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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91897	Christ the perfect pattern, of a Christian's practice, being the substance of severall sermons, about the Imitation of Christ. / Preached by the reverend and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, late minister of Mary Wolnoth London. Published by Sim. Ash, Wil. Taylor, Sam. Clarke.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1658 (1658)	Wing R1709; Thomason E1818_1; ESTC R209810	135,574	295

A great miraculous Cure wrought by our Saviour upon two blinde men in the sight of a great multitude which followed him vers 29. ad finem They hearing that Jesus who had done so many miracles passed by send out their cries after him The multitude rebuke them that they should hold their peace grace growes stronger by opposition the more they are rebuked the lowder they cry Their prayers and importunity stop the Lord Jesus in his way he calls them to him reasons with them desires to know why they called him And upon the hearing of their desire grants their request He had compassion on them and touched their eyes c. In that part of the Verse which I have read we have two things 1. An Act done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that shewes the miracle Christ could heal with a touch of his hemme sometimes Matth. 14. 36. It shewes his condescension that he would touch them mean persons Mat. 8. 3. the Leper Mat. 8. 15. the Fever Mat. 7. 33. deaf and the impediment of speech Luk. 22. 51. Malchus his eare Note The least touch of Christs finger will cure perfectly the greatest disease of soul or of body If Christ do but touch the hand the fever is gone the eyes are opened c. If the woman that had the bloody issue for twelve years do but touch his Garment she findes a present cure Mark 5. 25. c. when the Disciples are overwhelmed with fear at Christs Transfiguration a touch of their Masters hand revives them Matth. 17. 7. When Daniel is in his Agony overwhelmed a very touch of the Son of man strengthneth him Dan. 10. 18 19. The hard heart is broken with a touch of Christs finger the dead heart is quickned if Christ doth but lay his hand upon it the troubled conscience is pacified and quieted if Christ put but his finger in at the hole of the door the deaf ear is unstopped the stammering tongue speaks plainly the frozen heart is thawed c. If Christ do but touch the bier the dead body is raised Luk. 7. 14. Nay Our Saviour cures with lesse then a touch His very word healeth any Disease of soul or body He cast out Devils with his word a Legion out of one man Thou unclean Spirit come out of him Matth. 8. 16. He rebuked the fever with his word Luk. 4. 39. The Noblemans Son who lay at point of death labouring of a Fever was healed with a word speaking at a distance John 4. 50. 52. He hath absolute power over all Diseases of body and all spiritual maladies and when he saith Go they go when he saith Be removed they depart immediately Nay He can cure with the glance of his eye which is lesse then his word When Peter's heart was grown hard with sin first denies and then denies with Oaths and curses that he knew not the man Christ did but cast his very eye upon him and his heart relented presently Luk. 22. 61. As the very look of Christ can make the Earth to tremble and his enemies to languish so the least glance of his eye cures all Diseases As he can kill with his touch so can he cure with his touch All Job's troubles was nothing but a touch of Gods hand Job 19. 21. He did but touch Jacob's thigh and it was out of joynt presently Gen. 32. 25. The touch of his hand sets the Hills a smoaking Psal 104. 32. so his touch revives comforts strengthens He did but put his finger through the hole of the door and the languishing love-sick Church was comforted Cant. 5. 4 5. He did but touch Jeremiahs mouth and he was emboldened against all the contradictions of men Ier. 1. 9. He did but touch the Prophet Esays lips and his iniquity was purged and his guilt removed Isay 6. 7. 1. Use We have here a notable and clear proof of Christs Divinity from this passage He that can open blinde eyes with the touch of his finger is no lesse then God undoubtedly his touch is omnipotent 2d Use It is a ground of exceeding great comfort and joy unto the Servants of Christ who labour under many spiritual Infirmities It s the condition of the Servants of God to be exercised under many foul maladies they have blinde mindes dead hearts cold affections feavorish heats of inordinate and worldly love they use many Medicines and finde not healing Well do not despait do not despond Christ hath a healing hand his very touch can cure you prefectly of all the very tip of his finger the very breath of his mouth the very glance of his eyes can make your flesh whole Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean saith the Leper I will saith Christ be thou clean and immediately his Leprosie was cleansed Matth. 8. 3. If he do but touch your eyes they will be opened if he touch your tongue it will be untied if he touch your hearts they will relent what though you have layn very long and in your own thoughts be ever at the point of death yet his touch his word can recover you Jesus Christ never sent any diseased persons away for want of power he never said to any the Disease is too far gone no though they lay gasping for life yet he wrought their recovery Be strengthned therefore and you have the more reason to be so if you consider that he is not only able but willing too for he hath compassion in him toward those who seek to him in their misery which is the second part of the Text. 2. The impulsive cause of this act viz. his own goodness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the bowels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 2. 1. bowels of mercies hence comes the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew compassion Intima miserecordia tangor It answers the Hebrew word rachamim which signifies mercy proceeding from the bowels And indeed that 's true mercy which springs out of this Fountain it must be spun out of the bowels or else it is not true charity There may be hand-charity where there is no heart-charity Therefore ye have the expression of drawing out of the soul to the hungry Isay 58. 10. Though we do satisfie the soul of the afflicted yet if that do not spring from our very soul 't is not mercy but hypocrisie The Apostle speaks of shutting up the bowels from the poor Col. 3. 12. Though the doors be opened to take in the wanderers and the hand and purse opened to relieve the needy and distressed yet unless the bowels also be opened it falls short of true mercy This is enough for the word The Doctrine Doct. is this The Lord Jesus Christ when he was upon the Earth was exceeding compassionate towards those who stood in need of mercy He had bowels of compassion towards those who were in misery He was very pittiful and tender hearted towards the

We may leave yea we must leave our particular callings if need be to attend upon the sick to quench houses on fire c. The works of our generall calling on the Sabbath day may yea must be left upon any such occasion I will have mercy and not sacrifice Hos 6. 6. By this Scripture our Saviour warranted and justified his Disciples plucking of the eares of Corne Math. 12. 7. though it was done upon the Sabbath day c. much more must the works of our particular calling give way to such acts Paul leaves preaching and the people hearing to take up Eutychus fallen down from a window Acts 20. 9 10. 4. Rule Diligence in our particular calling doth not forbid the use of naturall rest or of lawfull recreation both to our selves and to those under our charge God would not have the very beasts overburdened or overwrought a good man sheweth mercy to his beast Pro. 12. 10. much lesse would he have a reasonable Creature overtoyled beyond his strength There must be a time for sleep as well as a time for labour Man goeth forth to his work untill the evening Psal 104 23. To deny either our selves or others that rest which God hath afforded unto all living Creatures is not diligence but sinfull worldlinesse and excessive labour and indeed oppression And so for Recreation diligence doth not forbid the use of that There is a time for every purpose under Heaven Eccles 3. init A time for work and a time for relaxation Onely in our recreations we must observe these things 1 It must not be used but when the body or mind are by wearinesse made unfit to wait upon the particular calling without hurt or prejudice 2 It must be of such things as are not scandalous but lawfull now for this that Rule of the Apostle is well to be considered and carefully practised Phil. 4. 8. Whatsoever things are true c. 3 It must onely be so much and so long as till the body and mind be repaired the spirits and strength recruited and so made fit for the following of the particular employment in which God hath placed us the end of recreation is to fit for labour in our generall and speciall vocation And when the body and mind are fitted for employment then the end of recreation is accomplished and it is a sin to use it any longer 2. These Rules being premised I shall now proceed to give some Motives to stir us up to be like Christ in diligence And they are 1 Motive From the mischiefe of idleness And that 1 In regard of the sinfullnesse of it 2 In regard of the evill effects of it 1 Idlenesse is a great sin in it self It is a sin 1 Against the Law of Creation God created man to labour before he had sinned he was put into the Garden to dresse it and to keep it Gen. 2. 15. and after sin this Law was put upon him In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread all the dayes of thy life Gen. 3. 19. Sweating labour is a fruit of sin but labour was imposed upon man though he had not sinned Now the idle person doth violate this Law of Creation and doth by idleness cast off the Authority of his Creator who made him for labour God hath given to man hands which are the Instruments of working and a head furnished with understanding to contrive and finde out employment for the hands Now the idle person doth frustrate one principal end of God in bestowing such apt Instruments of work upon him And it s no small sin for a man to pervert the end of his Creation 2 Idleness is a sin against the Law of justice Justice requires that a man should subsist and live on that which is his own Now the idle person like lice and vermine lives upon other mens sweat and so sins against justice Our Saviour hath commanded us to pray that God would give us our daily bread That bread which is not gotten by labour either of body or minde is not our bread but anothers the idle person enters into other mens labours whereas justice requires that every man should eat the labour of his own hands Psal 128. 2. 3 It s a sin against the Law of Charity Charity requires that every man should be useful to that society whereof he is a member And there is no Calling that is lawful so meane but by diligence in it a person may be serviceable to mankind Now the idle person breaks this Law he is telluris inutile pondus and like a dead member in the natural body confers no good but much prejudice to the whole body Ambrose calls idle persons Creaturas Domini superfluas 2 Idleness hath evil effects 1. Sinful effects and 2. Poenal effects 1. Idleness is an inlet to many other sins It is indeed pulvinar Diaboli the Devils Cushion on which he sits and the Devils Anvile on which he frames very many sins Toads and Serpents breed in standing waters so in the idle person 1 It s the door of lust and uncleanness of body Quaeritur Aegistus quare sit factus Adulter In promptu causa est Desidiosus erat The Scripture makes this to be the cause of Davids Adulterie with Bathsheba 2 Sam. 11. 2. David was out of employment he was sloathfully lying upon his bed in the day time and walking upon his roof when he should have been employed about the matters of his Kingdom and now Satan takes this opportunitie and excites lust in his soul 2 It s the way to theft and purloyning your idle person is within a few steps of this sin if he have but a temptation and a fair opportunity You know how it was with that idle Steward Luk. 16. 3 4 5. He could not dig he had that foul Disease of idleness upon him and therefore could not dig and he that cannot dig will steal and cheat and defraud He that will not work will not stick to set down 100. for 50. c. The Apostle hints this also Eph. 4. 28. Let him that stole c. but let him work c. And indeed idleness is a degree of Theevery in its own Nature it breaks that Commandment Thou shalt not steal 3 It brings in tatlings and tale-bearings which is a great sin The Apostle 2 Thes 3. 11. puts these two together as the Tree and the Fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that is idle in his Calling or lives without a Calling he will go up and down as a busie-body either to hear newes or to tell newes He that is idle when he should work will be sure to be busie where he should not meddle 1 Tim. 5. 13. And 4 To wrap many things together the idle person is as tinder to take any spark of temptation which the Devil or evil Company the instruments of the Devil shall let fall upon him he sits at Satans receit of Custom ready to

makes a man do any thing bear any thing It makes men fear Gods frowns c. Mich. 6. 8. It will carry a man through scorns 2 Sam. 6. 22. 'T is the totum postulatum of a Christian 2. God hath made many excellent promises to it 1. That he will teach them Psal 25. 9. Humility is one necessary qualification for instruction Proud men scorn to be learners The Philosophers Scholar must be Humilis It s a great happiness when God undertakes to teach a man he hath skill and he hath ability he can give men a heart to learn Vid. Isa 54. 13. The reason why men learn no more by God word by his works is because God doth not teach them and God refuseth to instruct them because they are so proud Men will not instruct proud persons no more will God 2. God hath promised to hear their cryes Psal 9. 12. He forgetteth not the cry of the humble Proud beggars are usually answered with scorn and denyal so are proud Christians Proud person will not receive Commands from God and God will not receive Petitions from them 'T is a certain Rule God will receive prayers from none who will not receive Commands Precepts from him 'T is a singular favour to have our prayers granted and a discouraging thing to have our suits rejected what Complaints the people of God have made when they have been refused vid. Lam. 3. init and many sad complaints in the Psalms to this purpose and much gladness of heart doth the receiving of our Petitions create in our hearts Psal 66. 20. in the saddest troubles Humility prepares Audience Pride puts a barre in the way fasting and prayer are found together fasting notes Humility 3. God hath promised to respect them and to dwell with them Vid. Psal 138. 6. and Isa 66. 2. God despises the proud and looks upon them afar off They look upon all others at a distance and so God looks upon them vid. 1 Sam. 15. 17. Gregory upon those words Magnus mihi fuisti quia despectus tibi at nunc quia magnus tibi es mihi despectus es 'T is a singular happiness to have respect and good looks from God to have communion with him This is our Heaven upon Earth This the Servants of God have beg'd and mourned for the want of it Humility drawes Gods eye 4. God promiseth to fill them Jam. 4. 6. Parisiensis calls Humility Vacuum Spirituale Ayr will descend water ascend to prevent a Vacuum Now Nature admits no Vacuum but fills it presently God will not suffer the humble heart to be unfilled vid. Luk. 1. 52. The rain which falls upon the Mountains falls down into the Vallies Your Vallies and low grounds have the richest crops your humble Christians have fullest souls high Mounts are barren c. 3d. Motive In Nature we see humility your fullest ear hangs lowest and your fruitfullest boughes Slicker eares stand highest c. 2d thing is To lay down some directions or helps to attain to this grace A Medicine of these seven Ingredients 1. Often and serious reflecting upon our mean condition we are but animated earth we have a low Original Houses of Clay whose foundation is in the dust Job 14. 17 18. This weighed Abraham to the ground Gen. 18. 27. If men would look to the hole of the pit c. Isa 51. 1. they would not sore so high A piece of red clay c. Who am I Lord and what is my Fathers house this kept David down 2 Sam. 7. 18. We have black feet The Peacock looks on her feet 2d Meditation of our base condition by sin This hath put us lower then the dust invenom'd poyson'd infected souls full of all Diseases This was that which made Paul humble 1 Tim. 1. 13. I was a persecutor c. A Christian would say I that have so many diseases upon me and should I be proud 3d Meditation upon the condition which death will put us in We must say to corruption thou art my Father Job 17. 13 14. a moath-eaten Garment a rotten thing Job 13. 28. the body must breath out to dust c. Charles the fifth had his Winding-sheet for a Standard to keep him humble If that cry in Isa 40. 6. were more in our eares it would make us stoop 4th The vain frail nature of all outward things Jam. 1. 10 11. That is the receipt which he gives 5th Consideration That all our good is imperfect We want more then we have maxima pars eorum quae scimus est minima pars eorum quae nescimus We have more deformity then beauty c. we have more worst then best more chaffe then wheat 6th Consideration That all the good we have is received 1 Cor. 4. 7. for a man to be proud of a borrowed suit c. is ridiculous Rom. 11. 18. It growes not in our own Garden we cannot say Is not this great Babylon which I have builded God hath found materials and tools to work also Deut. 8. 14. 17 18. 7th Consideration Of the account which must be given for what we have what little improvement hath been made either of riches health strength parts graces c. 8. That others have an equal share of all excellencies and are instruments of Gods honour and the good of men as well as we our selves we are not alone other Stars shine as bright as we do Mary Wolnoth October the 8th 1648. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 14. 23. He went up into a Mountain apart to pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN this Chapter we have several things considerable viz. 1. The History or Narrative of John Baptists death by the hand of Herod vers 1. ad 13. wherein we have 1. The occasion of this History vers 1. 2. Herod hearing the report of the mighty acts of Christ his Conscience smites him presently with thoughts that this was certainly John Baptist whom he had lately executed Note Sins formerly committed are oftentimes brought to sad remembrance upon the awaking of conscience Conscience though it be long silent yet will speak at last and recoyl upon men for sins long since committed 2. The History it self largely set down vers 3. ad 13. wherein we have 1. The ground of Herods opposition and persecution vers 4 5. Herein is that of the Prophet fulfilled Isa 29. 21. John Baptist stood between Herod and his lust this makes Herod incensed against him 2. The reason of the former forbearance of his execution vers 5. 3. The proximate occasion of his death vers 6 7 8. 4. The manner of his death vers 10 11. 5. The care of his Disciples for his dead body vers 12. 2. The miraculous feeding of 5000. men besides Women and Children with a small quantity of provision vers 13. ad 22. He had healed their bodies and now he feeds their bodies 3. The great miracle of asswaging the tempestuous Sea which had so much distressed his Disciples

1. He gave lawes according to which his people ought to live and demeane themselves both towards God and men He is the Churches Law-giver Esa 33. 22. yea he brings them into obedience to these Lawes by writing them in their hearts Ezech. 36. 27. 2 To gather together his elect which are his subjects out of the world into one body or Church This Christ hath done in part and doth daily by his word and spirit vid. Ioh. 12. 32. Ioh. 11. 52. Math. 28. 19. 3. To subdue and vanquish all the enimies of his Church Thus Christ hath done in his own person Col. 2. 14. Ioh. 12. 31. he hath overcome sin Satan the world and he doth continually repress them by his word and spirit 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. and will perfectly do it at last 1 Cor. 15. 25 26. 4. To communicate and convey unto his subjects all those good things which are necessary for them for this or another life This Christ hath done 5. To appoint and establish Governours and a setled Government in his Church whereby it might be rightly ordered according to his mind This Christ hath done vid. Acts. 1. 3. and Math. 28. 19. 20. vid. 1 Cor. 12. 28. 29. vid. Esa 9. 6. 7. 3. He was faithfull in his Priestly office There were two parts of this office Satisfaction Intercession 1 Satisfaction is that whereby Jesus Christ having taken our nature upon him did in that Nature make full satisfaction to divine justice for the sins of man paid all our debts and so set us free from the curse This was done two wayes By his perfect obedience By his sufferings for our guilt Now Jesus Christ did faithfully do both these 1. He did by his righteousnesse and obedience perfectly fullfill the Law He did fulfill all Righteousnesse Rom. 5. 19. 2. He did faithfully suffer and undergoe all that punishment which was due to our sins The Apostle speaks of both these parts of his satisfaction Phil. 2. 5 6 7 8. and Esa 53. 5 6. 2 Intercession is that part of Christs Priestly office whereby he appeares before the Father desiring that for the perpetuall vertue and merit of his sacrifice all his members may find acceptance with God and may enjoy the benefit of his obedience and sufferings Now this Christ faithfully began on earth Heb. 7. 5. Ioh. 17. per totum And is faithfully continued still in heaven Heb. 7. 25. and Heb. 9. 24. In the opening of this doctrine I shall shew you 1. That Christ was faithfull 2. Why he was so 1 That Christ was faithfull in performing what service was appointed him will appeare 1 By the many publicke Testimonies which God gave to him when he was on earth At his Baptisme at his Transfiguration This is my wellbeloved Son in whom I am well pleased Math. 3. 17. and Math. 17. 5. The Testimony of God is according to truth God would never thus have borne witnesse to Christ if there had been in him the least unfaithfullness He could not have been satisfied and well-pleased with him if there had been the least failure yea before his incarnation God beares him witnesse vid. Esa 42. 1. 2. 3. 4. 2 By the exaltation of Christ to the right hand of God in glory He should never have had either Crowne or Throne from God if he had not faithfully discharged every thing which he undertook for his glorification was upon that condition that he should faithfully discharge every part and parcell of what he undertook vid Esa 53. 12. The Apostle saith he was taken from prison Esa 53. 8. the prison of the grave Jesus Christ could never have risen out of the grave the prison-doores would never have opened the Jaylor Death would never have let his Prisoner out if he had not faithfully performed all The Heavens would never have opened to him or given him any entertainment had he been in the least unfaithfull Therefore our Saviour demands his glory from God upon the faithfull discharge of his duty as that which by compact and covenant was due to him vid Ioh. 17 5. When you read that Scripture 1 Tim. 3. 16. conclude that Paul was faithfull 3 By all those commands which are given by God to all sinners to beleeve in Christ And by all those promises which God himself hath made of acceptance of all those who receive Jesus Christ upon the Termes of the Gospell Many commands are given by God This is my beloved Son heare him This is the will of God that ye should beleeve in him whom he hath sent And for promises of acceptance of us in Christ how doth the Scripture abound vid. Ioh. 3. 16. Yea we know that all the Patriarchs before Christs incarnation they were accepted and saved by vertue of Christs satisfaction to be made God accepted of Christs intention There would have been no such thing as reconciliation between God and man or salvation if Christ had not been faithfull No promises of pardon c. or Adoption c. No giving of the Spirit c. if Christ had been unfaithfull 1. Consider the Father who imposed the trust 2. Why Christ was faithfull Consider 1. The person trusting 2. The trusted 3. The trustee 1 For the honouring of his Father who had intrusted him The work which he had to accomplish was a work which would bring great glory unto God It was a work with which God was marvellously delighted 'T is called the pleasure of the Lord Esa 53. 10. Therefore out of that respect which he had to Gods honour he would be faithful God would have been disappointed of his end if Christ had not been faithful He would promote his Fathers joy This is in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 For the honouring of himself It s the honour 2. The Trustee of an Embassador to be faithful in the discharging of his trust unfaithfulness is one of the greatest stains and blots which can be fastned upon a person faithfulness is a Crown of glory Prov. 13. 17. The work was his own as well as his Fathers This is in the Text Heb. 3. 6. John 10 12 13 14. 3 From that love he bare to those for whom 3. Those for whom he was trusted he was intrusted and employed The work which was put into the hands of Christ was a work which exceedingly pleased him The saving of souls the reconciling of men to God the Redemp of his Elect from everlasting destruction c. The Scripture speaks very clearly of the affection of Christ to the work he undertook I have a Bapt. to be baptized with and how am I straitned c. Luk. 12. 50. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was as it were in prison till the work was done he was in pain till he was delivered vid. Esa 53. 11. That travel of his soul pleased him Ergo. 1. Use Confutation and Reproof to all those Doctrine and opinions which deny faithfulness Christ and overthrow it 1 The Papists by