A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 99 (Question 27 cont.)
SERMON XCIX.
2. WE proceed to conſider Chriſt's Progreſs in his Publick Life: Which he entred upon immediately after his Temptation; and c…nued in unto his Death: Of which I ſhall not here give a particular account, but refer you to the Hiſtory of the Four Evangeliſts, which is mainly taken up in making of remarks on the more obſervable paſſages of it. I ſhall only more generally gather up the ſubſtance of what is therein contained, in which he both expreſſed his Humiliation, and made it to appear that he was the Redeemer of men. And here,
I THE mean and low part which Chriſt bare voluntarily for our ſakes, is worthy our obſervation. As he was born obſcurely, and brought up meanly, ſo he paſt through the World, as one empty of all the good things of it; and he did it voluntarity, was not forced to it. He was the eternal Son of God whiles he ſay under this diſguiſe: And he did is for our ſake, becauſe he had robbed us of all had for…cited every benefit of life. And … ſtood for us: He was infinitely rich is … ſelf, being the Lord of the World, and … of all things; but be became for, that … might make us rich, 2 Cor 8.9. This de… ſtate of his, then was meritorious. So … herein he diſcovered his wonderial love … thoſe whom his Father had given him, … taking their deſerved meanneſs upon him that they might ſhare in his fulneſs, … had loſt their right to all that is good, … merited to be ſtript out of all. Hence … find that he lived without an earthly … though all was his; and was maintai… the charity of others, who miniſtred of … ſa…ſtance to him, Luk 8.2.2. He lived without the Honours of the World; did not … forth among men in great pomp, as ea… Potentates are won't to do. He was … proclaimed with the ſound of Trumper; … did they cry before him, Bow the kne… … only took a few deſpiſed Fiſhermen, and Mechanicks into his company; and … once he would give a ſpecimen of his Glory, and how caſily he could command all … Worlds reſpect; yet he did it with a … deal of meekneſs, and lowlineſs; as … obſerved, Mar 21.5. Tell ye the daughter … Sion, behold, thy king cometh unto thee, …, and ſitting upon an aſs, and a …o…s the ſ… of… aſs. And that very Aſs was a bor… … too. Yea, thought a moſt glorious Per… yet he to k…on him the form of a Servant, … became of no reputation, P…il. 2 7. He … far from being accommodated with … Palaces, delectable Orchards and G…, and whatever things are the beli… of Princes, that he had not ſo much as a … Cottage, that he called his own, Man … And this mean part he ſuſtained here in the World, that ſo he might entitle us … the heavenly Riches, Glories, and Plea… yea, that he might procute for us, a … right to all the comforts and conve… that we enjoy in this life; thus ſharing … us in our curſed condition, that we migh… fellow-heirs with him in his glorious … And there are two leſſons we may him hence,
1 THAT a Perſon may be truly happy, … theſ… things. True Riches, Honours, and Pleaſures, are not to be valued according … this World, and the concerns of it. … Chriſt, though mean in this World, yer…, both rich and noble in himſelf; and … able to make many rich and noble. L… then be diſcouraged at a low eſtate, and … part in this World, or account the mſ… really the worſe by reaſon of it. Not them … look upon the people of God according … their outward gath, and breadth they … in this World. They may be, as pow, … making many rich: as having nothing, and … poſſeſſing all things, 2 Cor. 6.10. Nor … think that Chriſt will have any …he … eſteem of us. What ſaith he? Jam. 2.3. … my …ei…ved brethren, Hath not God … the poor if this world, rich in ſaith, and who of the kingdom, which he hath promiſed to … that love him?
2. LEARN hence that Chriſt's poverty and …ſs is no rule, or example for the vowed …y of Papiſts, whom they call Mendicants: … profeſs to renounce all intereſt in the …ld, to live upon alms, and practice beg…. For, beſides their horrible diffimulation that account, let us obſerve,
(1.) THAT Chriſt's mean condition was extraordinary. It was not a part of that Obedience which meerty as a man under the …, he owed to the moral precepts of it; for …re is no ſuch ſtate required of man in the …d law; but it belonged to has mediatorial …ction, as he ſtood for us, and was to bear … penalty of our fins; it is therefore ſaid … be for our ſakes, 2 Cor. 8.9. And what … properly mediatorial, is not imitable by …, ſince be alone was to be Mediator. 1 Tim. 5.
(2.) THAT Chriſt's low condition was with… beggary. Though he was poor, yet he … not go about begging of Alms. He was …eed miniſtred unto, and received of what us freely contributed to him, but he did …devore himſelf unto a mendicant life; not … be need it.
(3.) THAT Chriſt has procured for us a right … things of this life. He not only pur…d Grace and Glory for us, but alſo re…d to us the title which we had forfeit… all things therefore ate given with him, …. 32. The promiſe therefore, which is …d in him, contains theſe things as well …e other, 1 Tim. 4.8. And through him things come to he ours, 1 Cor. 3.21, 22. …ought then to acknowledge him in what there of comfort, of credit, in this life; … thankful to god for Chriſt, through … purchaſe they derive to us.
3. THE buſineſs which Chriſt did in this part condition: i. e. in ſum, He went about doing … So Peter expreſſed it, Act. 10.38. Jeſus … came into a World that was grown a …ital of miſerable creatures, that did up way ſtand in need of having knidneſs … them; and he carried himſelf in it as poor Benefactor, at all times ready to ſhew … his ſeaſonable ſuccour. And there was … ſuch an one of be heard of, before or …. Whether we conſider,
…. THE bowels of compaſſion that were in him … miſerable men. See, Math. 9.36 Their … moved his pity, and the very fight of …to't upon his tender affections, as to … upon ſhewing them this kindneſs, …ſtading their unworthineſs of it, and provocations they gave him to with hold …at, thought Chriſt, as God, had not …as properly ſo called, nor could be … with external objects, yet, as Man, he … them, and they were full of Grace. Joh. 1. Not could all the affronts he met with, … were many and great, hinder him from pitying them, and doing them ſuch kindneſſes as they ſtood in need of.
2. THE indefatigable pains which be took in this. He ſpared no labour or travail in it: He wearied his Body, and exhauſted his Spirits in it. Job. 4.6. He denied himſelf his natural reſt, and ordinary repaſt for it: He ſhunned none, but took every opportunity to be at it. How many Peregrinations did he make from Judea to Galilee, and round about all the adjacent Regions, to ſeek for Opportunities to apply his Beneficence, to thoſe that ſtood in need of it; yea, when he retired for ſome breathing yet he readily entertained ſuch as followed him.
3. THE number and quality of thoſe to whom he did good. Thoſe who thus taſted of his kindneſs were innumerable. There are but a few of them, in compariſon of what they were, recorded in the Goſpel. Job. 21.23. And yet thoſe that are recorded are without any parellel. And they were all ſorts of Perſons to whom he extended theſe favours; the poor as well as the rich; and he was as ready to ſuccour the one as the other. He refuſed not the noble, nor did … deſpiſe the baſe: His enemies taſted his bounty as well as his friends. He prayed for them that crucified him, as well as for his diſciples & followers. He viſited the Phariſees when they ſought to him, and the Publicans too, though he was reproached for it.
4. THE kinds of good that be did: And they were of all ſorts. He did Men good for their Bodles, and for their Souls, and that in all the reſpects which their need called for. He healed all ſorts of diſeaſes in the Bodied of men; palſies, leproſies, feavers, and what not? He opened the eyes of the blind, &c. caſt out Devils, raiſed the dead: He fed thouſands when they were faint, and could get no food. And the good he did, did not reſt here, but he did good to mens Souls: And indeed his other kindneſſes were to other in theſe. He therefore together with healing their Bodies, pardoned their ſins; brought them out of darkneſs into his marvellous light; reſtored many a bankrupt Child of Adam, to a right to all the glories of the Kingdom; gave them bodily and ſpiritual ſight at once; freed them from bodily poſſeſſion, & ſpiritual dominion of Satan, from the Grave and Hell, at the ſame time.
USE. LEARN we hence, That it is a Chriſt-like frame of ſpirit, to be much in doing good to ſuch as ſtand in need of our help. Chriſt made it his whole buſineſs throughout his publick life, thus to do; and he thought nothing too much to deny himſelf of, that he might do it. He travailed from place to place; did not wait for mens coming to him, but he went to them. Would we then be much like to him, and approve our ſelves for his true diſciples; let us herein imitate our Lord and Maſter, endeavouring to fill up our lives with doing all the good we have opportunity for, That is the advice given, Gal. 6.10. A… we have therefore opportunity, let us did good unto all men, of pe…y unto them … are of the … of ſaith. And we have Chriſt himſelf ſet her to us for our Preſident.
3. THE ſpecial Work that be purſued in his Publick Life… and that was to bring men into a ſating acquaintance with God. He himſelf has ſaid, Joh. 17.3. And this it life eternal, that th… might know …ee the n… true God, and jejus Chriſt whom … …ent. His buſineſs therefore was to reveal God thus to man, Job. 1.19. And for that reaſon he declares himſelf to be the Light of the World, Joh. 9.5. So that his publick life was that wherein he cutted upon his Miniſtry. therein to make diſcoveries of the glorious truths of God, to me… that were in d…kneſs and ignorance; Math. 4.14, 1…, 1…. So that his Prophetical Office was here more p…culiatly to be exerted: Though the gave demonſtrations or his other Offices alſo in this courſe of his Miniſtry; His Prieſtly in praying for Sinners, His Kingly in healing of Diſeaſes, and c…oaling of D…ds, and forgiving Sins; yet that which was moſt of all incarni…ent on him, in reſpect of …s appearing among Men, was his Prophetical: Though all this while, in his obedience to his Father, be acted in the diſc…arge of his Prieſtly, carrying on the buſineſs of Satisfaction and Merit; but yet his goding about openly, was to aſſert the great Truths of Salvation, and acquaint upon with the way of life and peace; and for this he was appointed, Iſai. …1. begin. And what elſe he did to and for me; had a ſelverviency hereunto: From him therefore flowed that Light, which diſcovers God i… his glorious Grace for the encouraging of undone Sinners; to ſeek to him for life
USE. LEARN hence, that the greateſt good we can d…tny, is being instrumental in bringing them to the ſaving knowledge of God in Chriſt. Here did all Chriſt's other Services to men center. When he did men good otherwiſe, it was to inſinuate himſelf into them. When he healed their Bodies, it was that he might do good to their Souls: When he took away their diſeaſes, it was in order to the taking away their ſins; and by all kindneſſes to oblige them to love him, and truſt in him as the great Savicur. And could we thus do, how much like him ſhould we be. Let us do men all the outward kindneſs we can; but let it be our greateſt aim in all, to inſinuate our ſelves into them, ſo as thereby to be better helped in drawing of them after Chriſt, and bringing them to be acquainted with him, ſo ſhall we ſhew them the greateſt kindneſs that we are capable of. Thus did Paul, 1 Cor. 9.22.
4. HERE, the more eſpecial things to be obſerved in Chriſt's Publick Life, are His Teaching of the People, and His Working of Miracles. Of each of theſe, take this brief account,
1. HIS Teaching was the more Principal: For he appeared openly to be a Miniſter of the Heavenly Myſteries. Hence ſo called, b. 2. Concerning the which obſerve, …
(1.) THE ſa…ed matter of his Touching the Goſpel of the Kingdom. Mat. 9.35. … in beſt News that ever was heard in World. The word tranſlated Goſpel, … good and glad …dings. And though in … ſenſe it is limited to thoſe truths, … cern the good will of God to fallen … ſending his Son to be a Saviour; … more large ſenſe, and as it is applied … Preaching, it comprehends all thoſe … that are needful to be known in orde… convincing man of his need of Sal… informing him of the Object and him … ency, and directing him in the way ſ… taining of life by him. His buſineſs … declare, that whereas, the Law and J… had reigned unto Death and Hell, God found out a way, by his own Son is … to ſatisfy Juſtice, and give Eternal Li… ſuch as ſhould believe on him, and … ingly to invite ſinful men to accept of by Faith, and Life by him. See, R…, … Hence in his Preaching he teld men of miſery, wooed them to himſelf, and p… them to holineſs.
(2.) THE Perſon that Preaching, … Chriſt. It is true, he diſpenſed the … truths to men, by John Baptiſt his … and afterwards by his Apoſtles, and G… Miniſters, or his Legates or Embaſſ… for He is the fountain of the Goſpel … and they derive thence from his Pu…p… Office; they borrow all their lighted him, and their whole ſucceſs depends … him: Yet he himſelf alſo Preached in … He is called the Chief Shepherd, 1. P… And he went up and down from … place Preaching the Goſpel himſelf … Evangeliſts abundantly do reſlify.
(3.) THE Adjuncts or Circumſtance … his Preaching, were either ſuch as … Himſelf, and the manner of his Teaching his Hearers, and the efficiency it … them.
1. RESPECTING Himſelf, and the … of his Teeching. Obſerve,
[1.] THAT He was diligent and … it, i.e. He took all occaſions for it, and … ted no fair opportunity: It is … Man, he could not be inceſſantly at it … he bad other things to do. He muſt … times to reſt, to eat, and drink, to ju… be working of miracles, But he … time to ſtudy his Sermons, on the … Miniſters of the Goſpel do, for be … not the ſpirit in meaſure, Joh. & 84. … took every occaſion; He Preached p… When there was any aſſembling is … gogue, he went thither and caughts … to the Temple in Jeruſalem daily, … there was a concourſe thither, … W… was in the City, he preached to the … tude that flocked after him, and in … derneſs, on a Mountain out of a … He Preached alſo in Private Houſes … … come to him: nay, i… it were but …e. …old take pains with him; as, A…enden…s, … Yea, he would Preach at Suppers, o… …i…ments given him; as at the H…es of …, Z…bens, Simon the Loper, and …: and though he ſpent no little time in p…leate Prayer to God, yet he would take the Night frequently for that; chuſing to loſe …own bod…ly reſt, rather than omit the … of Preaching to men.
[2.] THAT he was very gracious in his D…ing. It is remarked. Luk. 4.22 And …tum …neſs and …ondred at the gracious … which proceeded at of his …th. He was himſelf full of Grace, as we obſerved; And he ſpoke graciouſly i… all his Sorm…s…o his Hearers: And this Grace w… to be ſeen b…th in the matter, and the m…er of …is Teaching; He was always; making the …e… ders of Grace and Mercy unto them w…n he taught. The ſubject of his D…et…ine was the free Grace of Dod appearing to …ful …; and the manner was ſuitable to the …er; gracious words, ſweet and alluring Ph…rick, heart mel…g are me …ts: He had the very Art of perſwading, and …ealing into … Souls.
[3] THAT be Preached with great Auth…rity. So it is recorded of …im, Mat. 7 … …e … a divi…e ma…ſty accomp…ed …is P…c…i…. When he ſnake to me of the great … of their Salvation, his words ca…ed … deal of po…er in them; they le…t a …ighty awe and impreſſion and the …e…s of his hearers, ſo that they were alſo ſh…d … them; they calling nor avoid the i…c c… of them; but his … were ſ…e…d …c… … their hearts, and making … wounds, in them. Pſal. …5.5.
…ESPE…T…NG His Hearers, and the … what on them: And that word verſe. This is a double e…cacy the Goſpel takes … of
[1.] HIS Teaching …as to ſome accom…anied … Converſion Their eyes were …avi…gly …ed, their hearts were broker; their … bowed and t…er… were turned … unto God; His Goſpel was enter mind, they received him and ſo became the … of God, Joh. 1… 12. And there were a … many of theſe: He found them dead … and treſpaſſes, but he quick…ed them … his word through his Spirit.
[2.] TO ethers it was a…tended with their …, and Deſtruction. As to the body of the Seribes and P…ar…s, accompliſhing the p…iction. Iſai. 6… 9.10. compa… M…n … 35. ſome believed, but not ſi…cerely; … were convinced, but enraged; others … and ſtouted, and ſo ha…d…ed them… …o their own ruin: And thus was that … on them, wi…ich i… mentioned. 1 Per. … …t …nto the… which be diſobedient, the … the builders diſa…ced, the ſame is … bead of the c…rn…r: And a…ſl no of ſlum… and a rock of ſ…ence, evan to them which … as the word being diſ…b…dtent, whereunto alſo they were app…nted.
USE. li…ich is the … …el Mi…s. It wills us … the they are to Chriſt, with leave … work to others, and themſelves n…gle… it; and who take to pains in their M…, but …u…i…er themſelves to be diverted by every …. It … alſo, what G…p…l … is o…g…n to …al… the … o… … Pr…ac…ing …, the G…el the …lad …din… o… a S… or, and …e… the ha…e Law, bu… and Seh…miſ…er to Chriſt. It alſo tells them now the, …u…ht to Preach. Groci…ſly: they ſhould ſeek acc…n…ble words, ſuitable to wi… S…ul… not all Hell and Damration, but …uch as may allure Souls to Chriſt. …ſ… 14. And with Au…ber…le; not conceil any G…ed …ruth, but declare it wit… the demo ſt…a…tion of the Spirit, and power, ſo as to b…n… the Conſcience, …private the Soul, and … the Heart. It leaves alſo to cantion Hearers, how they entertain in the Goſpel, Lak. 8.10. Chriſt …ever taught, but ſome were co…verted, and others Hinded; and there is ſuch a divine effect on his Miniſters Pre…ching, … Cor 2.13.16. Take heed then, w…ch way the Mi…ſ…ty works upon you.
2. HIS working of Mira…es was ennexed to, an… … of his Preaching. In them indeed …e ex…ſ his Kingly Office emi…e…ly; b… they were uſed by him as adju…cts to his D…ctri…e. And there are three things to be obſerved about them,
1. Ti… nature of them. They were ſa…ern…t…a e…cts a…e the ord…ary c…e of ſee…d cauſes, and ſo they were great W…ks, ſ…ch … but God could p…rt…rm. For ſuch is the …a…ur… a M…racle, is …ath been of ſerved in the D…ct …e o… ex…t…dinary P…vide…ce: ſuch were … the ſick with a …, ra…i…g the dead … a word, taking away mal…d … that … of m… from their …ativity, without the … of ſec…d cauſe, or …; as i… ſuch as were h…t …, and were …ame ſ…m the w…m…. T…y were … ſorſ… effects; f…r through the w…rk … G… … ſup…t …eral work, yet it is not … a …ra… becauſe it is ſ…i…i…u… and affects … the … as th…ſe do and for …a …eaſon are …, wh…ch …ep…lent o…e ti…ing to the ſen…e, and another to the mi…d.
2. THE ends or deſigns of them, were diverſ, (1.) TO diſe…ver the Perſon of Chriſt. They made it appear, that he was indeed the Meſſiah pr…m…ſed. By thoſe he was appr…ed to b… He whom they …eek… for. Act 2.22. Ye men of Iſrael … the …. Jeſu…e… of … zireth approved of G… …, re…nders and ſigns, … G… … by him in the mid… of you, a…e your ſ…hes…aſ kn…. So that when they ſaw him lo ſuch things as no man ever did, it ſet all eyes a … on him. He therefore pointed the D…ſc…s of John hither, to ſatisfy the inquity they came about. Math. 11. begin. (2.) THEY w…e to … from his Doctrine and Office. His Doctrine; …ce they were aljuncts of his teaching Mat. 9.35. The People had ſuch a love and liking of the old Ceremonies, in which they had been trained, and which were uphold in the ſucceſſion of ſo many Generations, that it was needful that he ſhould out-do the works which were wro't in giving the Law, by more and greater than they, in the co…imation of the Goſpel. Theſe were a ſtamp on his Doctrine, or an heavenly Seal, giving them divine Authority: And his O…ice, to prove, that he came not on his own head, but was authorized by his Father, and had his Commiſſion for all that he did, or taught. Hence that, Joh, 10.25. The works that I do in my Fathers name, they bear witneſs of me. (3.) TO ſignify his ſpiritual Operations. They were ſigns, and ſo were to lead men by their ſenſes to more ſpiritual things; all of which were repreſented and reſembled by theſe ſigns. When he opened blind eyes, it ſignified that he came to …u…n men from darkneſs unto light: when he …ed thouſands, it ſaid that he was the Bread that came down from heaven.
3. FOR the manner of his doing them, they were, (1.) VERY frequent. There were now and then ſome wrought before; but now he went up and d…wn doing of them: yea they were the uſual, if not the conſtant concomitants of his Preaching, being almoſt inſeperable appendices thereto. (2.) IN almost every ſort of Subject. Jeſus Chriſt would have it clearly appear, that He is Lord of all, and of what a great extent his divine power is. Hence they were wro't, in Angels, in Men, … Brute Creatures, in Inanimates, in Heaven, Earth, Sea, in Corporeals, in Spirituals. (3.) THEY were wrought in his own Name. His Diſciples alſo did many Miracles, both before and after his Death, and Reſurrection; but they did them in his Name, ſo that not they but He properly did them. Hence they uſed his Name, Act. 3.6, 16. But he uſed his own Authority in it, I will be thou clean. &c. Not is it a contradiction to ſay, he did them in his Fathers Name, which points to the divine Authority; For he alſo ſaith, I and my Father are one.
USE. I. LEARN hence, on what ſcore Miracles are to be expected. Not for themſelves, or meerly for mens outward occaſions, but for the Goſpel ſake; and hence it may direct our Faith about them, and how far to look for them
USE. II. HOW unreaſonable a thing is it to refuſe to hearken to the Goſpel of Chriſt, or deny his P…ſon and Office. All of which have been confirmed by ſo many tokens, wrought by the Almighty power of God, with wh…m, as it is impoſſible to lie, ſo no leſs to ſet his Seal to an untruth: beware then of neglecting or deſpiſing &c.
USE. III. LET the Conſideration of Chriſt's whole Publick Courſe, engage our hearts in love to him, and encourage our Souls in their … pending on him. Great was his love, … thus ſtooped to do us good. Did Chriſt … himſelf to fill us; ſpend himſelf to … kindneſs; Did he think no labour too … to ſhew his good will to us; How g…ly doth he deſerve our love? How much … he encourage us to adventure our all upon him? And remember He is as kind … is in Heaven, as he was when upon …. Do we then want Teaching, do we wa… ing, do we need Counſel or Conſo…? Bring all our wants to, and lay them … Him, and be not doubtful but believe.
[AUGUST 4. 1696.]