his Birth which speaks forth his Mightinesse As First The message of the Angel to the Shepherds Luke 1.10 11. Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all People For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Secondly The praisings of the Host the Shepherds they glorified and praised God for what they had heard and seen but men of the earth are not sufficient for this thing and therefore a Quire is sent from Heaven to rejoyce and sing praises to the Most High for this Heavenly and unspeakable gift Luke 2.13 Suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God These extraordinary praises speak the person born to be some great and Mighty One Thirdly The homage of the Wise men That they should come to tender their homage and service to this Infant and not unto Herod nor Agustus Caesar of whose greatnesse no doubt they had heard but did not esteem nor regard it in comparison of this late born King of the Jews speaks Christ to be a Mighty One especially if we consider First The quality of their Persons if because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wise men is usually taken in the worst sense for men practising Magical and unlawful Arts it should be understood so in this place it shews forth the more of the Mightiness and Power of Christ when men that had been of such a profession become such professors of Christ of any among the Gentiles as to come and do homage to him howsoever forasmuch as they were as is most likely not of the meaner sort nor yet persons of ordinary and common gifts but men of learning understanding wisdome and of high esteem among the People it holds forth the greatness and excelleny of Christ that such should come so early and submit themselves to him Secondly The greatness of their pains without doubt it was a long and tedious journey they took although we cannot tell exactly how far they came because the particular term from whence at which divers have diversly conjectured is not to be found in Scripture onely it is said with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold prefixed as a matter of admiration that they should come and come so far They came from the East to Jerusalem and surely they would not have undertaken such a journey with regard to an ordinary common person Thirdly The reality and fulnesse of their homage it was not in word and in tongue onely but in truth and in deed we do not read of any thing they said to him but of what they did and that was much they first gave themselves an oblation to this great King and then made offering of their gifts For they fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures they presented unto him Gifts Gold and Frankincense and myrrhe Matth. 2.11 They would not have tendered such large homage to a mean one Fourthly The eminent appearing of God for their direction to him and preservation in returning a Star did lead them to the very place where he was for it is said Math. 2.9 Lo the Star which they saw in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young Child was And for their preservation God did warn them in a dream that they should not return to Herod and they departed into their own Countrey another way Fourthly The dread of the Mighty even of King Herod and all Jerusalem with him for it is said When Herod the King heard these things viz of one born King of the Jews and of persons come to worship him he was troubled terrified yea he shaked with fear Mat. 2.3 so that Christ was a Mighty One in his Birth Eighthly Christ is a Mighty One in his Descent even after the flesh First In respect of his stock in general for he was descended of the Patriarchs he was of the stock of Abraham that Mighty One the Jews counted it a great priviledge above what the Gentiles had That they had Abraham to their Father that they were of his stock branches of that root Christ was also a son of Abraham Secondly In respect of his Tribe out of which he sprang Judah for it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah and it is as evident also that Judah was the mightiest Tribe both according to Jacobs and Moses blessing of him Gen 49.8 Judah thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise thine hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies thy fathers children shall bow before thee Judah is a Lyons whelp c. Deut. 33.7 Let his hands be sufficient for him and be thou an help to him from his eâ—emies Judah was Standard-bearer in the foremost Quarter as the children of Israel encamped about the Tabernacle Numb 2.3 And Judah's Standard Lyon-like marched in the first place as they marched towards the Land of Canaan Numb 10.13 14. and of this mighty Tribe was Christ yea he was the Mighty One of this Tribe The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Rev 5.5 Further Judah was the Royal Tribe the Royalty of a Kingdome appertained to it Gen 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah c. The Kings and Rulers descended from thence and this speaks the mightinesse and exeellency of Christ that he was of this Tribe hence Mr. Perkins saith That Christ was the most excellent and notable One that ever was descending of the eternall Father as he is the Son of God and as he is man descending of the Patriarchs and of the renowned Kings of Judah And it is storied that it remaineth registred in the Jews Talmud it self That Jesus of Nazareth crucified was of the blood-royal from Zorobabel of the house of David so that he is a Mighty One in his Descent Ninthly Mighty in his Name Isaiah prophecying of him saith Ch. 9.6 His Name shall be called Wonderful Councellour the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Immanuel the Word of God his name speak forth his excellency and might not that there is any might and virtue in the bare name it selfe as consisting of so many letters as some have fondly conceited that the bare name of Christ used had power to drive away the Devil and that the name of Christ written and carried about with them was of efficacy to keep them from danger but his name declare his nature for as his name is so is he it is not with Christ in this respect as with some who had names contrary to their natures and dispositions to hide their weaknesses and wickednesses as the Impius named Pius the Coward Leo the Cruel Clemens the Oppressor Innocentius the Earthly-minded Celestinus Tenthly Mighty in his Titles I shall name a few The Captain of Salvation Ruler in Israel The Consolation of Israel The Horn of Salvation The Deliverer The Power and wisdom of God
to be The first-born of every creature the Beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence Col. 1.15 18. And by John to be The first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev 1.5 And this is he that the Psalmist principally sings of as he doth also in other Psalms who is and shall be so great a blessing to Gods people Secondly The people who partake of this mercy over whom this King this Mighty One was set that he might help them are not all the people of the world not his foes such as hate him not the proud and mighty ones of the earth who despise and oppose him though he be Lord over them also but they are Gods people one Translation addeth I have put help upon a Mighty One for my people They are Gods people Israel the weakest and smallest of all people not onely Israel according to the flesh but also Israel according to the spirit Jer. 23.5 6. Luke 1.32 33. Who by reason of their weaknesse and smallnesse the craftiness mightiness and multitudes of their enemies stand in as much need of the Lord of Christ the son of David That Mighty One to help and save them as ever Israel after the flesh did of David the son of Jesse That Mighty One to deliver them from their Oppressors I have laid or put help upon One that is Mighty A Champion one strong and able to help my people These words may be considered First Generally and largely as they contain the care and goodness of God in General to his people Secondly Specially and strictly as they point out the particular thing wherein God is so good to his people From the General and large Consideration of the words Observe That the condition of the people of God in this life is such as they stand in need of help Though this be not expressed in words yet it is necessarily implyed for help supposeth need and we are sure that the Lord the most wise Agent doth nothing in vain he doth not send help to them that need it not For demonstration of which seeing I intend not to insist long upon it I shall only mention First The many and mighty Persecutors under whom they have lived who have been stronger than they the four great worldly Monarchies viz Babylonian Persian Grecian and Roman set forth by the four terrible Beasts mentioned Dan. 7. whose natures are to tear and devoure of which the last under whose power yet they are is most dreadfull and exceeding strong whereupon they ever did and being not yet delivered out of the hands of all the mighty Ones that hate them do still want the help of some other Secondly The sore bondage and oppression whieh their enemies have and do keep them in for the seed of the Serpent especially being prevalent cannot but persecute the seed of the woman by reason of which they have in their several Generations sighed groaned and howled as they do also to this very day in the Nations of the world do plainly shew that they have and still stand in need of a stronger arm than their own to deliver them Thirdly The strong cryes and earnest prayers heretofore and now also put up to the Lord for help which else were to no purpose except to mock the Almighty do speak aloud the truth of this Assertion That their condition is such as they stand in need of help And it is not the worse but the better for the people of God that their condition is thus for though it be a manifest evidence and demonstration of their own weakness and self-insufficiency yet the great goodness and deep wâ—sdom of God is in it thereby with-holding occasion from them of trusting and glorying in themselves an evil which they are exceedingly prone to and as it were necessitating them of whom otherwise he should too seldome hear to a daily recourse to and continual dependance upon himselfe for help in every time of need by means of which they are safely preserved and their Heavenly Father is daily glorified Secondly Observe The Lord himself doth provide help for his people in their severall conditions I have laid help c. He doth not leave them without help in trouble as the gods of the Heathen do those that serve them neither doth he leave it to others who are unable and cannot or unfaithful and will not do it but that they may not be failed in any time of need they being a peculiar treasure unto him above all people he undertakes it himself for them though he doth oftentimes make the meanest and weakest creatures an help to them so that they may truly say Our help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth And this is the great priviledge and advantage which the people of God have above others that they are the people whom the Lord careth for according to that of Jacob Deut. 33. ult Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency Thirdly Observe The Lord doth lay in a sufficiency of help for his people in their various conditions What God doth he doth to purpose he dispenceth full mercies and blessings to his people I have laid help upon One that is Mighty The Lord layes in a sufficiency of help for service as also to save and deliver out of trouble Sometimes he layes help upon Angels those Mighty Ones who excell in strength for his people as he did in Hezekiahs time he sent an Angel who smote in one night 185000 in the Camp of the Assyrians Isa 37.36 He sent an Angel to the help of the three children in the exceeding hot furnace who did sufficiently help For the fire had no power upon their bodyes nor was an hair of their head singed neither were their Coats changed nor the smell of fire had passed on them Dan. 3.27 And also to Daniel when he was in the Lyons Den who did help effectually for he was taken up out of the Den and no manner of hurt was found upon him Dan. 6.23 And likewise to Peter in Prison Acts 12.7 10. Sometimes he layes help upon men who of weak he makes mighty to help he made Moses and Joshua mighty ones and sent them to the help of his people he made Gideon a mighty man of valour and said unto him Go in this thy might and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites he made Ehud a man left-handed as also Deborah a woman mighty for the help and deliverance of his people Jude 3.4 Sometimes he layes help upon other Creatures as upon the Stars Judg. 5.20 The Stars in their courses fought against Sisera upon Hail-stones for with them the Lord holpe Israel against the five Kings of the Amorites and it was help sufficient for they were more which dyed with hail-stones then they whom
is a King and that is an office which speaks might and power a King notes Supremacie in respect of others 1 Pet. 2.13 but Christ is not onely a King and mighty in that regard but also a Mighty King a King above all other Kings he is a King higher than the Kings of the earth Psal 89.27 The Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 Lord of Lords and King of Kings Rev. 17.14 He is a mighty King First In himselfe and that especially in two things First In majesty and glory excellent majesty is upon him The Psalmist singing of him and his kingdome saith Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O most mighty with thy glory and thy majesty and in thy majesty ride prosperously c. Psal 45.3 4. See a â—lymspe of his glory in his Type Soâ—â—mon The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel and bestowed upon him such Royall majesty as had not been on any King before him in Israel yet behold a Greater than Solomon is here for Solomon in all his Glory was not arrayed like unto Christ of this Glory the Apostles had a sight according to the words of Peter We were eye-witnesses of his Majesty for he received from God the Father honour and Glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. And Paul stiles him even him that was crucified The Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.8 Secondly In wisdome and understanding he was and is greater and above all others both men and Angels in understanding There was excellent Wisdome found in Daniel but there was more and more excellent in Christ God gave Solomon wisdome and understanding exceeding much and largeness of heart even as the sand that is on the Sea-shore and Solomons wisdome excelled the wisdome of all the children of the East Country and all the wisdome of Egypt for he was wiser than all men and all the Earth sought to him to heare his wisdome which God had put in his heart 1 Kings 4.29 30 31. 1 Kings 10.33 But behold a Greater than Solomon is here in this respect Math. 12.42 Even he in whom are hid all the Treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2.3 The very wisdome of God 1 Cor. 1.24 Secondly He is Mighty in his Subjects two things considerable in his Subjects which speak forth his Mightiness First Their Mightiness his Subjects are Saints and Nations and both sorts are mighty his Saints are excellent ones Subjects of the highest ranke they are Kings and Priests being advanc'd to that Dignity by himselfe Rev. 1.6 Men of other spirits redeemed from among men who have all Earthly things under their feet such as regard not Silver nor yet delight in Gold The Law of the mouth of their King being better to them than thousands of Gold and Silver as also men of valiant and couragious spirits for the honour of their King upon Earth not loving their lives unto the Death Rev. 12.11 The Nations of the Earth also are full of Mighty Ones men of high degree and all the Kings Princes Potentates Rulers chiefe Captaines Great Lords all the Mighty men of Valour all the Worthies and men of Renowne and all the wise and Honourable ones of the Earth are his Subjects the excellency and mightiness of the Subjects speak forth the mightiness of the King how mighty must he needs be who have all the mighty Kings and Princes of the world under him Secondly Their multitude he hath more Subjects than any if Solomons Subjects were so great a people that could not be numbred nor counted for multitude how great and numerous or rather innumerable are Christs Subjects who are all people Nations and Languages Dan. 7.14 And these are not onely his Subjects in respect of the Right and extent of his Dominion but also in respect of their submission and obedience to him for all Dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7.14 27. Yea all kingdomes shall resolve into his kingdome The joyfull sound of the Seaventh Angel and the great voices in Heaven which John heard proclaimed the largeness and amplitude of the kingdome of this King saying The kingdomes of this World are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever and ever and if in the multitude of people is the Kings Honour Pro. 14.28 then surely he is a mighty and honourable one that hath such multitudes under him Thirdly He is mighty in his Rule and Administration both towards his loyall Subjects and desperate Enemies The Administration of Christ towards his faithfull ones is chiefly in two things in both which he appeares to be Mighty First Preservation for he preserveth the faithfull even all them that love him he is mighty to save and defend them against all the mighty ones that rise up against them he hath been and is a strength to the poore a strength to the needy in distresse a refuge from the storme a shaddow from the heate when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storme against the wall The Psalmist singing of him and his kingdome saith He shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poore also and him that hath no helper he shall save the soules of the needy he shall redeeme their soules from deceit and violence Psal 72.12 13 14. And for this reason the Prophet Zephany calls upon Zion to sing and rejoyce The King of Israel even the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evil any more The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is Mighty he will save Zeph. 3.14 15 17. And this is the confidence of his Subjects The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us Isa 33.22 And he is not onely mighty to save their bodies from destruction but to save their soules from sin and death for that was the reason which the Angel gave Joseph before Christ was borne why he should be called Jesus Math. 1.21 Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins And in this he is mightier than all other Kings who cannot deliver any of their Subjects soules none of them can by any meanes redeem their Subjects nor yet their own soules but stand in need of this Mighty One to save them Secondly Remuneration he is not unrighteous to forget the worke and labour of love which any of his Subjects do shew towards his Name but will give reward unto his servants the Prophets and to the Sâ—ints and them that feare his Name small and great and his Reward is great becoming such a Mighty King to bestow he will plentifully reward all his faithfull constant Followers and his reward is First Everlasting life This Christ promised to his self-denying
low and helplesse estate calling upon one another to this very thing Lament 3.40 Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord. Thirdly They should humbly acknowledge and really forsake those evils wherewith they have provoked Christ to with-hold his help from them in time of need The Faithful do not onely complain of their misery and troubles but they confesse and forsake their iniquities when Nehemiah considered the afflicted condition of the People he doth not onely put them upon fasting and confession but upon reformation also Neh 13. This is that which the Lord so frequently calls for at the hands of his people Turn turn your selves from all your transgressions And they also call upon God for this Lam 5.21 Turn thou us unto thee O Lord. Fourthly They should earnestly cry to the Lord for help This hath been the course of the servants of God of old whereby they have prevailed with God to lift up his hand to their help in time of trouble The Church lifted up her voice in affliction saying Awake why sleepest thou O Lord Arise cast us not off for ever Psal 44.23 Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and oppression For our soul is bowed down to the dust our belly cleaveth to the earth arise for our help and redeem us for thy mercy sake This is a tryed means saith David This poor man cryed and the Lord heard him and saved him ouâ—â—f all his troubles Psal 34.6 When the men of Gibeon were in great distresse and danger by reason of five Kings coming against them and needed help they sent to Joshua saying Slack not thy hand from thy servants come up to us quickly and save us and help us Joshua 10.6 So should all the servants of the Lord cry to their Joshua the Lord Christ whom God hath made so strong for them to come and help and save them out of all their troubles When the Disciples were in danger on the Sea and wanted help they cryed to Christ to save them they awaked him and said unto him Master carest thou not that we perish and he arose and rebuked the wind Mark 4.38 39. O ye Saints cry to Christ and the more he seems to neglect you cry so much the more earnestly and constantly and give him no rest till he hear and help and redeem you from all evils Fifthly They should patiently wait upon Christ for help Though Christ do not help presently yet wait upon him for he will help in due time Do as Beggars that have but one doore to go to for bread if none hear nor help them presently they lay them down at the door saying within themselves we will wait here may be their compassions will move them as they passe by to help us God forbid that any of Christs Servants should say either with heart or mouth as that person 2 Kings 6.33 What should I wait for the Lord any longer but rather to follow the counsel of the man after Gods own heart mentioned Psal 37.7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for him and for his help though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry and in the mean time know It is a good thing that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD Lament 3.26 Such only shall say and sing in the day that the Lord arise for the help of his people Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us This is the LORD we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Isa 25.9 Quest When may Gods people groundedly expect that Christ will help them Answ First When they are afflicted greatly when their burthens are so heavy that they know not how to bear them then the Lord hath been wont to help them The Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor so that they sighed and groaned by reason of their bondage and the LORD saw the affliction of his people and delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians Exod. 1.13 2.23 3. 7 8. And at another time when God saw the affliction of the children of Israel that it was bitter he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam 2 Kings 14.26 27. This David experienced and acknowledgeth to the praise of God Psal 116.6 10. 16. saying I was brought low and he helped me I was greatly afflicted O LORD thou hast loosed my bonds And he professeth faith in God for the same towards others Psal 18.27 Psal 140.12 Thou wilt save the afflicted soul I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor The Church in her complaint and prayer to God for help spreads the greatnesse of her affliction before him Lament per totum throughout the Book and concludes saying Remember O Lord what is come upon us consider and behold our reproach Lament 5.1 Secondly When they are forsaken utterly when all creature help failes and ceases The LORD will judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up nor left Deut 32.36 And according to this word did the Lord do for Israel for when there was not any shut up nor any left nor any helper for Israel he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash 2 Kings 14.26 27. And the efore God is said to be the helper of the Fatherlesse Psal 10.14 And to regard the prayer of the destitute Psal 102.17 Jehoshaphat seeking help of God urgeth him with their weak and destitute condition 2 Chron 20.12 saying O our God wilt thou not judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee And to raise Gods Servants expectation of help from Christ in their lowest estate it is prophesied of him Psal 72.4.12 13. That he shall judge the poor of the people he shall save the children of the needy he shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper Thirdly When they cry mightily to the LORD for help When Israel was oppressed time after time they cryed to the Lord and he delivered them when the Lord hath a purpose to help his servants he usually poures forth a Spirit of Prayer upon them When the Decree of release from Babylon was ready to issue forth God put a mighty Spirit of Prayer upon Daniel Chap 9. And immediately before God will work deliverance and salvation for Jerusalem he will spirit his servants to cry mightily unto him to do it for them Isa 62.6 7. I have set Watchmen upon thy walls O Jerusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and gâ—ve him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise
in the earth so that when a Mâ—ghty Spirit of Prayer goes forth to engage Christ to help he is not far from the help of his People Fourthly When they beleeve on him strongly when Gods servants have reacht out an hand of faith towards him he hath lifted up his hand to help them Abraham beleeved strongly and the Lord did help him greatly Jehoshaphat Asa David and others relyed on the Lord and were holpen in the time of their troubles the three servants of God mentioned Dan 3. were of great faith and Christ helped them so that the fire burnt them not neither could the flame kindle upâ—n them yea as many as ever came to Christ for help either for body or soul especially all such as were of great faith received it and surely when the People of God stagger not at the Promise of help but are strong in faith notwithstanding many difficulties and natural impossibilities before them the Performance thereof is at hand Rom. 4.20 Fifthly When they walk before him faâ—thfully nor doing their own nor others but his will When the Servants of God of old did walk in their integrity serving their Generations according to the will of God he helped them and made their wayes prosperous but when they did put forth their hands unto iniquity the LORD was not with them There is none can expect that God should meet them in a way of mercy and help but such as work righteousnesse and all such may Isa 64.5 they can confidently pray for help in time of need as David did Psal 119.173 Let thine hand help me for I have chosen thy precepts Christ promised and gave forth his help to his servants when they were working his work in the simplicity and sincerity of their souls see his promise Math. 28.19 20. Go ye teach all Nations baptâ—zing them in or unto the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world So also Luke 21.12 13 14 15. See likewise his performance of his good word to them in their Preaching Disputing Writing Gal 2.8 Acts 6.10 Acts 11.21 2 Cor. 10.10 And certainly as many as shall be faithfull to him in the work whereunto he calls them shall receive a sufficiency of help to carry them through it Sixthly When they use appointed means dil gently doing neither more nor lesse nor any other thing than what God requireth of them When the Lord of old had a urpose to help and save his People in an eminent way he was wont to set them about doing something and sometimes that which was very unlikely as to outward appearance to further his intended work yet when they were diligent in it they were wonderfully helped as might be shewn at large so when Christ is in the way of the help and salvation of his people he requireth something that might seem a weak foolish thing for them to do which may seem in their eyes to be rather to their hurt than help yet they ought to be found using of it and therein may expect Assistance from him When there was want of wine at the Marriage in Cana of Galilee the Mother of Jesus said unto the servants Whatsoever he saith unto you do it which then they did they were helped by him John 2. When the Disciples despairing of success having toiled all the night and taken nothing had given over fishing for that time and were washing their Nets he said to Simon Lanch out into the deep and let down your Nets for a draught at his word they did so and when they had this done they inclosed a great multitude of fishes Luke 5.4 5. Seventhly When enemies speak proudly act highly and seem to bear down all before them being most secure and confident in their wayes then Christ is not far from the help of his People The Lord hath said by the mouth of his Prophet Isa 59.19 When the enemy shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a Standard against him It was so of old when Pharaoh was most proud and confident and said I will pursue I will overtake I will divide the spoil my lust shall be satisfied upon them I will draw the sword my hand shall destroy them then the Lord appeared for the help of his People against Pharaoh and all his Host Exod. 15.8 as he did in Jehoshaphats time when multitudes came against them 2 Chron 20. as also in Nehemiah's dayes when the Adversaries said They shall not know neither see till we come in the midst among them and slay them and cause the work to cease Neh 4.11 12 15. And as it was heretofore so it shall be hereafter For when Babylon saith in her heart I sit a Queen and am no widdow and shall see no sorrow Then shall Christ the King of Sion throw her down with violence like a great Milstone into the Sea never to rise again destroying her in a day Rev 18.7 8.21 and so free his Servants from all their oppressions when men and Devils are raging Christ will be helping Thus I have answered the Question by these seaven Particulars which I desire may be considered joyntly for when these things concurre when both the case and carriage of Gods People as also of their Enemies is or shall be as hath been mentioned help is at hand they may then look up and Lift up their heads for their Redemption draweth nigh as Luke 21.28 Quest. What VSE should we make of this Answ I. It is for Our INSTRVCTION in Four Things First It shews the Original and first cause of Gods Servants help namely the LORD For as their affliction so their help cometh not forth out of the dust but from above from the most High God And as it is the choice priviledge of Gods People to find help in time of need so it is their duty and great advantage to know and consider from whence it cometh And this Doctrine is an help to them therein this did David Psal 121.1 2. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help My help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth whosoever be the Instruments whatsoever be the means help is from God alone all Saviours and Salvations are from him To this agreeth part of the Levites confession of Gods goodnesse to Israel Nehem 9.27 According to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them Saviours who saved them out of the hand of their Enemies Secondly It shews a sufficient ground and reason of the faith and hope that is in the Saints for help from Christ in time of need He is mighty to help but that is not all it is the will and ordination of God that he should help He was both anointed and appointed thereunto Isa 42.1 6 7. 61.1 2 3. Not onely anointed and enabled but appointed also