Thus it was with the children of Israel Ezek 37.11 Behold they say our bones are dried and our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts But why should Gods people despaire in this respect God can open their graves and cause them to come up out of their graves vers 12. He hath appointed a Mighty one to be an help to them a Mighty Saviour and deliverer who can deliver them when they are at the lowest Fifthly Those that seek and look to others for help in time of trouble as the manner of most is and neglect Christ that cry to the Mighty and wise ones of the Earth help us save us To such I say First It 's in vaine to go to the Creature for help for help is not to be found in it The wisest mightiest richest and honourablest man on earth must say as the King of Israel to the Woman of Samaria crying to him for help saying Help my Lord O King If the LORD do not help thee whence shall I help thee 2 Kings 6.26 27. The Psalmist cryes out once and againe Vaine is the help of man Psal 60.11 108.12 The Children of Israel went downe to Egypt for help but they were a people that could not profit them nor be an help but a shame and reproach Isa 30.2 5. If the Cities of Judah and Inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry unto the Gods unto whom they offered Incense they shall not save them at all in time of their trouble Jer 11.12 Populous No was situate among the rivers and had the waters round about her the Sea was her Rampart and her wall was from the Sea Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength Put and Lubim were her helpers yet she was carried away she went into Captivity Nah 3.8 9 10. The Church acknowledgeth and bewaileth her fault and condition in this respect Lament 4.17 saying As for us our eyes as yet failed for our vaine help in our watching we have watched for a Nation that could not save us And what is more common and ordinary than for those that conceit and look to receive help from Creatures to meet with disappointments and to finde by experience that they imagine a vaine thing I shall conclude this particular with that serious Affirmation Jer 3.23 Truly in vaine is salvation hoped for from the hils and from the multitude of Mountaines truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel Secondly It is not onely in vaine but dangerous also greatly to the hurt and losse of those that flee to the Creature for help For the Lord will not onely not help but he is thereby provoked to come against such and their helpers too to cause them all to fall And therefore there is a Woe pronounced against such Isa 30.1 31.1 Wo to them that go downe to Egypt for help to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh Israel sought for help from Egypt but received hurt hence God tells the Inhabitants of Egypt that they have been a staffe of reed to the house of Israel When they took hold of thee by thy hand thou didst break and rent all their shoulder and when they leaned upon thee thou brakest and madest all their loins to be at a stand Ezek 29.6 7. If Ahaziah neglect the God of Israel in his sickness and seek help from Baalzebub the God of Ekron God will meet with him for it And he shall not come downe from the bed on which he went up but shall surely die 2 King 1.2 4. Ahaz in his straits sent to the King of Assyria to help him but he received harme in stead of help for it is said he came unto him and distressed him but strengthened him not And Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord and out of the house of the King and of the Princes and gave it unto the King of Assyria but he helped him not and missing of help from him he betook himselfe to false Gods he sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus which smote him and said because the Gods of the Kings of Syria help them therefore will I sacrifice to them that they may help me but they also were far from helping him For they were the ruine of him and of all Israel 2 Chron 28.16 20 21 23. And thus will it fare with the man that neglecting the help of Christ trusteth in man and maketh flesh his Arme Jer 17.5 Thirdly It is sinfull VERY SINFVLL Such like to the children of Israel of whom God greatly complaines Jer 2.12 13. commit two great evils at once they forsake the Lord Christ the Saviour and the Great one whom God hath appointed for their help and chose to themselves Creatures weak Creatures that can afford no help The greatness of this evil consists chiefly in THREE THINGS First It is a despising the riches of Gods goodness In this was manifested the greatness of the love and the riches of the goodness of God to his people that he appointed his onely begotten Son to be an help for them and now for them to refuse his help and to seek to others for help is a despising of the riches of Gods goodness and that is no little evil Rom 2.4 5. Secondly It is also a slighting of Christ yea it is highly dishonourable to Christ whom God hath appointed to help It is not onely a preferring others before him but it is a setting by this Mighty One as needless and a making use of others as sufficient to help This was Israels sin in asking a King to reigne over them when God was their King They slighted the Lord Hence said the Lord to Samuel they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reigne over them 1 Sam 8.7 And Samuel charged it home upon them 1 Sam 10.19 Ye have this day rejected your God who himselfe saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations and ye have said unto him nay but set a King over us It is no little sin to tread underfoot the Son of God Heb 10.29 Thirdly Further it is a walking contrary to profession Upon this account Ezra would not seek to the Creature for help against the enemy which did lie in wait by the way Ezra 8.21 22. He betook himselfe to the Lord to seek of him a right way for him and his companions and their little ones and all their substance For saith he I was ashamed to require of the King a band of Souldiers and Horsmen to help us against the Enemy in the way because we had spoken unto the King saying The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him Because it was contrary to his profession he sought not help from the King For men to call Christ LORD and acknowledge him to be King the Saviour helper redeemer and deliverer of all those that trust in him and yet to look to the hils and the mountaines for help
THE MIGHTY CHRIST THE Saints Help OR A cleer Discovery of the MIGHTINESSE and Excellency of CHRIST in all things of and concerning him from the first Promise of him to his last Appearing and Kingdome With Application thereof to the severall States and Conditions of Men. BEING The Substance of severall Sermons preached at Northwalsham in Norfolk upon PSAL. 89.19 I have laid Help on One that is MIGHTY By RICHARD BREVITER M. A. a poor Labourer in Christs Vineyard Commended by divers Ministers of Jesus Christ in LONDON Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed Garments from Bozrah this that is Glorious in his Apparel traveling in the Greatnesse of his strength I that speak in Righteousnesse Mighty to save Isa 63.1 LONDON Printed by M. S. for Henry Cripps at the first Shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Lombard street 1662. TO ALL The FRIENDS and ENEMIES of our LORD JESVS CHRIST especially in England Scotland and Ireland FOR Christs and your sake this plain Treatise which about two years since was composed for a more private use is now by the importunity of divers of the LORDS Servants held forth to publick view And though a sense of my own weaknesse and great unworthinesse might have deterred me from this undertaking yet the excellency weightiness and suitablenesse of the Subject to your present conditions which will I hope make way in your hearts for its entertainment hath encouraged me to present it to your considerations It s chief design and aime is to lift up the SON OF MAN who both in his Person Merit Spirit Ordinances and Servants is by more than ordinary unbelief profanesse superstition persecution and abounding of all sorts of iniquity so greatly despised and rejected of men yea to the great reproach of Christianity of those that in words professe to magnifie him above all How it will be accepted and of what benefit it will be to you who as yet are his ENEMIES in your minds by wicked works Col. 1.21 I know not This I can say in all the Reproofs Cautions Counsels and Exhortations I have had it in my heart earnestly to desire to be instrumentall to deliver some of your souls at least from perishing in your disobedience and rebellion against CHRIST For though you say peace and safety while you walk in the imaginations of your own hearts yet great is the danger that you are in through your provoking this MIGHTY ONE against you How easily and suddenly can He break you with his rod of Iron and dash you in pieces like a Potters Vessel as Psalm 2. And what though through his patience and long-suffering you should walk many years in the wayes of your hearts and in the sight of your eyes yet know you must at last and how soon you cannot tell appear before the Judgement Seat of this Mighty One that you may receive the things done in your bodies according to what you have done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 And what account will you then be able to give to him of all your pride covetousness and some of you of your cursing swearing deceit drunkenness malitiousnesse uncleannesse contempt of his Ordinances persecution of his Servants and other high and horrid wickednesses scarce to be paralelled among the worst of Heathens O fear and tremble before the true and living GOD against whom you have sinned trust not in your power policy friends honours estates and such like worldly enjoyments which will not profit nor help at all in the great day of the wrath of the Lamb Prov 11.4 I shall leave with you Luthers Caution to some in his dayes viz Take heed you be not found among those roaring haughty Gentlemen and Heaven-breakers who do resist the Holy Ghost and Gods Word and boast of their own strength and ability And further in the spirit of meeknesse love and pity I beseech you so to consider and lay to heart the things that are here following written touching the GREAT KING OF THE WHOLE EARTH as to humble your selves under his Mighty hand to trust in his mighty name and to be obedient to his holy will that your sins and transgressions being blotted out you may in the end be made partakers of his Heavenly Kingdome and Glory AMEN And You the FAITHFVL and precious servants of the LORD especially the least and weakest of the flock who are fearing and ready to faint under the weight of present pressures and apprehension of future troubles For your furtherance and joy of faith in this Wilderness I have set my selfe to demonstrate the MIGHTINES and ENGAGEMENT of CHRIST to HELP you in all Conditions And though I may truly say I have not told you one halfe of the Greatness of his power and wisdome yet I hope what is here in much weakness displayed before you shall become mighty through God in some measure to support and comfort you in your several solitudes and sufferings here below such being the portion here of all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim 3.11 Acts 14.22 Which that it may be I entreat you not cursorily to reade as the manner of most is but seriously to weigh and carefully to hide in your hearts the words of truth contained in this Book And because I would not detaine you from the perusal of what followeth I onely yet earnestly beseech you by all the help you have received from Christ by all the consolation you have in him and by all the hope you have of future Glory through him that you give all diligence to walk more worthy of that grace wherein you stand by being more serious spiritual humble and holy in all manner of conversation especially now when you are made to eate the bitter fruits of former wantonness Oh sin no more lest worse things come unto you O love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ not in word and in tongue the common and onely sacrifice of most that are called Christians but in deed and in truth In a word be very faithfull to him make his work your business his commandements your Rule his life your example his SPIRIT your HELP his name your refuge and his glory your end And if you do these things you shall never fall Now what is here humbly offered for common good may by a blessing from on high be of some use for the turning of the feet of some sinners from the wayes of wickedness and for the strengthening the weak hands of some Saints in the work of righteousness to continue therein unto the end to the Glory and praise of this MIGHTY ONE the LORD JESUS CHRIST is the prayer of Your souls friend and servant RICHARD BREVITER From my Study in Norwich this 2d of the 4th Moneth June 1662. WE who desire the Exalting of our LORD JESVS CHRIST that MIGHTY ONE on whom the LORD GOD his father and ours in him hath laid HELP having observed the holy end and scope of these Sermons on Psal 89.19 Blessing
his Glorious Name for his so assisting his faithful servant herein and finding the Matter according with what the Author hath well expressed in this his Epistle doe therefore heartily joyne with him therein in what he hath written to all the Friends and Enemies of our LORD JESVS CHRIST James Nalton Minister of Leonards Foster Lane Thomas Brooks Robert Bragge William Adderley H Jessey THE MIGHTY CHRIST THE Saints Help PSAL. 89.19 I have laid help upon One that is Mighty THe precedent Psalm contain a mournful complaint to the Lord powred out in a way of prayer This especially the former part of it is a pleasant Song of praise The subject of it is the Lord. The things which he mentions as most sweetly refreshing his own soul and most eminently conspicuous in the Lord towards his people are his mercy faithfulness and power First His mercy Vers 1. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever So vers 2. I have said mercy shall be built up for ever Secondly His faithfulness vers 1. With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulnesse to all Generations vers 2. Thy faithfulnesse shalt thou establish in the very Heavens both manifested in his Covenant which he made with David and his seed vers 3. I have made a Covenant with my chosen I have sworn unto David my servant thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy Throne to all Generations Thirdly His power vers 6. Who in the Heaven can be compared to the Lord who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord vers 8. O Lord God of Hosts who is a strong Lord like unto thee manifested by his works of First Creation vers 11. The Heavens are thine the earth also is thine as for the world and the fullnesse thereof thou hast founded them Vers 12. The North and the South thou hast created them Secondly Providence vers 9. Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the waves thereof arise thou stillest them shewed Partly towards his enemies in their destruction vers 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces as one that is slain thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arme Partly Towards his people in their salvation vers 16 17 18. In thy name shall they rejoyce all the day and in thy righteousnesse shall they be exalted for thou art the glory of their strength and in thy favour our Horn shall be exalted for the Lord is our defence and the holy One of Israel is our King The Psalmist having spoken largely of the power of God returns to that with which his heart was most affected The precious Covenant of God made with David expressed vers 3. and shews at large the particulars of it what great things God would do for him and how great and mighty he would make him and for a confirmation of faith in this great promise of God the Psalmist declares First The Original of Davids power and authority viz that it was from God from Heaven he was no Usurper nor Obtruder neither of mans nor his own but of Gods exalting for so God saith I have exalted one chosen out of the people I have found David my servant with my holy Oyle have I anointed him So Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion Peter and the other Apostles speaking of Jesus before the Council said Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour And therefore the Lord challengeth a peculiar propriety in David above all the Kings of the earth calling him his King My King Secondly The Lords discovery of it before he did it And to whom Not unto the Princes of this world but unto his holy One Samuel who anointed David in the midst of his brethren 1 Sam. 16.1 3 13. By some the word is translated in the Plural Number Sanctis tuis to thy holy Ones to wit the Prophets Samuel and Nathan one of which anointed David and the other fore-told of the perpetuity of his Kingdome 2 Sam 7.12 13 14 15 16. Yea the Lord spake the same thing to his holy One David by the mouth of his servant Nathan 2 Sam 7.17 According to all these words and according to all this vision so did Nathan speak unto David From the discovery of it we may First Observe That it hath been Gods way of old when he hath had any great and remarkable thing to do for or upon a people to reveal it unto his servants the Prophets Amos 3.7 Surely the Lord will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets More particularly Secondly Observe That the discovery of Gods exaltation of Christ his True and Great Holy One sanctified and seperated above his fellows was first made to his Holy Ones Thirdly The manner of discovery thereof and that was by vision God in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers sometimes but rarely by Oracle it being a wonderfull condescention on Gods part and more than ordinary honour to the person to whom he so spake this honour God put upon Moses as he told Aaron and Miriam With him will I speak mouth to mouth Numb 12.8 Sometimes and more commonly In visions and in dreams Numb 12.6 It was in vision God spake to his Holy One when he made discovery of his Grace Then thou spakest in vision to thy Holy One. Here are two things chiefly to be enquired into First The mercy provided and that is a King not a mean weak one unfit for the Throne but a Mighty One I have laid help upon One that is Mighty if it be askt Who is this King the 20. vers is in answer I have found David my servant with my holy Oyle have I anointed him Of him the Lord hath spoken saying By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistims and out of the hand of all their enemies 2 Sam. 3.18 It is both David the son of Jesse and Christ the son of David according to the flesh who was also Davids Lord of whom David especially in his Kingly Office was a Type and Shaddow who is also called David Hos 3.5 And Ezekiel prophesying of the Kingdome of Christ a long time after David the son of Jesse was fallen asleep having served his Generation according to the will of God saith I will set up one shepherd over them even my servant David I the Lord will be their God my servant David a Prince among them Ezek. 34.23 24. Again David my servant shall be King over them my servant David shall be the Prince for ever Ezek. 37.24 25. This is that David that liveth for ever the Lord Christ that Mighty One mightier and higher than all others as the Lord hath promised vers 27. Also I will make him my first-born higher than the Kings of the earth which words agree exactly to the Lord Christ who is said
50.33 34. Therefore though you be not affraid of them yet be affraid of Christ their King who in the midst of them is Mighty to save them and to destroy you Ye mighty ones of the world who intend mischief against Christs Servants know that he will one day arise and say as that Great Prince Ahasuerus to Queen Esther when she had told him of the Design of wicked Haman against her and her people Esther 7.5 Who is he and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so and then like Haman you will be affraid before this King and his people whom now you despise Oh that you would consider the danger you are in which you may easily apprehend from those precious though dreadfull words of Christ Matth. 18.6 Whoso shall offend one of these little Ones which beleeve in me it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Therefore lift not up your horn lift not up your horn on high though you be never so high and mighty Christ this Mighty One is now the Judge having all power in his hands he putteth down one and setteth up another Ps 75.5 7. and he avengeth the evil which is done unto his Servants Vse 6. Of EXHORTATION 1. To Christs Enemies 2. To his Servants First To his ENEMIES Submit subject your selves to him strive not with a Mighty man saith one surely it cannot be safe to strive with this Mighty One. Your security lyes in submission not in opposition in kissing the Son not in kicking against him Therefore O ye sinners ye mighty ones lay down all your weapons and your selves at his feet The men of this world desire peace with those that are mightier than they Luke 14.31 Acts 12.20 Learn of them to humble your selves under the mighty hand of Christ who is a King against whom there is no rising up as Prov 30.31 What the Lord speaks in faithfulnesse and with affection to the Kings and Judges of the Earth I may say to them and all others 〈◊〉 stand out against this Mighty One Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling kisse the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2.10.11 12. And if you be in such danger of perishing when his wrath is kindled but a little what will ye do when the great day of his wrath is come Rev 6.17 the day that shall burne as an Oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burne them up that it shall leave them neither root nor branch Mal. 4.1 And whosoever thinkes either to prevaile against him or to escape from him they imagine a vaine thing For First By WISDOME and POLICY shall no man prevaile against him God turneth the wisdome of the wise into foolishness he leadeth Councellours away spoiled and maketh the Judges fooles Job 12.17 What Great and deepe policie did Saul use against David a Type of Christ to keep him from the Kingdome he set him over the men of Warre and when he saw that all Israel loved him in a way of subtilty he proffered him his Daughter thaâ— she might be a snare unto him and he â—â—sired no dowry but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines for he thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines 1 Sam. 18. and oft-times he sought to kill him both by open war and privately but notwithstanding all his policy he lost his kingdome and his life too and David possessed the kingdome What deeper policy could Herod have used to destroy Christ when he came into the World or the Jewes to hinder his Resurrection yet could not prevaile verifying the words of Solomon Pro. 21.30 There is no wisdome nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD Secondly And by STRENGTH shall no man prevaile 1 Sam 2.9 He is mighty in strength who hath hardened himselfe against him and prospered he will lead Princes away spoiled and overthrow the Mighty yea the Couragious among the Mighty shall flee away naked in the day that he ariseth You that are strong have you an Arme like him or can you thunder with a voice like him Know that it is altogether in vaine to strengthen your selves against Christ for by reason of his Highness and Mightiness you shall not be able to endure Thirdly Neither will RICHES profit in the day of his wrath Pro. 11.4 For though the rich mans wealth is his strong City and as an high wall in his own conceit Pro. 18.11 yet it cannot preserve him from perishing by the hand of this Mighty One so that there is no way to escape but by a hearty submission to the Son of God Neither let the Greatest and highest of the Earth thinke themselves too Great and High to stoop to him to whom every knee shall bow Rom 14.10 11. for it is no weakness nor baseness but true mightiness and nobleness of spirit to be willing to be overcome by and to him yea the Greatest honour attainable here consists in fullest subjection and serviceableness to this Mighty One The consideration of which should cause strangers and enemies freely to submit themselves unto him as Psal 18.44 Psal 66.3 Besides he hath power to forgive sins past and to make Rebels Favourites in the Court of Heaven Psal 68.18 and he waites that he may be thus gracious to them 2 Pet. 3.9 Yea though he be a Mighty One the King of Glory who could destroy the strongest in a moment yet he knocks yea he condescends to stand and knock at the doore of their hearts desiring to enter in that he might do them good Rev 3.18 19 20. Therefore Open to the King of Glory that he may come in Psal 24.9 10. and rule in you and over you for ever And as you have been much in rebellion against him be much in subjection to him Secondly To CHRISTS SERVANTS If Christ be Mighty First Feare him O ye his Saints feare not man nor any of the sons of man that shall dye that are as grasse but feare this Mighty One the Lord that liveth for ever Isa 51.12 13. He that hath all power both in Heaven and Earth Math. 28.18 let him be your feare let him be your dread Isa 8.13 and not the Mighty or rather weak ones of the world that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do Luke 12.4 The Prophet Jeremiah advancing the true and living God above all Idols saith to the house of Israel Be not afraid of them for they cannot do evil neither also is it in them to do good Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee O Lord thou art great and thy name is great in might who would not
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
hem of his garment were made perfectly whole Math. 14.36 He rebuked the Winds and the Sea and there was a great calm Matth. 8.26 He restored the mans withered hand whole as the other Matth. 12.13 He filled five thousand men besides women and children with five Loaves and two Fishes and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve Baskets full Matth. 14.19 20 21. He healed the man that had an impediment in his speech and he spake plain Mark 7.35 The woman that was bowed together was made straight Luke 13.13 He turned water not only into wine but into good wine John 2.10 The perfection of the work speaks forth the might and excelency of the Agent Eleventhly In the constancy of success he ever brought to pass what he undertook he was no foolish builder who began and was not able to finish The hands of other mâ—ghty ones have not been able somtimes to perform their enterprize the Disciples sometimes could not cure the diseased but Christ healed all that were brought we never heard of any thing too hard for him but whatsoever he did prospered and indeed Christ never doubted of success in his undertakings he saith to the Leper crying to him Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean I will be thou clean Christ did not tell them that came to him That he would do the best he could or the like but he forthwith healed them all surely he is a Mighty One who is constantly successeful in great undertakings Twelfthly In the faith of those upon whom and for whose sake he wrought his works they did beleeve that he was able to do them for them and so they magnified him by believing If thou wilt thou canst make me clean saith the Leper Matth. 8.2 But speak the word only and my servant shall be healed saith the Centurion at which Christ marvelled saying I have not found so great faith no not in Israel Matth. 8.10 The woman with the issue of blood said within her self If I may but touch the hem of his garment I shall be whole Math. 9.21 The men of Genesaret besought him That their diseased might only touch the hem of his Garment Christ saith to the womâ—n of Canaan O woman Great is thy faith They had such faith as put them upon the use of any means to bring their sick to him sometimes that unusall way of coming in at the top of the house so they brought the man sick of the Palsie Luke 5.18 19 20. When Jesus saw their faith he said unto him Man thy sins are forgiven thee Thirteenthly In the time of their performance it was the time of his humiliation when he was in his lowest estate when he was if I may so say at the weakest before he was glorified he wrought Miracles some when he was apprehended some when he was on the Crosse some when he died when he was weake he was strong and if he were so Mighty in his abasement in the day of small Things how mighty is he now he is in glory Fourteenthly In his soleness and helplesness in the effecting of them he did them by his own hand and power he did them alone and of the people there was none with him to help him and indeed he needed not the help of any man for though they were great and mighty works which he undertooke yet his own Arme was sufficient for the performance of them so mighty was he as to effect that alone and of himselfe which others with all their helpers could not Fifteenthly In the meaneness of the meanes by which he wrought them as by a word of his mouth as God did his works in the beginning so Christ did his God said Let there be light and there was light let there be a Firmament in the midst of the waters and there was so so Christ to the sicke Take up thy bed and walke and he did so he said to the Seas be still and they were so to the Devils come out and they came out to the dead come forth and they came forth sometimes by a touch of his hand sometime by the patients touching but the Hem of his Garment he made the blind man to see by anointing his eyes with clay Joh. 9. And with such like inconsiderable meanes he wrought wonders The meanness of the meanes speak forth the mightiness of the Agent Sixteenthly In the Effects in Generall the good of them upon whom they were wrought the miracles of some tended to the hurt of others as those of Moses upon the Egyptians Elijahs 2 Kings 1. Peters Acts 5. It is a very considerable difference between the miracles wrought by Christ and those wrought by others that Christ never hurted nor destroyed others by his workes he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them And it is a greater thing to save than to destroy More particularly we finde that many marvelled Many beleeved on him when they saw the miracles which he did Joh. 2.23 When he had raised Lazarus many of the Jews which had seene the things which Jesus did Beleeved on him Joh. 11.45 When Christ came into the Ship and the winde ceased they that were in the Ship came and worshipped him saying Of a Truth thou art the Son of God Math. 14.32 33. So when the Centurion and those that were with him watching Jesus saw the Earth-quake and those things that were done said Truly this was the Son of God Math 27.54 In a word God was glorified Math. 9.8 Math. 15.31 Luke 7.16 Luke 23.47 And Christ was glorified of all Luke 4.15 And this was the End of God in sending his Son to worke miracles that his Son might be glorified according to the words of Christ when he heard that Lazarus was sicke Joh. 11.4 This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God That the Son of God might be glorified thereby Seventeenthly In his self-deniall and humility in his mightiest workes for the weake to be humble is not much as for the mighty to be humble such as heale all diseases cast out Devils and do many wonderfull workes to be humble in these things is to be mighty such are mightier in this then in all the rest of their mighty acts some who have been mighty to worke miracles have not attained to be humble and self-denying in their greatest performances And herein was the excellency and mightines of Christ to be seene that he did more and greater works than any and yet was more humble and self denying than any which doth further appeare First In that he did not seek his own honour and Glory Joh. 8.50 When he had wrought a miracle and the people would have taken him by force to have made him a King he departed into a Mountaine himselfe alone Joh. 6.15 Yea he did rather obscure than seek his own Glory in that he charged divers whom he healed that they should tell no man Math. 8.4 Mark 7.36 Mark 8.26 Luke 8.56
What ever other ends Christ might have in this prohibition it plainly speaks that he was not desirous of vain-glory Secondly In that he sought not his own profit he did none of his mighty workes for money he had no designe to enrich himselfe by his workes he sought not Theirs but them he did not ask them what they would give him and he would heale them he did not say for so much I will heale thee of thy Leprosie for so much I will cast out the uncleane Spirit c. Christ had an heart free from the desire and love of money and we never reade that ever he received any from any man for any thing he did This Mighty One was above gifts and Rewards from men Twentithly Mighty in his Victories he had many Adversaries and met with much opposition yet he overcame All so he saith of himselfe Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also Overcame and am set down with my Father on his Throne First Over the World the world was an enemy to him and hated him because he did testifie of it that the workes thereof are evil and did all manner of evil against him they would faine have destroyed him that he might have been no more and to that end they condemned killed and buried him and then they thought they had overcome him but he was not destroyed for he rose againe and now liveth being set downe at the right hand of the throne of God and so he became victorious over all their hatred malice and persecution so much he told his Disciples to comfort them in their Tribulation in the world Joh. 16.33 In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World Secondly Over sin not his for he was without sin but ours sin was an enemy to him and came against him in its strength viz. the Law for the strength of sin is the Law and did condemne him so that he died for our sins sin did its worst but could not destroy him for he endured and overcame it according to that in 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ hath once suffered for sins the Just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but Quickned by the Spirit Sin indeed was in the world and reigned like a Mighty King over all unto Death but Christ came and cast downe sin from its Throne and brought it into Captivity yea by his death he overcame it he put away sin by the sacrifice of himselfe Heb. 9.26 And as for sin in respect of himselfe he kept it at a great distance from him and would not let it come neere him he stood like a Mighty One farre above it keeping it under for the Law of his God was in his heart and none of his steps did slide he was holy harmless undefiled and separate from Sinners Heb. 7.26 Thirdly Over Death that Mighty Adversary by death he overcame Death like a Mighty victorious one he brake through Death it being not possible that he should be holden of it Act. 2.24 And being raised from the Dead dieth no more Death hath no more Dominion over him Rom. 6.9 So that according to what is prophecied of him He hath swallowed up Death in Victory so that now we may say O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory 1 Cor. 15.54 55. Fourthly Over the Devil that Mighty One whose principall aime and designe was against Christ But he overcame that Wicked one and that through Death Heb. 2.14 For as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himselfe likewise took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil yea he triumphed over him according to that of the Apostle Col. 2.15 speaking before of his blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us and nailing it to his Crosse saith Having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them Openly triumphing over them in it Further Christ is not onely Mighty in the victories which his right hand have gotten over these Mighty Lords who have devoured so many but also in the victories which he will get over them hereafter for these his enemies are up againe against him and he will be victorious over them The Psalmist sings of him prophetically Psal 45.3 4 5. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O most mighty with thy glory and thy Majesty and in thy Majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the Kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee And in this posture John saw him Rev. 6.2 And I saw and behold a white horse and he that sate on him had a bow and a Crowne was given unto him and he went forth Conquering and to Conquer The world is up and Christ will never leave till he hath overcome it till he hath brought in the Generality of men viz. Jews and Gentiles to be subject to him to be one sheepfold under him the Great Shepheard and Prince whom the Lord hath set over them according to the prophecies of him Ezek 34. 37 Chapters And as for his deadly enemies that will not that he should reigne over them he will slay them with the breath of his lips Rev. 19. from the 11 verse to the end John saw him in a warring posture with the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their Armies which were gathered together to make warre against him and the issue was The Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought Miracles before him these both were cast alive into a Lake of fire burning with Brimstone and the Remnant were slaine with the sword of him that sate upon the horse which sword proceeded out of his mouth Sin is up against him now he is in heaven Idolatry is up in the Nations of the world Antichristianisme is up prophaness is up ungodliness and unrighteousness is up in the earth and the Lord Christ will not cease working till he hath rooted out sin till he hath destroyed all the workes of the Devil And according to what is prophecied of him Isaiah 42.4 He shall not faile nor be discouraged till he hath set Judgement in the Earth The Devil is up also and hath great wrath against him and all his and however he may for a time prevaile to the deceiving of the Nations yet he shall be overcome in the end Rev. 20.9 10. Fire came downe from God out of heaven and devoured the Nations and the Devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the false Prophet are shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Secondly Mighty in his Offices which are three King Priest Prophet First He
notwithstanding their great watch of Souldiers and great stone which they rolled to the door of the Sepulchre so that by his Resurrection from the dead he is declared to be the Son of God with power Rom. 1.4 And that he hath satisfied the Justice of God and discharged the debt which he undertook to pay to the full being taken from prison the Grave in which the strength of sin and Gods wrath did for a time as Cords hold him and therefore the Apostle proclaims a mighty victory at Christs Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57. And indeed then Christ appeared victorious his Resurrection being the beginning of his Exaltation Twenty-sixthly He is mighty in his Ascension not onely in that he ascended on high into heaven upon which account the Apostle magnifies him Heb 4.14 Seeing we have a Great High Priest that is passed inro the Heavens Jesus the Son of God but he ascended as a Mighty One Blessing the Disciples as he parted with them and they worshipping him Luke 24.50 51 52. The Angels also apppeared and attended Acts 1.10 Twenty-seventhly He is mighty in his Session he is set down on the right hand of God The Apostle speaks of him as of a Mighty One in this respect Heb 8 1. We have such an High Priest who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens And in this respect he is far above any of the Angels for God never said to any of the Angels Sit on my right hand Heb 1.13 And thus he is far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come Ephes 1.20 21. To which agreeth the words of Peter 1 Pet 3.22 Who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject to him Twenty-eightly He is mighty in his coming again and that in three things especially First In the signs of his coming the Lord will give notice to the world of his coming by strange terrible and dreadful signes publick signes such as all shall see and observe for there shall be signs in the Sun and in the Moon and in the Stars and in the Earth and in the Sea The Sun shall be darkened and the Moon shall not give her light the Stars shall fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken the Sea and the waves shall roar the Nations shall be distressed and perplexed mens hearts failing them for fear c. Math. 24.29 with Luke 21.25 26. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory Secondly In the manner of his coming he shall not come then as he did at first not as a sheep to the slaughter as a Sufferer but as a Conquerour and Deliverer from all sin and punishment he shall not come in meannesse and weaknesse but in Majesty and Power triumphing over Sin Death and Devil He shall come in glory in his own glory and in his Fathers and of the holy Angels Luke 9.26 He shall come with all his holy Angeâ—s and Saints attending on him Matth. 25.31 1 Thess 3.13 Thirdly In the end of his coming viz to shew his might and greatnesse more than ever he did to take his kingdome and to reign before his Ancients all others gloriously to judge the quick and the dead 2 Tim. 4.1 Utterly to destroy wicked and ungodly men according to that of Paul 2 Thess 1.7 8. He shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Fully and eminently to save his faithfull servants For he was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Heb 9.28 Then shall he sit on his own Throne and all overcomers with him Rev 3.21 Thus have I demonstrated the mightiness of Christ in many particulars I shall add a few more to shew the super-excellency of this Mighty One the Lord Christ First He is mighty and righteous he is no Tyrant shewing forth his mightinesse in barbarous and unjust actions like the worlds Mighty Ones whose course is usually evill and their force not right Jerem 23.10 He doth not by his might overthrow right but he alwayes worketh yea he loveth righteousnesse Psal 45.7 Though he may in some great and strange works go besides the ordinary path and course of providence yet he never goeth out of the way of righteousnesse the most terrible things which he will do shall be in righteousnesse true and righteous are and shall be all his judgements for a Scepter of Righteousnesse is the Scepter of his Kingdom Heb 1.8 And being thus cloathed with righteousnesse he excels the Mighty Ones of the Earth Secondly He is mighty and mercifull The mighty ones of the world are commonly cruel and fierce but for one to be mighty and mercifull is rare such an one is Christ might and mercy dwell together in him he hath a mighty yet a tender heart and though he be well able to cut off his strongest stoutest Adversaries yet he is ready to forgive and receive them graciously It is observable all the mighty works of Christ were merciful works not wrought in malice and revenge but in love and good will to men not for their hurt but for their good and therefore it is said He went about doing good Acts 10.38 Thirdly He is mighty and meek mild and humble not like the Mighty Ones of this world who are for the most part of proud and scornfull spirits and of fierce countenances but he is meek and lowly in heart Math 11.29 Yea though he be very high and mighty yet hath he respect to the lowly and unto that man will this Mighty One look that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at his word yea with him will he dwell that is of an humble spirit It was the excellency of Moses that he was mighty and yet meek none on earth so meek as he in his day but Christ is both mightier and meeker too I shall conclude this with that rarity and wonder which Zachary mentions Zach. 9.9 Rejoyce greatly O daughter of Zion Shout O Daughter of Jerusalem behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having salvation lowly and riding upon an Asse and upon a Colt the Foale of an Asse Fourthly He is mighty and wise some who are great in power are not eminent in wisdome but Christ is great in wisdome as well as in strength and therefore he is said to be by the Apostle The Power of God and the Wisdome of God 1 Cor. 1.24 Fifthly He is mighty and patient long-suffering and slow to anger it is not so much for the mean and weak to be patient as
for the mighty such as are able to revenge all wrongs done unto them Posse et nolle nobile The Mighty Ones of the world are usually hasty soon angry and presently set upon those that offend them but it is the glory and excellency of Christ that he is great in power and yet slow to anger and bears long with sinners and enemies he doth at this very day with much long-suffering endure the manifold indignities contradictions and rebellions of sinners against himself in which respect he excels other Mighty Ones Sixthly He is Mighty and Allmighty He is Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending The Lord which is and which was and which is to come The Allmighty Revel 1.8 Other Mighty Ones can do great things but he can do all things others are potent but he is the Lord God Omnipotent Rev 19.6 and so higher and greater than they Seventhly He is mighty and alwayes mighty Other Mighty Ones they faint and their strength faile them Isa 40.30 they grow weary and weak and cease to be Mighty at least so mighty as they have been I cannot do as I have done is the voice of other Mighty Ones but Christ the Lord the Mighty One fainteth not neither is weary his strength faileth not he is as mighty as he was when God first put his Spirit upon him as his strength was then so it is now and so it ever shall be He is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb 13.8 His Mediatorship was as powerfull before as after his exhibition in the flesh in which respect he is said to be a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Rev 13.8 and will be hereafter even at the very last end of all things as effectual as it is now or hath been heretofore Eighthly He is mighty and the onely Mighty One he is mighty and none besides him the Father alwayes excepted who hath put all things under him power is Christs peculiar he is Plenepotentiarius the Proprietary of power and the Distributer of it others who are called mighty are not so compared with him for He is the one Lord over all Zech 14.9 and they his Subjects who must bow down before him either freely or unwillingly and therefore he is called by the Apostle 1 Tim 6.15 The blessed and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 9. He is the Mighty One that is truly that and doth that which other Mighty Ones are said to be and are not and do not that which is falsely ascribed to others is truly attributed to him for though the worlds mighty ones are accounted mightier than indeed they are this Mighty One cannot be esteemed mightier than indeed he is History tell us that Canutus King of England being flattered by his Subjects and called King of Kings Most mighty c. went and sate down by the Sea-side commanded the floods arising and coming nigh him nor to touch him nor his cloaths but the floods came and made him start back and he said to his Lords Lo ye call me such a mighty King yet I cannot cause this little water to stay at my command but it is ready to drown me but Christ can do this The Sea and the winds obey him and whatsoever any of the mighty ones of the earth undertake to do and cannot accomplish He is not onely called Mighty but he is mighty and acts mightily He is without any flattery or Hyperbole Most High most Mighty most Sacred most Excellent yea He is Excellency Highness Holiness Mightiness and Majesty it selfe Thus Christ doth not onely appear to be mighty but to be mightier and more excellent than all others we have heard and read of many mighty famous Ones both in Sacred and Common writings as Nimrod Pharaoh Moses Joshua Gideon Sampson David Solomon * Alexander the Great Pompey the Great and others who have done great and mighty things but Christ excels them all and is greater than any than all of them indeed he is so mighty that he is above the understanding of men he is great in power and we know him not we cannot find him out great things doth he which we cannot comprehend Quest How came Christ to be such a Mighty One Answ If we consider him in his Eternal Essence and Being abstractively from his Humane Nature as he is one with the Father from Eternity so his mightinesse and dignity is of himself and not from any other but if we consider him as undertaking and carrying on the work of Mediatorship between God and man in the humane Nature which he assumed so he is said to be made Mighty The Apostle Peter speaking of him as such saith Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 In which respect God is said to do what he did as appears by the words of Peter in the same speech to the men of Israel Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by miracles wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you Acts 2.22 And thus Christ becomes Mighty through the Father First Through the Fathers mission the Father sent him and that 's his strength and therefore he speaks much of it upon all occasions nigh forty times in John besides several other places he hints that the Father sent him and that he came not of himself but proceeded forth and came from God God cannot say of Christ as of those Prâ—phets mentioned Jer. 14.14 I sent them not neither have I commanded them and as they were weak and could not profit the people being not sent of God Christ being sent of God becomes mighty to accomplish whatever he undertook Had not God sent him he could not have spake with such Power and Authority could not have done such wonderful works nor have undergone and suffered such grievous torments as he did but being sent of the Father and knowing that the Father sent him he was full of might courage and confidence to do and suffer what was the Will of his Father that sent him Gods mission makes mighty it was that which enabled Gideon to be a Saviour to Israel Judges 6.14 The Lord looked upon him and said Go in this thy might and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites have not I sent thee He that is sent with full Authority and Power from some mighty Prince to transact his affairs is thereby mighty coming and acting as one sent by him Christ came and acted as one sent from the absolute Monarch of all the world the most high â—od of Heaven and Earth and he having given all power and authority into his hands he is exceeding mighty to perform the will of him that sent him Secondly Through the Fathers Unction he was full of power and might by the Spirit of the Lord the Anointing of the Lord makes mighty It was that which
of any other which he is to examine and try and follow and refuse as it agreeth or disagreeth with this Besides there are no blots defects nor imperfections but contrariwise a wonderfull exactness plainness beauty and glory in the Example of Christ whereby it is of singular use and advantage to his followers their way being thereby made plaine before them Neither is it a scant but a full and large Example both of obedience For He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walke even as he walked 1 John 2.6 and the several parts thereof he hath given us an example of faith love patience self-denyall meekness diligence c. And of suffering also that he might help in that needfull time To encourage us to it he hath given us an example of readiness and willingness to suffer he willingly laid downe his life for his sheepe Joh. 10.15.18 and to guide us in it he hath given us an example of meekness and patieâ—ce for he was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb dumb before the shearer so opened he not his mouth Acts 8.32 And when he was reviled reviled not againe when he suffered he threatned not 1 Pet. 2.23 And thus Christ is an Help by the excellency of his example Thirdly By the powerfulness of his Spirit The Spirit of Christ is a Spirit of life and power which he giveth forth into the hearts of his servants for their help in their various services and conditions and therefore the Spirit is said to help their Infirmities Rom 8.26 Yea Christ doth so usually help by his Spirit that most acts of help are frequently attributed in Scripture to the Spirit as to Quicken uphold strengthen comfort teach lead beare witness bring to remembrance give utterance cause to do John 6.63 Rom. 8.11 Psal 51.12 Eph. 3.16 John 14.16 John 14.26 Gal. 5.18 Rom. 8.16 Acts 2.4 Ezek. 36.27 By this did Christ eminently help his servants in the work whereunto he called them in the primitive times By this he enabled them to be his witnesses not onely in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria but unto the uttermost part of the earth Acts 1.8 By this they evercame the mightiest Adversaries of Truth For they were not able to resist the wisdome and spirit by which they spake Luke 21.15 Acts 6.10 And by this he helped them to do many wonderful things to the great advantage and furtherance of the Gospel Act. 11 19-21 By the same Spirit he hath helped others also in later Generations to testifie for him against Antichrist and his Adherents and by their Testimony exceedingly to prevaile as Wickliffe Hus Luther and others And this is that which Luther in an Epistle to some amongst whom his doctrine was successfull would have them to observe Consider saith he with what sword I have conquered sin and overcome Errours and subdued policy I have never touched you with a finger but with the Spirit of Christs mouth viz. the Sword of his Gospel And severall of the Martyrs â—hough meane and unlearned yet by the help of the Spirit of Christ have put to silence their learned Adversaries Among the rest History tells us of one Alice Driver that shee non-plust the Doctors that Examined her and then said God be honoured you be not able to resist the Spirit of God in a poore woman And as it was then even so it is now for Christ by the same Spirit helpeth his servants both to will and to do and to suffer of his good pleasure Phil 1.29 Phil. 2.13 Fourthly By the Admirableness of his RVLE and Administration For he so ordereth and disposeth of all things that they work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 so that those things which men contrive and designe to be most hurtfull through his power and wisdome become helpfull to his servants yea he sometimes makes his Enemies intended Destruction his peoples glorious salvation And indeed the Rule and Reigne of Christ doth much consist in his helping and relieving his oppressed servants in his pleading their cause and executing judgement for them in his breaking the bands of their yoke and delivering them out of the hand of those that serve themselves of them that they may be no more a prey to the Heathen yea the maine designe of Christ next to his own Glory is the salvation and safety of his flock Jer. 23.5 6. Ezek. 37. And he doth many admirable things in order to this end as he maketh the weak to conquer and the mighty to be overthrowne he maketh the Counsel of the simple to stand and the devices of the crafty to be disappointed he doth that marvellous work and a wonder spoken of Isa 29.14 He causeth the wisdome of wise men to perish and the understanding of the prudent to be hid And he judgeth the poore of the people and saveth the children of the needy and breaketh in pieces the Oppressor Psal 72.4 Sometimes he sets enemies one against another The Mighty against the Mighty Ruler against Ruler Jer 46.12 Jer. 51.46 so that they fight Brother against Brother Neighbour against Neighbour City against City Kingdome against Kingdome and so help to destroy one another Isa 19.2 2 Chron 20.23 Sometimes he wonderfully restraines the rage of Enemies so that they do not hurt nor destroy in his holy Mountaine but the Wolfe dwelleth with the Lamb and the Leopard lies downe with the Kid and the Calfe and the young Lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them according to that famous prophesie of his Kingdome Isa 11.6 7 8 9. Sometimes he causeth them to favour his people Psal 106.46 and sometimes he maketh them helpfull and serviceable to them according to that precious promise of God to his Church Isa 60.10 The sons of strangers shall build up thy walls and their Kings shall minister unto thee Thus God turned the heart of the King of Persia that was now over Assyria unto his people to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God of the God of Israel Ezra 6.22 And put it also into the heart of Artaxerxes to help Ezra to beautifie the house of the Lord which was at Jerusalem Ezra 7.27 And thus Christ helpeth by the Admirableness of his RVLE and Administration Fifthly By the prevalency of his Intercession by this he helpeth them much who beleeve through grace Christ perfecteth by his Intercession that good worke of the salvation of his people which he begun by his Passion for though Christ help exceedingly by the vertue and efficacy of his death as hath been shewne yet there is need of his Intercession also and therefore he is entred into heaven to appeare in the presence of God for us Heb 9.24 And this is of such great benefit and advantage to the Saints that the Apostle layes the weight of their salvation upon it Rom 5.10 If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by
and tongue and people and Nation to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev 5 9-12 Object Some may say as Gideon to the Angel Judg. 6.13 Oh my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us If God hath appointed Christ That Mighty One to be aâ— help to his people why are they in so much trouble and distresse Answ 1. As the Lord hath appointed Christ to be an help so he hath also appointed a time for his people to suffer in For as Christ this Mighty One had a suffering time in respect of HIS PERSON in which he was set at nought and derided and persecuted both by people and Rulers before he entred into his Glory Luke 24.26 so he shall have in respect of his mysticall body the Saints before they enter into the promised rest and Glory Thus much God told Abraham when he appeared to him Gen. 15.13 14. saying Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them foure hundred yeares And also that Nation whom they shall serve will I Judge and afterward shall they come out with Great substance So likewise there was a time when the Lord said to Zedekiah King of Judah Bring your necks under the yoke of the King of Babylon and serve him and his people Jer 27.12 And they were to be quiet in that estate till seventy yeares were accomplished And there was a time wherein God would break his yoke from off his peoples neck and burst their bonds that strangers might no more serve themselves of them Jer 30.8 There is a day of Jacobs trouble and there is a time when he shall be saved out of it vers 7. And when the time to favour Zion yea the set time be come God will arise and have mercy upon her Psal 102.13 But the day of the Lords patience and his peoples sufferings must precede the day of his vengeance and his peoples salvation The servant as well as his Lord must suffer before he enter into Glory Rom 8.17 Secondly The Lord hath several wayes of helping his servants his help doth not consist onely in freeing them from sufferings but also in upholding and supporting them under sufferings so that they faint not in the evil day Thus the Lord promised to help Jacob Isa 41.10 Feare thou not For I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness With this way of help from the Lord the Apostle labours to encourage the Saints at Corinth in their Temptations 1 Cor 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be Tempted above that you are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to beare it Christ doth as well help his servants by keeping them from falling by Temptation as by delivering them out of temptation Thus Christ hath been is and will be the help of his people in their suffering day Thirdly Though Christ be Mighty to help and save to the uttermost all his â—â—rvants out of all their Troubles yet he seeth it meet in his infinite wisdome to help them sometimes but with a LITTLE help God granted Rehoboam and the Princes of Israel some Deliverance but not a full Deliverance a Deliverance from destruction but not from servitude and spoile 2 Chron 12.7 8 9. And thus God helped his people Israel in Ezra's dayes which he thankfully took notice of in his Confession and Prayer Ezra 9.7 8 9. For our iniquities have we our Kings and our Priests been delivered into the hand of the Kings of the Lands to the sword to captivity and to a spoil and to confusion of face as it is this day and now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God to leave us a Remnant to escape and to give us a Nail in his holy place that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage For we were bond men yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the Kings of Persia to give us a reviving c. It was the gracious Promise of God to his People whom he cast far off among the Heathen and scattered among the Countries That he would be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countryes where they should come Ezek 11.16 It is also said of those persecuted oppressed ones bâ—â—hose Mighty Kings mentioned Dan 11.34 They shall be holpen with a little help And therefore though Christ doth not help so eminently and fully as he will hereafter yet let us not undervalue his present help let us not say he helps not at all because he helps us but with a little help in comparison of what he will do He sees a little help is best for us at present and it is more than we deserve at his hands Fourthly The Deliverances and Salvation of Gods people are commonly carryed on in a Mistery Not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of God Gods Providence towards his Servants is as a Wheel in the midst of a Wheel as Ezek â— 16 whose motion and work and end in working is not discerned by a common eye Christ doth sometimes walk in the dark when he is helping his People as the loving father is contriving good for his child though the child perceiveth it not to this agreeth that of the Prophet Isaiah Ch 45. vers 15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour Yea God is sometimes in a way of deliverance with his People and their deliverance neer when he seems to ingage them to greater sufferings There is so much contained in that promise of God to Zion Micah 4.10 Be in pain and labour to bring forth O Daughter of Zion like a woman in travel for now shalt thou go forth out of the City and thou shalt dwell in the field and thou shalt go even to Babylon there shalt thou be delivered there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies We must not conclude that Christ doth not help us because we see not his hand lifted up Fifthly There is SOMETHING IN CHRISTS SERVANTS because of which he doth not sometimes help them as sometimes CHRIST DOTH NOT HELP sometimes First When his people do not beleeve do not trust nor stay upon him for help for he is an help to all them that trust in him for any one to distrust the Power and Faithfullnesse of Christ is to exclude himself from partaking of the benefit thereof When the children of Israel beleeved not the word of God the Lord did not help them but lifted up his hand against them to overthrow them in the wildernesse Psa 106.24 26.
Christ did not many mighty works in his own Countrey because of their unbelief Math. 13.58 If thou dost not beleeve that he can and will help thou canst not expect he should help Secondly When they set about any work without his call The Lord hath been wont to help in those things he hath called his Servants to as might easily be made manifest in Moses Josuah Gideon David and others but when his People have run and he sent them not they have been without his help in such undertakings When the children of Israel would invade the Land of Canaan without Gods call they were smitten and discomfited Numb 14.44 45. And though Josiah was a good man yet going to fight against Pharaoh Necho contrary to the mind of God he dyed for it 2 Chron 35.20 21 22 23. They that act without Christs call are like to act without his help Thirdly When they undertake any work though never so good and excellent in at self in their own strength without engaging him to their help he helps them not as in the case of Peter it was a good work and much conducing to the honour of Christ which Peter undertook but trusting to his own strength Christ left him to miscarry in it John 13.37 38. Fourthly When the eyes of his people are upon some other besides him or when they joyn some other with him to help then he usually leaveth both him that helpeth and him that is holpen to fall together Isa 31.3 The Lord was Israels help when he was their God alone and none other with him Deut 32.12 The LORD alone did lead them and there was no strange God with him When the Spouse shall lean upon Christ her Beloved and upon other Lovers also then Christ withholdeth his help from her Fifthly When they have any sinister ends and aims in what they do for though the work be good yet if a mans end be bad Christ doth not usually further him in it as when a man in Preaching Praying or any part of Religion seeks not so much Christs honour as his own praise and profit he cannot expect neither doth he ordinarily receive such help from the Spirit of Christ therein They that seek not Christs things but their own shall not prosper Jer 10.21 Haggai 1.4 6 9. Sixthly When they refuse to be holpen by him Christs Servants are sometimes more especially in great dangers and straits and stand in need of his help and though Christ shew himself willing and ready to save and deliver them yet such is the folly and untowardnesse of their spirits that they will none of his help but rather chuse to suffer through walking in the wayes and imaginations of their own hearts than to be delivered in their hearkning to his counsel and submitting to his will and then no wonder Christ helps not this was the frame of spirit and sad condition of Jerusalem which Christ lamented over Jerusalem was in danger Christ would have holpen her but she would not Christ lets her alone and the issue is sad Matth. 23.37 38. O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings and ye would not behold your house is left unto you desolate Quest What shall Gods people do when Christ helps not First Seriously consider and lay it to heart as a matter of greatest concernment and trouble to us So did Joshua when the Lord withheld his help from Israel Joshua 7.6 8. Josuah rent his cloathes and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of the LORD untill the even-tide he and the Elders of Israel and put dust upon their heads and Joshua said Alas O Lord God wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us would to God Hebr O that we had been content and dwelt on the other side Jordan Oh LORD what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies We should look upon it as that wherein both God and his People suffer God suffers in his name when he doth not help his people His and their enemies blaspheme his name Sometimes they cast dirt upon his power saying The Lord cannot help nor save sometimes upon his goodnesse and mercy The Lord will not help sometimes upon his Truth and Faithfulnesse The Lord hath forgotten his people Hence saith Joshua What wilt thou do for thy great name And his people they must needs suffer when he with-draws his hand they are endangered and trampled upon by their enemies and the suffering of Gods Name and the distresses of his Servants must not seem a light thing in our eyes Nehemiah's frame and carriage under such a dispensation is worthy of imitation When he heard that the Remnant that were left of the Captivity were in great affliction and reproach that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire he sat down and wept and mourned certain dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven Neh 1.3 4. And this is that which Jerusalem lamented with much bitterness of spirit Lament 1.15 16. The Lord hath troden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me he hath called an Assembly against me to crush my young men the Lord hath troden the Virgin the Daughter of Judah as a Wine-presse For these things I weep mine eye mine eye runneth down with water because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me It 's just matter of mourning and lamentation when the appointed helper and Saviour doth not help nor save Secondly They should diligently search out the cause and reason why Christ helps not For if the Lord cease to help his People there is some cause for such a dealing as there is for what evil soever the Lord bring upon them Ezek. 14.23 And when the Lord slacks his hand concerning the help of his Servants it s their present work and duty to look narrowly about them and in them to find out the cause thereof When the Lord denyed Israel his help against the men of Ai he told them the cause of it There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee O Israel and commanded and directed them to seek and they found it out Achan was taken and the Silver and the Garment and the wedge of Gold his Sons Daughters Asses Sheep Tent and all that he had and they stoned him and burned them with fire Joshua 7. This was part of Jobs work in his affliction to find out the cause of it and that he might know it he begs of God to shew him wherefore he contended with him Job 10.2 Thus did David also in his distresse Psa 22.1 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me And we find the Faithful in their
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
28.29 This did David Psal 74.22 saying Arise O God plead thy own cause As also Luther who was wont to say when the Cause of God was low in his hand It is Gods Cause let him look to it Sixthly Commit YOUR OWN CAUSE to him Other Mighty ones may be neglect and condemn your Righteous Cause this Mighty One the Lord Christ who is higher than the highest regardeth and pleadeth the Cause of his People yea he will throughly plead their cause In confidence of this grace of God the Church of old resolving to be quiet under the present dispensation committed her cause to the Lord as appears from those words recorded Micah 7.8 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him untill he plead my Cause and execute judgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse then she that is mine enemy shall see it and shame shall cover her which said unto me Where is the Lord thy God When Davids enemies digged pits for his soul and rejoyced over him wrongfully and devised deceitfull matters against them that were quiet in the Land and opened their mouth wide against him saying Aha aha our eye hath seen it He committed his cause to the Lord Psal 35.22 23. This thou hast seen O Lord keep not silence O Lord be not far from me stir up thy selfe and awake to my judgement even unto my cause my God and my Lord. Thus did Jeremy also when his enemies devised devices against him Jeremy 11.20 20.10 11 12. Let then the upright Ones of the earth when they are oppressed and wronged by the wicked of the world be of good cheer and not faint in their minds but commit all to the Lord Jesus Christ who is Mighty to clear and justifie them and to take vengeance for them Seventhly Commit your WORK to him All your work and way especially your difficult work wherein you most need his help look for it God hath appointed him to be an help and he is free to help yea to work all your works in you and FOR you Isa 26.12 Eighthly Commit your CONDITIONS to him Yea let all both the Wicked and the Righteous both Sinners and Saints commit their conditions to him I. SINNERS Commit your Conditions to him that you may not perish in your iniquities he onely can help you First There is no other name under Heaven given among men whereby you can be saved Acts 4.12 Neither is there need of any other forasmuch as he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Heb. 6.7 And therefore hasten away from the Devil world and your own selves and all vanities lest they be your ruine and commit your Conditions to him and you shall find help and healing of all your wounds and in the end everlasting life Acts 13.38 39. Secondly Are you laden with sin so that you cannot look up with any confidence or cheerfulnesse of spirit Psal 40.12 Despair not do not say There is hope as Jer 2.25 Christ hath both power to forgive and destroy sin his blood can cleanse from all sin Mat. 11.28 1 John 1.7 9. His Spirit can crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8.11 13. Thirdly Are you ignorant of the way of salvation Do you sit in great darkness God hath given him to be a Light to the Gentiles to open the blind eyes Isa 42.6 7. and he can make you that are darknesse light in the Lord as those in Eph 5.8 him self hath said That he is the light of the world and he that followeth him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of Life John 8.12 Fourthly Are you the Devils Captives and Slaves to do his will Jesus Christ can deliver you from that servitude also he can turn you as he hath others from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.18 to be his Servants and Sons blessed for ever Yea however it is with you he can help you therefore to day while it is called to day while he tenders his help and salvation do not neglect it lest hereafter when you call and cry to him for it he refuse to hear you at all Heb 2.3 3.7 11. Prov 1.22 23 24. II. SAINTS Commit your Conditions to him also your most afflictive Conditions Cast all your burthens upon him according to that word Psal 5.22 Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee I. Commit your OVTWARD CONDITIONS to him all your bodily concernments and troubles As First Your Reproach he is mighty to roll it away Jos 5.9 And he will assuredly bring forth the righteousnesse of his people as the light and their judgement as the noon day Psal 37.6 Secondly Your Poverty and low estate as it is said Psal 10.14 The poor committeth himself to thee thou art the helper of the fatherlesse It is the work of this Mighty One to deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper Psal 72.12 Thirdly Your oppressions and persecutions he can deliver from them he can and will burst every band and take off every yoke and also break in pieces the oppressor Psal 72.4 II. Commit your INWARD SPIRITVAL Conditions to him First All the troubles and burthens of your spirits which are most heavy and hard to bear as it is written A wounded spirit who can bear Prov 18.14 Make use of the arm of Christ which he stretcheth out for your help your souls support and salvation and come to him according to his gracious invitation all you that are weary and heavy laden and he will give you rest Mat. 11. at the end and you shall find help in every time of need Heb 4. Secondly Are you such as the Devil tempteth and thrusts sore against that you might fall Commit that condition to Christ that he may be your helper therein forasmuch as he is appointed of God and in that himself hath suffered being tempted is able to succour them that are tempted Heb 2.18 And to keep you from falling Jude 24. Thirdly Have you been overcome by the Tempter Still look unto Christ who is mighty to recover you out of the snare of the Devil to raise you up again 1 Joh. 3.8 Fourthly Are you men and women of sorrowfull spirits and full of heavinesse Lye at the feet of him whom God hath sent to comfort all that mourn to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to give unto them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse Isa 61.2 3. Fifthly Do you find a Combate within you the flesh lusting against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh so that you are hindred from doing the good you would Gal. 5.17 and sometimes brought into captivity to the Law of sin that you even cry out like wretched undone men Who shall deliver us from the body of this
as Idle taleâ— and they beleeve them not and then no wonder they despise and reject him They do not beleeve his Omnisciencie but say concerning their actions How doth he know can he judge through the darke cloud Job 22.13 and so they become bold to speak and act against this Mighty One like those whom the Prophet complained of to the Lord Psal 94.5 6 7. They breake in pieces thy people O Lord and afflict thy heritage they slay the widdow and the stranger and murther the Fatherless yet they say The Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard it Or if they do beleeve that he is Mighty yet they do not beleeve that he will be so severe and terrible to his enemies as many conceive and speake giving no heed to what is written concerning him especially Psal 2.9 12. Psal 72.4 Psal 110.6 Isa 11.4 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. Thus falsely concluding in their own spirits that there is no great danger in opposing him they readily venture thereupon to their own destruction Fourthly Through confidence in their own strength thinking of themselves more highly than they ought to thinke they are carried forth to undertake more than they are able to performe The Mighty Ones of the Earth do conceit conclude within themselves that they have a sufficiency of counsel and strength to eâ—â—â—â—nter with this Mighty One. Pharaoh that mighty one was so confident in his own strength that he scorn'd and opposed the Almighty for he said Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go Exod. 5.2 Likewise Sennacherib King of Assyria trusting to the multitudes of his Chariots c. sent a challenge to the living God exalted and lifted up himselfe on high even against the holy One of Israel Isa 36.18 19 20. Chap. 37.23 When men are confident to overcome they are bold to oppose Fifthly Through their putting afarre off the day of his wrath and vengeance they take boldness to rebell against him And though they heare of his Indignation and furious rebukes to be poured out upon them yet they see that through his patience long-suffering there is respite and so like Pharaoh they harden their hearts against him they say as they Ezek. 12.22 The dayes are prolonged and every vision faileth and because sentence against themselves and other evil workers is not executed speedily in stead of submitting unto him against whom they have sinned theâ—r hearts are fully set in them to do more evil Eccl 8.11 and at length become mockers and scoffers at him and his word saying Where is this Mighty one where is the promise of his coming where is his kingdome and power and glory and thus become abusers and persecutors of his servants upon the Earth Sixthly Because they are afraid he will take away their deare enjoyments from them their power pompe pleasures profits If Christ would be with them as a sojourner and stranger and not meddle with their matters they would let him alone but they feare he will be a Prince a Judge amongst them and drive them from their stations and pull them downe from their state Isa 22.19 and therefore they thinke it wisdome to oppose him betimes When Tiberius the Emperour of Rome sent to the Senate and required that the Image of Christ might be set up in the Capitol They returned Answer that if that were set up all the other Images of their Gods must downe Potestas Christi non est privativa sed cumulativa The power of Christ doth not deprive men of any good but conferrs and multiplies blessings upon the heads of all those that submit to it It being the readiest way for Kings Princes and Potentates of the world to reigne long and safe to set their Thrones beneath the Throne of this Mighty One whom God hath made and exalted Lord over all But for as much as the high and honourable ones of the earth are afraid he should bring them into contempt and shame they desperately oppose this Mighty One. Seventhly Because of the present seeming meanness contemptibleness of this Mighty One. The Prophet Isaiah speakes of him as one despised and rejected upon this account Isa 53.2 3. He hath no forme nor comeliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him he is despised and rejected of men Though Christ's doctrine and works among his own Countrymen were even to astonishment yet because he had such a meane outside a meane trade and kindred he was without honour among them Mark 6.3 4. Christ is without outward splendor and worldly glory and therefore he is both lightly esteemed by the worlds Mighty Ones and greatly opposed Vse 1. Of Information First It informes Gods people what manner of Saviour they have some yea many who call Christ Lord know not how great he is I may say to such in honour to Christ what Pilate said in contempt of him to the Jews John 19.14 Behold your King behold your Saviour what a great and a Mighty One he is your Saviour is more than another Saviour he is the chiefe of ten thousand farre excelling all the worlds Saviours Among all the Gods of the Heathen and among all the wise and mighty Ones of the Nations and in all their Kingdomes there is none like unto him Secondly It informes us of the safe and happy condition of those that are Christ's they do indeed dwell on high being built upon the rock which is higher than they and all their enemies so that we may say to the righteous that it shall be well with him in the most perilous times Isa 3.10 11. and though they be as sheepe in the midst of wolves yet being in the hands of their great Shepheard this Mighty One they are safe yea so safe that none can harme them For saith Christ I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand my father which gave them me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand I and my Father are one Joh. 10.28 29 30. Paul also speaking of their safe and blessed estate saith Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Though there be many indictments and accusations brought in against them yet no condemnation but being in him and walking in him they are free and safe and feare no evil Hence the blessed Apostle sends a challenge to all the enemies of Gods Elect saying Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Nay they are not onely safe in tribulation distresse
persecution famine nakedness peril sword but in all these things they are more than Conquerours through him that loved them Rom. 8 33 34 35 37. And of this priviledge of the Lords people the Prophets have spoken eminently to be enjoyed in the Reigne of this Mighty One. David Psal 72.7 saith In his dayes shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moone endureth Isaiah saith Behold a King shall reigne in righteousnesse and Princes shall rule in Judgement and a man shall be an hiding place from the winde and a covert from the Tempest c. Isa 32.1 2. Jeremy saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reigne and prosper In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called The LORD our Righteousnesse Jer. 23.5 6. And to this agreeth also the Prophesie of Ezekiel which saith I will make with them a Covenant of peace and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the Land and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleepe in the woods They shall be safe in their Land and shall know that I am the Lord when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them out of the hands of those that served themselves of them and they shall no more be a prey to the Heathen neither shall the beasts of the Land devoure them but they shall dwell safely and none shall make them afraid Ezek 34.25 27 28. Thirdly It shewes us the aggravation of the evâ—l of unbeliefe were Christ a meane weak one there might be some plea for unbeliefe the unbeleever might excuse himselfe saying I was afraid to trust him I durst not commit my soule body name estate and concernments into his hand but when a soul refuseth to beleeve on him who is declared and manifested as well by work as word to be so mâ—â—hty in every respect it is inexcusable The men of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonas and the Queene of the South who came from the uttermost parts of the Earth to heare the wisdome of Solomon shall rise up in the Judgement with such and condemne them seeing a Greater than Jonah and Solomon is with them The Evangelist John mentioneth the wonderfull workes which Christ did among the Jewes as the Aggravation of their unbeliefe Joh. 12.37 Though he had done so many miracles before them yet they beleeved not on him Thence Christ is said to Vpbraid the Cities wherein most of his mighty workes were done because they repented not it being a greater evil in them not to repent than in others amongst whom Christ did not shew himselfe so mighty To heare and not to beleeve on Christ the Mighty Lord who speakes from heaven is that which makes unbeliefe to be such a mighty sinne Heb. 12.25 Fourthly It discovers a ground for the Saints Expectation of great things The Saints are in expectation of perfect Redemption and most glorious salvation to be wrought for them by Christ and there is good ground for it for besides the promise of God who is faithfull here is the Ability of Christ who is Mighty to performe the Fathers will Great ones use to be active The Mighty Kings and Princes of the Earth do not alwayes sit still only waite for opportunities for great and weighty undertakings This Mighty One the Lord Christ though he hath done great and marvellous things will shew himselfe yet more glorious than ever for he hath yet but begun to shew his servants his Greatness and his Mighty hand onely he waites till the set time be come and then he will arise and redeeme Israel from all his iniquities and troubles Psal 130.8 The Disciples of Christ who saw his might and power in the dayes of his flesh became expectants of great things to be done by him We trusted said the two Disciples speaking of Jesus of Nazareth a Prophet mighty in deed and word that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel Luke 24.19.21 The Apostles when Christ was assembled together with them asked of him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore againe the kingdome to Israel Acts 1.4 6. His Answer was no check to their expectation but a reprehension of their over-curious affectation to acquaint themselves with the particular time in which they should behold the glorious accomplishment of so certaine a blessing And seeing this Mighty One is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb 8.1 his servants may expect that he will appeare in the presence of God for them yea that he shall appeare the second time without sin unto their evident and everlasting salvation Heb 9.28 Paul speaking of himselfe and other faithfull followers of Christ saith Phil. 3.20 21. Our conversation is in heaven from whence also we looke for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himselfe Fifthly For the discovery of false Christs The true Lord Christ hath told us that in the last dayes there shall arise false Christs as well as false Prophets Math. 24.24 And this doctrine doth informe us how to know them from the true The true Christ is thus mighty and it follows that others who are not so mighty whatsoever they may pretend are not the true Christ Therefore when false Christs shall arise and shall come and say I am Christ beleeve them not neither go after them but labour to know their power and not their speech onely 1 Cor. 4.19 for the kingdome of God is not in word but in power vers 20 whether they be mighty as the true Christ is And though they should shew signes and wonders to deceive you try whether they be equall with this Mighty One who thought it no robbery to be equall with God For though some may boast themselves and their mouths speak great swelling words of vanity yet their deficiency and insufficiency for such things as he did speak them to be false Christs and deceivers As there never did heretofore so there never will any one arise in every respect so mighty as Christ by which he may be knowne to be the true Christ from all others Vse 2. Of conviction to false worshippers who neglect and slight this Mighty One. First To the Jews who do not beleeve that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ the Messiah that was promised and the main plea which they have for their unbelief is because he did not appear to be so mighty as become the Saviour of the world he came not in worldly glory he had no stately Palace was not cloathed in Purple did not fare deliciously he was not in form and fashion like the mighty ones of the earth and therefore they expect and look