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
long waiting That an Hebrew child that ruleth over the blessed Gods commandeth me to leave this Habitation and out of hand to get me to Hell but yet do you depart in silence from our Altars which caused Augustus after much musing to returne to Rome and to build there an Altar in the Capitall with this Inscription as Nicephorus affirmeth Ara primogeniti Dei The Altar of Gods first begotten Son But I passe by these things and shall speak of him onely as he is prophecied of in the holy Scriptures according to which he will appeare to be a very Mighty One First In that he was prophecied of at all for the Prophets for the most part foretold of great things to come to passe Great changes and alterations in the world Great deliverances Great prosperity Great Judgements and desolations Great Warres Famines Pestilences as also of Great and Mighty Persons Families Cities Nations as of the five Mighty Monarchies the Man of sin that mighty one who opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God 2 Thes 2.4 the Mighty Beast whom the world worship saying Who is like the Beast who is able to make warre with him Rev. 13.4 The Great Whore that sitteth upon many waters and the false Prophet that worketh Miracles so that Christ is a Mighty One being One prophecied of Secondly In that he is prophecied of by all the Prophets in their severall ages and generations Gods holy Prophets which have been since the world began have prophecied of him Luk. 1.70 As Christ was in the way with the two Disciples going to Emaus beginning at Moses and All the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himselfe there was somthing in Moses and all the Prophets concerning him And this doth accord with what he minded his Disciples of which he had formerly spake to them That all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalmes concerning him Luk. 24 27 44. Philip having seene Jesus speakes of him with Great affection to Nathaniel as of a Mighty One upon this very account We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph Joh. 1.45 And Peter told the Jews that God shewed by the mouth of All his Prophets that Christ should suffer Acts 3.18 And speaking of Christ to Cornelius and those with him saith To him give All the Prophets witness c. Acts 10.43 Surely he is a Mighty One of whom all the Prophets have spoken Thirdly In that All of Christ is prophecied of not onely his sufferings and the glory which should follow in the Generall but his coming the time the Tribe out of which he should spring his birth the place thereof his offices workes particular sufferings death resurrection Ascention session and coming againe and whatsoever else was and is to be fulfilled in him and by him is spoken of in the Prophets And certainly he is no Ordinary Person whom the Spirit of God did so carefully predeclare in all things belonging to him Fourthly In that he is the summe and All of the Prophecies for what are they but Christ in his Sufferings and Glory they having all some reference and tendency unto him yea all the Great things prophecied of as the Conversion of the Jews the coming in of the fulness of the Gentiles the pulling downe high and lofty things the establishing of Justice and righteousnesse in the Earth the powring out of more abundance of the Spirit and all other Great things are in a subserviency unto him and have a speciall reference to his exaltation and kingdome Fifthly In the Matter of the prophecies concerning him which I shall reduce to these three heads First What he shall be and have Balam prophecying of Israels happiness saith His King shall be higher then Agag and his kngdome shall he exalted out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion Numb 24.7 19. The Psalmist speaking of Christ saith That he shall have the Heathen for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession Psal 2.8 He shall be exalted extolled and be very high Isa 52.13 He shall have a portion with the Great and divide the spoile with the strong Isa 53.12 He shall not onely be Ruler in Israel but also Great unto the ends of the Earth Micah 5.2 4. Yea he shall be King over all the Earth Zach. 14.9 Secondly What he shall do He shall judge the poore of the people he shall save the children of the needy and shall breake in pieces the Oppressor Psal 72.4 He shall rule in the midst of his Enemies he shall Judge among the Heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the Heads over many Countreys Psal 110.2 6. He shall smite the Earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked Isa 11.4 He shall reigne and prosper and shall execute Judgement and Justice in the earth He shall build the Temple of the Lord and he shall beare the Glory and shall sit and rule upon his Throne Zach. 6.13 He shall overcome the Beast and the Kings of the earth Rev. 17.14 19.19 20. These and other mighty things are spoken of Christ that he should do Thirdly What others shall be and do towards him Unto him shall the Gathering of the people be Gen. 49.10 To him shall the Gentilâ—s seeke Isa 11.10 The Kings shall shut their mouths at him they shall be dumb and not dare to speak in his presence Isa 52.15 They that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his Enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall downe before him and all Nations shall serve him Psal 72.9 10 11. At his Name every knee shall bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and every tongue shall confesse that he is Lord Phil. 2.10 11. All which speak Christ to be a Mighty One Fifthly He is a Mighty One in the expectation of the people First In the expectation it self he was one lookt for before his coming the people were in expectation of him and the expectation of the people is not ordinarily of mean and ordinary persons like themselves but of great and mighty ones of such as some way or other excell others Secondly In the nature and manner of their expectation it was not a faint and dull but a strong and earnest expectation they did expect him and expect him much they did expect him with desire and longing according to his own words to his Disciples I tell you that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see those things which ye see and to hear those things which ye hear Luke 10.24 Therefore when God sent any one into
he shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David and he shall reigne over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdome there shall be no end To the Shepheards Luke 2.10 11. The Angel said unto them feare not for behold I bring you good tydings of Great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is borne this day in the City of David A Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Sixthly The testimony of Enemies and the testimony of Adversaries is of greatest validity The Jews themselves testified that he was a Mighty One Joh. 11.47 48. The chiefe Priests and the Pharisees gathered a Councel and said What do we for this man doth many miracles If we let him thus alone all men will beleeve on him so likewise John 12.19 The Pharisees said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevaile nothing behold the world is gone after him Josephus the Jew who was borne not long after Christ writeth There was at this time One Jesus a wise man if it be lawfull to call him a Man a worker of most wonderfull miracles and a Master and Teacher of all such men as are willingly content to embrace the truth Yea the Jews do grant and record Christs miracles and make mention of many wonderfull workes which Jesus did that are not written by our Evangelists As the Authour of the book call'd Proofes of Christianity observeth The very Turkes give this testimony of him That he was a great Prophet Mighty in word and deed and that the Jews did evill in crucifying of him Yea the Devils themselves confessed and acknowledg'd him to be a Mighty One For they came out of many crying out saying Thou art Christ the Son of God Luk. 4.41 So vers 33 34. A man which had a spirit of an uncleane Devil cryed out with a lowd voice saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee Thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art The holy One of God Sixteenthly Mighty in same he is of Great fame In the dayes of his flesh as soone as ever he began to preach and work miracles his fame went thorowout all Syria In what Land or Country soever he was his fame spread abroad in all that Country his fame was not onely spread thorowout all the Land of Israel but also into many other Nations of the world by the Preaching of the Apostles for he sent them into all Nations into all the world Math. 28.19 Mark 16.15 Repentance and remssion of sin being to be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem and they accordingly went and made him knowne where ever they came and the word of the Lord mightily prevailed and his fame hath spread abroad ever since It hath of late spread in New-England and other parts so that his Name is Great in the world his fame is gone into all Lands even the fame of him as of a Saviour a deliverer a Mighty One Seventeenthly Mighty in his Attendance Not onely men Disciples but the Angels also ministred unto him The Angels declared his Conception and birth and attended him when borne an Angel appeared to direct Joseph for his preservation Math. 2.13 Saying arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt c. When he had been tempted of the Devil Angels came and ministred unto him Math. 4.11 When he was in his sufferings there appeared an Angel unto him from heaven strengthening him Luk. 22.43 At his Resurrection an Angel from heaven came and rolled back the stone from the doore of the Sepulchre and sate upon it and declared his Resurrection to the Women Math. 28.2 5 6. Yea two Angels in white sate the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had layen John 20.12 When he ascended two Angels attended him Act. 1.10 When he shall come againe he shall come attended with his Mighty Angels 2 Thes 1.7 For he shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him Math. 25.31 And when he shall sit upon the throne of his glory thousand thousands shall minister unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands stand before him Dan. 7.10 Rev. 5.11 Eighteenthly A Mighty One in holiness and righteousness so holy as he is called by way of eminency The holy One Act. 3.14 The holy one of God Luke 4.34 None so holy as he so righteous as he is called also the righteous 1 Joh. 2.1 The just Act. 3.14 Righteous before God The Lord calls him his Righteous servant Isa 53.11 Righteous also before men even Enemies Pilate who condemned him did a little before pronounce him a Just person Math. 27.24 he took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying I am innocent of the blood of this Just person And Judas who betrayed him cleared Christ and accused himselfe saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood Math. 27.4 His mightiness and eminency in holiness and righteousness doth appeare First Generally in his obedience to the will of God he said he came downe from heaven not to do his own will but the will of him that sent him Joh. 6.38 and accordingly he made that his great business and designe while he was on earth his mightiness therein may be seene First In the universality of it he did whatsoever his Father required and left nothing of his will undone he kept the whole Law and offended not in One point he did not onely the easiest and pleasant but also the hardest and most grievous part of his fathers will when his soul was exceeding sorrowfull even unto death he prayed not so much for the removing of that Cup as that his fathers will might be done Math. 26.39 42. Hence that of the Apostle Phil. 2.8 He became obedient unto death even the death of the Crosse Secondly In the exactness and perfection of it he kept the whole Law exactly as he was not wanting in the matter so he did not faile in the manner of performing his fathers will there was no defects nothing lacking in his obedience he did all things well what we are pressing towards and reaching forth unto he attained he was perfect in every good worke and stood compleate in the whole will of his father and hence it is that it is recorded of him that he was without sin knew no sin did no sin which could not be if he had failed in any thing Thirdly In the Constancy of it Christ did not obey by fits but constantly though we cannot he continued in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them This righteous one held on his way he did not faile nor was he discouraged yea when persecution and tribulation did arise against him because of his doing the will of his father he
accordingly accomplished to and upon his Disciples to the astonishment and amazement of all Acts 1.5 with Acts 2. from 1. to 13. vers Fourthly His conference he had many conferences with very acute and subtil adversaries and he overcame them all with the chief Priests and the Elders Math. 21. They could not answer him vers 27. with the Disciples which the Pharisees sent unto him with the Herodians after they had taken council how they might intangle him in his talk the issue was when they had heard his answer to their subtil Question they marvelled and left him and went their way Matth 22.22 The same day the Sadduces came and put a Question to him and when the multitude heard his answer they were astonished at his Doctrine vers 33. The Pharisees hearing that he had put the Sadduces to silence gathered together and one of them which was a Lawyer asked him a question which he answered and when the Pharisees were gathered together he asked them a question and no man was able to answer him a word neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions vers 34. to the end of the Chap The Ruler of the Synagogue fell upon him with great indignation because of his healing on the Sabbath day whom when he had answered all his adversaries were ashamed and all the people rejoyced for all the glorious things that were done by him Luke 13 15 ad 18. And conferring with the Lawyers and Pharisees about his healing on the Sabbath day it is recorded They held their peace they could not answer him again to these things Luke 14.4 6. We may see also how mighty he was in his conferences with the Jews John 8. and 10. Chapters and also with the Devil the subtillest enemy whose several Temptations he answered by Scripture and the conclusion of all was The Devil leaveth him and behold Angels came and ministred unto him Mat. 4.1 ad 11. vers More need not be added to shew that he was mighty in Conference Secondly He was mighty in his works respecting the bodies of men and others which will appear in severall particulars First In the nature and kind of them his works were not common and ordinary but special and extraordinary and therefore it is said He did mighty works wrought miracles and wonders among the people works above and beyond the constituted order of Nature and he wrought not only mighty works as they are distinguished from the common works of others but as they are distinguished from the mighty works and miracles of others therefore the people astonished cryed out What wisdome is this that is given him that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands Mark 6.2 He cast out Devils we never read of any before Christ that cast out Devils though some other miracles they did therefore when he cast out a Devil the multitudes marvelled saying It was never so seen in Israel Matth. 9.33 He opened the eyes of one born blind and as the man said Since the world began it was not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind John 9.32 He healed such diseases as other Physitians could not the woman that had the issue of blood twelve years after she had suffered many things of many Physitians and had spent all that she had and was nothing bettered but rather grew worse she did but come behind Jesus and touch him and straightway the fountain of her blood was dryed up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague Mark 5.25 26 27 28. When the Lunatick child whom the Disciples could not cure was brought to Christ he rebuked the Devil and he departed out of him and the child was cured from that very hour Mat. 17 15 16 18. He did among the people the works which none other did John 15. 24. and he is a mighty One that can do that which others of great skill and power cannot do Secondly In the multitude of them he did many mighty works many miracles others before wrought a few Moses a few Elijah and Elisha a few by anothers power but Christ wrought many healed multitudes of sick persons all manner of sicknesses and diseases among the people If I should enumerate the miracles written which Jesus did they would appear to be many and yet he did many more than are written it is said John 21.25 at the close of the history of the life of Christ There are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it self could not contain the Books that should be written Of those things which are written that he did most of them are wonders or else have wonders in them as I have in part and shall further make to appear Now if we count him a mighty one that doth a few great things in his life time now and then a wonder how mighty must he needs be whose miracles are more than all the other actions of his life the multitude of his miracles speak him to be a mighty One according to that of the people recorded concerning him John 7.31 Many of the people believed on him and said When Christ câ—meth will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done Thirdly In the variety of them not a multitude of miracles of one kind as to heal multitudes of one disease only but he healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diseases as blindness witheredness lameness fevers dropsies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Languishings weaknesses consumptions diseases which are not so painful as wasteful of the body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tortures wracks aches convulsions palsies lunacy painful diseases and he did not onely heal all diseases but he also raised the dead cast out Devils gave sight to the blind rebuked and stilled the winds turned water into wine walked on the Sea fed thousands with a few Loaves and it cannot be said of Christ he was only excâ—llent and eminent in some one thing but he was mighty in every thing the variety of his miracles is a very cleer demonstration of his mightinesse Fourthly In the celerity and speediness of them he did them swiftly suddenly he healed diseases immediately when he bad them arise they arose presently the Evangelists have observed and recorded it as that which adds glory to Christs miracles of healing and other works that he did them so quickly many being healed the same Hour that he undertook their cure in as is evident Math. 8.13 Math. 9.22 Math. 17.18 The blind immediately received sight the lame immediately rose up and walked the crooked were immedately made straight Devils came immediately out of those that were possessed he stilled the winds on a sudden he cursed the fig-tree and it presently withered away yea it is said In the same Hour he cured many of their infirmities plagues
and of evil spirits and unto many that were blind he gave sight Luke 7.21 Christ did not take a week month or half a years time to heal in as others do and yet famous but what he did he did quickly and how mighty an One must he needs be who works miracles so speedily Fifthly In the facility of them they were easie First In respect of the Agent Christ himself his mighty works were not hard nor grievous but easie to him he did them without pain or toyl to himself for he did ordinarily heal and work other miracles by speaking a word or two by touching of persons difficulties were not difficulties to him but were his pastime and pleasure for it was his delight and his meat to do the will of him that sent him he is a mighty One who doth such mighty things so easily Thirdly In respect of the subject upon whom he wrought any wonderfull works when he healed others he did not as the manner of other eminent ones is put them to great nor yet to any pain in order to their cure but forthwith freed them from their present pains yea their very healing was without pain which sets up his mightinesse above mans Sixthly In his constant fitnesse and readinesse to do them when ever he had any call however he did seem to be distracted with much businesse he was alwayes ready and prepared for the work he was called to he never sent any away uncured unhealed never excused himself saying I am now busie come some other time he did not so much as make any delay to do for them according to their desire only he sometimes took occasion to try and commend the faith of some no time was untimous to him when people came to him After he had been teaching his Disciples upon the Mount without question some considerable space of time when he was come down great multitudes followed him he healed the Leper the Centurians servant and Peters wives mother and having spent the day in working when the Evening was come they brought unto him many that were possessed with Devils and he did not so much as defer it till the morning but he then cast out the spirits with his Word and healed all that were sick Matth. 8.16 Seventhly In the visibility and publicknesse of them many of his works being wrought before multitudes he was not of a cowardly and fearfull spirit he did not choose to work them in a corner or in some private place though he wrought some privately as he had occasion but openly in the chief publick places in Cityes as Corazin Bethsaida yea in Jerusalem that great and famous City in the Synagogues and in the Temple whether the Jews alwayes resorted see Matth. 21.14 In the presence of the Scribes and Pharisees Luke 5.21 25. Even when the Scribes and Pharisees were watching him Looking round about them all he said unto the man which had the withered hand Stretch out thy hand and he did so and his hand was restored whole as the other Luke 6.6 10. He oft healed and cast out Devils in the presence of the multitude he turned water into wine publickly at a marriage feast in Cana of Galilee And to this agreeth Peters description of him to the Jews in his exhortation to them Acts 2.22 Ye men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by Miracles wonders and signes which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know Eighthly In the opportuneness and seasonableness of them being alwaies suitable to occasions offered as may be seen in some instances in the miracle of feeding five thousand and more with five loaves and two fishes it was when they were hungry for they had continued with Christ three dayes when they had nothing to eat and when they were in the Wildernesse and could not tell how to get any and it was when it was evening and the time to return past then Christ works a miracle Math. 14.15 16 c. Math. 15.32 33. He rebuked the winds and the sea it was when there was a great tempest in the sea insomuch that the ship was covered with waves yea the waves did beat into the ship so that it was now full and the Disciples were in jeopardy Math. 8.24 Mark 4.37 Luke 8.23 He raised Lazarus it was when some of the Jews said Could not this man which opened the eyes of the blind have caused that even this man should not have dyed and after Lazarus had been dead four dayes he turned water into wine it was when they wanted wine when the mother of Jesus said unto him They have no wine John 2.3 Ninthly In the subjects of them First In the largeness unlimittedness of them he wrought his miracles almost upon all sorts and kinds of Creatures as Devils Men Beasts Fishes Sun Earth Aire Water Stones Trees as might be shewed which plainly manifest that all Creatures were in his power And Christ Jesus was if I may so say indifferent upon what Creature he wrought his miracles whether upon Man Beast or Devil Sea or Land strongest or weakest it was all one to Christ his power was not bound to this or that particular subject but did extend it self to all the Creatures to the living as well as the dead to the mightiest resisting raging Devils as well as to the most feeble fearful and submitting men and women Secondly In their unrulinesse in themselves and towards others as the Winds the Seas yeelded to him which made the men marvel saying What manner of man is this that even the Wind and Sea obey him Math. 8.27 Yea Legions many fierce unruly Devils submitted themselves to him such as no man could bind no not with Chains neither could any man tame though they were unruly in râ—spect of others yet not unruly when Christ came to deal with them which shews Christ to be a Mighty One Thirdly In their utter indisposition unto his works he wrought his miracles of healing upon peâ—sons that had their diseases a long time he healed a woman that had an issue of blood twelve years he healed another woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteeen years as also a man that had an infirmity thirty eight years these by the long continuance of their diseases were the more unfitted for healing he gave sight to a man that was born blind greatly indâ—sposed to the receiving of fight he cured a man that had Devils a long time Luke 8.27 He raised Lazarus when he had been dead four dayes altogether indisposed to live again and the greater indisposition is in the subject unto the work the greater is the power of the Agent that performeth it Tenthly In the perfection and compleatnesse of them what he did he did perfectly The man sick of the Palsie arose took up his Bed and went before them all insomuch that they were all amazed Mark 2.12 As many as touched the
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
brought forth to the day of wrath and then Christ will repay them what they have done according to that in 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgement to be punished Christ doth not presently destroy wicked men Reas 1. That he might magnifie his Justice and righteousnesse in their destruction The Judge of all the Earth will do no iniquity to the worst of men It shall be said of him when he hath executed his fiercest vengeance upon rebellious Ones he hath not done without cause all that he hath done to his enemies though he doth terrible things yet in righteousnesse Psal 65.5 Therefore he doth not cut off his enemies at first but stayes his hand till they have vented all their malice and acted rebellion to the height not that Christ desireth the increase of their sin for he calls upon them to repent but that he will proportion his judgements to their iniquities He will not bring great destruction upon men for a little wickedness and therefore he deferrs it till their transgressions be multiplyed he will not destroy men for a word or a blow or two against his servants but when they have a long time reproached scorned abused troubled and persecuted his faithful ones then it will appear to be a righteous thing with Christ to recompence tribulation to them that trouble them 2 Thess 1.6 Christ doth not at first judge the whore but lets her alone till she hath brought forth her Abominations till the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication till she hath made her self drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Rev 17.2 4 6. yea till she saith in her heart I sit a Queen and am no widdow and shall see no sorrow and when she hath done thus wickedly then shall her plagues come in one day death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Rev 18.7 8. And after these things a great voice of much people was heard in Heaven saying Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God for true and righteous are his Judgements for he hath judged the Great Whore which did corrupt the Earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand Rev 19.1 2. Reas 2. That he might magnifie his patience and long-suffering towards them that it might appear that he who is so great in power is also slow to anger and doth endure with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction There is not an enemy that the Lord Christ shall destroy but shall be forced to confess that Christ the Great Lord hath had patience with him Reas 3. Because there are some among his Enemies which are to be brought in some in rebellion against him who will submit to him and therefore he gives a space to them to repent in which he waits for their return to himself Peter tells us that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts saying Where is the promise of his coming c. 2 Pet. â— 3 4. They are answered in the 9. vers It is not his slacknesse but his long-suffering it is not his unmindfullness of his promise to his people nor yet of his threatnings against his Enemies but his abounding goodness to impenitent ones being not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Yea there are some of his people among his Enemies whom he will call and draw out from amongst them and because of his favour to them his judgements upon his enemies are deferred for the righteous God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked God did not destroy the old world with water till he had provided for the security of his righteous Servant Noah he did not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah before he had brought forth Lot and set him without the City Gen 19. And we finde before the Lord bring his plagues upon Babylon he calls his people to come out of her Rev 18.4 Babylons Judgements are deferred that Gods people may depart out of her Reas 4. That he might Exercise the Faith and Patience of his Saints while wicked men live and are spared they will be persecuting of Gods servants as was manifest in Pharaoh and others and that the Lords people may live in the exercise of their Graces especially their Faith and Patience he lets the wicked live become old and mighty The Romans could have destroyed Carthage when they pleased but for the Exercise of their Souldiers they let it stand Christ this Mighty One could soon bring down and cut off all the wicked of the Earth but for the Exercise of his Servants Graces he let them stand a while John mentions the Faith and Patience of the Saints as most conspicuous in their soarest persecution under the Beasts Reigne Rev 13.10 Rev 14.12 saying Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints Reas 5. That he may shew forth the greatnesse of his power in their destruction He let them continue to plot and design and to get as high a head against him as may be that so his might may be the more visible in their Overthrow that it may be known he can destroy them when they are at the strongest and bring them down when they are at the highest according to the word of the Lord to Edom Obad 4. Though thou exalt thy self as the Eagle and though thou set thy nest among the Stars thence will I bring thee down saith the Lord. Vse 5. Of CAUTION To the Mighty Ones yea to the greatest and mightiest on the earth to take heed what they do for though they be mighty yet they must know Christ is mightier therefore take heed that you oppose not this Mighty One lest ye perish God made David his Mighty One and you know what became of Saul Absolom Sheba and others who lifted up their hands against him Yea take heed what ye do against his servants for the evill which is done against them is done against him and he so accounts of it Matth. 25.35 40.45 what though they be weak he is mighty to avenge all wrongs done to them The Wiseman speaking of the fatherless cautions others against injuring of them upon this account Pro 23.10 11. Remove not the old Land-mark and enter not into the Fields of the fatherlesse for their Redeemer is mighty he shall plead their cause with thee The Prophet Jeremy also speaking of the oppressed condition of the children of Israel and Judah saith Their Redeemer is strong the Lord of Hosts is his Name he shall throughly plead their cause that he may give rest to the Land and disquiet the Inhabitants of Babylon Jer.
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
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