauſe of all creatures to reioyce in and for the comming of Chriſt Jeſus. 2. Actus.2. there is the Act, Bleſſed, praiſed, exalted, magnified be Chriſt. Christ is worthy to be celebrated with all praiſes for his comming to us. 3.3. Modas. there is the manner of their gratulation, Bleſſed, expreſſed 1. by way of thanksgiving and rejoycing, and 2. by way of exoptation and wiſhing.Note. Whoſoever truly reioyceth in Chriſt, doth alſo wiſh well to the cauſe and kingdome of Chriſt. 4. there is Movens, or the party comming,4 Movens. He, who is the ſonne of God by eternall generation, and by grace of hypostaticall union, the Prince of the Kings of the earth by authority and dominion; He who is the head of the Church by ſpirituall Jurisdiction; He who is the Redeemer of man by the merit of his obedience and paſſion; He who is the Conquerour over hell, death, ſinne, and Satan by his Reſurrection; He who by his office is the Prophet inſtructing us, the King commanding and defending us, and the Prieſt offering himſelfe a ſacrifice for us. He who is the Mediator between God and us by his interceſſion, the fountaine of all mercy, grace and peace unto us by divine ordination. Bleſſed be he, welcome be he, in him let our ſoules rejoyce, his comming let us entertaine with the chiefeſt and ſtrength of our rejoycing.Note. The Lord Jeſus ought to be the prime and compleat obiect of mans joyfulneſſe. 5. Here is his Motion, Commeth. 5. Motus.Chriſt as God is every where, and neither goes nor comes, but fils all places; yet he commeth by his Lawes and ordinances, as a Prince by his Proclamations; He commeth by his Miniſters, as a King by his Embaſſadours; He commeth by his Incarnation; as a brother taking our nature upon him; He commeth by his gifts and graces beſt;owed on us, as a friend commeth by his love-tokens; He commeth by his Word and Goſpell, as the Sun commeth by his light, enlightening us, as a King commeth by his Scepter binding, bowing, and inclining our hearts unto obedience; as a Generall commeth by his military weapons, caſting downe the ſtrong holds of ſinne within us; as the Cloud commeth by his dew, watering, refreſhing, and fructifying us; as the Maſter of a feaſt commeth by his dainties, feeding and feaſting us; as a Bridegroome commeth by his voice, ſolacing and comforting us; He commeth by his Sacrament; as the King by his Broad Seale, ſealing to us the remiſſion of our ſinnes, and juſtification of our ſoules through his righteouſneſſe; he commeth by his holy and gracious operation upon our ſoules; as the Sunne by caſting a ſweet and heavenly influence into our hearts; as a King ſetting up his throne within us; as a heavenly and Almighty Work-man new moulding, new framing, and faſhioning us, all theſe wayes comes the Lord Ieſus to the ſoules of his ſervants. Bleſſed is that perſon that knowes the way and manner of Chriſts ſpirituall and gracious comming. bTerminus à quo.Here is the terme, from whence he commeth, from God, in the name of the Lord, by the ordination and appointment of God, with authority and commiſſion from God, every way fitted and furniſhed for the adminiſtration of his kingdome, and accompliſhment of the worke undertaken by him.