vpon him and 2. Cor. 5. 21. he that knew no sinne was made sinne for vs that we might be made the righteousnes of God through him He became our suretie and tooke vpon him both the guiltinesse and punishment of our sinnes he did not onely pittie vs and speake for vs but also dealt for vs and died for vs and therefore it behooueth vs to Phil. 2. 5. put on the same minde that was in Christ Iesus and to bee affected in the like sort as he was Vse 1. Which maketh for the iust reproofe of those who when they are petitioners vnto God for others deale no otherwise then great mens Attendants commonly do for such as haue before hand hired them to preferre their suites vnto their maisters or then corrupt Lawiers doe for their Clients when they haue receiued their fees they thinke they shall loose nothing if matters go against them nor gaine any thing if they succeed for them and therefore they vse not much eagernesse in the pursuite thereof but deale coldlie and carelesly in the causes which they vndertake So doe a great manie in their suites which they put vp vnto God yea euen then when they are to speake for their owne children or other neere friends and that when they are in a most lamentable taking so that they might iustly say as the woman of Canaan did of her daughter O Lord haue mercie on mee my childe or my friend is Matth. 15. miserablie vexed with a diuell miserablie haunted with pride with vncleannesse with voluptuousnes c Yet Satan doth as it were bellow forth at their mouthes and is ready to cast them not into the water or into the fire as was this mans childe but euen into hell fire which neuer shall bee quenched albeit I say the case stand thus with manie mens children or friendes Nay further though they haue beene brought to this passe by their ill educating of them or their giuing of ill example vnto them yet when they are to make supplication vnto the Lord for them they are maruellous remisse and cold in the same thereby shewing that their praiers proceed from their lips rather than from their hearts Nay in the case of Gods Church whereof they themselues are members or at least professe themselues so to be they aske so carelesly and drowsily as if it did nothing at all pertaine vnto them whether the Gospell haue a free passage or not whether Gods ordinances be enioyed in sinceritie and puritie or not whether Gods seruants continue in their vprightnesse or not c. This is a fault sharpely to be censured in such as make profession of the truth and we haue all cause much to condemne our selues for our great fayling in this behalfe and to labour hereafter to put on the bowels of tender compassion that so wee may make othres cases our owne and mourne for their calamities and for their transgressions as if they were our owne 2 Secondly is it so that christian loue will cause men to partake with others in their distresses as if they were theirs then here is matter of speciall cōsolation vnto all the Saints of God for there is neuer a one of them but hath sundrie others to beare his burden and to communicate with him in all his sorrowes and anguishes And therefore let them not be vtterly dismaied albeit they cānot take their owne case to heart as they would and as they should if they be inwardly grieued that they are so senslesse of the stroakes of God vpon them they may take this for their comfort that God will passe by their infirmitie and accept of the seruencie of others prayers in their behalfe who are more earnest with God for them than they can be for themselues Thus much concerning the mans petition our Sauiours answere followeth The second Sermon VERSE 23. If thou canst beleeue all things are possible to the beleeuer HEere wee must note that when it is said If thou canst beleeue c The meaning is not that Christ could not heale his childe vnlesse hee did beleeue for mans disabilitie doth nothing diminish Gods abilitie but this is spoken by our Sauiour to helpe the mans faith hee knew well enough that hee did in part beleeue but hee would haue him search and trie his heart and set his faith a worke before hee would graunt his request Whence wee may note this Doctrine that Doct. 1. Christ begins with the heart Where Christ Iesus doth helpe anie one in mercie hee first helps his heart and layes the foundation of his worke in his soule This course hee tooke with Marthae and Marie when hee would gratifie them with a speciall fauour in restoring to life their dead brother which was very deere vnto them Iohn 11. Hee first of all labours to strengthen their faith in this point that hee was able to raise him out of the graue againe yea though hee had beene foure dayes dead In the like sort dealt the Lord with the Apostle Paul Acts. 27. when he and the rest that were with him had bene fourteene dayes tossed with a sore and dangerous tempest looking euer and anon when they should bee drowned in the Sea and all that while had eaten nothing feare hauing taken away their stomachs In this extremitie God sent his Angell vnto Paul not giuing him present deliuerance but telling him that hee and the rest should be deliuered that so their faith might be exercised by depending on his promise and the benefite might bee more acceptable when it came The like may be said of Iehoshaphats case when such huge armies of enemies came against him 2. Chron. 20. 14. 15. it was then time wee would haue thought for the Lord to set vpon his aduersaries and to ouerthrowe their forces but hee first of all sends king Iehoshaphat and the rest of the people a Prophet to fitte and prepare their hearts for such a wonderfull victorie as afterward hee gaue them and that made it to bee a farre greater blessing then otherwise it could haue beene Reasons And the reason why God doth first helpe the heart is 1 First because otherwise the benefite that he bestoweth would bee but momentanie for either the thing it selfe should be taken away or else some mischiefe ensue vpon the hauing of it so that it would cease to bee a blessing Hence is it that the Lord saith vnto Ahaz and his people after hee had promised them deliuerance from their enemies Isa 7. 9. If yee beleeue not surely yee shall not bee established And therefore was it 1. Kings 20. that though wicked Ahab were saued from the sword of the king of Aram at one time yet hee got little by it for hauing no grace in his heart 1. Kings 22. hee was wounded in fighting against the Aramites another time so that his Charret-man carried him out of the hoast vnto Samaria and death carried him from thence vnto hell
did the Lorde can quickly cause a great King to be in farre worse case then the basest beggar as indeed hee was being stript of his kingdome of his wittes and of all earthly comforts euen on a sudden when hee litle feared any such matter Sithence therefore the case stands thus that no worldlie preheminence or excellencie can yeelde men that contentment which faith will doe what remaineth but that wee set the highest price vpon that which is of the greatest worth and aboue all things seeke for that which will make vs most happie when wee haue found it 2 Secondly if we desire friends that are able and willing and euery way sufficient to stand vs in steed let vs endeuour to bee in league with such as haue the greatest measure of faith and to make them our chiefest friends who are most godly most faithful people Peter found the benefite hereof Acts 12. he had many mortall aduersaries as Herode and the whole power of the Romanes and the state of the Iewes and what friends had he to stand for him a poore companie of men and women that durst not shewe their heads for feare of their enemies who yet by the force of their prayers preuailed more for him then all the aduerse power could against him for when they spake vnto God in his behalfe neither the prison nor his chaines nor the souldiers nor any power whatsoeuer could keepe him any longer in hold but the Lord sent his Angell and freed him out of the hands of such as hated him and purposed the next day to haue taken his life from him And as the faith of Gods seruants is very mightie for their frieÌ„ds deliueraÌ„ce so is it as effectuall for the ouerthrow of their enemies as may be seene in Haman who soared so high aboue the reach of the Iewes that in all likelyhood none of them could come neere him But wheÌ„ Hester Mordecai and the rest of the faithfull ioyned together in fasting and prayer their faith pulled him downe vnto the ground and layd all his honour in the very dust Whence it is euident and cleere to those that haue any vnderstanding how needfull and beneficiall a thing it is to haue godly men on our side and and therefore if wee would be esteemed trulie wise let vs ioyne our selues in most inward friendship and familiaritie with them Vse 3. Thirdly if nothing be impossible to beleeuers then is it not impossible for them to maister subdue their strongest corruptions and therefore let not the faithfull bee discouraged though they find themselues as yet very worldly minded very angrie and passionate very vaine-glorious and ambitious c If they will set their faith a worke they shall get victorie ouer these and the like corrupt affections and albeit they haue prayed often against them and yet finde small strength to ouercome them let them not giue ouer the combatte for faith will haue the better in the ende And the like may be said for all manner of crosses it will either make an vtter riddance of them or at least furnish vs with patience and abilitie to vndergoe them Vers 24. And straight-way the father of the childe crying with teares sayd c Hence this doctrine might be noted that Doct. 4. See in Cleauers Sermon on Lament 3. Doct. 1. Faith and godlie sorrow may well goe together for both of these are apparant in this faithfull man and Gods children haue oftentimes and almost continually occasion of this holie griefe in respect of themselues and in respect of Gods Church in respect of corruptions and of afflictions either priuate or publike or both But I will not now insist vpon this point Lord I beleeue Whence ariseth this Doctrine that Doct. 5. ChristiaÌ„s must see acknowledge their graces It is not vnlawfull nor vncomely for a Christian to make profession of his owne graces though imperfect if it be done in due time and manner He may speake of them vnto God or vnto men as occasion is offered So did this man here Lord I beleeue So did Dauid Psal 86. 2. Preserue thou my soule for I am mercifull So did Ezekiah also Isai 38. 3. I beseech thee ô Lord remember now how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight The scripture aboundes with examples of this kinde Reasons But let vs consider of some reasons as namely that 1 First this must be done because it tendes to the magnifying of Gods name whereas the deniall of his graces makes for his dishonour and argues a base account thereof in the parties that haue them 2 Secondly the acknowledgement of the vertues of Christ which we haue is an effectuall meanes to strengthen our faith to comfort our harts to inable vs with feruencie to call vpon the Lord whereas vpon the omission of this dutie all the contrarie effects do follow Vse 1. Here then are Gods deere children to be put in minde of an ordinarie and daungerous fault that is in them which is that in the time of temptation they so farre giue place vnto Sathan as to yeeld that they are hypocrites and that they haue no sauing grace of God in them Indeed they cannot denie but they haue heretofore done many good things but all say they was in vaine-glorie or for some carnall respect or other they must needs confesse that they haue had many comfortable feelings but now they feare al of them were meere illusions What a follie is this what indignitie do we herein offer vnto the holy spirit of grace whereby we are sealed vnto the day of redemption why should we not rather be of Iobs resolution viz neuer to part with our innocencie vprightnes while we liue but though men accuse vs and Sathan assault vs and our owne consciences charge many heauie things vpon vs yet to stand to it vnto the death that our hearts are sincere and faithfull with the Lord our God when by sound proofes and arguments taken from the word wee can confirme so much vnto our owne soules For in truth wee haue farre better reason to stand vpon our spirituall right theÌ„ earthly men haue to defend their ciuill right Now if some craftie and subtill aduersarie should come vnto a worldly wise man tell him that all his writings euidences are meere counterfeites and of no worth at alâ—… and that therefore he is but an Intruder into that which hee possesseth would not hee if hee be able maintaine the goodnes of his euidences and prooue that the seales are authentical that his witnesses are sufficient that all things else doe concurre which may make for the proouing of his title and right in the things which he holdeth Much more then should we stand to make good the Deedes that we haue for our soules and for our assurance of the heauenly inheritance which hath
bene of olde purchased for vs. Vse 2. Let this therefore in the second place serue for an instruction vnto vs that we neuer shew our selues to be of such a cowardly heart as when wee haue spoken well or done well to depraue the same by saying that we are no better then hypocrites or by confessing in word or writing that wee are faultie Nay let vs neuer forgoe our righteousnesse but iustifie our selues in our righteous wayes and workes and acknowledge with thankfulnes and humilitie whatsoeuer good things the Lord hath wrought in vs or by vs that so hee may haue his due praise and wee such found comfort as belongeth vnto well-doers Helpe mine vnbeleefe The last Doctrine which shall be collected from this verse is this that Doct. 6. Faith shewes men their corruptions and moues thē to seeke helpe against them It is the propertie of grace to shew men their corruptions to stir them vp to seeke helpe against the same As in this man it doth euidentlie appeare who as hee had infidelitie in him so hauing faith withall had his infidelitie discouered and his heart moued to seeke vnto Christ Iesus for strength against it The like may bee obserued in the Prophet Dauid who finding his heart to be vexed and turmoyled within him first of all falleth to reason the matter with his owne soule saying Psal 42. 5. 6. Why art thou cast downe my soule and why doest thou make a tumult within me for so much the word implyeth he hauing grace in his heart perceiued that vnbeliefe did as it were mutinie within him and raise vp rebellion against the Lord and therefore finding his owne disabilitie euery way to encounter the same hee in the next verse of that Psalme puts vp his complaint vnto the Lord against it My God saith hee my soule is cast downe within mee c. As if he should haue said Lord I finde my selfe too weake to preuaile against this corruption and therefore graunt mee strength to get the better of it Againe in another Psalme to wit the 77. Psal 77. 10. he beginneth very lamentably as one vtterly out of heart almost concluding that the Lord had quite forsaken him and cast him out of his seruice but afterward he recouereth himselfe and concludeth that it was his infirmitie so to imagine and thereupon laboureth to confirme his faith by considering of the times of olde and of the wonderfull workes of God which he wrought for the good of his people in former ages So also in the 73. Psalme Psal 73. we may note how the Prophet taketh notice of his great infirmitie in enuying at wicked mens prosperitie and in the end goeth into the Sanctuarie to get helpe against it Likewise in the prophecie of Isaiah Isaiah 63. we may obserue the like effect of grace in the people of God viz that they doe discerne of the hardnesse of their owne hearts and complaine vnto the Lord against it Reasons Now the reasons of this point are these 1 First because grace maketh men iudicious and filleth them full of knowledge and of heauenly vnderstanding whereby they are inabled to descrie what is amisse within them Gods gracious spirit wheresoeuer it comes brings a light in his hand whereby all things that are noysome or vnhandsome in the house are plainely seene and discouered so that thereby men are made able to iudge betwixt truth and falshood and betwixt good and euill 2 Secondly as grace doth inlighten the minde so doth it also sanctifie the affections of the parties in whom it is So that seeing what is good they shall long for it and earnestly desire it discerning what is euill they shall hate it and flie from it As it brings light with it so it makes men to bee of a neate disposition that they cannot endure any thing that is fulsome and loathsome in their soules 5 Thirdly grace maketh men industrious and readie to put themselues into the battle against their corruptions Wheresoeuer faith is it is working and effectuall 1. Thess 1. 3. 4 Fourthly and lastly it maketh men full of courage and fortitude so that they will neuer endure to haue sinne raigne in their mortall bodies but will maintaine perpetuall warre against the same for if they should suffer the fire of grace to bee quenched by the impure streames of sinne and iniquitie Gods spirit should be put to the worst which is no lesse then blasphemie for any one to imagine that it should euer come to passe for it doth work faith in mens harts which is indefatigable and inuincible which in time of temptation will sue vnto heauen and search the word and vse all lawfull meanes helpes for the procuring of strength against sinne so that though there be many enemies against it yet will it not be set downe by any of them though it doe now and then receiue a wound yet will it recouer againe and carrie away the victorie in the end Vse 1. Hereby then to drawe to some vse of this doctrine we may make some triall of the strength or weakenesse of our faith according as we are more or lesse able to see the sinfulnes of our nature and to striue against it so are we to iudge of the measure of Gods grace in vs to be more or lesse and if we do not particularly discerne of the corruptions of the flesh or do not loathe them and labour to be cured of them but rather excuse and extenuate them and hide and cherish them this is an infallible signe that we haue in vs no sauing grace at all Let all such therefore as would haue the testimonie of Gods children vse their best endeuour to haue their eyes opened that they may perceiue the seuerall euils that lurke within their hearts and let them withall get such an indignation against them that they may as this man did come vnto Christ Iesus to be cured of them which if they can doe their very approaching vnto him by prayer and in the vse of this ordinances will cause them euery day to become more sharpe-sighted than other so that they shall with the holy prophet Isaiah Chap. 6. cry out against their pollutions and so get pardon of them and power ouer them 2 Secondly this makes for the confutation of such as being vrged to reforme themselues are readie to say that all things are so well with them that they neede no amendment they know not where to beginne their reformatiō because they see nothing amisse These kinde of men are most busie against others that complaine of their owne wants and seeke to haue them supplied from heauen and such they account and call Puritans who indeed do most see and acknowledge and bewaile their owne puritie but in truth they thēselues do sarre better deserue that name for that they imagine they haue attained such a measure of puritie as that nothing can be added thereunto they haue
torment of their hearts as it fared with the diuell in this place who knowes how many commanders he had commanded being a worldly gouernour Ephes 6. 22. and how many rulers he had ruled yet now we see he is controlled and restrained by our Lord Iesus Christ Thus hath the Lord dealt heretofore with the enemies of his Church as it is said of the Israelites Psal 105. 14. He suffered no man to doe them wrong but reproued kings for their sakes And agreeable to this point is the prophecie of Isaiah who speaketh thus concerning Christ Isaiah 11. 4. With righteousnes shall he iudge the Poore and with equitie shall he reproue for the meeke of the earth that is for such as are lowe and meane and such as will not returne rebuke for rebuke neither are of abilitie to withstand their aduersaries their quarrell will hee take in hand and though the whole earth should ioyne together against them yet will hee smite them and either rebuke their hearts gratiouslie vnto their conuersion or else strike them in wrath and displeasure to their vtter confusion Reason The reason why oppressours shall bee thus dealt with is 1. First because they oppose themselues against Christ himselfe Hee that oppresseth the poore saith Salomon Prou 14. 31. reproueth him that made him euen him that is the father of the fatherlesse and the protector of such as are poore and needy and therefore because his gouernement is contemned it is equall that hee should reproue such offenders 2 Secondly he hath as great authoritie ouer the mightiest as ouer the meanest ouer the highest Prince as ouer the basest vassall and therefore hee that in equitie may and will proceed against the meanest may and will also doe the like against the mightiest 3 Thirdly as hee hath authoritie so is he also furnished with ability so that he wil not only vse words of rebuke as many times men doe but they who are rebuked by him shall feele that his reproofes do pierce their soules as the diuell himselfe did in this place they shall finde that his wordes are not as weake reedes but as sharpe darts that will enter deepe and tarry long euen till such time as it pleaseth him to plucke them foorth of their woundes Therefore it is that the Prophet saith Psal 76. 16. At thy rebuke ô God of Iacob both the Charret and horse are fallen a sleepe The stout-harted are spoyled they haue slept their sleepe and all the men of strength haue not found their hands Where wee see what force the Lords voice doth carrie with it for it makes the principall men of warre and the most valiant Captaines to tremble and quake and to be vtterly daunted and dismayed yea if hee doe but rebuke the mountaines they shall smoake Vse 1. This Doctrine serueth first of all for admonition vnto those that haue power and might in their handes that they doe not vse the same to wring and pinch the Seruants of God nor to grinde the faces of the poore For if they once abuse their places they forfeit them vnto the Lord who will call them to a strickt reckoning for peruerting iustice iudgement and for vsing that authority which he hath bestowed vpon them to a wrong ende and purpose Therefore let all such as haue anie superioritie either in publike or in priuate carie themselues humblie and Christianlie not contemning any one lest they be contemned of the Lord nor wronging the meanest vnder their charge least they bee censured by him that iudgeth all men indifferentlie without anie respect of persons 2 Secondly here is another vse of instructiō that seeing the Lord will checke controll the most violent furious enemies of his children therefore when we are iniured and oppressed by such manner of men we should containe our selues within the compasse of patience and modestie committing and commending our selues and our causes vnto God who will in due time right vs and plague our enemies Whereas if wee growe as boysterous and iniurious as our aduersaries and goe about to render vnto them like for like wee shall loose our peace with God we shall draw his afflicting hand vpon vs and shall more exasperate and imbitter the affections of men against vs. Let vs therefore commend our selues and all our matters vnto him that iudgeth righteouslie euen as Dauid did Psalme 38. vers 12. 13. They that seeke after my life saith he lay snares and they that goe about to doe me euill talke wicked things and imagine deceit continually But what did he in this cafe I as a deafe man heard not and am as a dumbe man which openeth not his mouth When he was railed vpon and abused yea when he was pursued for his life he was as if he had not heard the matter euen as if he had beene deafe or if he were sensible of some things yet he was as a dumbe man and opened not his mouth in any reproachfull or reuengefull manner and what was the reason hereof he himselfe telleth vs verse 15. On thee ô Lord doe I waite thou wilt heare me my Lord my God Yea our Lord Iesus Christ who is greater than all when he was wronged by the diuell himselfe durst not as Iude saith blame him with cursed speaking but said the Lord rebuked thee Though Christ were the best that was yet would not he vse rayling tearmes against Sathan the worst that was for if he had he had nothing hurt the diuell thereby and therefore he tooke a better course deliuering him ouer vnto Gods hands and desiring him to rebuke him which was the most terrible thing that could haue beene done against Sathan These examples let vs imitate when we haue to deale with wicked persons neuer vse any reuiling words against them but referre the matter vnto the Lord beseeching him to passe a righteous sentence not absolutely desiring to haue them punished as our Sauiour did and we may concerning Sathan but rather wishing that they may be so rebuked in this world as that they may escape that eternall rebuke which the diuell cannot auoide Thou dumbe and deafe spirit I charge thee c. Here we must vnderstand that when our Sauiour calleth the diuell dumbe and deafe spirit the meaning is not that some diuels can speake and heare and others not but he is thus tearmed in regard of the effects which he wrought in this child in making him dumbe and deafe Which as it seemes was his manner of dealing wheresoeuer hee tooke possession of anie Where wee may obserue what is the nature of Sathan for all the diuels are of the same disposition if it lie in their power from which let vs note this Doctrine that Doct. 3. Sathan is desirous to bereaue vs of our senses and limbes If the Lord did not restraine Sathan hee would in his malice depriue vs of our senses of the vse of our naturall parts Such is his quarrell against