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<DATE>2013-04-10</DATE>
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<NAME>Alexis Jakobson</NAME>
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<BIBNO T="oclc">9296607</BIBNO>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1">
<P>THE MIGHTY CHRIST THE Saints Help: OR, A cleer Di&s;covery of the MIGHTI|NESSE and Excellency of CHRIST in all things of, and concerning him: from the fir&s;t Promi&s;e of him, to his la&s;t Appearing, and Kingdome. With <HI>Application</HI> thereof to the &s;everall <HI>States</HI> and <HI>Conditions</HI> of <HI>Men.</HI></P>
<P>BEING The Sub&s;tance of &s;everall Sermons, preached at <HI>Northwal&s;ham</HI> in <HI>Norfolk,</HI> upon PSAL. 89.19. <HI>I have laid Help on One that is</HI> MIGHTY.</P>
<P>By <HI>RICHARD BREVITER,</HI> M. A. a poor Labourer in Chri&s;ts Vineyard.</P>
<P>Commended by divers Mini&s;ters of Je&s;us Chri&s;t in <HI>LONDON.</HI></P>
<Q>Who is this that cometh from <HI>Edom,</HI> with dyed Garments from <HI>Bozrah?</HI> this that is Glorious in his Apparel, traveling in the Greatne&s;&s;e of his &s;trength? I that &s;peak in Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, Mighty to &s;ave, <BIBL><HI>I&s;a: 63.1.</HI></BIBL></Q>
<P>LONDON: <HI>Printed by</HI> M. S. <HI>for</HI> Henry Cripps, <HI>at the fir&s;t Shop in</HI> Pope&s;-head-Alley <HI>next to</HI> Lombard-<HI>&s;treet.</HI> 1662.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="dedication">
<PB REF="2">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>TO ALL The <HI>FRIENDS,</HI> and <HI>ENE|MIES</HI> of our <HI>LORD JE|S&V;S CHRIST,</HI> e&s;peci|ally in <HI>England, Scot|land,</HI> and <HI>Ireland.</HI></HEAD>
<P>_FOR <HI>Chri&s;ts,</HI> and <HI>your</HI> &s;ake, this plain <HI>Trea|ti&s;e</HI> (which about <HI>two</HI> years &s;ince was compo|&s;ed for a more <HI>private</HI> u&s;e) is now by the importunity of divers of the LORDS <HI>Servants,</HI> held forth to <HI>publick</HI> view. And though a &s;en&s;e of <HI>my</HI> own <HI>weakne&s;&s;e,</HI> and
<PB REF="3"> great unworthine&s;&s;e might have de|terred me from this undertaking; yet the <HI>excellency, weightine&s;s,</HI> and <HI>&s;uitablene&s;&s;e</HI> of the Subject to <HI>your pre&s;ent</HI> conditions (which will I hope make <HI>way</HI> in your hearts for its entertainment,) hath en|couraged me to <HI>pre&s;ent it</HI> to your con&s;iderations.</P>
<P>Its <HI>chief de&s;ign</HI> and aime is to <HI>lift up the SON OF MAN,</HI> who both in his <HI>Per&s;on, Merit, Spirit, Ordinances,</HI> and <HI>Servants,</HI> is (by more than ordinary unbelief, profa|ne&s;&s;e, &s;uper&s;tition, per&s;ecution, and abounding of all &s;orts of iniquity) &s;o greatly <HI>de&s;pi&s;ed</HI> and <HI>rejected</HI> of men; yea <HI>(to the great reproach of Chri&s;tianity)</HI> of <HI>tho&s;e</HI> that in words <HI>profe&s;&s;e</HI> to <HI>magnifie</HI> him above all.</P>
<PB REF="3">
<P>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, <HI>(Col. 1.21.)</HI> I know not. This I can &s;ay, in all the <HI>Reproofs, Cautions, Coun&s;els,</HI> and <HI>Exhortations,</HI> I have had it in my <HI>heart,</HI> earne&s;tly to de&s;ire to be in&s;trumentall to deli|ver <HI>&s;ome of your &s;ouls</HI> at lea&s;t, <HI>from peri&s;hing in your di&s;obe|dience and rebellion again&s;t</HI> CHRIST: For though you &s;ay peace and &s;afety, while you walk in the imaginations of your own hearts; yet <HI>great</HI> is the <HI>danger</HI> that you are in, through your pro|voking this MIGHTY ONE against you. How ea&s;ily, and &s;uddenly can <HI>He</HI> break <HI>you</HI> with
<PB REF="4"> his <HI>rod of Iron,</HI> and <HI>da&s;h you in pieces like a Potters Ve&s;&s;el?</HI> (as <HI>P&s;alm. 2.</HI>) And what though through his patience and <HI>long-&s;uf|fering,</HI> you &s;hould walk <HI>many</HI> years in the wayes of your hearts, and in the &s;ight of your eyes; yet know, <HI>you mu&s;t</HI> at la&s;t, (and how &s;oon, you cannot tell,) <HI>appear be|fore the Judgement Seat of this</HI> Mighty One, <HI>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.)</HI> And what account will you then be able to give to him of all your pride, covetou&s;|ne&s;s, and &s;ome of you of your cur|&s;ing, &s;wearing, deceit, drunkenne&s;s, malitiou&s;ne&s;&s;e, uncleanne&s;&s;e, con|tempt
<PB REF="4"> of his Ordinances, per&s;ecuti|on of his Servants, and other high and horrid wickedne&s;&s;es, &s;carce to be paralelled among the wor&s;t of Heathens. O fear and tremble before the <HI>true</HI> and <HI>living</HI> GOD against whom you have &s;inned; trust not in your power, policy, friends, honours, e&s;tates, and &s;uch like worldly enjoyments, which will not profit, nor help at all in the great day of the wrath of the Lamb, <HI>(Prov: 11.4.)</HI> I &s;hall leave with you <HI>Luthers</HI> Caution to &s;ome in his dayes: <HI>viz: Take heed you be not found among tho&s;e roaring haughty Gentlemen, and Heaven-breakers, who do re&s;i&s;t the</HI> Holy Ghost, <HI>and</HI> Gods Word, <HI>and</HI> boa&s;t <HI>of their</HI> own <HI>&s;trength</HI> and <HI>ability.</HI></P>
<PB REF="5">
<P>And <HI>further,</HI> in the &s;pirit of meekne&s;&s;e, love and pity, <HI>I be&s;eech you</HI> &s;o to <HI>con&s;ider</HI> and lay to heart the things that are here following written, touching the GREAT KING OF THE WHOLE EARTH, as to <HI>humble</HI> your &s;elves under his <HI>Mighty</HI> hand, to tru&s;t in his mighty name, and to be obe|dient to his holy will; that (your &s;ins and tran&s;gre&s;&s;ions being blot|ted out,) <HI>you may in the end be made partakers of his</HI> Heavenly <HI>Kingdome and</HI> Glory. AMEN.</P>
<P>And <HI>You the</HI> FAITHF&V;L, and <HI>precious &s;ervants of the</HI> LORD, e&s;pecially the <HI>lea&s;t,</HI> and <HI>weake&s;t</HI> of the flock, who are <HI>fea|ring</HI> and ready to <HI>faint</HI> under the
<PB REF="5"> weight of <HI>pre&s;ent</HI> pre&s;&s;ures, and ap|prehen&s;ion of <HI>future</HI> troubles; For <HI>your</HI> furtherance, and <HI>joy</HI> of faith in this Wilderne&s;s, I have &s;et my &s;elfe to demon&s;trate the MIGHTI|NES, and ENGAGEMENT of CHRIST to <HI>HELP you in all Conditions.</HI></P>
<P>And though I may truly &s;ay, <HI>I</HI> have not told you <HI>one halfe</HI> of the <HI>Greatne&s;s of his power,</HI> and <HI>wi&s;|dome;</HI> yet, I hope, what is here in much <HI>weakne&s;s</HI> di&s;played before you, &s;hall become <HI>mighty through God,</HI> in &s;ome mea&s;ure to <HI>&s;upport</HI> and <HI>comfort</HI> you in your &s;everal &s;o|litudes and &s;ufferings here below, &s;uch being the portion here of all that will live Godly in Chri&s;t Je|&s;us, <HI>2 Tim: 3.11. Acts 14.22.</HI></P>
<PB REF="6">
<P>Which that it may be, I entreat you not <HI>cur&s;orily</HI> to <HI>reade,</HI> (as the manner of mo&s;t is;) but <HI>&s;eriou&s;ly</HI> to <HI>weigh</HI> and <HI>carefully</HI> to <HI>hide in your hearts,</HI> the words of truth, contained in <HI>this Book.</HI></P>
<P>And becau&s;e <HI>I</HI> would not detaine you from the peru&s;al of what fol|loweth, <HI>I</HI> onely, yet earne&s;tly <HI>be&s;eech</HI> you, by all the <HI>help</HI> you have recei|ved from <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> by all the <HI>con&s;o|lation</HI> you have in <HI>him,</HI> and by all the <HI>hope</HI> you have of <HI>future</HI> Glory through <HI>him,</HI> that you <HI>give all dili|gence</HI> to walk more worthy of that <HI>grace</HI> wherein you <HI>&s;tand,</HI> by being <HI>more</HI> &s;erious, &s;piritual, humble, and holy in <HI>all manner</HI> of conver&s;a|tion; e&s;pecially now when you are made to <HI>eate</HI> the <HI>bitter fruits</HI> of <HI>for|mer
<PB REF="6"> wantonne&s;s.</HI> Oh <HI>&s;in no more, le&s;t wor&s;e things come unto you.</HI> O <HI>love,</HI> and <HI>&s;erve</HI> the <HI>Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, not in word,</HI> and <HI>in tongue,</HI> (the common, and onely &s;acrifice of mo&s;t that are called Chri&s;tians) <HI>but in deed, and in truth.</HI></P>
<P>In a word, be very faithfull to <HI>him;</HI> make <HI>his</HI> work, <HI>your</HI> bu&s;i|ne&s;s; <HI>his</HI> commandements, <HI>your</HI> Rule; <HI>his</HI> life, <HI>your</HI> example; <HI>his SPIRIT, your HELP; his</HI> name, <HI>your</HI> refuge; and <HI>his</HI> glory, <HI>your</HI> end: And if you do the&s;e things, you &s;hall never fall.</P>
<P>Now, what is here humbly offe|red for common good, may (by a ble&s;&s;ing from on high) be of &s;ome u&s;e for the turning of the feet of &s;ome <HI>&s;inners</HI> from the wayes of
<PB REF="7"> <HI>wickedne&s;s;</HI> and for the <HI>&s;treng|thening</HI> the <HI>weak</HI> hands of &s;ome <HI>Saints</HI> in the work of <HI>righteou&s;|ne&s;s,</HI> to <HI>continue</HI> therein unto the <HI>end,</HI> to the <HI>Glory</HI> and <HI>prai&s;e</HI> of <HI>this MIGHTY ONE, the LORD JESUS CHRIST;</HI> is the prayer of</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>Your &s;ouls friend and &s;ervant, RICHARD BREVITER.</SIGNED>
<DATELINE><HI>From my Study in</HI> Norwich <DATE><HI>this 2^d of the 4^t^h Moneth</HI> June. <HI>1662.</HI></DATE></DATELINE></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="approbation">
<PB REF="7">
<P>WE who de&s;ire the <HI>Exalting</HI> of our LORD JES&V;S CHRIST that MIGHTY ONE, on whom the LORD GOD his fa|ther (and ours in him) hath <HI>laid HELP;</HI> having ob&s;erved the holy end and &s;cope of the&s;e <HI>Sermons</HI> on <HI>P&s;al. 89.19.</HI> Ble&s;&s;ing his Glorious Name for his &s;o a&s;&s;i&s;ting his faith|ful &s;ervant herein; and finding the <HI>Matter</HI> according with what the <HI>Author</HI> hath well expre&s;&s;ed in this his <HI>Epi&s;tle;</HI> doe therefore heartily joyne with him therein, in what he hath written to all the <HI>Friends</HI> and <HI>Enemies</HI> of our LORD JES&V;S CHRIST.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED><LIST>
<ITEM>James Nalton <HI>Mini&s;ter of</HI> Leo|nards Fo&s;ter Lane.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Brooks.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Bragge.</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Adderley.</ITEM>
<ITEM>H: Je&s;&s;ey.</ITEM>
</LIST></SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="text">
<PB REF="8">
<PB N="1" REF="8">
<HEAD>THE MIGHTY CHRIST THE Saints Help.</HEAD>
<EPIGRAPH>
<BIBL><HI>PSAL. 89.19.</HI></BIBL>
<Q>I have laid help upon One that is Mighty.</Q>
</EPIGRAPH>
<P>_THe precedent P&s;alm contain a mournful complaint to the Lord powred out in a way of prayer. This (e&s;pecially the former part of it) is a plea&s;ant Song of prai&s;e.</P>
<P>The &s;ubject of it, is the Lord.</P>
<P>The things which he mentions as mo&s;t
<PB N="2" REF="9"> &s;weetly refre&s;hing his own &s;oul, and mo&s;t eminently con&s;picuous in the Lord towards his people, are his mercy, faithfulne&s;s and power.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, His mercy, <HI>Ver&s;.</HI> 1. <HI>I will &s;ing of the mercies of the Lord for ever.</HI> So <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 2. I <HI>have &s;aid mercy &s;hall be built up for ever.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, His faithfulne&s;s, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 1. <HI>With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulne&s;&s;e to all Generations;</HI> ver&s;. 2. <HI>Thy faithfulne&s;&s;e &s;halt thou e&s;tabli&s;h in the very Heavens;</HI> both ma|nife&s;ted in his Covenant which he made with <HI>David</HI> and his &s;eed; <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 3. <HI>I have made a Covenant with my cho&s;en, I have &s;worn unto Da|vid my &s;ervant; thy &s;eed will I e&s;tabli&s;h for ever, and build up thy Throne to all Generations.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, His power, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 6. <HI>Who in the Heaven can be compared to the Lord? who among the &s;ons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?</HI> ver&s;. 8. <HI>O Lord God of Ho&s;ts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee?</HI> manife&s;ted by his works of</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Creation, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 11. <HI>The Heavens are thine, the earth al&s;o is thine; as for the world, and the fullne&s;&s;e thereof, thou ha&s;t founded them; Ver&s;.</HI> 12. <HI>The North and the South, thou ha&s;t created them.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, Providence, ver&s;. 9. <HI>Thou rule&s;t the raging of the Sea, when the waves thereof ari&s;e thou &s;tille&s;t them,</HI> &s;hewed</P>
<PB N="3" REF="9">
<P>Partly towards his enemies in their de|&s;truction, ver&s;. 10. <HI>Thou ha&s;t broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is &s;lain; thou ha&s;t &s;cattered thine enemies with thy &s;trong arme.</HI></P>
<P>Partly, Towards his people in their &s;al|vation, ver&s;. 16, 17, 18. <HI>In thy name &s;hall they rejoyce all the day, and in thy righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e &s;hall they be exalted; for thou art the glory of their &s;trength, and in thy favour our Horn &s;hall be ex|alted: for the Lord is our defence, and the holy One of I&s;rael is our King.</HI></P>
<P>The P&s;almi&s;t having &s;poken largely of the power of God, returns to that with which his heart was mo&s;t affected, <HI>The pre|cious Covenant of God</HI> made with <HI>David,</HI> ex|pre&s;&s;ed <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 3. and &s;hews at large the par|ticulars of it, what great things God would do for him, and how great and mighty he would make him: and for a confirma|tion of faith in this great promi&s;e of God, the P&s;almi&s;t declares</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The Original of <HI>Davids</HI> power and authority, <HI>viz:</HI> that it was from God, from Heaven: he was no U&s;urper, nor Ob|truder, neither of mans, nor his own, but of Gods exalting, for &s;o God &s;aith, <HI>I have exal|ted one cho&s;en out of the people, I have found Da|vid my &s;ervant, with my holy Oyle have I anoin|ted him.</HI> So <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 2.6. <HI>Yet have</HI> I <HI>&s;et my King upon my holy Hill of Sion. Peter</HI> and the other
<PB N="4" REF="10"> Apo&s;tles &s;peaking of Je&s;us before the Coun|cil &s;aid, <HI>Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour.</HI> And there|fore the Lord challengeth a peculiar pro|priety in <HI>David</HI> above all the Kings of the earth, calling him his King, <HI>My King.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, The Lords di&s;covery of it be|fore he did it; And to whom? <HI>Not unto the Princes of this world, but unto his holy One Samuel, who anointed David in the mid&s;t of his brethren,</HI> 1 <HI>Sam.</HI> 16.1, 3, 13. By &s;ome the word is tran&s;lated in the Plural Number, <HI>Sanctis tuis,</HI> to thy holy Ones, to wit, the Prophets, <HI>Samuel,</HI> and <HI>Nathan,</HI> one of which anointed <HI>David,</HI> and the other fore-told of the perpetuity of his Kingdome, 2 <HI>Sam:</HI> 7.12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Yea, the Lord &s;pake the &s;ame thing to his holy One <HI>David</HI> by the mouth of his &s;ervant <HI>Nathan,</HI> 2 <HI>Sam:</HI> 7.17. <HI>According to all the&s;e words, and accor|ding to all this vi&s;ion, &s;o did Nathan &s;peak unto David.</HI></P>
<P>From the di&s;covery of it, we may</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Ob&s;erve;
<Q>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 &s;er|vants the Prophets.</Q></P>
<PB N="5" REF="10">
<P><HI>Amos</HI> 3.7. <HI>Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his &s;ecret unto his &s;ervants the Prophets.</HI></P>
<P>More particularly</P>
<P>Secondly, Ob&s;erve;
<Q>That the di&s;covery of Gods exaltation of Chri&s;t, his True, and Great Holy One, &s;an|ctified and &s;eperated above his fellows, was fir&s;t made to his Holy Ones.</Q></P>
<P>Thirdly, The manner of di&s;covery thereof, and that was by vi&s;ion, God in di|vers manners &s;pake in times pa&s;t unto the Fathers, &s;ometimes, but rarely by Oracle, it being a wonderfull conde&s;cention on Gods part, and more than ordinary ho|nour to the per&s;on to whom he &s;o &s;pake; this honour God put upon <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> as he told <HI>Aaron</HI> and <HI>Miriam, With him will I &s;peak mouth to mouth,</HI> Numb. 12.8. Sometimes, and more commonly, In vi&s;ions, and in dreams, <HI>Numb:</HI> 12.6. It was in vi&s;ion God &s;pake to his Holy One, when he made di&s;covery of his Grace; <HI>Then thou &s;pake&s;t in vi&s;ion to thy Holy One.</HI></P>
<P>Here are two things chiefly to be enqui|red into.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The mercy provided, and that is a King; not a mean, weak one, unfit for the
<PB N="6" REF="11"> Throne, but a <HI>Mighty One, I have laid help upon One that is Mighty:</HI> if it be askt, Who is this King? the 20. <HI>ver&s;.</HI> is in an&s;wer, <HI>I have found David my &s;ervant, with my holy Oyle have I anointed him.</HI> Of him the Lord hath &s;poken, &s;aying, <HI>By the hand of my &s;ervant Da|vid, I will &s;ave my people I&s;rael out of the hand of the Phili&s;tims, and out of the hand of all their enemies,</HI> 2 Sam. 3.18. It is both <HI>David</HI> the &s;on of <HI>Je&s;&s;e,</HI> and Chri&s;t the &s;on of <HI>David</HI> ac|cording to the fle&s;h, who was al&s;o <HI>Davids</HI> Lord, of whom <HI>David,</HI> e&s;pecially in his Kingly Office was a Type and Shaddow, who is al&s;o called <HI>David, Ho&s;.</HI> 3.5. And <HI>Ezekiel</HI> prophe&s;ying of the Kingdome of Chri&s;t, a long time after <HI>David</HI> the &s;on of <HI>Je&s;&s;e</HI> was fallen a&s;leep (having &s;erved his Generation according to the will of God) &s;aith, <HI>I will &s;et up one &s;hepherd over them, even my &s;ervant David, I the Lord will be their God, &amp; my &s;ervant David a Prince among them,</HI> Ezek. 34.23, 24. Again, <HI>David my &s;ervant &s;hall be King over them; my &s;ervant David &s;hall be the Prince for ever,</HI> Ezek. 37.24, 25. This is that <HI>David</HI> that liveth for ever, the Lord Chri&s;t that <HI>Mighty One,</HI> mightier, and higher than all others, as the Lord hath promi&s;ed, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 27. <HI>Al&s;o, I will make him my fir&s;t-born, higher than the Kings of the earth;</HI> which words agree exactly to the Lord Chri&s;t, who is
<PB N="7" REF="11"> &s;aid to be <HI>The fir&s;t-born of every creature, the Beginning, the fir&s;t-born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preheminence,</HI> Col. 1.15, 18. And by <HI>John,</HI> to be <HI>The fir&s;t begot|ten of the dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, Rev:</HI> 1.5. And this is he that the P&s;almi&s;t principally &s;ings of, as he doth al|&s;o in other P&s;alms, who is, and &s;hall be &s;o great a ble&s;&s;ing to Gods people.</P>
<P>Secondly, The people who partake of this mercy, over whom this King, this <HI>Mighty One</HI> was &s;et, that he might help them, are not all the people of the world, not his foes, &s;uch as hate him; not the proud and mighty ones of the earth, who de&s;pi&s;e and oppo&s;e him (though he be Lord over them al&s;o) but they are Gods people; one Tran&s;lation addeth, <HI>I have put help upon a Mighty One for my people.</HI> They are Gods people <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> the weake&s;t and &s;malle&s;t of all people, not onely <HI>I&s;rael</HI> according to the fle&s;h, but al&s;o <HI>I&s;rael</HI> according to the &s;pirit, <HI>Jer.</HI> 23.5, 6. <HI>Luke</HI> 1.32, 33. Who by rea|&s;on of their weakne&s;&s;e, and &s;mallne&s;&s;e, the craftine&s;s, mightine&s;s, and multitudes of their enemies, &s;tand in as much need of the Lord of Chri&s;t, the &s;on of <HI>David,</HI> (That <HI>Mighty One</HI>) to help and &s;ave them, as ever <HI>I&s;rael</HI> after the fle&s;h did of <HI>David</HI> the &s;on of <HI>Je&s;&s;e,</HI> (That <HI>Mighty One</HI>) to deliver them
<PB N="8" REF="12"> from their Oppre&s;&s;ors.</P>
<P><HI>I have laid,</HI> or <HI>put help upon One that is Migh|ty, A Champion, one &s;trong, and able to help my people.</HI></P>
<P>The&s;e words may be con&s;idered</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Generally and largely, as they con|tain the care, and goodne&s;s of God in Gene|ral to his people.</P>
<P>Secondly, Specially and &s;trictly, as they point out the particular thing wherein God is &s;o good to his people.</P>
<P>From the General and large Con&s;idera|tion of the words</P>
<P>Ob&s;erve;
<Q>That the condition of the people of God in this life, is &s;uch as they &s;tand in need of help.</Q></P>
<P>Though this be not expre&s;&s;ed in words, yet it is nece&s;&s;arily implyed; for help &s;up|po&s;eth need, and we are &s;ure that the Lord the mo&s;t wi&s;e Agent, doth nothing in vain, he doth not &s;end help to them that need it not.</P>
<P>For demon&s;tration of which (&s;eeing I in|tend not to in&s;i&s;t long upon it) I &s;hall only mention</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The many and mighty Per&s;ecutors under whom they have lived (who have been &s;tronger than they) the four great worldly Monarchies, <HI>viz: Babylonian, Per&s;ian,
<PB N="9" REF="12"> Grecian,</HI> and <HI>Roman,</HI> &s;et forth by the four terrible Bea&s;ts mentioned <HI>Dan.</HI> 7. who&s;e natures are to tear and devoure: of which the la&s;t (under who&s;e power yet they are) is mo&s;t dreadfull, and exceeding &s;trong: whereupon they ever did, and (being not yet delivered out of the hands of all the mighty Ones that hate them) do &s;till want the help of &s;ome other.</P>
<P>Secondly, The &s;ore bondage and op|pre&s;&s;ion whieh their enemies have, and do keep them in (for the &s;eed of the Serpent e&s;pecially being prevalent, cannot but per|&s;ecute the &s;eed of the woman) by rea&s;on of which they have in their &s;everal Generati|ons &s;ighed, groaned, and howled (as they do al&s;o to this very day in the Nations of the world, do plainly &s;hew that they have, and &s;till &s;tand in need of a &s;tronger arm than their own to deliver them.</P>
<P>Thirdly, The &s;trong cryes, and earne&s;t prayers heretofore, and now al&s;o put up to the Lord for help (which el&s;e were to no purpo&s;e, except to mock the Almighty) do &s;peak aloud the truth of this A&s;&s;ertion; <HI>That their condition is &s;uch, as they &s;tand in need of help.</HI> And it is not the wor&s;e, but the better for the people of God, that their con|dition is thus; for though it be a manife&s;t
<PB N="10" REF="13"> evidence and demon&s;tration of their own weakne&s;s, and &s;elf-in&s;ufficiency; yet the great goodne&s;s and deep w<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;dom of God is in it, thereby with-holding occa&s;ion from them of tru&s;ting, and glorying in them|&s;elves (an evil which they are exceedingly prone to) and as it were nece&s;&s;itating them (of whom otherwi&s;e he &s;hould too &s;eldome hear) to a daily recour&s;e to, and continual dependance upon him&s;elfe for help in every time of need; by means of which they are &s;afely pre&s;erved, and their Heavenly Father is daily glorified.</P>
<P>Secondly, Ob&s;erve;
<Q>The Lord him&s;elf doth provide help for his peo|ple in their &s;everall conditions.</Q></P>
<P><HI>I have laid help,</HI> &amp;c. He doth not leave them without help in trouble (as the gods of the Heathen do tho&s;e that &s;erve them) neither doth he leave it to others who are unable and cannot, or unfaithful and will not do it; but that they may not be failed in any time of need (they being a peculiar trea&s;ure unto him above all people) he un|dertakes it him&s;elf for them (though he doth oftentimes make the meane&s;t and weake&s;t creatures an help to them,) &s;o that they may truly &s;ay, <HI>Our help cometh from the
<PB N="11" REF="13"> Lord which made Heaven and Earth.</HI> And this is the great priviledge and advantage which the people of God have above others, that they are the people whom the Lord careth for, according to that of <HI>Jacob, Deut.</HI> 33. <HI>ult. Happy art thou O I&s;rael, who is like unto thee O people &s;aved by the Lord, the &s;hield of thy help, and who is the &s;word of thy excellency.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, Ob&s;erve;
<Q>The Lord doth lay in a &s;ufficiency of help for his people in their various conditions.</Q></P>
<P>What God doth, he doth to purpo&s;e; he di&s;penceth full mercies and ble&s;&s;ings to his people. <HI>I have laid help upon One that is Mighty.</HI> The Lord layes in a &s;ufficiency of help for &s;ervice, as al&s;o to &s;ave and deliver out of trouble.</P>
<P>Sometimes he layes help upon Angels, tho&s;e <HI>Mighty Ones,</HI> who excell in &s;trength, for his people, as he did in <HI>Hezekiahs</HI> time, he &s;ent an Angel who &s;mote in one night 185000 in the Camp of the <HI>A&s;&s;yrians, I&s;a.</HI> 37.36. He &s;ent an Angel to the help of the three children in the exceeding hot fur|nace, who did &s;ufficiently help, <HI>For the fire had no power upon their bodyes, nor was an hair of their head &s;inged, neither were their Coats chan|ged, nor the &s;mell of fire had pa&s;&s;ed on them,
<PB N="12" REF="14"> Dan.</HI> 3.27. And al&s;o to <HI>Daniel,</HI> when he was in the Lyons Den, who did help effe|ctually, for he was taken up out of the Den, <HI>and no manner of hurt was found upon him, Dan.</HI> 6.23. And likewi&s;e to <HI>Peter</HI> in Pri&s;on, <HI>Acts</HI> 12.7, 10.</P>
<P>Sometimes he layes help upon men, who of weak, he makes mighty to help; he made <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> and <HI>Jo&s;hua</HI> mighty ones, and &s;ent them to the help of his people, he made <HI>Gideon</HI> a mighty man of valour, and &s;aid unto him, <HI>Go in this thy might, and thou &s;halt &s;ave I&s;rael from the hand of the Midianites;</HI> he made <HI>Ehud</HI> a man left-handed, as al&s;o <HI>Debo|rah</HI> a woman, mighty for the help and de|liverance of his people. (<HI>Jude</HI> 3.4.)</P>
<P>Sometimes he layes help upon other Creatures, as upon the Stars, <HI>Judg.</HI> 5.20. The Stars in their cour&s;es fought again&s;t <HI>Si&s;era;</HI> upon Hail-&s;tones, for with them the Lord holpe <HI>I&s;rael</HI> again&s;t the five Kings of the <HI>Amorites,</HI> and it was help &s;ufficient, for they were more which dyed with hail-&s;tones, then they whom the children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> &s;lew. (<HI>Jude</HI> 10.11.)</P>
<P>Rea&s;ons why the Lord doth lay in a &s;uf|ficiency of help for his people.</P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;on</HI> 1. From that All-&s;ufficiency, and perfection of power which is in the Lord; every thing as it is in E&s;&s;ence and Being, &s;o
<PB N="13" REF="14"> it is in act and operation; and according to this Maxim, the P&s;almi&s;t &s;ings of the Lord, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 147.5. <HI>Great is our Lord, and of great power.</HI> As al&s;o, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 86.10. <HI>Thou art great, and do&s;t wondrous things;</HI> &s;o that the Lord being Allmighty, and All-&s;ufficient in him&s;elf; for him to lay in a &s;ufficiency of help for his people, is but to act accor|ding to him&s;elf.</P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;on</HI> 2. From that height of affection which is in the Lord towards his people, they being his peculiar trea&s;ure above all people, his &s;ons and daughters, the people of his love; this <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> mentions as the cau&s;e of that &s;ufficiency of help which the Lord afforded to them in <HI>Egypt, Deut.</HI> 7.8. <HI>Be|cau&s;e the Lord loved you,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeem|ed you out of the hou&s;e of Bond-men, from the hand of Pharoah King of Egypt.</HI> This is al&s;o re|corded, <HI>Jer.</HI> 31.3.9. as the rea&s;on of the great things God will do for <HI>I&s;rael. &mdash;I have loved thee with an everla&s;ting love. &mdash;For I am a Father to I&s;rael, and Ephraim is my fir&s;t-born.</HI></P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;on</HI> 3. From his exceeding tenderne&s;s of his own Name, le&s;t that &s;hould &s;uffer, upon this account the Lord oft &s;pared his people, <HI>Ezek.</HI> 20.9.14.22.44. <HI>I wrought for my Names &s;ake, that it &s;hould not be polluted before the Heathen.</HI> So God will help &s;uf|ficiently
<PB N="14" REF="15"> fot his Name &s;ake, le&s;t the enemy (who is alwayes ready to bla&s;pheme) &s;hould reproach him, and either &s;ay, God would not help his people according to their need, and &s;o the glory of his good|ne&s;s &s;hould be &s;omewhat darkned; or el&s;e he could not, and &s;o the glory of his power &s;hould be eclip&s;ed; with this Argument <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> pleaded with God to help and &s;ave his people, <HI>Numb:</HI> 14.13, 14, 15, 16. <HI>Deut.</HI> 9.26, 27, 28.</P>
<P>I &s;hall add no more to the confirmation of that which the Saints of the mo&s;t High have &s;o much experienced in their &s;everall Generations. And leave al&s;o the improve|ment of all to Gods faithful Ones in their various conditions; and ha&s;ten unto a more &s;trict and particular con&s;ideration of the words, which will afford the&s;e two Ob|&s;ervations;</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <Q>That Chri&s;t Je&s;us is a Mighty One.</Q></P>
<P>Secondly, <Q>That the Lord hath appointed this Mighty One to be for an help to his people.</Q></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Chri&s;t Je&s;us is a Mighty One.</HI></P>
<PB N="15" REF="15">
<P>The P&s;almi&s;t &s;inging of him, &s;aith, <HI>Gird thy &s;word upon thy thigh, O mo&s;t Mighty,</HI> P&s;al. 45, 3. <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> prophecying of him, &s;aith, <HI>His Name &s;hall be called Wonderful, Councellour, The Mighty God,</HI> I&s;aiah 9.6. The Angel decla|ring unto <HI>Mary</HI> his Mother what manner of Son he &s;hould be, &s;aith, <HI>He &s;hall be great, and called the Son of the Highe&s;t, and the Lord God &s;hall give unto him the Throne of his father David,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>Luke</HI> 1.32. <HI>John</HI> al&s;o te&s;tify|ing of him according to the Revelation of him which God gave unto him, calleth him <HI>Allmighty, Rev:</HI> 1.8. I &s;hall forbear to add more particular places, the whole Scrip|tures both of the Old, and New Te&s;tament, being a large proof of this thing.</P>
<P><HI>Mighty,</HI> is a word of large Extent, and of various Acceptation. Sometimes it is taken Generally, for any eminent, excellent One, that is greater than others; &s;o it is u&s;ed <HI>Gen:</HI> 10.8. where it is &s;aid of <HI>Nimrod, He began to be a Mighty One in the earth, i. e.</HI> One great, and famous, excelling others; and in this &s;en&s;e Chri&s;t is a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> greater than others, <HI>In all things having the preheminence;</HI> as the Apo&s;tle &s;peaketh, and as &s;hall be &s;hewed at large.</P>
<P>Sometimes it is taken particularly, and &s;pecially.</P>
<PB N="16" REF="16">
<P>Fir&s;t, For one that is rich and wealthy; thus it is u&s;ed <HI>Ruth</HI> 2.1. where it is &s;aid, <HI>Naomi had a kin&s;man of her husbands a mighty man of wealth.</HI> Al&s;o 2 <HI>Kings</HI> 15.20. The rich man is u&s;ually called <HI>mighty:</HI> in this re|&s;pect Chri&s;t is a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> he is a rich, wealthy One, and that both in re&s;pect of</P>
<P N="1">1. Spiritual and Heavenly things, he is &s;o rich, <HI>That in him dwelleth all the fullne&s;&s;e of the God-head bodily.</HI> He hath more of the Spirit than others, being full of all grace, wi&s;dome, and knowledge; yea, full of Un&s;earchable Riches, according to that of <HI>Paul, Ephe&s;.</HI> 3.8. <HI>That I &s;hould preach among the Gentiles, the un&s;earchable Riches of Chri&s;t.</HI></P>
<P N="2">2. All other things, for he is <HI>heir of all things, Heb.</HI> 1.2. All corn, wine, wool, and flax, all the bea&s;ts of the Forre&s;t, and the Cattel upon a thou&s;and hils, all the Fowls of the mountains, and every thing that moveth in the waters, are his; <HI>yea, the earth is his, and the fullne&s;&s;e thereof, the round world, and all that dwell therein,</HI> P&s;al. 24.1. See what an inheritance his father hath gi|ven him, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 2.8.</P>
<P>Secondly, For one that hath power and &s;trength: &s;trong men are mighty men; and in this &s;en&s;e Chri&s;t is a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> being full of power and &s;trength. The Apo&s;tle
<PB N="17" REF="16"> &s;peaking of him, &s;aith 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 1.24. <HI>Chri&s;t, the power of God.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, For one that is exceeding va|liant, that doth mo&s;t vigorou&s;ly put forth, and act his &s;trength, &s;uch an one is &s;aid to be a mighty man of valour, full of courage, in this &s;en&s;e al&s;o, Chri&s;t is a <HI>Mighty One;</HI> he hath not onely &s;trength, but he doth migh|tily exert, and put it forth, &s;o that he makes his power to be &s;eene, <HI>the very &s;pirit of Might doth re&s;t upon him,</HI> I&s;a. 11.2. which he doth &s;hew forth in all his workes.</P>
<P>Fourthly, For one that hath rule, and Authority, he is a Mighty One, and thus Chri&s;t is a Mighty One.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, He is Mighty in regard of the ex|tent, and univer&s;ality of his power, and Au|thority, as to the &s;ubject of it; it is over all, <HI>for God hath put All things in &s;ubjection under his feet;</HI> he hath left nothing that is not put un|der him, he hath</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, All in the Church under him, All Ordinances, all offices, all gifts, all Admi|ni&s;trations, all con&s;ciences under him, <HI>Eph.</HI> 1.22. <HI>He hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, All in Heaven under him, he &s;aid of him&s;elfe, <HI>Math.</HI> 28.18. <HI>All power is given unto me in Heaven;</HI> and it is &s;aid,
<PB N="18" REF="17"> 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3.22. that he is gone into Heaven, and is on the right hand of God, Angels, and Authorities, and powers being made &s;ubject to him, &s;o that all in heaven is un|der him, the Father onely excepted, who <HI>did put all things under him,</HI> 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15.27.</P>
<P>Thirdly, All in Hell under him, the De|vils them&s;elves being &s;ubject unto him.</P>
<P>Fourthly, All in this world under him, He hath all principality, power, might and Dominion under him; he hath power over all the Kings, and Kingdomes of the world, therefore he is &s;aid <HI>to be the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, and to be Lord of Lords, and King of Kings,</HI> Rev. 1.5. &amp; 17.14.</P>
<P>Fifthly, All in the world to come under him; &s;o much is hinted, <HI>Heb.</HI> 2.5, 8. <HI>For un|to the Angels hath he not put in &s;ubjection the world to come,</HI> that is, Honour peculiar to his Son, under who&s;e feet <HI>he hath put all things in &s;ubjection</HI> (though now we &s;ee not yet all things put under him) &s;o much is expre&s;&s;ed <HI>Eph.</HI> 1.20. <HI>God hath &s;et him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, farre above all prin|cipality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named not onely in this world, but al&s;o in that which is to come.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, He is Mighty in rule, and Au|thority, in regard of the Mea&s;ure of it, he hath not onely power over all, but he hath
<PB N="19" REF="17"> all power over all, <HI>Math.</HI> 28.18. <HI>All power is given unto me in Heaven, and Earth;</HI> he hath an Ab&s;olute di&s;po&s;e of all things; he doth what&s;oever he will in the Church, in Hea|ven, in Earth, in Hell; God hath &s;et him up over all, and left all things to him. <HI>Joh.</HI> 5.22. <HI>The Father judgeth no man, but hath com|mitted all Judgement to the Son,</HI> &s;o that he hath power to &s;et up, and pull downe, to &s;ave and to de&s;troy, what and whom he will. Thus it appeareth that Chri&s;t Je&s;us is a Mighty one in every &s;en&s;e, and acceptation of the word.</P>
<P>Chri&s;t may be Con&s;idered,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In re&s;pect of his Eternall E&s;&s;ence, and being, as he was one with the Father before the Foundation of the world was laid, and &s;o con&s;idered he is a Mighty One, the onely Mighty One from everla&s;ting, the true God ble&s;&s;ed for ever; the Apo&s;tle &s;peaking of him with reference to his eter|nall e&s;&s;ence, &s;aith, <HI>Phil.</HI> 2.6. <HI>Being in the Forme of God, thought it not Robbery to be equall with God;</HI> thus he is the Mightie&s;t, Highe&s;t God.</P>
<P>Secondly, In re&s;pect of his Mediatour|&s;hip as he took upon him to come between God, and man, to tran&s;act all matters be|tween them; and thus con&s;idered, he is a Mighty One.</P>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<PB N="20" REF="18">
<HEAD>Foure things e&s;pecially about his Media|tour&s;hip in Generall, &s;peak forth the Mightine&s;s of Christ.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, The &s;ingularity, and onene&s;s of the per&s;on Mediating, not Many, not a Few, not two, but <HI>One Mediator</HI> between God, and man, <HI>the Man Chri&s;t Je&s;us,</HI> 1 Tim. 2.5. There was none with him in his difficult worke of Mediator&s;hip, but he carried it on alone, there was none with him to helpe him, therefore his own Arme brought &s;alvation both unto him, and us, which &s;peaks him to be a Mighty One; <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> was a Mighty one, in that he &s;tood, and that alone be|tween the Lord, and the Children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> on the Mountaine, and yet but a &s;haddow of this One great Mediator, Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Secondly, The Greatne&s;s of the per&s;ons between whom he doth Mediate, he is u&s;u|ally a Mighty One that is Mediator between either Mighty Per&s;ons or Nations, even the greate&s;t, mightie&s;t, and mo&s;t excellent One they can finde, then how Mighty mu&s;t he be that is Mediator between the Almighty, Highe&s;t God, and Man the chiefe of the Creatures.</P>
<P>Thirdly, The weightine&s;&s;e of the Mat|ter it being of greate&s;t concernment, no le&s;s than the bringing of &s;ouls (which were a|far
<PB N="21" REF="18"> off) unto God, 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3.18. the making &s;inners righteous, yea righteou&s;ne&s;s, 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5.21; the reconciling all things in heaven, and earth unto God, <HI>Col.</HI> 1.20. the turning a|way Gods wrath from &s;inners, the de&s;troy|ing of the enmity that is in their minds a|gain&s;t him, and &s;o the &s;alvation of them that are lo&s;t.</P>
<P>Fourthly, The exact performance, and accompli&s;hment of the whole bu&s;ine&s;s; Ac|cording to what was prophecied of him, <HI>Dan.</HI> 9.24. <HI>He did make reconciliation for ini|quity, and brought in Everla&s;ting Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e;</HI> He did not begin, do &s;omething, and then faint, and leave his work imperfect, but he fini&s;hed it, and that to the Glory of his Fa|ther that &s;ent him; as him&s;elfe te&s;tifieth in his prayer to his Father, <HI>Joh.</HI> 17.4. <HI>I have glorified thee on the Earth, I have fini&s;hed the worke which thou gave&s;t me to do;</HI> &s;urely he is a Mighty One.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Demon&s;trations of the Mightine&s;&s;e of Christ, the Mediator.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, He is a Mighty One in his Origi|nall, and ri&s;e, from whence he came; him|&s;elfe told the <HI>Jews,</HI> Joh. 8.23. <HI>That he was from above, and not of this World, and that he proceeded forth, and came from God:</HI> When <HI>John</HI> heard he was come, and manife&s;ted him|&s;elfe
<PB N="22" REF="19"> by preaching, and Baptizing, magnifi|ed him upon this account, <HI>Joh.</HI> 3.31. <HI>He that cometh from above is above all;</HI> He that cometh from Heaven is above all; And by this the Apo&s;tle doth di&s;tingui&s;h him from, and ex|alt him above the fir&s;t <HI>Adam,</HI> 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15.47. <HI>The fir&s;t man is of the Earth Earthly, the &s;econd man is the Lord from Heaven.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, He is a Mighty One in the fir&s;t promi&s;e of him, the fir&s;t hint, and report of him is of a Mighty One, a Conquerour of the Devill, In that this ble&s;&s;ed &s;eed of the Woman &s;hould brui&s;e the Serpents head, according as it is written, <HI>Gen.</HI> 3.15. <HI>I will put Enmity between thee, and the Woman, and be|tween thy &s;eed, and her &s;eed; It &s;hall brui&s;e thy head, and thou &s;halt brui&s;e his heele;</HI> the fir&s;t appearance, and coming forth of Chri&s;t in the promi&s;e, is as of a Mighty one prevai|ling again&s;t mans mightie&s;t Enemy, the Devill.</P>
<P>Thirdly, He is a Mighty One in the Types of him:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the multitude of them, every thing almo&s;t (which was before him) being a Type, and &s;haddow of him, as the Pa&s;&s;e|over, Rock, Mannah, Brazen-Serpent, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5.7. <HI>Joh.</HI> 6.32, 48, 50. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 10.4. <HI>Joh.</HI> 3.14, 15. The Prie&s;ts, Tabernacle, Altar, Sanctuary, the Fea&s;ts, Sacrifices, and
<PB N="23" REF="19"> all the Ceremoniall rites, <HI>Col.</HI> 2.16, 17. <HI>Heb.</HI> 1. <HI>ad</HI> 11 ver&s;e; <HI>Aarons</HI> Bells (as one &s;aith) &s;ounded Je&s;us Chri&s;t, and him cru|cified; &s;urely he is &s;ome Mighty one indeed that the Lord did fore-&s;ignifie by &s;o many things.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the Mightine&s;s of them (I meane the per&s;onall Types of him) who were not meane, but mighty ones; As <HI>A|dam</HI> whom God made &s;o mighty, giving him Lord&s;hip over the Creatures, was a type of him that then was to come, <HI>Rom.</HI> 5.14. <HI>Melchi&s;edec</HI> that great, and mighty one, of who&s;e greatne&s;s the Apo&s;tle exhorts the <HI>Hebrews</HI> to con&s;ider, <HI>Heb.</HI> 7.4. Now con&s;i|der how great this man was, unto whom even the Patriarch <HI>Abraham</HI> gave the tenth of the &s;poils; was a Type of Chri&s;t. <HI>Mo&s;es, Jo&s;uah, David,</HI> tho&s;e Great, and eminent Saviours and Deliverers of the Children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> were but types and &s;haddows of that Great, and mighty Saviour, and Deliverer of his people, Je&s;us Chri&s;t. And if the &s;had|dows be thus Mighty, the body, and &s;ub|&s;tance mu&s;t be very Mighty.</P>
<P>Fourthly, He is a Mighty One in the Prophecies of him, I &s;hall not lay any weight upon the predictions of him to the Gentiles by the famous <HI>Sybils</HI> (to whom much is attributed by &s;ome) who are &s;aid
<PB N="24" REF="20"> to Prophecy of him as of a Mighty One, an univer&s;all King, that &s;hould be Lord over <HI>Romanes</HI> and all others;</P>
<P>Nor yet upon Diabolicall Oracles men|tioned in Hi&s;tory, as the An&s;wer of <HI>Apollo</HI> from <HI>Delphos</HI> to <HI>Augu&s;tus Cae&s;ar</HI> the Empe|rour (demanding of him, who &s;hould reigne after him) after long waiting, That an Hebrew child that ruleth over the ble&s;&s;ed Gods, commandeth me to leave this Habi|tation, and out of hand to get me to Hell, but yet do you depart in &s;ilence from our Altars; which cau&s;ed <HI>Augu&s;tus,</HI> after much mu&s;ing, to returne to <HI>Rome,</HI> and to build there an Altar in the Capitall, with this In&s;cription (as <HI>Nicephorus</HI> affirmeth) <HI>Ara primogeniti Dei,</HI> The Altar of Gods fir&s;t be|gotten Son: But I pa&s;&s;e by the&s;e things, and &s;hall &s;peak of him onely as he is prophecied of in the holy Scriptures, according to which he will appeare to be a very Mighty One.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In that he was prophecied of at all, for the Prophets for the mo&s;t part fore|told of great things to come to pa&s;&s;e. Great changes, and alterations in the world, Great deliverances, Great pro&s;perity, Great Judge|ments, and de&s;olations, Great Warres, Fa|mines, Pe&s;tilences; as al&s;o of Great and Mighty Per&s;ons, Families, Cities, Nations, as of the five Mighty Monarchies, the Man
<PB N="25" REF="20"> of &s;in, that mighty one, who oppo&s;eth, <HI>and exalteth him&s;elfe above all that is called God,</HI> 2 The&s;. 2.4. the Mighty Bea&s;t, whom the world wor&s;hip, &s;aying, <HI>Who is like the Bea&s;t? who is able to make warre with him?</HI> Rev. 13.4. The Great Whore, <HI>that &s;itteth upon many wa|ters,</HI> and the fal&s;e Prophet that worketh Miracles; &s;o that Chri&s;t is a Mighty One, being One prophecied of.</P>
<P>Secondly, In that he is prophecied of by all the Prophets in their &s;everall ages, and generations, Gods holy Prophets which have been &s;ince the world began, have pro|phecied of him, <HI>Luk.</HI> 1.70. As Chri&s;t was in the way with the two Di&s;ciples going to <HI>Emaus,</HI> beginning at <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> and All the Prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning him|&s;elfe; there was &s;omthing in <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> and all the Prophets concerning him; And this doth accord with what he minded his Di&s;ciples of, which he had formerly &s;pake to them, <HI>That all things mu&s;t be fulfilled which were writ|ten in the Law of Mo&s;es, and in the Prophets, and in the P&s;almes concerning him,</HI> Luk. 24, 27, 44. <HI>Philip</HI> having &s;eene Je&s;us, &s;peakes of him with Great affection to <HI>Nathaniel,</HI> as of a Mighty One upon this very account, <HI>We have found him of whom Mo&s;es in the Law and the Prophets did write, Je&s;us of Nazareth, the
<PB N="26" REF="21"> &s;on of Jo&s;eph,</HI> Joh. 1.45. And <HI>Peter</HI> told the <HI>Jews,</HI> that God &s;hewed by the mouth of <HI>All his Prophets,</HI> that Chri&s;t &s;hould &s;uffer, <HI>Acts</HI> 3.18. And &s;peaking of Chri&s;t to <HI>Cornelius,</HI> and tho&s;e with him, &s;aith, <HI>To him give All the Prophets witne&s;s,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>Acts</HI> 10.43. Surely he is a Mighty One of whom all the Pro|phets have &s;poken.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In that All of Chri&s;t is pro|phecied of, not onely his &s;ufferings, and the glory which &s;hould follow, in the Generall, but his coming, the time, the Tribe out of which he &s;hould &s;pring, his birth, the place thereof, his offices, workes, particular &s;uf|ferings, death, re&s;urrection, A&s;cention, &s;e&s;|&s;ion, and coming againe, and what&s;oever el&s;e was, and is to be fulfilled in him, and by him, is &s;poken of in the Prophets; And cer|tainly he is no Ordinary Per&s;on whom the Spirit of God did &s;o carefully predeclare in all things belonging to him.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In that he is the &s;umme, and All of the Prophecies; for what are they but Chri&s;t in his Sufferings, and Glory, they having all &s;ome reference, and tenden|cy unto him; yea all the Great things pro|phecied of, as the Conver&s;ion of the Jews, the coming in of the fulne&s;s of the Gentiles, the pulling downe high, and lofty things, the e&s;tabli&s;hing of Ju&s;tice and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e
<PB N="27" REF="21"> in the Earth, the powring out of more a|bundance of the Spirit, and all other Great things, are in a &s;ub&s;erviency unto him, and have a &s;peciall reference to his exaltation, and kingdome.</P>
<P>Fifthly, In the Matter of the prophecies concerning him, which I &s;hall reduce to the&s;e three heads.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, What he &s;hall be, and have; <HI>Ba|lam</HI> prophecying of <HI>I&s;raels</HI> happine&s;s, &s;aith, <HI>His King &s;hall be higher then Agag, and his kngdome &s;hall he exalted&punc; out of Jacob &s;hall come he that &s;hall have dominion,</HI> Numb. 24.7, 19. The P&s;almi&s;t &s;peaking of Chri&s;t, &s;aith, <HI>That he &s;hall have the Heathen for his Inheri|tance, and the uttermo&s;t parts of the earth for his po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion,</HI> P&s;al. 2.8. He &s;hall be exalted, ex|tolled, and be very high, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 52.13. He &s;hall have a portion with the Great, and di|vide the &s;poile with the &s;trong, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 53.12. He &s;hall not onely be Ruler in <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> but al&s;o Great unto the ends of the Earth, <HI>Mi|cah</HI> 5.2, 4. Yea, he &s;hall be King over all the Earth, <HI>Zach.</HI> 14.9.</P>
<P>Secondly, What he &s;hall do; He &s;hall judge the poore of the people, he &s;hall &s;ave the children of the needy, and &s;hall breake in pieces the Oppre&s;&s;or, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 72.4. He &s;hall rule in the mid&s;t of his Enemies, he &s;hall Judge among the Heathen, he &s;hall fill the
<PB N="28" REF="22"> places with the dead bodies, he &s;hall wound the Heads over many Countreys, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 110.2, 6. He &s;hall &s;mite the Earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips &s;hall he &s;lay the wicked, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.4. He &s;hall reigne and pro&s;per, and &s;hall execute Judgement and Ju&s;tice in the earth; He &s;hall build the Temple of the Lord, and he &s;hall beare the Glory, and &s;hall &s;it and rule up|on his Throne, <HI>Zach.</HI> 6.13. He &s;hall over|come the Bea&s;t, and the Kings of the earth, <HI>Rev.</HI> 17.14. <HI>&amp;</HI> 19.19, 20. The&s;e and other mighty things are &s;poken of Chri&s;t that he &s;hould do.</P>
<P>Thirdly, What others &s;hall be, and do towards him. Unto him &s;hall the Gather|ing of the people be, <HI>Gen.</HI> 49.10. To him &s;hall the Gentil<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">s &s;eeke, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.10. The Kings &s;hall &s;hut their mouths at him, they &s;hall be dumb, and not dare to &s;peak in his pre&s;ence, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 52.15. They that dwell in the Wilderne&s;s &s;hall bow before him, and his Enemies &s;hall lick the du&s;t; The Kings of <HI>Tar&s;hi&s;h,</HI> and the I&s;les &s;hall bring pre|&s;ents; the Kings of <HI>Sheba</HI> and <HI>Seba</HI> &s;hall offer gifts; yea all Kings &s;hall fall downe before him, and all Nations &s;hall &s;erve him, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 72.9, 10, 11. At his Name every knee &s;hall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth and things under the earth, and every
<PB N="29" REF="22"> tongue &s;hall confe&s;&s;e that he is Lord, <HI>Phil.</HI> 2.10, 11. All which &s;peak Chri&s;t to be a Mighty One.</P>
<P>Fifthly, He is a <HI>Mighty One</HI> in the expe|ctation of the people.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the expectation it &s;elf; he was one lookt for before his coming, the people were in expectation of him, and the expe|ctation of the people is not ordinarily of mean and ordinary per&s;ons, like them&s;elves but of great and mighty ones, of &s;uch, as &s;ome way or other excell others.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the nature and manner of their expectation, it was not a faint and dull, but a &s;trong and earne&s;t expectation; they did expect him, and expect him much, they did expect him with de&s;ire and long|ing, according to his own words to his Di&s;|ciples, <HI>I tell you that many Prophets and Kings have de&s;ired to &s;ee tho&s;e things which ye &s;ee, and to hear tho&s;e things which ye hear, Luke</HI> 10.24. Therefore when God &s;ent any one into the world more excellent than others, they thought it might be he. The <HI>Jews</HI> as &s;oon as they heard of <HI>John</HI> Bapti&s;t preaching and baptizing in the wilderne&s;&s;e, &s;ent Prie&s;ts and Levites from <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI> to ask him, <HI>Who he was?</HI> &s;u&s;pecting he might be the Chri&s;t, <HI>John</HI> 1.19. And when Chri&s;t was come, they not knowing it was he, came round
<PB N="30" REF="23"> about him as he was in Temple, and &s;aid unto him, <HI>How long do&s;t thou make us to doubt?</HI> (or <HI>Do&s;t thou kill us?</HI> <GAP DESC="foreign">) <HI>If thou be the Chri&s;t tell us plainly, John</HI> 10.24. So great, and earne&s;t was their expectation of him, and &s;urely he is &s;ome mighty, ex|cellent one indeed, that is the &s;trong and earne&s;t expectation of the people.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the matter of their expecta|tion, as they looked that he &s;hould come, &s;o they looked that he &s;hould be a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> and do great things when he came, That he &s;hould be a Redeemer of <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> a Re&s;torer of the Kingdome, which is evident from the words of the two de&s;ponding Di&s;|ciples to him&s;elf, <HI>We tru&s;ted that it had been he which &s;hould have redeemed I&s;rael, Luke</HI> 24.21. And &s;o much may be gathered from the words of the woman of <HI>Samaria</HI> to him, <HI>I know that Me&s;&s;ias cometh, which is called Chri&s;t, when he is come he will tell us all things, Jo.</HI> 4.25. Her expectation of him was as of a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> &s;urpa&s;&s;ing all the Prophets which were before; and &s;uch was the expectation of <HI>Simeon,</HI> Luke 2.25. <HI>He waited for the con|&s;olation of I&s;rael,</HI> whom when he &s;aw, he called <HI>Gods &s;alvation,</HI> ver&s;. 30.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In the continuance of their expectation, they waited long in their Ge|nerations, and though he came not, yet
<PB N="31" REF="23"> they held up their expectation of him, and did not faint in their minds, but lived and dyed in expectation of him.</P>
<P>Sixthly, A <HI>Mighty One</HI> in his Fore-run|ner.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In that he had a fore-runner, they are Mighty, not mean ones that have fore-runners to prepare the way for their com|ing, &s;uch an One was Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Secondly, In that he had &s;uch a fore-runner, a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> for &s;o the Angel de|&s;cribed him to his Father, <HI>Luke</HI> 1.15, 16, 17. <HI>He &s;hall be great in the &s;ight of the Lord, he &s;hall be filled with the Holy Gho&s;t, even from his mo|thers womb, and many of the children of I&s;rael &s;hall he turn to the Lord their God, and &s;hall go before him in the &s;pirit and power of Elias; &amp;c.</HI> And &s;o his Father being filled with the ho|ly Spirit prophecyed of him, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 76. <HI>Thou child &s;halt be called the Prophet of the highe&s;t, for thou &s;halt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his way:</HI> Yea, he was &s;o mighty as Chri&s;t him&s;elf te&s;tifieth of him, <HI>That among them that are born of women, there hath not ri&s;en a greater than John;</HI> and yet he but Chri&s;ts fore-runner; he that comes after, is always mightier than the fore-runner, and &s;o <HI>John</HI> witne&s;&s;ed, <HI>He that cometh after me is mightier than I, Matth.</HI> 3.11.</P>
<P>Seventhly, A <HI>Mighty One</HI> in his Incar|nation:
<PB N="32" REF="24"> That he who is over all, God ble&s;&s;ed for ever, &s;hould take our fle&s;h, and dwell among us; that there &s;hould be a conjunction of two &s;o infinitely differing Natures, the Divine and Humane, in the Unity of one Per&s;on, remaining uncom|pounded, and unconfounded together, that he in whom the fullne&s;&s;e of the man-hood dwelleth, is not One, and he in whom the fullne&s;&s;e of the God-head, another; but he in whom the fullne&s;s of both natures dwel|leth, is one and the &s;ame, is very wonder|full, and a great My&s;tery, and mu&s;t needs &s;peak the per&s;on to be &s;ome mighty and extraordinary One indeed, being both per|fect God, and perfect man, and &s;o every way fit for any undertaking, to do and &s;uf|fer any thing; for as man he could &s;uffer, but not overcome the &s;harpne&s;&s;e of death, as God he could &s;uffer nothing, but over|come any thing; and thus incarnate, he became a <HI>Mighty One</HI> in our Nature for us, fit to &s;ave us.</P>
<P>The Incarnation of Chri&s;t doth e&s;pecial|ly comprehend his conception and birth, in both which he appears to be a <HI>Mighty One.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In his Conception, which was not common nor ordinary, for he was not con|ceived by the power of Nature, as all other <HI>Mighty Ones</HI> are, but <HI>By the power of the Holy
<PB N="33" REF="24"> Spirit,</HI> Matth. 1.18. His Mother <HI>Mary</HI> was found with Child of the Holy Gho&s;t, accor|ding to the word of the Angel to her, <HI>Luke</HI> 1.35. <HI>The Holy Gho&s;t &s;hall come upon thee, and the power of the Highe&s;t &s;hall over&s;haddow thee. Nonus modus novi hominis,</HI> A new way of conceiving this new man; for a woman that knew not man to conceive a man in her womb, is the new and &s;trange thing which the Lord hath created in the earth; <HI>A woman &s;hall compa&s;&s;e a man, Jer.</HI> 31.21. And while <HI>Jo&s;eph</HI> was troubled about this matter, an Angel was &s;ent from Heaven to &s;atisfie him, which &s;aid to him, <HI>Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Gho&s;t, Matth.</HI> 1.20. Certainly he was &s;ome <HI>Mighty One,</HI> who was thus conceived, and who&s;e Conception was thus declared and confir|med by Angels.</P>
<P>Secondly, In his Birth, he was not only born, but born a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> a <HI>Saviour,</HI> ac|cording to the word of the Angel to the Shepherds, <HI>Luke</HI> 2.11. <HI>&V;nto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Chri&s;t the Lord. A King,</HI> as the Wi&s;e men &s;tiled him in their inquiry after him, Math. 2.2. <HI>Where is he that is born King of the Jews?</HI> And he was not only Mighty in his birth, becau&s;e he was born a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> but al&s;o
<PB N="34" REF="25"> in his birth it &s;elfe, it being a more than ordinary birth, To awake (&s;aith one) the world to look for &s;trange things in this life, to &s;ignifie that he &s;hould be a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> and do wonderfull things, the &s;trange Births of per&s;ons did u&s;ually &s;peak &s;ome Extraordinarines to be in their lives, as in <HI>I&s;aac, Jacob, Samuel, Samp&s;on,</HI> &amp;c.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>The Mightine&s;&s;e of Chri&s;t in his Birth will further appear.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the &s;ubject of it, not only a Woman, but a Virgin, &s;o wonderfull a thing that it was given for a &s;ign unto un|believers divers hundred of years before it was accompli&s;hed, even a &s;ign of Gods own choo&s;ing among all the wonders in the depth, <HI>and in the height above, I&s;a:</HI> 7.11.14. The Virgin bearing this Son again&s;t the common order of Nature, without a man, whence he is called <HI>The &s;eed of the Woman;</HI> this <HI>Mary</HI> thought a thing impo&s;&s;ible, when it was told her by the Angel, and &s;aid, <HI>How &s;hal this be &s;eeing I know not man? Luke</HI> 1.34.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the time of it, when the three Monarchies of the <HI>A&s;&s;yrians, Per&s;ians,</HI> and <HI>Grecians</HI> were ended, and the <HI>Romans</HI> entred into the fourth, which was greater and mightier than the former; this <HI>Migh|ty One</HI> the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t dur&s;t &s;hew him&s;elf in his lowe&s;t and weake&s;t e&s;tate,
<PB N="35" REF="25"> when the world was at the highe&s;t and &s;tronge&s;t, and then begin to build up a Kingdome.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the Concomitants of it; divers remarkable things accompanyed his Birth, which &s;peaks forth his Mighti|ne&s;&s;e. As</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The me&s;&s;age of the Angel to the Shepherds, <HI>Luke</HI> 1.10, 11. <HI>Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which &s;hall be to all People; For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Chri&s;t the Lord.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, The prai&s;ings of the Ho&s;t, the Shepherds they glorified and prai&s;ed God for what they had heard and &s;een; but men of the earth are not &s;ufficient for this thing, and therefore a Quire is &s;ent from Heaven to rejoyce and &s;ing prai&s;es to the Mo&s;t High for this Heavenly and un&s;peakable gift, <HI>Luke</HI> 2.13. <HI>Suddenly, there was with the An|gel a multitude of the Heavenly Ho&s;t prai&s;ing God.</HI> The&s;e extraordinary prai&s;es &s;peak the per&s;on born to be &s;ome great and <HI>Migh|ty One.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, The homage of the Wi&s;e men, That they &s;hould come to tender their ho|mage and &s;ervice to this Infant, and not un|to <HI>Herod,</HI> nor <HI>Agu&s;tus Cae&s;ar,</HI> of who&s;e great|ne&s;&s;e no doubt they had heard (but did not e&s;teem nor regard it in compari&s;on of this
<PB N="36" REF="26"> late born King of the <HI>Jews</HI>) &s;peaks Chri&s;t to be a <HI>Mighty One;</HI> e&s;pecially if we con&s;ider</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The quality of their Per&s;ons; if becau&s;e <GAP DESC="foreign">, Wi&s;e men, is u&s;ually taken in the wor&s;t &s;en&s;e, for men practi&s;ing Magi|cal and unlawful Arts, it &s;hould be under|&s;tood &s;o in this place; it &s;hews forth the more of the Mightine&s;s and Power of Chri&s;t, when men that had been of &s;uch a profe&s;&s;ion become &s;uch profe&s;&s;ors of Chri&s;t of any among the <HI>Gentiles,</HI> as to come and do homage to him: how&s;oever, fora&s;much as they were (as is mo&s;t likely, not of the meaner &s;ort, nor yet per&s;ons of ordinary and common gifts, but men of learning, under&s;tanding, wi&s;dome, and of high e&s;teem among the People; it holds forth the greatne&s;s and excelleny of Chri&s;t, that &s;uch &s;hould come &s;o early, and &s;ubmit them|&s;elves to him</P>
<P>Secondly, The greatne&s;s of their pains, without doubt it was a long and tedious journey they took, although we cannot tell exactly how far they came, becau&s;e the par|ticular term from whence (at which divers have diver&s;ly conjectured) is not to be found in Scripture, onely it is &s;aid (with an <GAP DESC="foreign">, Behold, prefixed, as a matter of ad|miration, that they &s;hould come, and come &s;o far) <HI>They came from the Ea&s;t to Jeru&s;alem,</HI>
<PB N="37" REF="26"> and &s;urely they would not have underta|ken &s;uch a journey with regard to an ordi|nary common per&s;on.</P>
<P>Thirdly, The reality and fulne&s;&s;e of their homage; it was not in word, and in tongue onely, but in truth and in deed; we do not read of any thing they &s;aid to him, but of what they did, and that was much, they fir&s;t gave them&s;elves an oblation to this great King, and then made offering of their gifts; <HI>For they fell down and wor&s;hipped him, and when they had opened their trea&s;ures, they pre&s;ented unto him Gifts, Gold and Frankin|cen&s;e, and myrrhe,</HI> Matth. 2.11. They would not have tendered &s;uch large homage to a mean one.</P>
<P>Fourthly, The eminent appearing of God for their direction to him, and pre&s;er|vation in returning; a Star did lead them to the very place where he was for it is &s;aid, Math. 2.9. <HI>Lo, the Star which they &s;aw in the Ea&s;t went before them till it came and &s;tood over where the young Child was.</HI> And for their pre&s;ervation, <HI>God did warn them in a dream, that they &s;hould not return to Herod, and they departed into their own Countrey another way.</HI></P>
<P>Fourthly, The dread of the Mighty, even of King <HI>Herod</HI> and all <HI>Jeru&s;alem with him,</HI> for it is &s;aid, <HI>When Herod the King heard the&s;e things (viz:</HI> of one born King of the
<PB N="38" REF="27"> <HI>Jews,</HI> and of per&s;ons come to wor&s;hip him) <HI>he was troubled, terrified,</HI> yea, <HI>he &s;haked with fear, (Mat.</HI> 2.3.) &s;o that Chri&s;t was a <HI>Mighty One</HI> in his Birth.</P>
<P>Eighthly, Chri&s;t is a <HI>Mighty One</HI> in his De&s;cent, even after the fle&s;h.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In re&s;pect of his &s;tock in general, for he was de&s;cended of the Patriarchs, he was of the &s;tock of <HI>Abraham,</HI> that Mighty One; the <HI>Jews</HI> counted it a great priviledge above what the <HI>Gentiles</HI> had, <HI>That they had Abraham to their Father,</HI> that they were of his &s;tock, branches of that root, Chri&s;t was al&s;o a &s;on of <HI>Abraham.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, In re&s;pect of his Tribe out of which he &s;prang, <HI>Judah;</HI> for it is evident that our Lord &s;prang out of <HI>Judah,</HI> and it is as evident al&s;o, that <HI>Judah</HI> was the mightie&s;t Tribe, both according to <HI>Jacobs,</HI> and <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> ble&s;&s;ing of him, <HI>Gen:</HI> 49.8. <HI>Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren &s;hall prai&s;e, thine hand &s;hall be in the neck of thine enemies, thy fathers chil|dren &s;hall bow before thee, Judah is a Lyons whelp,</HI> &amp;c. Deut. 33.7. <HI>Let his hands be &s;uf|ficient for him, and be thou an help to him from his e<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">emies. Judah</HI> was Standard-bearer in the foremo&s;t Quarter as the children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> encamped about the Tabernacle, <HI>Numb:</HI> 2.3. And <HI>Judah's</HI> Standard (Lyon-like) mar|ched in the fir&s;t place, as they marched to|wards
<PB N="39" REF="27"> the Land of <HI>Canaan, Numb:</HI> 10.13, 14. and of this mighty Tribe was Chri&s;t, yea, he was the <HI>Mighty One</HI> of this Tribe, <HI>The Ly|on of the Tribe of Judah,</HI> Rev: 5.5.</P>
<P>Further, <HI>Judah</HI> was the Royal Tribe, the Royalty of a Kingdome appertained to it, Gen: 49.10. <HI>The Scepter &s;hall not depart from Judah,</HI> &amp;c. The Kings and Rulers de&s;cen|ded from thence; and this &s;peaks the migh|tine&s;&s;e and exeellency of Chri&s;t, that he was of this Tribe, hence Mr. <HI>Perkins</HI> &s;aith, <HI>That Chri&s;t was the mo&s;t excellent and notable One that ever was, de&s;cending of the eternall Father, as he is the Son of God, and as he is man de&s;cending of the Patriarchs, and of the renowned Kings of Judah.</HI> And it is &s;toried that it remaineth regi&s;tred in the <HI>Jews</HI> Talmud it &s;elf, <HI>That Je&s;us of Nazareth crucified, was of the blood-royal from Zorobabel of the hou&s;e of David;</HI> &s;o that he is a <HI>Mighty One</HI> in his De&s;cent.</P>
<P>Ninthly, Mighty in his Name; <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> pro|phecying of him, &s;aith, Ch. 9.6. <HI>His Name &s;hall be called Wonderful, Councellour, the Mighty God, the Everla&s;ting Father, the Prince of Peace, Je&s;us, for he &s;hall &s;ave his people from their &s;ins, Immanuel, the Word of God;</HI> his name &s;peak forth his excellency and might, not that there is any might and virtue in the bare name it &s;elfe, as con&s;i&s;ting of &s;o many let|ters, as &s;ome have fondly conceited, that
<PB N="40" REF="28"> the bare name of Chri&s;t u&s;ed, had power to drive away the Devil, and that the name of Chri&s;t written and carried about with them, was of efficacy to keep them from danger, but his name declare his nature, for as his name is, &s;o is he; it is not with Chri&s;t in this re&s;pect as with &s;ome who had names contrary to their natures, and di&s;|po&s;itions to hide their weakne&s;&s;es, and wic|kedne&s;&s;es, as the <HI>Impius</HI> named <HI>Pius;</HI> the <HI>Coward, Leo;</HI> the <HI>Cruel, Clemens;</HI> the <HI>Oppre&s;|&s;or, Innocentius,</HI> the Earthly-minded, <HI>Cele&s;ti|nus.</HI></P>
<P>Tenthly, Mighty in his Titles, I &s;hall name a few; <HI>The Captain of Salvation, Ruler in I&s;rael, The Con&s;olation of I&s;rael, The Horn of Salvation, The Deliverer, The Power and wi&s;|dom of God, The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, Lord, The Lord frequently.</HI> It is divers hundred times &s;imply and ab&s;olutely a&s;cribed unto Chri&s;t, <HI>The Lord of the Harve&s;t, The Lord of the Vine|yard, The Lord of the Sabbath, The Lord our Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, The Lord of Life, The Lord of Glory, Lord of Lords, King of Kings.</HI></P>
<P>Eleventhly, He was a <HI>Mighty One</HI> in his Pre&s;entation, which though in it &s;elf, it was but for his Parents to do for him after the cu&s;tom of the Law, in which re&s;pect he was but as others, yet that two &s;uch emi|nent per&s;ons, both of &s;ingular &s;anctity
<PB N="41" REF="28"> among the <HI>Jews,</HI> &s;hould (by the &s;pecial dire|ction of the Spirit) come into the Temple at that time when Je&s;us was there in his mothers arms, and acknowledge, and de|clare him publickly, with great affection and thank&s;giving to be the Me&s;&s;ias and Sa|viour of the world, doth &s;peak him to be &s;ome <HI>Mighty One,</HI> Luke 2. from the 22. to the 40. <HI>ver&s;.</HI></P>
<P>Twelfthly, Mighty in his Bapti&s;me, which though in it &s;elf, it was but ordinary, with water by <HI>John</HI> in <HI>Jordan,</HI> both as, and where others were, and by him al&s;o by whom others were baptized, yet it was at|tended with three wonders; <HI>For &s;traightway coming up out of the waters, the Heavens were opened unto him, and the Spirit of God de&s;cended like a Dove and lighted upon him, and there came a voice from Heaven, &s;aying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-plea&s;ed, Matth.</HI> 3.16, 17.</P>
<P>Thirteenthly, Mighty in his fa&s;ting, &s;o mighty that he fa&s;ted forty dayes and for|ty nights, <HI>Matth.</HI> 4.2. And it was not a partial, but a total ab&s;tinence from natural food, for in tho&s;e dayes he did eat nothing, <HI>Luke</HI> 4.2. Neither was he hungry all that time (for &s;o much is nece&s;&s;arily implyed, Matt. 4.2. <HI>When he had fa&s;ted forty dayes and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.</HI> And
<PB N="42" REF="29"> <HI>Luke</HI> (having &s;poken of the forty dayes, the time of his fa&s;t) &s;aith, <HI>When they were ended, he afterward hungred. Mo&s;es</HI> indeed fa&s;ted the &s;ame &s;pace of time, but there was this con|&s;iderable difference between Chri&s;t and <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> in this re&s;pect: <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> fa&s;ted on the Mount, where he was eminently a&s;&s;i&s;ted, and &s;atisfied by his be&s;t and greate&s;t friend, The Lord, <HI>Exod:</HI> 34.28. Chri&s;t in the Wilderne&s;&s;e where he was violently a&s;&s;aul|ted, and troubled by his wor&s;t and migh|tie&s;t adver&s;ary the Devil, <HI>Matth.</HI> 4.1, 2. This is enough to manife&s;t his mightine&s;&s;e in this particular.</P>
<P>Fourteenthly, Mighty in his Tran&s;fi|guration, which was a glimp&s;e of his Glo|ry, he was transfigured before the Di&s;ci|ples, <HI>And his face did &s;hine as the Sun, and his rayment was white as the light;</HI> &s;o exceedingly glorious was he, <HI>Peter</HI> was &s;o affected with it, as he de&s;ired the continuance of it, he &s;aid unto Je&s;us, <HI>Lord it is good for us to be here, if thou wilt let us make here three Tabernacles,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>Math.</HI> 17.2, 3, 4, 5.</P>
<P>Fifteenthly, Mighty in the Te&s;timony which is given of him.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The Te&s;timony of him&s;elf, <HI>I am one that bear witne&s;&s;e of my &s;elf,</HI> John 8.18. And he did te&s;tifie of him&s;elf, that he was a <HI>mighty One, That he was the &s;on of God, Greater
<PB N="43" REF="29"> than the Temple, greater than Solomon, That he had overcome the world, That if a man had kept his &s;aying, he &s;hould never &s;ee death,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>and his own te&s;timony is true.</HI> But fora&s;much as <HI>Solo|mon</HI> &s;aith, <HI>Prov:</HI> 27.2. <HI>Let another man prai&s;e thee, and not thine own mouth, a &s;tranger, and not thine own lips.</HI> I &s;hall con&s;ider chiefly what others witne&s;&s;e of him.</P>
<P>Secondly. The Te&s;timony of the Father who &s;ent him, bare witne&s;&s;e of him, The Fa|ther hath te&s;tified from Heaven that he is his beloved Son, <HI>Matth.</HI> 3.17. <HI>Lo a voice from Heaven, &s;aying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well plea&s;ed.</HI> The Authour to the <HI>Hebrews</HI> noteth, that when God bringeth in the fir&s;t begotten into the world, he &s;aith, <HI>And let all the Angels of God wor&s;hip him, &V;nto the Son</HI> (&s;aith he) <HI>Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever, Heb.</HI> 1, 6, 8. The Father te|&s;tifie of him as of a <HI>mighty One.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, The Te&s;timony of the Spirit, I &s;hall in&s;tance only in that to <HI>John</HI> by Vi&s;i|on, <HI>Rev:</HI> 1.12, 13, 14, 15, 16. <HI>I &s;aw &s;eaven golden Candle&s;ticks, and in the mid&s;t of the &s;even Candle&s;ticks one like unto the Son of man, cloathed with a Garment down to the foot, and girt about the Paps with a Golden Girdle, his head and his hairs were white like Wool, as white as Snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, and his feet like unto fine bra&s;&s;e, as if they burned in a Fur|nace,
<PB N="44" REF="30"> and his voice as the &s;ound of many waters. And he had in his right hand &s;even Stars, and out of his mouth went a &s;harp two edged &s;word, and his Countenance was as the Sun &s;hineth in his &s;trength,</HI> This was a Vi&s;ion of the Son of God, The <HI>mighty One.</HI></P>
<P>And according to this Vi&s;ion are tho&s;e &s;even Titles of Chri&s;t, given to him by the Spirit, mentioned in the 2^d. and 3^d. Chap|ters of the <HI>Revelation.</HI></P>
<P><HI>The&s;e things &s;aith he that holdeth the &s;even Stars in his right hand, who walketh in the mid&s;t of the &s;even Golden Candle&s;ticks,</HI> Rev: 2.1.</P>
<P><HI>The fir&s;t and the la&s;t, which was dead, and is alive,</HI> ver&s;. 8.</P>
<P><HI>Who hath the &s;harp Sword with two edges,</HI> ver&s;. 12.</P>
<P><HI>The Son of God who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine Bra&s;&s;e,</HI> ver&s;. 18.</P>
<P><HI>That hath the &s;even Spirits of God, and the &s;eaven Stars,</HI> Rev. 3.1.</P>
<P><HI>That is holy, that is true, that hath the Key of David, he that openeth, and no man &s;hutteth, and &s;hutteth, and no man openeth,</HI> ver&s;. 7.</P>
<P><HI>The Amen, the faithfull and true Witne&s;&s;e, the Beginning of the Creation of God,</HI> ver&s;. 14. All which &s;peak forth the mightine&s;s of Chri&s;t</P>
<P>Fourthly, The Te&s;timony of faithfull men, as the Te&s;timony of the Prophets, of
<PB N="45" REF="30"> <HI>John</HI> who was a man &s;ent from God on purpo&s;e to beare witne&s;s of him; who&s;e te|&s;timony of him is recorded, <HI>John</HI> 1.15.32, 33, 34. The te&s;timony of the foure Evan|geli&s;ts, as al&s;o of the Apo&s;tles, who have all &s;poken of him, as of a Mighty One; And it were ea&s;ie (if needfull) to add the Te&s;ti|mony of other Ancient Writers, of Gene|rall Councels, of holy Martyrs, and many eminent Confe&s;&s;ors of Chri&s;t, who do agree in their Te&s;timony with tho&s;e fore-men|tioned.</P>
<P>Fifthly, The Te&s;timony of Angels, tho&s;e glorious Creatures did te&s;tifie of him, as of a Mighty One, &s;o they te&s;tified of him.</P>
<P>To <HI>Jo&s;eph,</HI> Math. 1.20, 21. <HI>While he thought on the&s;e things, the Angel of the Lord ap|peared unto him in a dreame, &s;aying, Jo&s;eph, thou &s;on of David, feare not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Gho&s;t. And &s;hee &s;hall bring forth a &s;on, and thou &s;halt call his Name</HI> Je&s;us; for he &s;hall &s;ave his people from their &s;innes.</P>
<P>To <HI>Mary,</HI> Luke 1.30, 31, 32, 33. <HI>The Angel &s;aid unto her, feare not, Mary, for thou ha&s;t found favour with God; And behold, thou &s;halt conceive in thy wombe, and bring forth a &s;on, and &s;halt call his Name</HI> Je&s;us, he &s;hall be great, and &s;hall be called the Son of the Highe&s;t, and the Lord God &s;hall give unto him the
<PB N="46" REF="31"> throne of his father David, and he &s;hall reigne over the hou&s;e of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdome there &s;hall be no end.</P>
<P>To the Shepheards, <HI>Luke</HI> 2.10, 11. <HI>The Angel &s;aid unto them, feare not; for behold, I bring you good tydings of Great joy which &s;hall be to all people; for unto you is borne this day, in the City of David,</HI> A Saviour which is Chri&s;t the Lord.</P>
<P>Sixthly, The te&s;timony of Enemies, and the te&s;timony of Adver&s;aries, is of greate&s;t validity.</P>
<P>The <HI>Jews</HI> them&s;elves te&s;tified that he was a Mighty One, <HI>Joh.</HI> 11.47, 48. <HI>The chiefe Prie&s;ts, and the Phari&s;ees gathered a Councel, and &s;aid, What do we? for this man doth many miracles; If we let him thus alone, all men will beleeve on him;</HI> &s;o likewi&s;e, <HI>John</HI> 12.19. <HI>The Phari&s;ees &s;aid among them&s;elves; Perceive ye, how ye prevaile nothing; behold the world is gone after him. Jo&s;ephus</HI> the <HI>Jew,</HI> who was borne not long after Chri&s;t, writeth; <HI>There was at this time One Je&s;us a wi&s;e man, if it be lawfull to call him a Man, a worker of mo&s;t wonderfull mi|racles, and a Ma&s;ter, and Teacher of all &s;uch men as are willingly content to embrace the truth.</HI> Yea the <HI>Jews</HI> do grant, and record Chri&s;ts miracles, and make mention of many won|derfull workes which Je&s;us did that are not written by our Evangeli&s;ts; As the Au|thour
<PB N="47" REF="31"> of the book call'd <HI>Proofes of Chri&s;tia|nity,</HI> ob&s;erveth.</P>
<P>The very <HI>Turkes</HI> give this te&s;timony of him, <HI>That he was a great Prophet, Mighty in word, and deed; and that the Jews did evill in crucifying of him.</HI></P>
<P>Yea the Devils them&s;elves confe&s;&s;ed, and acknowledg'd him to be a Mighty One; For they came out of many, crying out, &s;aying, <HI>Thou art Chri&s;t, the Son of God,</HI> Luk. 4.41. So <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 33, 34. <HI>A man which had a &s;pirit of an uncleane Devil, cryed out with a lowd voice, &s;ay|ing, Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, Thou Je&s;us of Nazareth? art thou come to de|&s;troy us? I know thee who thou art, The holy One of God.</HI></P>
<P>Sixteenthly, Mighty in &s;ame, he is of Great fame; In the dayes of his fle&s;h as &s;oone as ever he began to preach, and work miracles, his fame went thorowout all <HI>Sy|ria;</HI> In what Land, or Country &s;oever he was, his fame &s;pread abroad in all that Country; his fame was not onely &s;pread thorowout all the Land of <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> but al&s;o into many other Nations of the world, by the Preaching of the Apo&s;tles; for he &s;ent them into all Nations, into all the world, <HI>Math.</HI> 28.19. <HI>Mark</HI> 16.15. (Repentance, and rem&s;&s;ion of &s;in being to be preached in his Name among all Nations, beginning at
<PB N="48" REF="32"> <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI>) and they accordingly went, and made him knowne where ever they came, and the word of the Lord mightily prevai|led, and his fame hath &s;pread abroad ever &s;ince; It hath of late &s;pread in <HI>New-Eng|land,</HI> and other parts, &s;o that his Name is Great in the world, his fame is gone into all Lands, even the fame of him as of a Savi|our, a deliverer, a Mighty One.</P>
<P>Seventeenthly, Mighty in his Atten|dance; Not onely men, Di&s;ciples, but the Angels al&s;o mini&s;tred unto him; The An|gels declared his Conception, and birth, and attended him; when borne, an Angel ap|peared to direct <HI>Jo&s;eph,</HI> for his pre&s;ervation, <HI>Math.</HI> 2.13. <HI>Saying ari&s;e, and take the young child, and his mother and flee into Egypt,</HI> &amp;c. When he had been tempted of the Devil, Angels came and mini&s;tred unto him, <HI>Math.</HI> 4.11. When he was in his &s;ufferings, there appeared an Angel unto him from heaven &s;trengthening him, <HI>Luk.</HI> 22.43. At his Re|&s;urrection an Angel from heaven came, and rolled back the &s;tone from the doore of the Sepulchre, and &s;ate upon it, and declared his Re&s;urrection to the Women, <HI>Math.</HI> 28.2, 5, 6. Yea two Angels in white &s;ate, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Je&s;us had layen, <HI>John</HI> 20.12. When he a&s;cended two Angels attended
<PB N="49" REF="32"> him, <HI>Act.</HI> 1.10. When he &s;hall come a|gaine, he &s;hall come attended with his Mighty Angels, 2 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 1.7. For he &s;hall come in his Glory, and all the holy Angels with him, <HI>Math.</HI> 25.31. And when he &s;hall &s;it upon the throne of his glory, thou&s;and thou&s;ands &s;hall mini&s;ter unto him, and ten thou&s;and times ten thou&s;and, and thou&s;ands of thou&s;ands &s;tand before him, <HI>Dan.</HI> 7.10. <HI>Rev.</HI> 5.11.</P>
<P>Eighteenthly, A Mighty One in holine&s;s, and righteou&s;ne&s;s, &s;o holy, as he is called, by way of eminency, <HI>The holy One,</HI> Act. 3.14. The holy one of God, <HI>Luke</HI> 4.34. None &s;o holy as he; &s;o righteous, as he is called al&s;o <HI>the righteous,</HI> 1 Joh. 2.1. <HI>The ju&s;t, Act.</HI> 3.14. Righteous before God; The Lord calls him his <HI>Righteous &s;ervant,</HI> I&s;a. 53.11. Righteous al&s;o before men, even Ene|mies; <HI>Pilate</HI> who condemned him, did a little before pronounce him a Ju&s;t per&s;on, <HI>Math.</HI> 27.24. he took water, and wa&s;hed his hands before the multitude, &s;aying, I am innocent of the blood of <HI>this Ju&s;t per&s;on;</HI> And <HI>Judas</HI> who betrayed him, cleared Chri&s;t, and accu&s;ed him&s;elfe, &s;aying, I have &s;inned in that I have betrayed <HI>the innocent blood,</HI> Math. 27.4.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<PB N="50" REF="33">
<HEAD>His mightine&s;s, and eminency in holine&s;s, and righteou&s;ne&s;s doth appeare.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, Generally, in his obedience to the will of God, he &s;aid he came downe from heaven, not to do his own will, but the will of him that &s;ent him, <HI>Joh.</HI> 6.38. and ac|cordingly he made that his great bu&s;ine&s;s, and de&s;igne, while he was on earth, his mightine&s;s therein may be &s;eene.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the univer&s;ality of it, he did what&s;oever his Father required, and left no|thing of his will undone, he kept the whole Law, and offended not in One point, he did not onely the ea&s;ie&s;t, and plea&s;ant, but al&s;o the harde&s;t, and mo&s;t grievous part of his fathers will; when his &s;oul was exceeding &s;orrowfull even unto death, he prayed not &s;o much for the removing of that Cup, as that his fathers will might be done, <HI>Math.</HI> 26.39, 42. Hence that of the Apo&s;tle, <HI>Phil.</HI> 2.8. <HI>He became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cro&s;&s;e.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, In the exactne&s;s, and perfecti|on of it; he kept the whole Law exactly, as he was not wanting in the matter, &s;o he did not faile in the manner of performing his fathers will; there was no defects, no|thing lacking in his obedience, he did all things well; what we are pre&s;&s;ing towards,
<PB N="51" REF="33"> and reaching forth unto, he attained, he was perfect in every good worke, and &s;tood compleate in the whole will of his father, and hence it is that it is recorded of him, <HI>that he was without &s;in, knew no &s;in, did no &s;in;</HI> which could not be, if he had failed in any thing.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the Con&s;tancy of it; Chri&s;t did not obey by fits but con&s;tantly; 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 di&s;coura|ged, yea when per&s;ecution and tribulation did ari&s;e again&s;t him becau&s;e of his doing the will of his father, he was not offended; but did alwayes do the things which plea|&s;ed his father, as he told the Jews, <HI>Joh.</HI> 8.29. all which &s;peakes forth his might.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In his delight in it, his obedi|ence was without murmuring, or grudging, it was with delight; <HI>for the Law of God was within his heart,</HI> as he &s;pake, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 40.8. <HI>I de|light to do thy will, O my God;</HI> his fathers com|mandements were not grievous to him; he profe&s;&s;ed to his Di&s;ciples, <HI>That it was his Meat to do the will of him that &s;ent him, and to fini&s;h his worke,</HI> Joh. 4.34.</P>
<P>Fifthly, In the efficacy, and vertue of it, his Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e doth not returne to him
<PB N="52" REF="34"> void, but it doth accompli&s;h that which he plea&s;e, and pro&s;per in the thing whereto he ordaines it, and that is the making others righteous; according to that of the Apo|&s;tle, <HI>Rom.</HI> 5.19. <HI>For as by one mans di&s;obedi|ence many were made &s;inners, &s;o by the obedience of one, &s;hall many be</HI> made Righteous; <HI>God made him to be &s;in for us, who knew no &s;in, that we might be made the Righteou&s;ne&s;s of God in him,</HI> 2 Cor. 5.21. And accordingly we are; <HI>for of God he is made</HI> unto us Righte|ou&s;ne&s;s; Now &s;urely he is Mighty in obe|dience, who&s;e obedience effect the Righte|ou&s;ne&s;s of others.</P>
<P>Secondly, Particularly in the Graces of the Spirit which were in him.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In his Faith; for he, as well as we, had faith, and that a greater, and &s;tronger than ours; for he was &s;o &s;trong, and migh|ty in faith, as that he &s;tagger'd not at any of the promi&s;es of his father through unbe|liefe; other mighty ones in faith, &s;ometimes feared, as <HI>Jacob, David</HI> &amp;c. but Chri&s;ts faith was perfect, he was never afraid of any ttouble, or any per&s;ecutors, he knew on whom he had beleeved, he knew his father would uphold, and reward him; his confi|dence in his father is prophetically &s;poken of by <HI>I&s;aiah,</HI> Chap. 50.6, 7, 8, 9. <HI>I gave my back to the &s;miters, and my cheekes to them that
<PB N="53" REF="34"> pluckt off the haire; I hid not my face from &s;hame, and &s;pitting, for the Lord God will help me, there|fore &s;hall I not be confounded; therefore have I &s;et my face like a flint, and I know that I &s;hall not be a&s;hamed,</HI> &amp;c. And he expre&s;&s;ed as much at the rai&s;ing of <HI>Lazarus; Father I thanke thee that thou ha&s;t heard me, and I know that thou heare&s;t me alwayes;</HI> he was mighty and &s;trong in faith.</P>
<P>Secondly, His love, he was and is migh|ty in that grace, which I &s;hall illu&s;trate in particulars.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the nature of it, it is above or|dinary common love, above the love of one friend to another; of a father to his child, of an husband to his wife, or of a man to his own &s;elf; it is &s;uch a love wherewith the father hath loved him, <HI>Joh.</HI> 15.9. He tells his Di&s;ciples, <HI>As the father hath loved me, &s;o have I loved you;</HI> which words do not only hold forth the truth, but the excellency of his love towards them, it being tran&s;cen|dent, infinite love, without mea&s;ure, above Geometrie, above all arts, and parts of men; the Apo&s;tle tells the Saints at <HI>Ephe&s;us, that it pa&s;&s;eth knowledge,</HI> Eph. 3.19.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the objects of it, not his friends as loving him any thing, though his friends as loved by him, not Saints, or any excellent lovely ones, but &s;inners, enemies,
<PB N="54" REF="35"> and he is a Mighty one that can love Ene|mies; fle&s;h and blood cannot do this; <HI>Paul</HI> &s;ets forth the greatne&s;s of the love of Chri&s;t by the objects of it, <HI>Rom.</HI> 5.6, 7, 8. <HI>When we were yet without &s;trength, in due time Chri&s;t died for the ungodly, for &s;carcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man &s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">me would even dare to die; but God commended his love towards us, in that while we were yet &s;in|ners, Chri&s;t died for us;</HI> he was &s;o mighty in his love, that he loved his greate&s;t, mightie&s;t enemies, even tho&s;e that took away his life, yea when they were taking it away, at that in&s;tant, when it was doing, when he did hang on the cro&s;&s;e, when they were in the heate of their malice, and hatred again&s;t him, he pray'd for the choice&s;t ble&s;&s;ing for them, <HI>Luke</HI> 23.34. <HI>Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, In the vertue, and operation of it, it did produce wonderfull effects, it car|ried him out.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, To the lowe&s;t Condition, love brought him from heaven to earth, from the highe&s;t to the lowe&s;t e&s;tate, from the throne to the dunghil; Though he was Lord over all, yet love made him a &s;ervant to all, and that is the lowe&s;t condition to be a &s;ervant; this the Apo&s;tle mentions, as the infinite conde&s;cention of Chri&s;t, <HI>Phil.</HI> 2.7.
<PB N="55" REF="35"> And this him&s;elfe minded his Di&s;ciples of, <HI>that he the Son of man came not to be mini&s;tred unto, but to mini&s;ter,</HI> Math. 20.28. <HI>I am among you as he that &s;erveth,</HI> Luk. 22.27.</P>
<P>Secondly, To the meane&s;t &s;ervices, who though he was the mo&s;t Mighty One, yet &s;o great was his love, as that he did not onely conde&s;cend to men of low e&s;tate, but to the lowe&s;t, meane&s;t &s;ervices for them, <HI>John</HI> 13. from the fir&s;t to the &s;eventeenth ver&s;e is a full te&s;timony of his love in this re&s;pect; that he, their Lord, and Ma&s;ter, &s;hould wa&s;h his Di&s;ciples feet.</P>
<P>Thirdly, To the Greate&s;t &s;ufferings, both in life, and death; his life was a life of &s;orrow and trouble, and his death was a a death of great paine, and ignominy, the cur&s;ed death of the Cro&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Fourthly, To the large&s;t communicati|ons, he hath witne&s;&s;ed the greatne&s;s of his love by the largene&s;s of his gifts; he hath given him&s;elfe, This the Apo&s;tle mentions as the evidence of the Greatne&s;s, and excel|lency of his love to the Church, <HI>Eph.</HI> 5.2, 25. that he loved the Church, and gave him&s;elfe for it, and not only him&s;elfe to die for it, but now that he liveth, he communi|cateth freely to it of all &s;pirituall ble&s;&s;ings; for what&s;oever he hath heard, or received of his father, that he imparts to his friends.</P>
<PB N="56" REF="36">
<P>Fourthly, In the duration of it, it is for ever, he abides in his love towards them, notwith&s;tanding all their unkindne&s;&s;es, its immutable, no length of time, nor di&s;tance of place, can worke any alteration in his love, the injuries that we do to Chri&s;t, al|though they have their fruit in di&s;comfort, and occa&s;ion the &s;u&s;pen&s;ion of the manife|&s;tation of his love for a &s;ea&s;on, (which is a burden very grievous to be borne by a gra|cious &s;oule) yet the&s;e do not remove his love to his; yea though <HI>he vi&s;it their tran&s;gre&s;|&s;ions with the rod, and their iniquity with &s;tripes, yet his loving kindne&s;s &s;hall continue with them;</HI> in a word, it is <HI>Everla&s;ting love,</HI> Jer. 31.3.</P>
<P>Thirdly, His &s;elf-deniall, he was migh|ty in that, he was higher, and greater then any, then all, he had more then all others, and yet he for&s;ooke all for others, he emp|tied him&s;elfe of all, never any &s;o high, and never any &s;o low, never any &s;o rich, and never any &s;o poor as he; never any &s;o glo|rious, and never any counted &s;o vile; and this not by con&s;traint, but willingly; for as the Apo&s;tle, <HI>Phil.</HI> 2. ob&s;erves, he made him|&s;elfe &s;o, yea when worldly honour was of|fered him, (for the people would have made him a King, <HI>Joh.</HI> 6.15.) he refu&s;ed it; this was great &s;elf-denial; to lay a&s;ide a crowne when he had it, and to refu&s;e it when it was
<PB N="57" REF="36"> offered, &s;peakes him one Mighty in this Grace.</P>
<P>Fourthly, His patience; he had greate&s;t patience in greate&s;t &s;ufferings, others were not &s;o patient in le&s;&s;er &s;ufferings, as he was in greate&s;t; The Prophet <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> &s;ets him forth in his great &s;ufferings, and withall de|clares his incomparable patience, <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> 53. which he u&s;hers in with a yet&mdash;<HI>yet he opened not his mouth, he is brought as a Lamb to the &s;laughter, and as a &s;heep before her &s;hearers is dumb, &s;o he openeth not his mouth; when he was reviled, reviled not againe, when he &s;uffered, he threatned not;</HI> patience was perfect in him; <HI>he was &s;trengthened with all might unto All pati|ence, and long &s;uffering with joyfulne&s;s;</HI> yea the patience of Chri&s;t in his mo&s;t grievous &s;uf|ferings was &s;o ab&s;olute, that in all that his enemies tongues, and hands could &s;ay, or do, this Servant of God did not &s;in, &s;o much as in word, but offered the &s;acrifice of prayer and &s;upplications with the &s;acrifice of him|&s;elfe for his per&s;ecutors, he was Mighty in this Grace.</P>
<P>Fifthly, His zeale; he was earne&s;t, and fervent in Spirit again&s;t all evil, and for that which was good, <HI>he did cry aloud, he &s;pared not, but lifted up his voice like a Trumpet, and &s;hewed the people their tran&s;gre&s;&s;ion;</HI> he was full of zeale again&s;t the &s;ins of the Scribes, and
<PB N="58" REF="37"> Phari&s;ees, freely denouncing woes again&s;t them, <HI>Math.</HI> 23. He was full of zeale a|gain&s;t the prophanation, and prophaners of the Temple, <HI>he overthrew the money-changers, and the &s;eats of them that &s;old doves,</HI> and would not &s;uffer that any man &s;hould carry any ve&s;&s;ell thorow the Temple, <HI>Mark</HI> 11.15, 16. <HI>Yea be made a &s;courge of &s;mall coards, and he drove them all out of the Temple, and &s;aid to them that &s;old doves, take the&s;e things hence, make not my fathers hou&s;e an hou&s;e of Merchandize; And his Di&s;ciples remembred that it was writ|ten, The zeale of thine hou&s;e hath e<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ten me up.</HI></P>
<P>Sixthly, His wi&s;dome, and under&s;tand|ing; he was of quick, and great under&s;tand|ing, when he was but twelve yeares old, all that heard him, que&s;tioning, and an&s;wering the Doctors, were a&s;toni&s;hed at his under|&s;tanding, and An&s;wers, <HI>Luk.</HI> 2.47. He was wi&s;er than all his Enemies, they could ne|ver entangle him in his talke; when he an|&s;wered to any thing, it was with &s;uch wi&s;|dome, as they dur&s;t not ask him any more Que&s;tions, and no man was able to an&s;wer him; he was of &s;o great under&s;tanding that he knew all m<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">n, <HI>and needed not that any &s;hould te&s;tifie of man; for he knew what was in man, Joh.</HI> 2.24, 25. <HI>Yea he knew their very thoughts, Math.</HI> 12.25. <HI>Luke</HI> 6.8. He had (as the School-men &s;peak) both <HI>Cognitionem matu|tinam,
<PB N="59" REF="37"> &amp; ver&s;pertinam,</HI> both a morning, and evening knowledge, he knew things in their Cau&s;es, as well as in their natures and ef|fects.</P>
<P>Seventhly, His faithfulne&s;s was great, without the lea&s;t leaven of hypocri&s;ie, there was no guile found in his mouth, neither was there any in his Spirit; he was faithfull to his father, he did his work, and glorified his Name on Earth; was faithfull to his Di&s;ciples, he made knowne unto them all things that he had heard of his father, <HI>Joh.</HI> 15.15. He acquainted them with &s;ufferings as well as the Glory that &s;hould follow; he reproved them for their evils, as well as comforted them in their troubles; he was faithfull to all, doing good unto all men, as he had opportunity.</P>
<P>Nineteenthly, A mighty one in his works, he was mighty in deed, excellent in work|ing; his works (as him&s;elfe &s;aid) did beare witne&s;s of him, that he was &s;ome mighty one &s;ent from God, he hath declared his &s;trength among the people.</P>
<P><HI>His works were of two &s;orts.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Spirituall, and heavenly, relating to the &s;ouls and &s;pirits of men.</P>
<P>Secondly, More externall, and vi&s;ible, relating to the bodies of men, and others,
<PB N="60" REF="38"> and he was mighty in hoth &s;orts.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>His works relating to the &s;oules of men were chiefly.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, His preaching and teaching, in which he was mighty, even in his fir&s;t Ser|mon on the Mount; <HI>The people were a&s;toni&s;hed at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having Authority, and not as the Scribes,</HI> Math. 7.28, 29. <HI>Being in Galilee, he taught in their Syna|gogues, being Glorified of all; He came to Na|zareth, and taught, and all bare him witne&s;s, and wondered at the Gracious words which pro|ceeded out of his mouth; he came downe to Ca|pernaum, and taught, and they were a&s;toni&s;hed at his doctrine: for his word was with power;</HI> &s;ee <HI>Luke</HI> 4.14, 15, 16, 22, 31, 32. To the&s;e may be added the Officers an&s;wer to the chiefe Prie&s;ts and Phari&s;ees, when they &s;aid unto them; <HI>Why have you not brought him? Never man &s;pake like this man,</HI> Joh. 7.45, 46. <HI>Neither did the word of Chri&s;t returne unto him void, but did exceedingly pro&s;per in the thing whereto it was &s;ent, many beleeved on him,</HI> Joh. 4.41. <HI>Joh.</HI> 7.31. <HI>&amp;</HI> 8.30. <HI>&amp;</HI> 10.42. <HI>&amp;</HI> 12.42.</P>
<P>Secondly, His Praying, having re|ceived the &s;pirit of Grace and Supplication without mea&s;ure, he mu&s;t needs be mighty in prayer, and &s;o he was, <HI>In the dayes of his
<PB N="61" REF="38"> fle&s;h he offered up prayers and &s;upplications with &s;trong crying and tears, Heb:</HI> 5.7. Sometimes he prayed long, <HI>Luke</HI> 6.12. He continued all night in prayer to God, &s;ometimes he prayed more earne&s;tly, <HI>Luke</HI> 22.44. and al|wayes &s;ucce&s;&s;efully; <HI>For as a Mighty Prince he had power with God, and ever prevailed.</HI> God made him a King, &amp; then bid him ask, <HI>P&s;.</HI> 2.6, 7, 8. and indeed he prayed like a King, like a <HI>mighty One,</HI> as one in joynt Commi&s;|&s;ion with his Father (as one hath well ob|&s;erved) <HI>John</HI> 17.24. <HI>Father, I will that they al&s;o whom thou ha&s;t given me, be with me where I am.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, His Baptizing, <HI>John,</HI> and Chri&s;ts Di&s;ciples could but Baptize with water in his name, he the ma&s;ter only was, and is mighty to baptize with the holy Spirit. This was that great and wonderfull thing which was made known to <HI>John,</HI> that Chri&s;t &s;hould do, which he was to ob&s;erve as that wherein Chri&s;t excelleth all others, as is manife&s;t in the record of <HI>John; John</HI> 1.32, 33. <HI>John bear record, &s;aying, I &s;aw the Spirit de&s;cending from Heaven like a Dove, and it abode upon him, and I knew him not, but he that &s;ent me to baptize with water, the &s;ame &s;aid unto me, upon whom thou &s;halt &s;ee the Spirit de&s;cending, and re|maining on him, the &s;ame is he which baptizeth with the Holy Spirit;</HI> and upon this account <HI>John</HI> preferred him before him&s;elfe, Mat. 3.
<PB N="62" REF="39"> 11. <HI>I indeed baptize you with water unto repen|tance, but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, who&s;e &s;hoes I am not worthy to bear, he &s;hall baptize you with the Holy Gho&s;t, and with fire.</HI> He plainly declared him to be a <HI>mighty one</HI> in this re&s;pect. This was that which he promi&s;ed, and accordingly accompli&s;hed to, and upon his Di&s;ciples, to the a&s;toni&s;h|ment and amazement of all, <HI>Acts</HI> 1.5. with <HI>Acts</HI> 2. from 1. to 13. <HI>ver&s;.</HI></P>
<P>Fourthly, His conference; he had many conferences with very acute and &s;ubtil ad|ver&s;aries, and he overcame them all, with the chief Prie&s;ts and the Elders, <HI>Math.</HI> 21. <HI>They could not an&s;wer him,</HI> ver&s;. 27. with the Di&s;ciples which the Phari&s;ees &s;ent unto him with the <HI>Herodians,</HI> after they had taken council how they might intangle him in his talk; the i&s;&s;ue was, when they had heard his an&s;wer to their &s;ubtil Que&s;tion, they marvelled and left him, and went their way, <HI>Matth:</HI> 22.22. The &s;ame day the Sadduces came and put a Que&s;tion to him, and when the multitude heard his an&s;wer, they were a&s;toni&s;hed at his Doctrine, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 33. The Phari&s;ees hearing that he had put the Sadduces to &s;ilence, gathered together, and one of them which was a Lawyer, as|ked him a que&s;tion, which he an&s;wered, and when the Phari&s;ees were gathered toge|ther
<PB N="63" REF="39"> he asked them a que&s;tion, and no man was able to an&s;wer him a word, neither dur&s;t any man (from that day forth) ask him any more que&s;tions, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 34. to the end of the <HI>Chap:</HI> The Ruler of the Syna|gogue fell upon him with great indignation becau&s;e of his healing on the Sabbath day, whom when he had an&s;wered, all his ad|ver&s;aries were a&s;hamed, and all the people rejoyced for all the glorious things that were done by him, <HI>Luke</HI> 13, 15, <HI>ad</HI> 18. And conferring with the Lawyers and Phari&s;ees about his healing on the Sabbath day; it is recorded, <HI>They held their peace, they could not an&s;wer him again to the&s;e things,</HI> Luke 14.4, 6. We may &s;ee al&s;o how mighty he was in his conferences with the <HI>Jews,</HI> John 8. and 10. Chapters; and al&s;o with the Devil, the &s;ubtille&s;t enemy, who&s;e &s;everal Temptati|ons he an&s;wered by Scripture; and the con|clu&s;ion of all was, <HI>The Devil leaveth him, and behold Angels came and mini&s;tred unto him, Mat.</HI> 4.1. <HI>ad</HI> 11. <HI>ver&s;.</HI> More need not be added to &s;hew that he was mighty in Con|ference.</P>
<P>Secondly, He was mighty in his works re&s;pecting the bodies of men, and others which will appear in &s;everall particulars.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the nature and kind of them his works were not common, and ordina|ry,
<PB N="64" REF="40"> but &s;pecial and extraordinary; and therefore it is &s;aid, He did mighty works, wrought miracles and wonders among the people, works above, and beyond the con|&s;tituted order of Nature, and he wrought not only mighty works as they are di&s;tin|gui&s;hed from the common works of others, but as they are di&s;tingui&s;hed from the mighty works and miracles of others, therefore the people a&s;toni&s;hed, cryed out, <HI>What wi&s;dome is this that is given him, that even &s;uch mighty works are wrought by his hands?</HI> Mark. 6.2. He ca&s;t out Devils; we never read of any before Chri&s;t, that ca&s;t out De|vils, (though &s;ome other miracles they did) therefore when he ca&s;t out a Devil, the mul|titudes marvelled, &s;aying, <HI>It was never &s;o &s;een in I&s;rael,</HI> Matth. 9.33. He opened the eyes of one born blind, and (as the man &s;aid) <HI>Since the world began it was not heard, that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind,</HI> John 9.32. He healed &s;uch di&s;ea&s;es as other Phy&s;itians could not, the woman that had the i&s;&s;ue of blood twelve years, after &s;he had &s;uffered many things of many Phy&s;iti|ans, and had &s;pent all that &s;he had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew wor&s;e; &s;he did but come behind Je&s;us and touch him, and &s;traightway the fountain of her blood was dryed up, and &s;he felt in her bo|dy
<PB N="65" REF="40"> that &s;he was healed of that plague, <HI>Mark</HI> 5.25, 26, 27, 28. When the Luna|tick child, whom the Di&s;ciples could not cure, was brought to Chri&s;t, 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, <HI>John</HI> 15. 24. and he is a <HI>mighty One</HI> that can do that which others of great skill and power can|not do.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the multitude of them, he did many mighty works, many miracles, others before wrought a few, <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> a few, <HI>Elijah</HI> and <HI>Eli&s;ha</HI> a few by anothers power, but Chri&s;t wrought many, healed multi|tudes of &s;ick per&s;ons, all manner of &s;ickne&s;|&s;es and di&s;ea&s;es among the people. If I &s;hould enumerate the miracles written which Je&s;us did, they would appear to be many, and yet he did many more than are written, it is &s;aid John 21.25. at the clo&s;e of the hi&s;tory of the life of Chri&s;t, <HI>There are al&s;o many other things which Je&s;us did, the which if they &s;hould be written, every one, I &s;uppo&s;e that even the world it &s;elf could not contain the Books that &s;hould be written.</HI> Of tho&s;e things which are written that he did, mo&s;t of them are wonders, or el&s;e have wonders in them (as I have in part, and &s;hall further make to
<PB N="66" REF="41"> appear) Now if we count him a <HI>mighty one,</HI> that doth a few great things in his life time, now and then a wonder, how mighty mu&s;t he needs be, who&s;e miracles are more than all the other actions of his life? the multi|tude of his miracles &s;peak him to be a <HI>migh|ty One,</HI> according to that of the people, re|corded concerning him, John 7.31. <HI>Many of the people believed on him, and &s;aid; When Chri&s;t c<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">meth, will he do more miracles than the&s;e which this man hath done?</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, In the variety of them, not a multitude of miracles of one kind, as to heal multitudes of one di&s;ea&s;e only, but he <HI>healed all manner of &s;ickne&s;s and all manner of di&s;|ea&s;e among the people.</HI></P>
<P><GAP DESC="foreign">, Di&s;ea&s;es, as blindne&s;s, withered|ne&s;s, lamene&s;s, fevers, drop&s;ies.</P>
<P><GAP DESC="foreign">, Langui&s;hings, weakne&s;&s;es, con&s;umptions, di&s;ea&s;es which are not &s;o painful, as wa&s;teful of the body.</P>
<P><GAP DESC="foreign">, Tortures, wracks, aches, con|vul&s;ions, pal&s;ies, lunacy, painful di&s;ea&s;es; and he did not onely heal all di&s;ea&s;es, but he al&s;o rai&s;ed the dead, ca&s;t out Devils gave &s;ight to the blind, rebuked and &s;tilled the winds, turned water into wine, walked on the Sea, fed thou&s;ands with a few Loaves, and it cannot be &s;aid of Chri&s;t, he was only exc<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">llent and eminent in &s;ome one thing,
<PB N="67" REF="41"> but he was mighty in every thing; the va|riety of his miracles is a very cleer demon|&s;tration of his mightine&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In the celerity and &s;peedine&s;s of them; he did them &s;wiftly, &s;uddenly, he healed di&s;ea&s;es immediately, when he bad them ari&s;e, they aro&s;e pre&s;ently; the Evan|geli&s;ts have ob&s;erved and recorded it, as that which adds glory to Chri&s;ts miracles of healing, and other works, that he did them &s;o quickly; many being <HI>healed the &s;ame Hour</HI> that he undertook their cure in, as is evident, <HI>Math.</HI> 8.13. <HI>Math.</HI> 9.22. <HI>Math.</HI> 17.18. <HI>The blind immediately received &s;ight, the lame immediately ro&s;e up and walked, the crooked were immedately made &s;traight, Devils came immediately out of tho&s;e that were po&s;|&s;e&s;&s;ed, he &s;tilled the winds on a &s;udden, he cur&s;ed the fig-tree, and it pre&s;ently withered away;</HI> yea, it is &s;aid, <HI>In the &s;ame Hour he cured many of their infirmities, plagues, and of evil &s;pirits, and unto many that were blind, he gave &s;ight,</HI> Luke 7.21. Chri&s;t 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 <HI>mighty</HI> an <HI>One</HI> mu&s;t he needs be, who works miracles &s;o &s;peedily?</P>
<P>Fifthly, In the facility of them, they were ea&s;ie.</P>
<PB N="68" REF="42">
<P>Fir&s;t, In re&s;pect of the Agent, Chri&s;t him&s;elf, his mighty works were not hard nor grievous, but ea&s;ie to him, he did them without pain, or toyl to him&s;elf, for he did ordinarily heal and work other miracles by &s;peaking a word or two, by touching of per&s;ons, difficulties were not difficulties to him, but were his pa&s;time and plea&s;ure; for it was his delight, and his meat to do the will of him that &s;ent him; he is a <HI>migh|ty One</HI> who doth &s;uch mighty things &s;o ea&s;i|ly.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In re&s;pect of the &s;ubject 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 pre&s;ent pains, yea, their very healing was without pain, which &s;ets up his migh|tine&s;&s;e above mans.</P>
<P>Sixthly, In his con&s;tant fitne&s;&s;e and readine&s;&s;e to do them, when ever he had any call, however he did &s;eem to be di&s;tra|cted with much bu&s;ine&s;&s;e, he was alwayes ready and prepared for the work he was called to; he never &s;ent any away uncured, unhealed, never excu&s;ed him&s;elf, &s;aying, <HI>I am now bu&s;ie, come &s;ome other time;</HI> he did not &s;o much as make any delay to do for them,
<PB N="69" REF="42"> according to their de&s;ire (only he &s;ome|times took occa&s;ion to try, and commend the faith of &s;ome) no time was untimous to him, when people came to him. After he had been teaching his Di&s;ciples upon the Mount (without que&s;tion &s;ome con&s;idera|ble &s;pace of time) when he was come down great multitudes followed him, &amp; he healed the Leper, the Centurians &s;ervant, and <HI>Peters</HI> wives mother, and having &s;pent the day in working, when the Evening was come, they brought unto him many that were po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ed with Devils, and he did not &s;o much as de|fer it till the morning, but he then ca&s;t out the &s;pirits with his Word, and healed all that were &s;ick, <HI>Matth.</HI> 8.16.</P>
<P>Seventhly, In the vi&s;ibility and publick|ne&s;&s;e of them, many of his works being wrought before multitudes, he was not of a cowardly and fearfull &s;pirit, he did not choo&s;e to work them in a corner, or in &s;ome private place (though he wrought &s;ome privately as he had occa&s;ion) but openly in the chief publick places, in Cityes, as <HI>Corazin, Beth&s;aida,</HI> yea in <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> that great and famous City, in the Synagogues, and in the Temple, whether the <HI>Jews</HI> al|wayes re&s;orted, &s;ee <HI>Matth.</HI> 21.14. In the pre&s;ence of the Scribes and Phari&s;ees, <HI>Luke</HI> 5.21, 25. Even when the Scribes and Pha|ri&s;ees
<PB N="70" REF="43"> were watching him, <HI>Looking round about them all, he &s;aid unto the man which had the withered hand, Stretch out thy hand, and he did &s;o, and his hand was re&s;tored whole as the other,</HI> Luke 6.6, 10. <HI>He oft healed and ca&s;t out Devils in the pre&s;ence of the multitude, he turned water into wine publickly at a marriage fea&s;t in Cana of Galilee.</HI> And to this agreeth <HI>Peters</HI> de&s;cription of him to the <HI>Jews</HI> in his exhor|tation to them, <HI>Acts</HI> 2.22. <HI>Ye men of I&s;ra|el hear the&s;e words, Je&s;us of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by Miracles, wonders, and &s;ignes, which God did by him in the mid&s;t of you, as ye your &s;elves al&s;o know.</HI></P>
<P>Eighthly, In the opportunene&s;s and &s;ea&s;onablene&s;s of them, being alwaies &s;ui|table to occa&s;ions offered, as may be &s;een in &s;ome in&s;tances; in the miracle of feeding five thou&s;and and more with five loaves and two fi&s;hes, it was when they were hun|gry, for they had continued with Chri&s;t three dayes, when they had nothing to eat, and when they were in the Wilderne&s;&s;e, and could not tell how to get any, and it was when it was evening, and the time to return pa&s;t, then Chri&s;t works a miracle, <HI>Math.</HI> 14.15, 16, &amp;c. <HI>Math.</HI> 15.32, 33. <HI>He rebuked the winds and the &s;ea, it was when there was a great tempe&s;t in the &s;ea, in&s;omuch that the &s;hip was covered with waves,</HI> yea, <HI>the waves
<PB N="71" REF="43"> did beat into the &s;hip, &s;o that it was now full, and the Di&s;ciples were in jeopardy, Math.</HI> 8.24. <HI>Mark</HI> 4.37. <HI>Luke</HI> 8.23. He rai&s;ed <HI>Lazarus,</HI> it was when &s;ome of the <HI>Jews</HI> &s;aid, <HI>Could not this man which opened the eyes of the blind, have cau&s;ed that even this man &s;hould not have dyed?</HI> and after <HI>Lazarus</HI> had been dead four dayes he turned water into wine, it was when they wanted wine, when the mother of Je&s;us &s;aid unto him, <HI>They have no wine,</HI> John 2.3.</P>
<P>Ninthly, In the &s;ubjects of them.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the largene&s;s &amp; unlimittedne&s;s of them; he wrought his miracles almo&s;t upon all &s;orts and kinds of Creatures, as Devils, Men, Bea&s;ts, Fi&s;hes, Sun, Earth, Aire, Water, Stones, Trees, as might be &s;hewed, which plainly manife&s;t that all Creatures were in his power. And Chri&s;t Je&s;us was (if I may &s;o &s;ay) indifferent upon what Crea|ture he wrought his miracles, whether up|on Man, Bea&s;t, or Devil, Sea, or Land, &s;tronge&s;t or weake&s;t, it was all one to Chri&s;t, his power was not bound to this or that particular &s;ubject, but did extend it &s;elf to all the Creatures, to the living as well as the dead; to the mightie&s;t, re&s;i&s;ting, ra|ging Devils, as well as to the mo&s;t feeble, fearful, and &s;ubmitting men and women.</P>
<P>Secondly, In their unruline&s;&s;e in them|&s;elves, and towards others, as the Winds,
<PB N="72" REF="44"> the Seas yeelded to him, which made the men marvel, &s;aying, <HI>What manner of man is this, that even the Wind and Sea obey him?</HI> Math. 8.27. Yea, Legions, many fierce unruly Devils &s;ubmitted them&s;elves to him, &s;uch as no man could bind, no not with Chains, neither could any man tame; though they were unruly in r<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;pect of others, yet not unruly when Chri&s;t came to deal with them, which &s;hews Chri&s;t to be a <HI>Mighty One.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, In their utter indi&s;po&s;ition un|to his works; he wrought his miracles of healing upon pe<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;ons that had their di&s;ea|&s;es a long time; he healed a woman that had an i&s;&s;ue of blood twelve years; he healed another woman that had a &s;pirit of infirmity eighteeen years; as al&s;o a man that had an infirmity thirty eight years; the&s;e by the long continuance of their di&s;ea|&s;es were the more unfitted for healing; he gave &s;ight to a man that was born blind, greatly ind<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;po&s;ed to the receiving of fight; he cured a man that had Devils a long time, <HI>Luke</HI> 8.27. He rai&s;ed <HI>Lazarus</HI> when he had been dead four dayes, altogether indi&s;po&s;ed to live again; and the greater indi&s;po&s;ition is in the &s;ubject unto the work, the greater is the power of the Agent that performeth it.</P>
<PB N="73" REF="44">
<P>Tenthly, In the perfection and com|pleatne&s;&s;e of them, what he did, he did per|fectly; <HI>The man &s;ick of the Pal&s;ie, aro&s;e, took up his Bed and went before them all, in&s;omuch that they were all amazed,</HI> Mark 2.12. <HI>As many as touched the hem of his garment were made per|fectly whole,</HI> Math. 14.36. <HI>He rebuked the Winds and the Sea, and there was a great calm,</HI> Matth. 8.26. <HI>He re&s;tored the mans withered hand whole as the other,</HI> Matth. 12.13. <HI>He filled five thou&s;and men, be&s;ides women and chil|dren, with five Loaves and two Fi&s;hes, and they took up of the fragments that remained, twelve Baskets full,</HI> Matth. 14.19, 20, 21. <HI>He healed the man that had an impediment in his &s;peech, and he &s;pake plain,</HI> Mark 7.35. <HI>The woman that was bowed together was made &s;traight,</HI> Luke 13.13. <HI>He turned water not only into wine, but into good wine,</HI> John 2.10. The perfection of the work &s;peaks forth the might and excel|ency of the Agent.</P>
<P>Eleventhly, In the con&s;tancy of &s;ucce&s;s; he ever brought to pa&s;s what he under|took, he was no fooli&s;h builder who began, and was not able to fini&s;h: The hands of other m<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ghty ones have not been able &s;om|times to perform their enterprize; the Di&s;|ciples &s;ometimes could not cure the di&s;ea|&s;ed, but Chri&s;t healed all that were brought; we never heard of any thing too
<PB N="74" REF="45"> hard for him, but what&s;oever he did, pro|&s;pered; and indeed Chri&s;t never doubted of &s;ucce&s;s in his undertakings; he &s;aith to the Leper crying to him, <HI>Lord, if thou wilt thou can&s;t make me clean, I will, be thou clean.</HI> Chri&s;t did not tell them that came to him, That he would do the be&s;t he could, or the like, but he forthwith healed them all; &s;urely he is a <HI>Mighty One</HI> who is con&s;tantly &s;ucce&s;&s;eful in great undertakings.</P>
<P>Twelfthly, In the faith of tho&s;e upon whom, and for who&s;e &s;ake he wrought his works, they did beleeve that he was able to do them for them, and &s;o they magnified him by believing. <HI>If thou wilt, thou can&s;t make me clean,</HI> &s;aith the Leper, <HI>Matth.</HI> 8.2. <HI>But &s;peak the word only, and my &s;ervant &s;hall be healed,</HI> &s;aith the Centurion, at which Chri&s;t marvelled, &s;aying, <HI>I have not found &s;o great faith, no not in I&s;rael, Matth.</HI> 8.10. The wo|man with the i&s;&s;ue of blood &s;aid within her &s;elf, <HI>If I may but touch the hem of his garment, I &s;hall be whole, Math.</HI> 9.21. The men of <HI>Gene&s;aret</HI> be&s;ought him, That their di&s;ea|&s;ed might only touch the hem of his Gar|ment. Chri&s;t &s;aith to the wom<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">n of <HI>Ca|naan, O woman, Great is thy faith.</HI> They had &s;uch faith as put them upon the u&s;e of any means to bring their &s;ick to him; &s;ome|times that unu&s;all way of coming in at the
<PB N="75" REF="45"> top of the hou&s;e, &s;o they brought the man &s;ick of the Pal&s;ie, <HI>Luke</HI> 5.18, 19, 20. <HI>When Je&s;us &s;aw their faith, he &s;aid unto him, Man thy &s;ins are forgiven thee.</HI></P>
<P>Thirteenthly, In the time of their per|formance, it was the time of his humilia|tion, when he was in his lowe&s;t e&s;tate, when he was (if I may &s;o &s;ay) at the weake&s;t; before he was glorified, he wrought Mira|cles, &s;ome when he was apprehended, &s;ome when he was on the Cro&s;&s;e, &s;ome when he died: when he was weake he was &s;trong, and if he were &s;o Mighty in his a|ba&s;ement, in the day of &s;mall Things? how mighty is he now he is in glory?</P>
<P>Fourteenthly, In his &s;olene&s;s, and help|le&s;ne&s;s 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 need|ed not the help of any man, for though they were great, and mighty works which he undertooke, yet his own Arme was &s;uf|ficient for the performance of them; &s;o mighty was he as to effect that alone, and of him&s;elfe, which others with all their helpers could not.</P>
<P>Fifteenthly, In the meanene&s;s of the meanes by which he wrought them, as by a word of his mouth, as God did his works
<PB N="76" REF="46"> in the beginning &s;o Chri&s;t did his; God &s;aid, <HI>Let there be light, and there was light; let there be a Firmament in the mid&s;t of the waters, and there was &s;o;</HI> &s;o Chri&s;t to the &s;icke, <HI>Take up thy bed, and walke,</HI> and he did &s;o; he &s;aid to the Seas <HI>be &s;till,</HI> and they were &s;o: to the Devils, <HI>come out,</HI> and they came out; to the dead, <HI>come forth,</HI> and they came forth; &s;ome|times by a touch of his hand, &s;ometime by the patients touching but the Hem of his Garment; he made the blind man to &s;ee by anointing his eyes with clay, <HI>Joh.</HI> 9. And with &s;uch like incon&s;iderable meanes he wrought wonders. The meanne&s;s of the meanes &s;peak forth the mightine&s;s of the Agent.</P>
<P>Sixteenthly, In the Effects, in Generall, the good of them upon whom they were wrought; the miracles of &s;ome tended to the hurt of others, as tho&s;e of <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> upon the <HI>Egyptians; Elijahs,</HI> 2 Kings 1. <HI>Peters,</HI> Acts 5. It is a very con&s;iderable difference between the miracles wrought by Chri&s;t, and tho&s;e wrought by others, that Chri&s;t never hurted, nor de&s;troyed others by his workes; he came not to de&s;troy mens lives, but to &s;ave them; And it is a greater thing to &s;ave than to de&s;troy.</P>
<P>More particularly; we finde that many marvelled; <HI>Many beleeved on him when they
<PB N="77" REF="46"> &s;aw the miracles which he did,</HI> Joh. 2.23. When he had rai&s;ed <HI>Lazarus,</HI> many of the <HI>Jews</HI> which had &s;eene the things which Je&s;us did, <HI>Beleeved on him,</HI> Joh. 11.45. When Chri&s;t came into the Ship, and the winde cea&s;ed, they that were in the Ship, came and wor|&s;hipped him, &s;aying, <HI>Of a Truth, thou art the Son of God,</HI> Math. 14.32, 33. So when the Centurion, and tho&s;e that were with him, watching Je&s;us, &s;aw the Earth-quake and tho&s;e things that were done, &s;aid, <HI>Truly this was the Son of God,</HI> Math, 27.54. In a word, <HI>God was glorified,</HI> Math. 9.8. Math. 15.31. Luke 7.16. Luke 23.47. And Chri&s;t was <HI>glorified of all,</HI> Luke 4.15. And this was the End of God in &s;ending his Son to worke miracles, <HI>that his Son might be glorified;</HI> ac|cording to the words of Chri&s;t, when he heard that <HI>Lazarus</HI> was &s;icke, <HI>Joh.</HI> 11.4. <HI>This &s;ickne&s;s is not unto death, but for the glory of God:</HI> That the Son of God might be glo|rified thereby.</P>
<P>Seventeenthly, In his &s;elf-deniall, and humility in his mightie&s;t workes; for the weake to be humble is not much as for the mighty to be humble, &s;uch <HI>as heale all di&s;ea|&s;es, ca&s;t out Devils, and do many wonderfull workes;</HI> to be humble in the&s;e things is to be mighty, &s;uch are mightier in this, then in all the re&s;t of their mighty acts; &s;ome who
<PB N="78" REF="47"> have been mighty to worke miracles, have not attained to be humble, and &s;elf-denying in their greate&s;t performances; And herein was the excellency, and mightines of Chri&s;t to be &s;eene, that he did more, and greater works than any, and yet was more hum|ble, and &s;elf denying than any; which doth further appeare.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In that he did not &s;eek his own honour and Glory, <HI>Joh.</HI> 8.50. When he had wrought a miracle, and the people would have taken him by force to have made him a King, <HI>he departed into a Mountaine him&s;elfe alone,</HI> Joh. 6.15. Yea he did rather ob&s;cure, than &s;eek his own Glory, in that he charged divers whom he healed, <HI>that they &s;hould tell no man,</HI> Math. 8.4. Mark 7.36. Mark. 8.26. Luke 8.56. What ever other ends Chri&s;t might have in this prohibition, it plainly &s;peaks that he was not de&s;irous of vain|glory.</P>
<P>Secondly, In that he &s;ought not his own profit, he did none of his mighty workes for money, he had no de&s;igne to enrich him&s;elfe by his workes, <HI>he &s;ought not Theirs, but them, he did not ask them, what they would give him, and he would heale them; he did not &s;ay for &s;o much I will heale thee of thy Lepro&s;ie; for &s;o much I will ca&s;t out the uncleane Spirit,</HI> &amp;c. Chri&s;t had an heart free from the de&s;ire and
<PB N="79" REF="47"> love of money, and we never reade that e|ver he received any from any man for any thing he did; This Mighty One was above gifts, and Rewards from men.</P>
<P>Twentithly, Mighty in his Victories, he had many Adver&s;aries, and met with much oppo&s;ition, yet he overcame All, &s;o he &s;aith of him&s;elfe, <HI>Rev.</HI> 3.21. <HI>To him that overcometh, will I grant to &s;it with me in my throne, even as I al&s;o Overcame, and am &s;et down with my Father on his Throne.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Over the World, the world was an enemy to him, and hated him becau&s;e he did te&s;tifie of it, that the workes thereof are evil, and did all manner of evil again&s;t him, they would faine have de&s;troyed him, that he might have been no more, and to that end they condemned, killed, and buri|ed him, and then they thought they had overcome him, but he was not de&s;troyed, for he ro&s;e againe, and now liveth, being &s;et downe at the right hand of the throne of God, and &s;o he became victorious over all their hatred, malice, and per&s;ecution; &s;o much he told his Di&s;ciples to comfort them in their Tribulation in the world, <HI>Joh.</HI> 16.33. <HI>In the world ye &s;hall have tribu|lation; but be of good chear, I have overcome the World.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, Over &s;in, not his (for he was
<PB N="80" REF="48"> without &s;in) but ours; &s;in was an enemy to him, and came again&s;t him in its &s;trength, <HI>viz.</HI> the Law, <HI>for the &s;trength of &s;in is the Law,</HI> and did condemne him, &s;o that he died for our &s;ins, &s;in did its wor&s;t, but could not de|&s;troy him, for he endured, and overcame it, according to that in 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3.18. <HI>For Chri&s;t hath once &s;uffered for &s;ins, the Ju&s;t for the unju&s;t, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the fle&s;h, but Quickned by the Spirit;</HI> Sin in|deed was in the world, and reigned like a Mighty King over all unto Death; but Chri&s;t came, and ca&s;t downe &s;in from its Throne, and brought it into Captivity, yea by his death he overcame it; <HI>he put away &s;in by the &s;acrifice of him&s;elfe,</HI> Heb. 9.26. And as for &s;in in re&s;pect of him&s;elfe, he kept it at a great di&s;tance from him, and would not let it come neere him; he &s;tood like a Migh|ty One farre above it, keeping it under; <HI>for the Law of his God was in his heart, and none of his &s;teps did &s;lide; he was holy, harmle&s;s, un|defiled, and &s;eparate from Sinners,</HI> Heb. 7.26.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Over Death, that Mighty Ad|ver&s;ary, by death he overcame Death, like a Mighty victorious one he brake through Death, <HI>it being not po&s;&s;ible that he &s;hould be holden of it,</HI> Act. 2.24. <HI>And being rai&s;ed from the Dead, dieth no more; Death hath no more Dominion over him,</HI> Rom. 6.9. So that ac|cording
<PB N="81" REF="48"> to what is prophecied of him, <HI>He hath &s;wallowed up Death in Victory,</HI> &s;o that now we may &s;ay, <HI>O death, where is thy &s;ting? O grave, where is thy victory?</HI> 1 Cor. 15.54, 55.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Over the Devil, that Mighty One, who&s;e principall aime, and de&s;igne was again&s;t Chri&s;t; <HI>But he overcame that Wicked one, and that through Death,</HI> Heb. 2.14. <HI>For as much as the children are partakers of fle&s;h and blood, he al&s;o him&s;elfe likewi&s;e took part of the &s;ame, that through Death he might de&s;troy him that had the power of death, that is the De|vil;</HI> yea he triumphed over him, according to that of the Apo&s;tle, <HI>Col.</HI> 2.15. &s;peaking before of his blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was again&s;t us, and nail|ing it to his Cro&s;&s;e, &s;aith, <HI>Having &s;poiled principalities and powers, he made a &s;hew of them Openly, triumphing over them in it.</HI></P>
<P>Further, Chri&s;t is not onely Mighty in the victories which his right hand have gotten over the&s;e Mighty Lords, who have de|voured &s;o many, but al&s;o in the victories which he will get over them hereafter, for the&s;e his enemies are up againe again&s;t him, and he will be victorious over them. The P&s;almi&s;t &s;ings of him prophetically, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 45.3, 4, 5. <HI>Gird thy &s;word upon thy thigh, O mo&s;t mighty; with thy glory and thy Maje&s;ty; and in thy Maje&s;ty ride pro&s;perou&s;ly, becau&s;e of
<PB N="82" REF="49"> truth, and meekne&s;s, and righteou&s;ne&s;s, and thy right hand &s;hall teach thee terrible things; Thine arrows are &s;harp in the heart of the Kings ene|mies; whereby the people fall under thee.</HI> And in this po&s;ture <HI>John</HI> &s;aw him, <HI>Rev.</HI> 6.2. <HI>And I &s;aw, and behold a white hor&s;e, and he that &s;ate on him had a bow, and a Crowne was given unto him, and he went forth Conquering, and to Con|quer.</HI></P>
<P>The world is up, and Chri&s;t will never leave till he hath overcome it, till he hath brought in the Generality of men, <HI>viz.</HI> Jews and Gentiles to be &s;ubject to him, to be one &s;heepfold under him the Great Shepheard and Prince, whom the Lord hath &s;et over them; according to the prophecies of him, <HI>Ezek</HI> 34. &amp; 37 Chapters, <HI>And as for his deadly enemies that will not that he &s;hould reigne over them, he will &s;lay them with the breath of his lips,</HI> Rev. 19. from the 11 <HI>ver&s;e</HI> to the end, <HI>John</HI> &s;aw him in a warring po&s;ture with the Bea&s;t, and the Kings of the earth, and their Armies, which were gathered together to make warre again&s;t him, and the i&s;&s;ue was, <HI>The Bea&s;t was taken, and with him the fal&s;e Pro|phet that wrought Miracles before him, the&s;e both were ca&s;t alive into a Lake of fire burning with Brim&s;tone, and the Remnant were &s;laine with the &s;word of him that &s;ate upon the hor&s;e, which &s;word proceeded out of his mouth.</HI></P>
<PB N="83" REF="49">
<P>Sin is up again&s;t him, now he is in hea|ven; Idolatry is up in the Nations of the world, Antichri&s;tiani&s;me is up, prophane&s;s is up, ungodline&s;s, and unrighteou&s;ne&s;s is up in the earth, and the Lord Chri&s;t will not cea&s;e working till he hath rooted out &s;in, till he hath de&s;troyed all the workes of the Devil; And according to what is pro|phecied of him, <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> 42.4. <HI>He &s;hall not faile nor be di&s;couraged, till he hath &s;et Judgement in the Earth.</HI></P>
<P>The Devil is up al&s;o, and hath great wrath again&s;t him, and all his, and how|ever he may for a time prevaile to the de|ceiving of the Nations, yet he &s;hall be over|come in the end, <HI>Rev.</HI> 20.9, 10. <HI>Fire came downe from God out of heaven, and devoured the Nations, and the Devil that deceived them was ca&s;t into the Lake of fire and brim&s;tone, where the Bea&s;t, and the fal&s;e Prophet are, &s;hall be tormen|ted day and night for ever and ever.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, Mighty in his Offices, which are three, King, Prie&s;t, Prophet.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, He is a King, and that is an office which &s;peaks might and power; a King notes Supremacie in re&s;pect of others, 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.13. but Chri&s;t is not onely a King, and mighty in that regard, but al&s;o a Mighty King, a King above all other Kings, he is a <HI>King higher than the Kings of the earth,</HI> P&s;al.
<PB N="84" REF="50"> 89.27. <HI>The Prince of the Kings of the Earth,</HI> Rev. 1.5. <HI>Lord of Lords, and King of Kings,</HI> Rev. 17.14. He is a mighty King.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In him&s;elfe, and that e&s;pecially in two things.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In maje&s;ty, and glory, excellent maje&s;ty is upon him; The P&s;almi&s;t &s;inging of him, and his kingdome, &s;aith, <HI>Gird thy &s;word upon thy thigh, O mo&s;t mighty, with thy glory, and thy maje&s;ty, and in thy maje&s;ty ride pro&s;perou&s;ly,</HI> &amp;c. P&s;al&punc; 45.3, 4. See a <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">lym&s;pe of his glory in his Type <HI>So<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">mon.</HI> The Lord magnified <HI>Solomon</HI> exceedingly in the &s;ight of all <HI>I&s;rael&punc;</HI> and be&s;towed upon him &s;uch Royall maje&s;ty, as had not been on any King before him in <HI>I&s;rael; yet behold a Grea|ter than Solomon is here;</HI> for <HI>Solomon</HI> in all his Glory was not arrayed like unto Chri&s;t; of this Glory the Apo&s;tles had a &s;ight, ac|cording to the words of <HI>Peter, We were eye|witne&s;&s;es of his Maje&s;ty, for he received from God the Father, honour, and Glory, when there came &s;uch a voice to him from the excellent Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well plea|&s;ed, and this voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy Mount,</HI> 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.16, 17, 18. And <HI>Paul</HI> &s;tiles him, even him that was crucified, <HI>The Lord of Glo|ry,</HI> 1 Cor. 2.8.</P>
<P>Secondly, In wi&s;dome, and under&s;tand|ing,
<PB N="85" REF="50"> he was and is greater, and above all o|thers, both men, and Angels in under&s;tand|ing; There was excellent Wi&s;dome found in <HI>Daniel,</HI> but there was more, and more ex|cellent in Chri&s;t. God gave <HI>Solomon</HI> wi&s;dome and under&s;tanding, exceeding much, and largene&s;s of heart, <HI>even as the &s;and that is on the Sea-&s;hore; and Solomons wi&s;dome excelled the wi&s;dome of all the children of the Ea&s;t Country, and all the wi&s;dome of Egypt; for he was wi&s;er than all men, and all the Earth &s;ought to him to heare his wi&s;dome which God had put in his heart,</HI> 1 <HI>Kings</HI> 4.29, 30, 31. <HI>&amp;</HI> 1 <HI>Kings</HI> 10.33. <HI>But behold a Greater than Solomon is here</HI> in this re&s;pect, <HI>Math.</HI> 12.42. <HI>Even he in whom are hid all the Trea&s;ures of wi&s;dome, and knowledge, Col.</HI> 2.3. <HI>The very wi&s;dome of God,</HI> 1 Cor. 1.24.</P>
<P>Secondly, He is Mighty in his Subjects; two things con&s;iderable in his Subjects which &s;peak forth his Mightine&s;s.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Their Mightine&s;s, his Subjects are Saints, and Nations, and both &s;orts are mighty, his Saints are excellent ones, Sub|jects of the highe&s;t ranke, they are Kings, and Prie&s;ts, (being advanc'd to that Digni|ty by him&s;elfe) <HI>Rev.</HI> 1.6. <HI>Men of other &s;pirits, redeemed from among men, who have all Earthly things under their feet, &s;uch as regard not Silver, nor yet delight in Gold, (The Law of the mouth
<PB N="86" REF="51"> of their King being better to them than thou&s;ands of Gold, and Silver; as al&s;o men of valiant and couragious &s;pirits for the honour of their King up|on Earth, not loving their lives unto the Death,</HI> Rev. 12.11.</P>
<P>The Nations of the Earth al&s;o are full of Mighty Ones, men of high degree, and all the Kings, Princes, Potentates, Rulers, chiefe Captaines, Great Lords, all the Mighty men of Valour, all the Worthies, and men of Renowne, and all the wi&s;e and Honourable ones of the Earth are his Subjects; the ex|cellency, and mightine&s;s of the Subjects &s;peak forth the mightine&s;s of the King, how mighty mu&s;t he needs be, who have all the mighty Kings and Princes of the world under him?</P>
<P>Secondly, Their multitude, he hath more Subjects than any, if <HI>Solomons</HI> Subjects were &s;o great a people that could not be numbred, nor counted for multitude, how great and numerous, or rather innumerable are Chri&s;ts Subjects, who are all people, Nations, and Languages, <HI>Dan.</HI> 7.14. And the&s;e are not onely his Subjects in re&s;pect of the Right, and extent of his Dominion, but al&s;o in re&s;pect of their &s;ubmi&s;&s;ion and obedience to him, for all Dominions &s;hall &s;erve, and obey him, <HI>Dan.</HI> 7.14, 27. Yea all kingdomes &s;hall re&s;olve into his king|dome:
<PB N="87" REF="51"> The joyfull &s;ound of the Seaventh Angel, and the great voices in Heaven, which <HI>John</HI> heard, proclaimed the largene&s;s and amplitude of the kingdome of this King, &s;aying, <HI>The kingdomes of this World are become the kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chri&s;t, and he &s;hall reigne for ever, and ever; and if in the multitude of people is the Kings Ho|nour,</HI> Pro. 14.28. then &s;urely he is a migh|ty and honourable one that hath &s;uch mul|titudes under him.</P>
<P>Thirdly, He is mighty in his Rule, and Admini&s;tration, both towards his loyall Subjects, and de&s;perate Enemies; The Ad|mini&s;tration of Chri&s;t towards his faithfull ones is chiefly in two things, in both which he appeares to be Mighty.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Pre&s;ervation; for he pre&s;erveth the faithfull, even all them that love him: he is mighty to &s;ave, and defend them again&s;t all the mighty ones that ri&s;e up again&s;t them, he hath been, and is a &s;trength to the poore, a &s;trength to the needy in di&s;tre&s;&s;e, a refuge from the &s;torme, a &s;haddow from the heate, when the bla&s;t of the terrible ones is as a &s;torme again&s;t the wall. The P&s;almi&s;t &s;ing|ing of him, and his kingdome, &s;aith, <HI>He &s;hall deliver the needy when he cryeth, the poore al&s;o, and him that hath no helper; he &s;hall &s;ave the &s;oules of the needy, he &s;hall redeeme their &s;oules
<PB N="88" REF="52"> from deceit and violence,</HI> P&s;al. 72.12, 13, 14. And for this rea&s;on the Prophet <HI>Zephany</HI> calls upon <HI>Zion</HI> to &s;ing and rejoyce; <HI>The King of I&s;rael even the Lord, is in the mid&s;t of thee, thou &s;halt not &s;ee evil any more; The Lord thy God in the mid&s;t of thee is Mighty, he will &s;ave,</HI> Zeph. 3.14, 15, 17. And this is the confidence of his Subjects, <HI>The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King, he will &s;ave us,</HI> I&s;a. 33.22. And he is not onely mighty to &s;ave their bodies from de&s;truction, but to &s;ave their &s;oules from &s;in, and death; for that was the rea|&s;on which the Angel gave <HI>Jo&s;eph</HI> before Chri&s;t was borne, why he &s;hould be called <HI>Je&s;us,</HI> Math. 1.21. <HI>Thou &s;halt call his Name Je&s;us; for he &s;hall &s;ave his people from their &s;ins:</HI> And in this he is mightier than all other Kings, who cannot deliver any of their Subjects &s;oules, none of them can by any meanes redeem their Subjects, nor yet their own &s;oules, but &s;tand in need of this Mighty One to &s;ave them.</P>
<P>Secondly, Remuneration; he is not un|righteous to forget the worke, and labour of love, which any of his Subjects do &s;hew towards his Name, but will give reward unto his &s;ervants the Prophets, and to the S<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ints, and them that feare his Name, &s;mall and great; and his Reward is great,
<PB N="89" REF="52"> becoming &s;uch a Mighty King to be&s;tow, he will plentifully reward all his faithfull con&s;tant Followers, and his reward is.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Everla&s;ting life; This Chri&s;t pro|mi&s;ed to his &s;elf-denying Di&s;ciples, <HI>Mat.</HI> 19.29. <HI>My &s;heep heare my voice,</HI> &s;aith Chri&s;t, <HI>and follow me, and I Give unto them eternall life, and they &s;hall never peri&s;h,</HI> Joh. 10.27, 28. And for this end his father gave him power over all fle&s;h, <HI>that he &s;hould give eternall life to as many as he hath given him,</HI> Joh. 17.2. Eternall life is a rich reward, but heres not all the re|ward of the righteous, they might have e|verla&s;ting life, though with trouble, and di|&s;traction, and therefore he gives them toge|ther with <HI>everla&s;ting life.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, Everla&s;ting joy, and re&s;t, for though they have &s;orrow and trouble here, and for a &s;ea&s;on be in heavine&s;s through manifold Temptations, yet their &s;orrow &s;hall be turned into joy, <HI>into everla&s;ting joy,</HI> which none &s;hall take from them; Their trouble &s;hall be turned into re&s;t, and quiet|ne&s;s, and a&s;&s;urance for ever; <HI>for the Lord Chri&s;t will recompence Tribulation to them that trouble his &s;ervants, and to them that are trou|bled, re&s;t, when he &s;hall be revealed from Heaven with all his mighty. Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God,</HI> 2 The&s;. 1.6, 7, 8. And that his reward may be full,
<PB N="90" REF="53"> together with everla&s;ting life, and re&s;t, he gives</P>
<P>Thirdly, Everla&s;ting honour and glory, they &s;hall not have life and peace in a low e&s;tate, but they &s;hall be exalted to honour, they &s;hall not re&s;t upon the Dunghil but up|on the Throne; for this is his promi&s;e, <HI>Rev:</HI> 3.21. <HI>To him that overcometh will I grant to &s;et with me in my Throne, even as I al&s;o over|came, and am &s;et down with my Father in his Throne.</HI> Chri&s;t &s;hall be King over <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> and they &s;hall be next unto him; at that great day when all Nations &s;hall be gathered be|fore him, he &s;hall &s;eparate them one from another, he &s;hall &s;et the Sheep on his right hand, but the Goats on the left, <HI>Then &s;hall the King &s;ay to them on the right hand, Come ye ble&s;&s;ed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepa|red for you from the foundation of the world, Mat.</HI> 25.32, 33, 34. His reward is a Kingdom, a Kingdome which cannot be moved, and thus Chri&s;t is a mighty King in his rule, and admini&s;tration towards his &s;ervants.</P>
<P>Secondly, Chri&s;t is mighty in his rule and admini&s;tration towards his enemies, which doth principally con&s;i&s;t in two things both manife&s;ting his mightine&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Cohibition and re&s;traint, for when his enemies come forth full of fury and rage, with full purpo&s;e of heart to de&s;troy
<PB N="91" REF="53"> his people, he put his hook in their No&s;e, and his Bridle in their Lips, &s;o that they cannot act all the evil that is in their hearts, though they do exert and put forth &s;ome hatred and wrath, yet not all; <HI>For the re|mainder of wrath he re&s;traineth.</HI> So that no more of their malice, wrath, and cruelty do, or &s;hall break forth, then what he &s;ees in his wi&s;dom and faithfulne&s;s to be expe|dient and profitable for his &s;ervants to en|dure; and this his admini&s;tration do not extend only to the meaner &s;ort of peo|ple, but the high and mighty to the Kings of the Earth, <HI>For he cuts off the Spirit of Prin|ces, &s;o that their hands cannot perform their enter|prize.</HI> The P&s;almi&s;t &s;peaking of the beauty and glory of <HI>Sion,</HI> &s;aith, <HI>Lo, the Kings were a&s;&s;embled, they pa&s;&s;ed by together, they &s;aw it, and &s;o they marvelled, they were troubled and ha&s;ted away, fear took hold upon them there, and pain as of a woman in travel, P&s;al.</HI> 48.4, 5, 6. The King of <HI>Sion</HI> took away their &s;pirit and cou|rage; yea, this extends to the very Devils, whom (when he was in the fle&s;h) he re&s;trai|ned from hurting and tormenting, and it is becau&s;e of this part of the ble&s;&s;ed rule and admini&s;tration of Chri&s;t in Heaven, that men and Devils (who&s;e hearts are fully &s;et in them to do evil) have not torn and de|voured
<PB N="92" REF="54"> the whole flock of Chri&s;t upon Earth.</P>
<P>Secondly, De&s;truction; for as his hand &s;hall be known towards his &s;ervants, &s;o his indignation towards his Enemies, whom he will de&s;troy though never &s;o many and mighty: The P&s;almi&s;t prophecying of him, and his admini&s;tration towards his enemies, &s;aith, <HI>Thou &s;halt break them with a rod of iron, thou &s;halt da&s;h them in pieces like a Potters ve&s;&s;el,</HI> P&s;al. 2.9. And <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> &s;aith, <HI>He &s;hall &s;mite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips &s;hall he &s;lay the wicked,</HI> I&s;a. 11.4. <HI>Paul</HI> tells us, <HI>That he &s;hall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God?</HI> &amp;c. Yea, the mightine&s;s and &s;everity of Chri&s;t in this re&s;pect is no|tably &s;et forth by him&s;elf in the clo&s;e of the Parable of the Noble-man, <HI>Luke</HI> 19.27. <HI>But tho&s;e mine enemies which would not that I &s;hould Re<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">gn over them, bring hither and &s;lay them before me.</HI> And the one and greate&s;t part of the Book of the <HI>Revelation,</HI> do but acquaint us with the woes, plagues, and vials of wrath which he will poure forth upon his enemies, the &s;um of all is, <HI>Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen; and the Bea&s;t was taken, and with him the fal&s;e Prophet, the&s;e both were ca&s;t alive into a lake of fire burning with Brim&s;tone,
<PB N="93" REF="54"> and the Remnant were &s;lain with the &s;word of him that &s;ate upon the Hor&s;e, which &s;word proceeded out of his mouth, and at la&s;t the Devil was ca&s;t into the Lake of Fire and Brim&s;tone where the Bea&s;t and the fal&s;e Prophet are, and &s;hall be tor|mented day and night for ever and ever,</HI> Rev: 18.2. &amp; 19, 20, 21. &amp; 20.10. So migh|ty and terrible will Chri&s;t be in the de&s;tru|ction of his enemies; and thus he appears to be a mighty King.</P>
<P>Secondly, Chri&s;t is a Mighty Prie&s;t, far above all other Prie&s;ts, his mightine&s;&s;e is manife&s;t in this re&s;pect, in &s;everal particu|lars.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the Dignity of his Per&s;on, which I con&s;ider only with relation to his Prie&s;t|hood, for the Apo&s;tle being about to treat of Chri&s;t as a Prie&s;t, fir&s;t, &s;ets down the mightine&s;&s;e and excellency of his per&s;on, and the manner of his expre&s;&s;ing particu|lars (as <HI>who being the brightne&s;&s;e of his glory,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>and upholding all things by the word of his power</HI>) do plainly &s;hew that they have relation to what follow, namely his Prie&s;t-hood, there|fore the Apo&s;tle to give evidence of his &s;uf|ficiency for that great function, doth fir&s;t declare his power and greatne&s;&s;e, and &s;peak|ing of his mightine&s;s afterward&punc; as a Prie&s;t he layes much of it on the Dignity of his per&s;on, <HI>Heb:</HI> 4.14. <HI>Seeing then that we have
<PB N="94" REF="55"> a great High Prie&s;t that is pa&s;&s;ed into the Hea|vens, Je&s;us the Son of God;</HI> he is a mighty Prie&s;t, in that he is the Son of God: The &s;ame Apo&s;tle magnifies Chri&s;t the <HI>High Prie&s;t</HI> above tho&s;e that the Law made, upon this account, <HI>Heb:</HI> 7.28. <HI>The Law maketh men High Prie&s;ts which have infirmity, but the word of the Oath which was &s;ince the Law, maketh the Son.</HI> And he is the more excellent High Prie&s;t, in that it is the Son who is made.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the peculiarity of his Title; he is not onely called an <HI>High Prie&s;t</HI> fre|quently, and once <HI>Heb:</HI> 10.21. <GAP DESC="foreign">, <HI>A Great Prie&s;t,</HI> but he is al&s;o &s;tiled <HI>A Great High Prie&s;t, Heb:</HI> 4.14. Though under the Law there was an High Prie&s;t, yet never was any called <HI>Great High Prie&s;t,</HI> but Chri&s;t, and though the Pope a&s;&s;ume to him&s;elfe the Title of <HI>Pontifex Maximus,</HI> the greate&s;t High Prie&s;t, yet it doth of right belong to Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the perfection of his Nature, an High Prie&s;t without &s;in, without infir|mity, whereby he is by the Apo&s;tle di&s;tin|gui&s;hed from, and exalted above all other Prie&s;ts, <HI>Heb:</HI> 7.26, 27, 28. <HI>Such an High Prie&s;t became us, who is holy, harmle&s;&s;e, undefi|led, &s;eparate from &s;inners, and made higher than the Heavens, who needeth not daily, as tho&s;e High
<PB N="95" REF="55"> Prie&s;ts to offer up &s;acrifice, fir&s;t for his own &s;ins, then for the peoples; the Law maketh men High Prie&s;ts which have infirmity, but the word of the Oath which was made &s;ince the Law, the Son, who is con&s;ecrated for evermore.</HI> He is a merciful, faithful, tender, &s;ympathizing High Prie&s;t, <HI>Who can have compa&s;&s;ion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, and is able to &s;uc|cour them that are tempted,</HI> Heb: 2.17, 18.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In the eminency of his order, he is a Prie&s;t not after that common way that others were, the order of <HI>Aaron,</HI> and &s;o but &s;uch an one as they, but after a &s;pecial and more excellent order, peculiar to him alone, the order of <HI>Melchi&s;edec,</HI> that great and mighty man, King of <HI>Salem,</HI> unto whom even the Patriarch <HI>Abraham</HI> (that Mighty One) gave the tenth of the &s;poil, even he that met <HI>Abraham</HI> returning from the &s;laughter of the Kings and ble&s;&s;ed him, which &s;peaks him greater than our father <HI>Abraham,</HI> for as it is &s;aid <HI>Heb.</HI> 7.7. <HI>Without all contradiction the le&s;&s;e is ble&s;&s;ed of the better:</HI> or more exc<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">llent; this the Spirit of God (advancing Chri&s;t above all others) menti|oneth both in that famous prophecy of his Kingdome and Power, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 110.4. &s;aying, <HI>The Lord hath &s;worn, and will not repent, Thou art a Prie&s;t for ever after the order of Melchi&s;e|dec:</HI> As al&s;o &s;ix &s;everal times in the 5, 6, &amp;
<PB N="96" REF="56"> 7. Chapters of the Epi&s;tle to the <HI>Hebrews,</HI> as it were delighting it &s;elf in the rehear&s;al of the exaltation, and excellency of Chri&s;t in this re&s;pect.</P>
<P>Fifthly, In the &s;olemnity of his Ordina|tion, different from the Ordination of other Prie&s;ts, which was without &s;o much ado, for they were made without an Oath, <HI>but he with an Oath, and that of God him&s;elf,</HI> accor|ding to that of the P&s;almi&s;t, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 110 4. Minded al&s;o by the Apo&s;tle, <HI>Heb:</HI> 7.21. <HI>The Lord &s;ware, and will not repent, Thou art a Prie&s;t for ever after the order of Melcbi&s;edec;</HI> and &s;ure|ly it is &s;ome great and weighty matter which cau&s;eth the Mo&s;t High to &s;wear.</P>
<P>Sixthly, In the performance of his work, which did con&s;i&s;t chiefly in four things.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, To make &s;atisfaction, and recon|ciliation for the &s;ins of the people, and this Chri&s;t did, and he &s;o did this marvellous work, as &s;hewed his mightine&s;&s;e therein.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, He did it to the uttermo&s;t, and that in re&s;pect</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Of the nature and mea&s;ure of it in it &s;elfe, it was a full, perfect &s;atisfaction, wanting nothing, <HI>Heb.</HI> 10.14. <HI>By one offe|ring he hath perfected for ever them that are &s;an|ctified:</HI> So that there needs none of the works, nor &s;ufferings of any other to con|tribute
<PB N="97" REF="56"> any thing to it; and if God at any time <HI>Vi&s;it the tran&s;gre&s;&s;ion of his children with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.</HI> It is not in reference to any further &s;atisfaction of his ju&s;tice, but in order to their Sanctifica|tion.</P>
<P>Secondly, Of the extent and largene&s;s of it, as to the &s;ubjects that partake of this grace, and they are not a few, but many, <HI>For he gave his life a Ran&s;ome for many,</HI> Math. 20.28. Mark 10.45. Not the <HI>Jews</HI> only, but the <HI>Gentiles</HI> al&s;o, he reconciled both un|to God in one body by the Cro&s;s, and came and preached peace to them that were afar off, and to them that were nigh, <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 2.16, 17. And thus the world par|take of it according to that of <HI>Paul,</HI> 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5.19. <HI>That God was in Chri&s;t reconciling the world unto him&s;elfe;</HI> yea, <HI>The whole world,</HI> 1 <HI>John</HI> 2.2. <HI>He is the propitiation for our &s;ins, and not for ours only, but al&s;o for the &s;ins of the whole world;</HI> yea, it extends unto <HI>All things,</HI> for &s;o it is written, <HI>Col.</HI> 1.20. <HI>And (having made peace through the blood of his Cro&s;&s;e) by him to reconcile all things unto him&s;elf, By him,</HI> I &s;ay, <HI>whether they be things in Earth, or things in Heaven.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, He did at once, not by many, but by one offering, and this &s;peaks him a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> upon this very account the Apo&s;tle prefers him and his &s;acrifice before
<PB N="98" REF="57"> all the Levitical Prie&s;ts and their &s;acrifices, of their &s;acrifices he &s;aith, <HI>The Law can never with tho&s;e &s;acrifices which they offered yeer by yeer, continually make the comers thereunto per|fect, but in tho&s;e &s;acrifices there is a Remembrance again made of &s;ins every yeer; for it is not po&s;&s;ible that the blood of Bulls and Goats &s;hould take away &s;in, Heb.</HI> 10.1, 3, 4. And again, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 11. <HI>Every Prie&s;t &s;tandeth daily mini&s;tring, and offe|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ing oftentimes the &s;ame &s;acrifices which can never take away &s;in;</HI> but of Chri&s;t he &s;peaks other|wi&s;e, not as of one weak, but mighty, a &s;ufficient Prie&s;t and Sacrifice; <HI>For by one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are &s;anctified.</HI> He offered but one offering, and that was enough.</P>
<P>Thirdly, He did it in no ordinary way; not by killing of others, but by dying him&s;elf, by making and offering him&s;elf a &s;acrifice for &s;in, according to that in <HI>Heb:</HI> 9.26. <HI>Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away &s;in by the &s;acrifice of him&s;elf?</HI> Other Prie&s;ts to make attonement for &s;ins, offered other things in &s;acrifice, he him&s;elf, he was the Prie&s;t and &s;acrifice too; he the ju&s;t, &s;uf|fered for the unju&s;t, that he might bring us to God; this is wonderful, no more need to be added to manife&s;t Chri&s;ts mightine&s;s in the performance of this part of his Prie&s;tly work.</P>
<PB N="99" REF="57">
<P>Secondly, To pray and intercede for the people, and this Chri&s;t doth, for he being come an High Prie&s;t of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Taber|nacle, did not by the blood of Bulls and Goats, and Calves (as other Prie&s;ts did but by his own blood) he entred in once into the holy place, into Heaven it &s;elf, now to appear in the pre&s;ence of God for us, <HI>Heb:</HI> 9.11, 12, 24. And this he doth to purpo&s;e, and with eminent &s;ucce&s;&s;e, obtaining eternal redemption for his faithful ones; for his blood being of &s;uch great merit and vertue, and he having &s;uch great intere&s;t and favour in Heaven, his prayers and interce&s;&s;ions are very prevalent, as a Prince he hath power with God, (his Father always hearing him, <HI>John</HI> 11.42.) Neither is he &s;o much a Pe|titioner to beg ble&s;&s;ings for Believers upon the account of meer mercy, but (having merited and purcha&s;ed them by his blood) as a <HI>mighty Advocate he plead for them in a way of Ju&s;tice.</HI> And upon this, the &s;ervants of God may, and do bear them&s;elves in ca&s;e of &s;in, according to that heart-unholding word, 1 <HI>John</HI> 2.1. <HI>My little chil<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="3 letters">n, the&s;e things write I unto you, that ye &s;in not, and if any man &s;in we have an Advocate with the Father, Je&s;us Christ the Righteous.</HI> Upon this did that good woman (that we read of in Hi|&s;tory)
<PB N="100" REF="58"> bear her &s;elf, who (being charged and accu&s;ed, and much put to it by the Devil) &s;aid, <HI>Though I cannot an&s;wer thee, my Advocate can:</HI> meaning Chri&s;t. And the Apo&s;tle did apprehend &s;o much of the mightine&s;&s;e of Chri&s;t in his performance of this part of his Prie&s;tly work, as that he layes the &s;tre&s;s of his peoples eternal &s;alvation upon it, <HI>Heb.</HI> 7.25. <HI>Wherefore he is able to &s;ave them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, &s;eeing he ever liveth to make interce&s;&s;ion for them.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, To offer up the gifts and &s;er|vices of the people, <HI>Heb:</HI> 5.1. &amp; 8.3. And this Chri&s;t doth al&s;o, and that powerfully and effectually, for he doth not take the prayers, prai&s;es, and &s;piritual &s;ervices of his people, and barely offer them up to the Lord, but by and through him pre&s;enting them, they are acceptable to God, 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.5. His very pre&s;enting the per&s;ons and performances of his people (unworthy and imperfect in them&s;elves) is &s;ufficient to make them acceptable to God; and there|fore he is mighty in that part al&s;o of the work <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 word"> a Prie&s;t.</P>
<P>Fou<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="3 letters">ly, To ble&s;&s;e the people, <HI>Numb:</HI> 6.23, 24, 25. This al&s;o Chri&s;t doth, and in this he is migh<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ier than all other Prie&s;ts which were before him, which is evident in that</P>
<PB N="101" REF="58">
<P>Fir&s;t, He ble&s;&s;eth more than they; they ble&s;&s;ed but a few in compari&s;on of tho&s;e he ble&s;&s;e, they but the Nation of the <HI>Jews</HI> at the mo&s;t, they but one Nation, he all the Nations of the world, both the <HI>Jews</HI> and the <HI>Gentiles</HI> al&s;o, according to the promi&s;e of God of old to <HI>Abraham</HI> &s;o often repeated, <HI>That all the Nations of the Earth &s;hould be ble&s;&s;ed in him.</HI> And for this end did God &s;end him according to the words of <HI>Peter</HI> to the <HI>Jewes Acts</HI> 3.25.26. <HI>Ye are the children of the Prophets, and of the Covenant which God made wite our Fathers, &s;aying unto Abraham, and in thy &s;eed &s;hall all the kindreds of the earth be ble&s;&s;ed: &V;nto you fir&s;t, God having rai&s;ed up his Son Je&s;us, &s;ent him to ble&s;&s;e you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.</HI> And <HI>Paul</HI> tells the <HI>Galatians, That Christ hath redeem|ed them from the cur&s;e of the Law, being made a cur&s;e for them, that the ble&s;&s;ing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Je&s;us Chri&s;t,</HI> Gal. 3.13, 14.</P>
<P>Secondly, He ble&s;&s;eth with more and more choice ble&s;&s;ings than any other Prie&s;t; he ble&s;&s;eth not onely with bodily, but with &s;piritual, and with all &s;pirituall ble&s;&s;ings, with ble&s;&s;ings for this life, and all e&s;tates and conditions therein, and with ble&s;&s;ings for the life to come.</P>
<PB N="102" REF="59">
<P>Thirdly, He ble&s;&s;eth more eminently than they; he doth not only wi&s;h ble&s;&s;ed, but make ble&s;&s;ed; he doth not only pray for a ble&s;&s;ing for his people, but he doth authoritatively pronounce them ble&s;&s;ed.</P>
<P>Seventhly, In the unchangeablene&s;s and everla&s;tingne&s;s of his Office, when the Lord made him a Prie&s;t, it was for ever; <HI>The Lord hath &s;worn, and will not repent; thou art a Prie&s;t for ever after the order of Melchi&s;e|dec.</HI> And by this al&s;o doth the Apo&s;tle ex|alt Chri&s;t above all other Prie&s;ts, <HI>Heb:</HI> 7.22, 23, 24. <HI>They truly were many Prie&s;ts becau&s;e they were not &s;uffered to continue by rea&s;on of death, but this man becau&s;e he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable Prie&s;t-hood, wherefore he is able to &s;ave,</HI> &amp;c.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Chri&s;t is a mighty Prophet; this plainly appears by the words of the Di&s;ciples to him&s;elf, inquiring about the things which came to pa&s;&s;e in tho&s;e dayes, <HI>Lu<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">e</HI> 24.19. which they &s;aid to be, <HI>concer|ning Je&s;us of Nazareth, which was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.</HI> His mightine&s;s in this re&s;pect is ma|nife&s;t.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In his Original; for though all other true Prophets be of Gods rai&s;ing up, and &s;ending, yet he more e&s;pecially; it is peculiarly prophecyed of him, <HI>Deut.</HI> 18.15.
<PB N="103" REF="59"> <HI>The Lord thy God will rai&s;e up unto thee a Pro|phet from the mid&s;t of thee.</HI> He is a Prophet of Gods &s;pecial &s;ending, he &s;ent him in a more eminent way than he did others, he &s;ent him immediately from him&s;elfe; <HI>Nicode|mus</HI> exalting him above others, &s;aith, <HI>John</HI> 3.2. <HI>We know thou art a teacher come from God.</HI> He came from God otherwi&s;e than other Prophets did; it is &s;aid of him alone, <HI>That he came out from God, even from the bo&s;ome of the Father, where he was.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, In his Qualification; he came out from God, and he came through|ly furni&s;hed for the di&s;charge of this Office, <HI>even with the whole mind of God,</HI> and with a &s;ufficiency of power to make it known; the Lord &s;peaking of him &s;aith, I&s;a: 42.1. <HI>Be|hold my &s;ervant,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>I have put my &s;pirit upon him, he &s;hall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles;</HI> and him&s;elf &s;aith. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 61.1, 2. <HI>The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, he hath anointed me to preach good tydings unto the meek; he hath &s;ent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim li|berty to the captives,</HI> &amp;c. He was full of the Spirit, and of power by the Spirit of the Lord.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In his Commi&s;&s;ion, and his Commi&s;&s;ion is an&s;werable to his Qualifi|cation, God gave him largely of his Spirit, and he gave him a large Commi&s;&s;ion, a|bundance
<PB N="104" REF="60"> of teaching-power, and abun|dance of teaching-work; See both his Qua|lification and his Commi&s;&s;ion, I&s;a. 42.1.6, 7. <HI>I have put my Spirit upon him, &mdash;I will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a Light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the Pri&s;oners from the Pri|&s;on, and them that &s;it in darkne&s;&s;e out of the pri|&s;on-hou&s;e.</HI> As al&s;o <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 49.6. He is not only Gods &s;ervant to rai&s;e up the Tribes of <HI>Jacob</HI> and to re&s;tore the pre&s;erved of <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> but &s;aith God, <HI>I will al&s;o give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my &s;alvation unto the end of the earth.</HI> He is the great Prophet, he hath the grand Commi&s;&s;ion, the whole work of teaching and &s;aving &s;ouls is com|mitted unto him alone, and he hath under|took it; he is the Lord of the Harve&s;t, and all other faithfull Teachers they are but his &s;ervants and labourers; he is the chief Shep|herd, all others are inferiour to him, being appointed by him to feed the Flock of God; in a word, the Father &s;ent him, and gave him all power both in Heaven and Earth; and he &s;endeth others, even all that are &s;ent; Mat: 28.18, 19, 20. <HI>Je&s;us came and &s;pake unto them, &s;aying, All power is given unto me in Heaven, and in Earth, Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,</HI> &amp;c.</P>
<PB N="105" REF="60">
<P>Fourthly, In his Execution and exer|ci&s;e of this Office; his teaching was, and is with power and authority upon the con&s;ci|ences of men wonderfully convincing of &s;in and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, he is a teacher that openeth both the Scriptures and under&s;tan|dings too, <HI>Luke</HI> 24.32, 45. He doth not only propound truth to men as others do, but he makes them &s;toop to it, which none el&s;e can do: his Mini&s;tration is with &s;uch power and efficacy as that he puts the Law of God into the minds of his people, and write it in their hearts, and this is the &s;ole prerogative of him who is both King, Prie&s;t, and Prophet as hath been &s;hewn.</P>
<P>Fifthly, In the Command of God con|cerning him, <HI>viz.</HI> to heare him; God at &s;un|dry times and in divers manners &s;pake in time pa&s;t unto the Fathers by the Prophets, and his Command to the people was <HI>to heare them,</HI> but God hath in the&s;e la&s;t dayes &s;poken unto us by his Son, that Great Pro|phet, who is greater than all the Prophets which were before him (he being the &s;ub|&s;tance of all their Te&s;timony) and he hath commanded, that we &s;hould <HI>heare him.</HI> This the Voice out of the cloud uttered, &s;aying, <HI>This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well plea|&s;ed; Heare ye him;</HI> yea, this is the &s;peciall and &s;trict command of God, <HI>Act.</HI> 3.22.
<PB N="106" REF="61"> <HI>A Prophet &s;hall the Lord your God rai&s;e up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, Him &s;hall ye heare in all things, what&s;oever he &s;hall &s;ay unto you;</HI> and not onely &s;o, but the &s;everity of God is, and will be towards all tho&s;e that reject, and de&s;pi&s;e his words; <HI>for every &s;oule that will not heare that Prophet &s;hall be de&s;troyed from among the people, Act.</HI> 3.23. Therefore he &s;aith, <HI>See that ye refu&s;ed not him that &s;peaketh; for if they e&s;caped not, who refu&s;ed him that &s;pake on Earth, much more &s;hall not we e&s;cape, if we turne away from him that &s;peaketh from heaven,</HI> Heb. 12.25. <HI>This is his commandement, that we &s;hould beleeve on the Name of his Son Je&s;us Chri&s;t,</HI> 1 Joh. 3.23. Surely he is a mighty Prophet, whom the Lord doth &s;o &s;trictly charge the people to heare. I thought to have enlarged upon this &s;ubject, by in&s;ert|ing &s;ome of the &s;peciall predictions, pre|cepts, ptomi&s;es, and in&s;tructions of this Pro|phet, but what hath been already mentio|ned is &s;ufficient for the pre&s;ent de&s;igne, <HI>viz.</HI> to demon&s;trate his mightine&s;s in th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">s office al&s;o.</P>
<P>Twenty-&s;econdly, In the Carriage of others towards him.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the carriage of the generality of the people as</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Their recour&s;e to him; we reade not that any of the Patriarchs, Judges,
<PB N="107" REF="61"> Kings, Prophets, or Apo&s;tles were &s;o fol|lowed, and flockt to as he was; As &s;oone as he was borne, we reade of wi&s;e men who came a great journey, from the Ea&s;t to <HI>Je|ru&s;alem</HI> to wor&s;hip him; and as &s;oone as he began to teach, and worke miracles, &s;uch multitudes followed him, that he was fain to goe up into a Mountaine to teach his Di&s;|ciples, <HI>Math.</HI> 5.1. and as &s;oone as he was come downe Great multitudes followed him, <HI>Math.</HI> 8.1. He was &s;eldome without multitudes who attended to &s;ee his mira|cles, and to heare his wi&s;dome, and the gra|cious words which proceeded out of his mouth; &s;ometimes there was &s;uch an in|numerable multitude of people gathered to|gether, that they trod one upon another, <HI>Luk.</HI> 12.1. When he was in <HI>Capernaum,</HI> in <HI>Simons</HI> hou&s;e healing, all the City was ga|thered together at the doore; And ri&s;ing up early a great while before day, he went into a &s;olitary place, &amp; <HI>Simon</HI> having found him, &s;aid unto him, <HI>All men &s;eek for thee, Mark.</HI> 1.33, 37. Sometimes he was &s;o thong'd, that they could not bring the &s;icke nigh unto him in an ordinary way, that nei|ther his mother, nor brethren could come at him, <HI>Luke</HI> 8.19. When the Apo&s;tles ga|thered them&s;elves together unto him, to give him an account of &s;ome matters, he
<PB N="108" REF="62"> called them into a de&s;art place to re&s;t a while, for there were many coming, and going, and they had no lei&s;ure &s;o much as to eate; And though they departed into a de&s;art place by Ship privately, the people &s;aw them departing, and many knew him, and ran a foot thither out of all Cities, and out-went them, and came together unto him; And when he came into the Land of <HI>Gene&s;areth,</HI> &amp; came out of the Ship, &s;traight|way they knew him, and ran through that whole Region round about, and began to carry about in beds tho&s;e that were &s;ick, where they heard he was, and whither &s;oe|ver he entred, into Villages, or Cities, or Countries, they laid the &s;ick in the &s;treets, and be&s;ought him that they might touch, if it were but the border of his garment, <HI>Mark</HI> 6.30, 31, 32, 33, 53, 54, 55, 56. This carriage of the people &s;peak him forth to be o<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">e from whom they expected great things.</P>
<P>Secondly, Their marvelling, and won|dring at his Doctrine, and Workes, and that not &s;eldome, once or twice onely but often, they often marvelled, they often wondred, they were often amazed, they were often a&s;toni&s;hed, as might be &s;hewne, and as it was often in re&s;pect of time, &s;o it was much, and great in re&s;pect of mea&s;ure.
<PB N="109" REF="62"> It is &s;aid, <HI>Mark</HI> 6.51. when Chri&s;t went up unto his Di&s;ciples into the Ship, <HI>the winde cea&s;ed, and they were &s;ore amazed in them&s;elves beyond mea&s;ure, and wondred;</HI> when the Dam|&s;el which was dead aro&s;e and walked, they which beheld it were a&s;toni&s;hed with a great a&s;toni&s;hment, <HI>Mark</HI> 5.42. <GAP DESC="foreign">, they were in an exta&s;ie, in a great exta&s;ie, they were not them&s;elves for the time; &s;o when he healed the man which was deafe and dumbe, they that &s;aw it were beyond mea&s;ure a&s;toni&s;hed.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Their Rejoycings, and Accla|mations; <HI>As he did ride into Jeru&s;alem, a ve|ry great multitude &s;pread their garments in the way, others cut downe branches from the trees, and &s;trawed them in the way, and the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cryed, &s;aying, Ho&s;anna to the Son of David, ble&s;&s;ed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Ho&s;anna in the highe&s;t,</HI> Math. 21.8, 9. So likewi&s;e when he had an&s;wered the Ruler of the Syna|gogue, cavilling at him for healing on the Sabbath day, it is &s;aid, <HI>All the people Rejoyced for all the Glorious things that were done by him, Luke</HI> 13.17.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Their be&s;eechings, the great and mighty ones be&s;ought him, <HI>Jairus one of the Rulers of the Synagogue, fell at his feet, and be&s;ought him greatly to come and lay his
<PB N="110" REF="63"> hands on his little daughter,</HI> Mark 5.22, 23. <HI>The Centurion came be&s;eeching him on behalfe of his &s;ervant,</HI> Math. 8.5, 6. <HI>Yea a certaine No|ble man,</HI> <GAP DESC="foreign">, Joh. 4.46, 47. <HI>Some Prince|ly mighty one went unto him, and be&s;ought him that he would heale his Son, for he was at the point of death;</HI> yea this was the carriage of the ve|ry Devils towards him, <HI>Math.</HI> 8.31. <HI>Mark</HI> 5.12.</P>
<P>Fifthly, Their wor&s;hipping; <HI>Many of tho&s;e that came to him, fell downe at his feet, and wor&s;hipped him,</HI> the Ruler of the Synagogue, and others, both good and bad wor&s;hipped him all along, In his Infancy, <HI>Math.</HI> 2.11. In his Man-age oft, After his Re&s;urtection, <HI>Math.</HI> 28.9. In the time of his A&s;cen&s;ion, <HI>Luke</HI> 24.52. The&s;e carriages of the Genera|lity of the people declare his mightine&s;s.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the carriage of his Enemies, even in their wor&s;t carriages, <HI>viz.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Their per&s;ecutions; for that he was &s;o per&s;ecuted of the Mighty Ones of the world, was becau&s;e they lookt upon him, as a Mighty One, and were afraid of him, le&s;t he &s;hould become mightier then they, and indeed per&s;ecution of any per&s;on or party, do u&s;ually ari&s;e from feare in the per&s;ecutors, le&s;t &s;uch a per&s;on or party &s;hould prevaile again&s;t them; It was evi|dently &s;o in the per&s;ecutions of Chri&s;t, as
<PB N="111" REF="63"> &s;oone as he was borne, he was per&s;ecuted by <HI>Herod</HI> that Mighty One, he &s;ought to de&s;troy him, and it was from feare, for hear|ing of one born King of the <HI>Jewe<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">,</HI> and &s;ome coming from farr to wor&s;hip him, (being led to him in an extraordinary way) he was troubled <GAP DESC="foreign">, very much terrified, and all <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI> with him. It is al&s;o &s;aid, <HI>Mark</HI> 11.18. <HI>The Scribes and the chiefe Prie&s;ts &s;ought how they might de&s;troy him, For they feared him, becau&s;e all the people were a&s;toni&s;hed at his do|ctrine.</HI> And when &s;ome told the Phari&s;ees what things Je&s;us had done, <HI>Then gathered the chiefe Prie&s;ts and the Phari&s;ees a Councel, and &s;aid, what do we? for this man doth miracles; if we let him thus alone, all men will beleeve on him, and the Romanes &s;hall come, and take away both our place, and Nation; and from that day forth they took councel together for to put him to death, Joh.</HI> 11.46, 47, 48, 53. And Hi&s;tory tells us of &s;ome Emperours, who have been &s;o troubled with the Feare of one King <HI>Je&s;us</HI> taking away their Crownes, as they have &s;ought the de&s;truction of the whole lineage of <HI>David;</HI> &s;o that it is apparent that the ve|ry per&s;ecutions of his enemies &s;pake him to be a Mighty One, one whom they dur&s;t not let live.</P>
<P>Secondly, Their Combinations and con|federacies again&s;t him, there were, and are
<PB N="112" REF="64"> combinations of the mighty again&s;t him, yea &s;trong Combinations again&s;t him.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, A Combination of all Intere&s;ts, both civil, eccl<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;ia&s;ticall, and military, as is evident in the words of <HI>Peter</HI> and <HI>John,</HI> re|corded <HI>Acts</HI> 4.25, 26, 27. <HI>Lord thou art God which ha&s;t made Heave and Earth,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>who by the mouth of thy &s;ervant David ha&s;t &s;aid, Why did the Heathen rage, and the people imagine vaine things; The Kings of the Earth &s;tood up, and the Rulers were gathered together again&s;t the Lord, and again&s;t his Chri&s;t. For of a truth again&s;t thy holy child Je&s;us, whom thou ha&s;t anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of I&s;rael were gathered together; with</HI> Luke 19.47. <HI>The chiefe Prie&s;ts, and the Scribes, and the chiefe of the people &s;ought to de&s;troy him;</HI> thus all &s;orts of Intere&s;ts were ingaged a|gain&s;t Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Secondly, A Combination of all they have, which may be reduced to three heads.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, A Combination of powers, and &s;trength; For both <HI>Herod,</HI> and <HI>Pontius Pi|late,</HI> and the chiefe Prie&s;ts, and others joy|ned their &s;everall powers, and Authorities again&s;t him; and as it was then, &s;o it was to be afterwards, as is manife&s;t by the An|gels explanation of <HI>Johns</HI> Vi&s;ion to him, <HI>Rev.</HI> 17.12, 13, 14. <HI>The ten Hornes which
<PB N="113" REF="64"> thou &s;awe&s;t are ten Kings which have received no kingdome as yet, but receive power as Kings one houre with the Bea&s;t; The&s;e have one minde, and &s;hall give their power and &s;trength unto the Bea&s;t; The&s;e &s;hall make warre with the Lambe:</HI> And this <HI>John</HI> &s;aw yet more fully, <HI>Rev.</HI> 19.19. <HI>I &s;aw the Bea&s;t, and the Kings of the Earth, and their Armies gathered together to make warre a|gain&s;t him that &s;ate on the Hor&s;e, and again&s;t his Army;</HI> Thus the powers and forces of the world combine again&s;t Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Secondly, A Combination of policy, and Councel; The Enemies of Chri&s;t <HI>con&s;ulted together with one Con&s;ent, and were confederate again&s;t him;</HI> They con&s;ulted together how to intangle him in his talke, how to appre|hend him, how to put him to death, how to conceale his Re&s;urrection, <HI>Math.</HI> 22.15. <HI>Math.</HI> 26.3, 4. <HI>Math.</HI> 27.1. <HI>Math.</HI> 28.12. Of this the P&s;almi&s;t &s;peaks, <HI>The Kings of the Earth &s;et them&s;elves, and the Rulers take Coun|cel together again&s;t the Lord, and again&s;t his A|nointed,</HI> P&s;al. 2.2.</P>
<P>Thirdly, A Combination of pur&s;es, they had all one pur&s;e again&s;t him; this is evi|dent in his Apprehen&s;ion, for the chiefe Prie&s;ts and Captaines covenanted to give <HI>Judas</HI> money, <HI>Luke</HI> 22, 4, 5. As al&s;o in his Re&s;urrection (being apparent to the Soul|diers, who al&s;o declared it to the chiefe
<PB N="114" REF="65"> Prie&s;ts) they &s;pared no co&s;t to prevaile with the Souldiers to conceale the &s;ame; They gave <HI>large money</HI> to them to &s;top their mouths from publi&s;hing the Truth, and to open them to tell a lie, <HI>Math.</HI> 28.11, 12, 13.</P>
<P>Thirdly, A Combination again&s;t him, and all of him; They combined again&s;t his per&s;on to put him to death as a Malefactor; again&s;t his Doctrine, to keep, or ca&s;t it out as error; again&s;t his &s;ervants to root them out of the Earth, as evil doers; again&s;t his Kingdome, to &s;uppre&s;&s;e that as &s;ome hurt|full, dangerous thing; As their hatred was of the whole kind, <HI>viz.</HI> Chri&s;t, and tho&s;e that were Chri&s;ts, &s;o they combined again&s;t him, and all of him, both per&s;ons, and things, that the name of Chri&s;t might be no more in Remembrance. And that they dur&s;t not deale with him &s;ingly, but thus combi|ned together again&s;t him, is a plaine demon|&s;tration of his mightine&s;s.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the carriage of his &s;ervants towards him, as</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Their confidence in him; In all their difficulties, dangers, and di&s;tre&s;&s;es, re|lating both to &s;oule and body, he is their confidence for &s;upplyes, &s;uccours, and &s;al|vation; neither is he the confidence of &s;ome onely, but of all his &s;ervants, not of the <HI>Jews</HI> onely (for many, yea many thou&s;ands of
<PB N="115" REF="65"> them have beleeved on him, <HI>Acts</HI> 20.21.) but al&s;o, and e&s;pecially of the Gentiles; ac|cording to the prophecy of him, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.10. <HI>He &s;hall &s;tand for an En&s;igne of the people, to it &s;hall the Gentiles &s;eeke;</HI> which the Apo&s;tle ex|plaines, and calls a <HI>Tru&s;ting in him, Rom.</HI> 15.12. <HI>In him &s;hall the Gentiles tru&s;t;</HI> and thus he is the Confidence of all the ends of the Earth, and of them that are a far off upon the Sea, and how mighty mu&s;t he needs be that is the &s;ole tru&s;t, and confidence of all the truely wi&s;e, holy, and faithfull ones a|mong men?</P>
<P>Secondly, Their Confe&s;&s;ion of him; As the Lord requireth confe&s;&s;ion with the mouth, as well as faith in the heart, <HI>Rom.</HI> 10.9, 10. &s;o the &s;ervants of Chri&s;t are not &s;atisfied that they beleeve on him onely (in &s;ecret) as their Prince, and Saviour, but by their profe&s;&s;ion proclaime him to be &s;o on the hou&s;e-top (being neither a&s;hamed, nor afraid to confe&s;&s;e him before men) that others might al&s;o know, and acknow|ledge him with them. And as Confe&s;&s;ion of him is (as <HI>Luther</HI> &s;aith) <HI>Virtus virtutum, et &s;ummum, ac difficillium opus,</HI> the mo&s;t excel|lent, and difficult worke, and that which &s;ome beleeevers have not been able to do, <HI>Joh.</HI> 12.42. So it attributes power to Chri&s;t, and &s;peakes him forth to be a Saviour, and a great One.</P>
<PB N="116" REF="66">
<P>Thirdly, Their &s;ufferings for him, which follow their confe&s;&s;ion of him; how have they been reproached, per&s;ecuted, and hated of all men for his Name &s;ake, <HI>They have had trials of cruel mockings, &s;courgings, of bonds, impri&s;onments, have been &s;toned, &s;awen a&s;under, &s;laine with the &s;word, have wandred about in &s;heep-skins, and goat-skins, in de&s;arts, mountaines, and in dens, and caves of the earth,</HI> Heb. 11.36, 38, 38. And not onely tho&s;e that fir&s;t tru|&s;ted in Chri&s;t, but all the faithfull in their &s;everall Generations have been ready to be bound and to dye, yea many have died for Je&s;us &s;ake: we reade not of &s;uch &s;ufferers for any cau&s;e, either for number, con&s;tancy or cheerfulne&s;s, as the Martyrs of Je&s;us, nor yet of any &s;ufferings greater than what they endured for Je&s;us &s;ake; Surely he is &s;ome Mighty One for who&s;e &s;ake &s;uch an innu|merable company of Saints have &s;uffered &s;uch grievous things with joyfulne&s;s.</P>
<P>Twenty-thirdly, He is Mighty in his own &s;ufferings, that he who was God &s;hould &s;uffer at all, was a marvellous thing, and a wonder, which was and could be one|ly by a&s;&s;uming a nature to whom it was po&s;&s;ible to &s;uffer; his Mightine&s;s in his &s;uf|ferings is manife&s;t.</P>
<P>F<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">r&s;t, In the kinds of his &s;ufferings, his &s;ufferings were of all &s;orts, the Cup which
<PB N="117" REF="66"> he dranke of had all kind of bitterne&s;s in it, di&s;grace, poverty, paine, temptations, and what&s;oever is hard to be endured.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the &s;ubject of his &s;ufferings, he &s;uffered in every part.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In his &s;oule, as him&s;elfe &s;aid, <HI>Math.</HI> 26.38. <HI>My &s;oule is exceeding &s;orrowfull, even unto death.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, In his body, in every part thereof, in all the &s;en&s;es thereof.</P>
<P>In his hearing, by their reproaches, and crying, <HI>crucifie him.</HI></P>
<P>In his &s;ight, by their &s;coffing, and &s;corn|ing ge&s;tures.</P>
<P>In his &s;mell, by his being in that noy&s;ome place <HI>Golgotha,</HI> Math. 27.33.</P>
<P>In his ta&s;t, by his ta&s;ting of vinegar min|gled with gall, which they gave him to drinke, <HI>Math.</HI> 27.34.</P>
<P>In his feeling, by the thornes on his head, blows on his cheekes, &s;pittle on his face, the &s;peare in his &s;ide, and the nailes in his hands.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In his Name, by reproach, and ignominy.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In his e&s;tate, and goods, <HI>they crucified him, and parted his garments, ca&s;ting lots,</HI> Math. 27.35.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the mea&s;ure of his &s;uffer|ings, it was good mea&s;ure, heaped up, pre&s;|&s;ed
<PB N="118" REF="67"> downe, and running over, he &s;uffered a great deale of every kind.</P>
<P>Much di&s;grace, and &s;hame; when he was teaching the Phari&s;ees derided him, when he was di&s;cour&s;ing the people &s;aid, <HI>thou ha&s;t a Devil.</HI></P>
<P>When they apprehended him, it was with di&s;grace, <HI>they came with &s;words, and &s;taves, as again&s;t a thiefe.</HI></P>
<P>When they did condemne him, it was to be crucified, a &s;hamefull death; and they preferred a murderer before him, when they had condemned him, <HI>they &s;tripped him, and put on him a Scarlet robe, they put a Crowne of thornes upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee bef<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">re him, and mocked him, &s;aying, Haile King of the Jewes, Math.</HI> 27.28, 29.</P>
<P>When they crucified him, it was between two theeves, e&s;teeming him the chiefe, and wor&s;t of malefactors. <HI>And when he was on the Cro&s;&s;e, they that pa&s;&s;ed by, reviled him, wagging their heads, &s;aying, thou that de&s;troye&s;t the Tem|ple, and builde&s;t it in three dayes, &s;ave thy &s;elfe. Likewi&s;e the chiefe Prie&s;ts mocking him, with the Scribes, and Elders, &s;aid, he &s;aved others, him&s;elfe he cannot &s;ave,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>Math.</HI> 27.39, 40, 41, 42.</P>
<P>And when he was dead, they called him, <HI>that Deceiver.</HI></P>
<P>Great poverty, as &s;oone as he was borne,
<PB N="119" REF="67"> he was laid in a Manger, <HI>Luke</HI> 2.7. Him|&s;elfe &s;aid, <HI>Math.</HI> 8.20. <HI>The Son of man hath not where to lay his head.</HI></P>
<P>Great paine; It is &s;aid, <HI>Being in an Agony, he prayed more earne&s;tly, and his &s;weat was as it were Great Drops of blood falling downe to the Ground,</HI> Luke 22.44. And him&s;elfe &s;aith, <HI>My &s;oule is exceeding &s;orrowfull, even unto death;</HI> he was &s;courged, &s;mitten, buffetted, and at la&s;t crucified, (that lingring, painfull death) the large mea&s;ure of his &s;ufferings, as well as the &s;everall kinds, are mentioned, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 53.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In the efficient Cau&s;es of his &s;ufferings, both principall, and In&s;trumen|tall, he &s;uffered from the Mighty.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, From his Father, the Almighty God, he &s;pared him not, it plea&s;ed the Lord to brui&s;e him, he hath put him to griefe, <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> 53.10.</P>
<P>Secondly, From his foes, and they are Mighty Ones; he &s;uffered from the Devil that Mighty One.</P>
<P>From men, and that of all &s;orts and ranks, both people, and Rulers, both meane, and mighty, e&s;pecially the Mighty Ones of the Earth; from <HI>Pontius Pilate</HI> the Gover|nour, that Mighty One; from <HI>Herod,</HI> that Great one, Tetrarch of <HI>Galilee,</HI> and his men of warre, &amp; from the chiefe Prie&s;ts, Scribes, and Phari&s;ees, and all the Elders of the
<PB N="120" REF="68"> people, as well as from the people them|&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">lves, &s;ee <HI>Acts</HI> 4.26, 27.</P>
<P>Thirdly, From his Friends, from his own Countrymen, the <HI>Jewes,</HI> they would have him crucified, therefore &s;aith <HI>Pilate</HI> to him, <HI>Joh.</HI> 18.35. <HI>Thine own Nation, and the chiefe Prie&s;ts have delivered thee unto me;</HI> yea from his neere&s;t friends, <HI>Peter</HI> &s;hameful|ly denyed him; <HI>Judas</HI> his own &s;ervant, one of the Twelve, a Di&s;ciple in Ordinary, be|trayed him, and all his Di&s;ciples for&s;ooke him, and fled, <HI>Math.</HI> 26.56.</P>
<P>Fifthly, In the per&s;ons for whom he &s;uffered, <HI>Me&s;&s;iah</HI> was wounded, brui&s;ed, and cut off, but not for him&s;elf, it was for others, and they &s;trangers, &s;inners, enemies, Chri&s;t &s;aid when he was taken of the Souldiers, <HI>If ye &s;eek me, let the&s;e go their way.</HI> Chri&s;t was willing that the hurt which &s;inners had done to God, and the debt which they owed to him &s;hould be &s;et upon his &s;core, and put upon his account, and <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">he Apo&s;tle m<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ntions it as a remarkable thing, <HI>That Chri&s;t dyed for the ungodly, Rom:</HI> 5.6. <HI>The ju&s;t for the unju&s;t,</HI> 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3.18.</P>
<P>Sixthly, In his willingne&s;&s;e and readi|ne&s;&s;e to &s;uffer; he was free and willing to undertake th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> wo<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">k of mans Redemption; when he cometh into the world he &s;aith, <HI>Sacrifice and Offerings thou would&s;t not, but a body
<PB N="121" REF="68"> hast thou prepared me; then &s;aid I, Lo, I come to do thy will O God, Heb:</HI> 20.5, 7. Its the ex|pre&s;&s;ion of one breaking out with joy to do the thing; he was free al&s;o in the carrying of it on, as appears by his own words, <HI>Luke</HI> 12.50. <HI>I have a B<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">pti&s;me to be baptized with, and how am I &s;traitned till it be accompli&s;hed. The Cup which my Father hath given me, &s;hall I not drink it?</HI> John 18.11.</P>
<P>Seventhly, In the end of his &s;uffering; which was matter of greate&s;t weight and concernment, as the averting of Gods wrath the procuring of his favour, the freeing from all evil, and bringing &s;ouls to God for life and &s;alvation; now how mighty an One mu&s;t he needs be that endured &s;uch a large mea&s;ure of all kinds of &s;ufferings in all parts, from all &s;orts of per&s;ons? and that freely and willingly to procure mercy and favour for &s;inners, and enemies to him|&s;elf.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Particular &s;ufferings wherein Chri&s;ts Migh|tine&s;&s;e is to be &s;een.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, His Apprehen&s;ion and taking, they came forth as to a Mighty One that would not have been apprehended; <HI>Judas came, and with him a great multitude with &s;words and &s;taves, from the chief Prie&s;ts, and the Scribes, and the Elders, Mark</HI> 14.43. And at that time
<PB N="122" REF="69"> the mightine&s;s of Chri&s;t was &s;een, for when one that was about him &s;mote the &s;ervant of the High Prie&s;t, and cut off his right ear, he did but touch his ear and healed him, <HI>Luke</HI> 22.50, 51. And which is more they that went about to take him, were &s;mitten down with one &s;oft word of his mouth; for as &s;oon as he had &s;aid unto them, <HI>I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground,</HI> John 18.6.</P>
<P>Secondly, His Tryal; his Accu&s;ation and charge was, <HI>That he was a perverter of the Nation, and forbad to give Tribute to Cae&s;ar, &s;ay|ing, That he him&s;elf is Chri&s;t, a King, Luke</HI> 23.2. And the que&s;tions which the Governour and others put to him were according to it, <HI>Art thou the Son of God? Art thou the King of th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> Jews? Art thou a King?</HI> his Charge was as of a Mighty One, and his An&s;wer was as of a Mighty One: <HI>For when the High Priest asked him, and &s;aid unto him; Art thou the Chri&s;t, the Son of the ble&s;&s;ed? he &s;aid, I am;</HI> that is, the Son of God, not by Adoption as others, but by Nature; for unle&s;&s;e this had been the meaning of his an&s;wer, they could not have condemned him of bla&s;phemy, but they took it as granted, nor did he deny it, that he made him&s;elf &s;uch a Son of God, as was equall with God; &s;o there was God &s;tanding in the Congregation of the Migh|ty,
<PB N="123" REF="69"> tho&s;e earthly gods did judge him, and he (which &s;heweth that he was a Mighty One) judgeth them, or at lea&s;t declareth him&s;elf to be that Judge which was to judge them and all men too; for to that purpo&s;e was his An&s;wer, <HI>Je&s;us &s;aid, I am, and ye &s;hall &s;ee the Son of man &s;itting on the right hand of power, and coming in the Clouds of Heaven,</HI> Mark 14.62. And when he was asked, <HI>Whether he was a King,</HI> he denyed it not, but confe&s;|&s;ed it in the&s;e words, <HI>My Kingdome is not of this world,</HI> John 18.36,</P>
<P>Thirdly, His Condemnation; he was condemned as a Mighty One, his Accu&s;a|tion, and the cau&s;e of his Condemnation was &s;et up over his head, written, <HI>This is Je&s;us the King of the Jews,</HI> Math. 27.37. <HI>Mark</HI> &s;aith, <HI>The King of the Jews,</HI> Mark 15.26. <HI>Luke, This is the Ki<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">g of the Jews,</HI> Luke 22.38. <HI>John, Je&s;us of Nazareth the King of the Jews,</HI> John 19.19. The main thing regar|ded was, That he took upon him to be King of the <HI>Jews:</HI> And it is to be ob&s;erved, that God did &s;o over-rule the heart and hand of <HI>Pilate,</HI> that in&s;tead of noting &s;ome Crime, he &s;ets down a mo&s;t glorious and worthy Title; and this Super&s;cription was wrought in three Languages, <HI>viz: Hebrew, Greek and Latine,</HI> The end of which was, (as Mr. <HI>Per|k<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ns</HI> noteth) that the Pa&s;&s;ion of Chri&s;t, and
<PB N="124" REF="70"> al&s;o the publi&s;hing of his Kingdome and Go&s;pel might &s;pread all over the world, and <HI>Pilate</HI> would not be prevailed with by the chief Prie&s;ts, to change the Title to that he &s;aid, <HI>I am King of the Jews,</HI> but &s;aid, <HI>What I have written, I have written,</HI> John 19.21, 22.</P>
<P>Fourthly, His Death, in which his migh|tine&s;&s;e &s;hines forth.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the Concomitants of it; as the conver&s;ion of the Thief, the darkning of the Sun over all the Land, from the &s;ixt, to the ninth hour, the rending of the Vail of the Temple in twain, the Earth-quake, the rending of the Rocks, the opening of the Graves, the ri&s;ing of many bodyes of Saints which &s;lept, the conviction and con|fe&s;&s;ion of the Centurion with his Souldiers, <HI>That he was the Son of God, &s;ome great and migh|ty One that fell that day,</HI> Math: 27.51, 52, 54. Mark 15.33.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the vertue and efficacy of it; which I &s;hall briefly hint in three parti|culars,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, It is of a purcha&s;ing vertue; for by and through it he purcha&s;ed a p<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ople, <HI>Acts</HI> 20.28. <HI>And an inheritance for them,</HI> Ephe&s;. 1.7, 11. <HI>Which no cerruptible thing as Silver and Gold could obtain,</HI> 1 Pet. 1.18.</P>
<PB N="125" REF="70">
<P>Secondly, It is of a pacifying vertue; <HI>For by it he hath made an Attonement, and Re|conciliation for &s;in,</HI> Rom: 5.10. Heb. 2.17. <HI>Which the blood of Bulls and Goats could never do,</HI> Heb: 10.4, 11.</P>
<P>Thirdly, It is of a purifying vertue; <HI>It purgeth the Con&s;cience from dead works to &s;erve the living God, Heb:</HI> 9.14. Yea, <HI>It clean&s;eth from all &s;in,</HI> 1 John 1.7. <HI>which no Sope nor Nitre can effect,</HI> Jer. 2.22.</P>
<P>Twenty-fourthly, He is mighty in his Burial; &s;ome degree of glory did break forth in Chri&s;ts Burial, he had an ho|nourable Burial; <HI>He made his Grave with the rich in his death,</HI> I&s;a: 53.9. <HI>Jo&s;eph</HI> of <HI>Arima|thea,</HI> not onely a good man and a ju&s;t, but al&s;o an honourable Councellour, together with <HI>Nicodemus</HI> a Ruler of the <HI>Jews,</HI> who brought a mixture of Myrrh and Aloes, about an hundred pound weight, took the body of Je&s;us and wound it in Linnen Cloaths with the Spices and laid it in a Se|pulchre hewen out of the Rock, a new Se|pulchre where never man was laid before; that which was wonderful in his Burial was, that they who were fearful to confe&s;&s;e him when living, were bold to own him when dead, and to be buried; for <HI>Jo&s;eph</HI> of <HI>Arimathea,</HI> who was a Di&s;ciple, but &s;ecretly for fear of the <HI>Jews,</HI> John 19.38. yet went
<PB N="126" REF="71"> in boldly unto <HI>Pilate</HI> and craved the body of Je&s;us, <HI>Mark</HI> 15.43. And <HI>Nicodemus</HI> which at the fir&s;t came to him by night, had cour|age to appear at his Burial, though he was condemned and crucified as a great Male|factor; this the Evangeli&s;t <HI>John</HI> noteth, <HI>John</HI> 19.39.</P>
<P>Twenty-fifthly, He is mighty in his Re|&s;urrection; which doth appear in that</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, He ro&s;e at all, and it is a wonder|ful thing for the dead to ri&s;e.</P>
<P>Secondly, He ro&s;e &s;oon, he did not lye many yeers in the Grave, he did not as <HI>Mahomet,</HI> who promi&s;ed the <HI>Sarazins</HI> after eight hundred years to re-vi&s;it them, but within three dayes, for he &s;aid unto the <HI>Jews, De&s;troy this Temple</HI> (&s;peaking of the Temple of his body) <HI>and in three dayes I will rai&s;e it up,</HI> and accordingly he ro&s;e the third day, which was as &s;hort a time as might be, for had he not been dead &s;ome &s;uch like di|&s;tance of time, &s;ome would not have belie|ved that he was dead at all.</P>
<P>Thirdly, He ro&s;e again&s;t utmo&s;t humane oppo&s;ition, though his enemies did what|ever they could to hinder it; the chief Prie&s;ts and the Phari&s;ees make an Addre&s;s to <HI>Pilate</HI> about this, &s;aying, <HI>Sir, We remem|ber that that Deceiver &s;aid while he was yet alive After three dayes I will ri&s;e again; command
<PB N="127" REF="71"> therefore that the Sepulchre be made &s;ure untill the third day:</HI> And <HI>Pilate</HI> an&s;wered their de|&s;ire, <HI>for he &s;aid unto them, ye have a watch, go your way, make it as &s;ure as you can; &s;o they went and made the Sepulchre &s;ure, &s;ealing the &s;tone, and &s;etting a watch,</HI> Math. 27.62, 63, 64, 65.66. Yet Chri&s;t ro&s;e notwith&s;tand|ing their great watch of Souldiers, and great &s;tone which they rolled to the door of the Sepulchre; &s;o that by his Re&s;urre|ction from the dead, he is declared to be the Son of God with power, <HI>Rom.</HI> 1.4. And that he hath &s;atisfied the Ju&s;tice of God, and di&s;charged the debt which he under|took to pay to the full, being taken from pri&s;on, the Grave, in which the &s;trength of &s;in, and Gods wrath did for a time as Cords hold him; and therefore the Apo&s;tle pro|claims a mighty victory at Chri&s;ts Re&s;ur|rection, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15.54, 55, 56, 57. And in|deed then Chri&s;t appeared victorious, his Re&s;urrection being the beginning of his Ex|altation.</P>
<P>Twenty-&s;ixthly, He is mighty in his A&s;cen&s;ion, not onely in that he a&s;cended on high, into heaven; upon which account the Apo&s;tle magnifies him, <HI>Heb:</HI> 4.14. <HI>See|ing we have a Great High Prie&s;t that is pa&s;&s;ed inro the Heavens, Je&s;us the Son of God;</HI> but he a&s;cended as a Mighty One; <HI>Ble&s;&s;ing the Di&s;|ciples
<PB N="128" REF="72"> as he parted with them, and they wor&s;hipping him,</HI> Luke 24.50, 51, 52. <HI>The Angels al&s;o apppeared and attended,</HI> Acts 1.10.</P>
<P>Twenty-&s;eventhly, He is mighty in his Se&s;&s;ion; he is &s;et down on the right hand of God. The Apo&s;tle &s;peaks of him as of a Mighty One in this re&s;pect, <HI>Heb:</HI> 8, 1. <HI>We have &s;uch an High Prie&s;t, who is &s;et on the right hand of the Throne of the Maje&s;ty in the Heavens:</HI> And in this re&s;pect he is far above any of the Angels, for God never &s;aid to any of the Angels, <HI>Sit on my right hand, Heb:</HI> 1.13. And thus he is far above all Principali|ty and Power, and Might, and Dominion, and every name that is named, not onely in this world, but al&s;o in that which is to come, <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 1.20, 21. To which agreeth the words of <HI>Peter,</HI> 1 Pet 3.22. <HI>Who is gone into Heaven, and is on the right hand of God, Angels, and Authorities, and Powers, being made &s;ubject to him.</HI></P>
<P>Twenty-eightly, He is mighty in his coming again, and that in three things e&s;pecially.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the &s;igns of his coming, the Lord will give notice to the world of his coming, by &s;trange, terrible and dreadful &s;ignes, publick &s;ignes, &s;uch as all &s;hall &s;ee and ob&s;erve, for there &s;hall be &s;igns in the Sun, and in the Moon, and in the Stars, and
<PB N="129" REF="72"> in the Earth, and in the Sea: <HI>The Sun &s;hall be darkened, and the Moon &s;hall not give her light, the Stars &s;hall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens &s;hall be &s;haken, the Sea and the waves &s;hall roar, the Nations &s;hall be di&s;tre&s;&s;ed and per|plexed, mens hearts failing them for fear,</HI> &amp;c. Math. 24.29. with <HI>Luke</HI> 21.25, 26. <HI>And then &s;hall they &s;ee the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, In the manner of his coming; he &s;hall not come then as he did at fir&s;t, not as a &s;heep to the &s;laughter, as a Sufferer, but as a Conquerour, and Deliverer from all &s;in and puni&s;hment; he &s;hall not come in meanne&s;&s;e and weakne&s;&s;e, but in Maje&s;ty and Power, triumphing over Sin, Death and Devil; <HI>He &s;hall come in glory, in his own glory, and in his Fathers, and of the holy Angels,</HI> Luke 9.26. <HI>He &s;hall come with all his holy An|ge<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">s and Saints attending on him,</HI> Matth. 25.31. 1 The&s;&s;: 3.13.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the end of his coming, <HI>viz:</HI> to &s;hew his might and greatne&s;&s;e more than ever he did, to take his kingdome, and to reign before his Ancients &amp; all others glo|riou&s;ly, to judge the quick and the dead, 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4.1. Utterly to de&s;troy wicked and ungodly men, according to that of <HI>Paul,</HI> 2 The&s;&s;: 1.7, 8. <HI>He &s;hall be revealed from hea|ven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking
<PB N="130" REF="73"> vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Go&s;pel of our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t;</HI> Ful|ly and eminently to &s;ave his faithfull &s;er|vants, <HI>For he was once offered to bear the &s;ins of many, and unto them that look for him, &s;hall he appear the &s;econd time, without &s;in unto &s;alvation,</HI> Heb: 9.28. <HI>Then &s;hall he &s;it on his own Throne, and all overcomers with him,</HI> Rev: 3.21.</P>
<P>Thus have I demon&s;trated the mightine&s;s of Chri&s;t in many particulars; I &s;hall add a few more to &s;hew the &s;uper-excellency of this Mighty One, the Lord Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, He is mighty, and righteous; he is no Tyrant, &s;hewing forth his mightine&s;&s;e in barbarous and unju&s;t actions, like the worlds Mighty Ones, who&s;e cour&s;e is u&s;u|ally evill, and their force not right, <HI>Jerem:</HI> 23.10. <HI>He doth not by his might overthrow right, but he alwayes worketh, yea, he loveth righ|teou&s;ne&s;&s;e, P&s;al.</HI> 45.7. Though he may in &s;ome great and &s;trange works go be&s;ides the ordinary path and cour&s;e of providence, yet he never goeth out of the way of righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e; the mo&s;t terrible things which he will do, &s;hall be in righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e; true and righteous are, and &s;hall be all his judge|ments, <HI>for a Scepter of Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e is the Scepter of his Kingdom,</HI> Heb: 1.8. And being thus cloathed with righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, he excels the Mighty Ones of the Earth.</P>
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<P>Secondly, He is mighty and mercifull: The mighty ones of the world are com|monly cruel and fierce, but for one to be mighty and mercifull is rare; &s;uch an one is Chri&s;t, might and mercy dwell together in him; he hath a mighty&punc; yet a tender heart, and though he be well able to cut off his &s;tronge&s;t, &s;toute&s;t Adver&s;aries, yet he is rea|dy to forgive and receive them graciou&s;ly. It is ob&s;ervable all the mighty works of Chri&s;t 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 &s;aid, <HI>He went about doing good,</HI> Acts 10.38.</P>
<P>Thirdly, He is mighty and meek, mild and humble, not like the Mighty Ones of this world, who are for the mo&s;t part of proud and &s;cornfull &s;pirits, and of fierce countenances; but he is meek and lowly in heart, <HI>Math:</HI> 11.29. Yea, though he be very high and mighty, yet hath he re&s;pect to the lowly, and unto that man will this Mighty One look, that is poor, and of a con|trite &s;pirit, and trembleth at his word; yea, with him will he dwell that is of an humble &s;pirit. It was the excellency of <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> that he was mighty and yet meek, none on earth &s;o meek as he in his day; but Chri&s;t is both mightier and meeker too. I &s;hall conclude
<PB N="132" REF="74"> this with that rarity and wonder which <HI>Zachary</HI> mentions, <HI>Zach.</HI> 9.9. <HI>Rejoyce great|ly, O daughter of Zion: Shout, O Daughter of Jeru&s;alem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is ju&s;t, and having &s;alvation, lowly, and ri|ding upon an A&s;&s;e, and upon a Colt the Foale of an A&s;&s;e.</HI></P>
<P>Fourthly, He is mighty and wi&s;e; &s;ome who are great in power, are not eminent in wi&s;dome; but Chri&s;t is great in wi&s;dome, as well as in &s;trength, and therefore he is &s;aid to be by the Apo&s;tle, <HI>The Power of God, and the Wi&s;dome of God,</HI> 1 Cor. 1.24.</P>
<P>Fifthly, He is mighty and patient, long|&s;uffering, and &s;low to anger; it is not &s;o much for the mean and weak to be patient, as for the mighty, &s;uch as are able to re|venge all wrongs done unto them, <HI>Po&s;&s;e, et nolle nobile;</HI> The Mighty Ones of the world are u&s;ually ha&s;ty, &s;oon angry, and pre&s;ent|ly &s;et upon tho&s;e that offend them; but it is the glory and excellency of Chri&s;t, that he is great in power, and yet &s;low to anger, and bears long with &s;inners and enemies; he doth (at this very day) with much long|&s;uffering endure the manifold indignities, contradictions and rebellions of &s;inners again&s;t him&s;elf, in which re&s;pect he excels other Mighty Ones.</P>
<PB N="133" REF="74">
<P>Sixthly, He is Mighty and Allmighty; <HI>He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, The Lord which is, and which was, and which is to come, The Allmighty,</HI> 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, <HI>Rev:</HI> 19.6. and &s;o higher and greater than they.</P>
<P>Seventhly, He is mighty, and alwayes mighty: Other Mighty Ones they faint, and their &s;trength faile them, <HI>I&s;a:</HI> 40.30. they grow weary and weak, and cea&s;e to be Mighty, at lea&s;t &s;o mighty as they have been: <HI>I cannot do as I have done,</HI> is the voice of other Mighty Ones; but Chri&s;t the Lord, the <HI>Mighty One</HI> fainteth not, neither is wea|ry, his &s;trength faileth not, he is as mighty as he was when God fir&s;t put his Spirit up|on him, as his &s;trength was then, &s;o it is now, and &s;o it ever &s;hall be; <HI>He is the &s;ame ye&s;terday, to day, and for ever, Heb:</HI> 13.8. His Mediator&s;hip was as powerfull before, as af|ter his exhibition in the fle&s;h, in which re|&s;pect he is &s;aid to be a <HI>Lamb &s;lain from the foundation of the world,</HI> Rev: 13.8. and will be hereafter, even at the very la&s;t end of all things, as effectual as it is now, or hath been heretofore.</P>
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<P>Eighthly, He is mighty, and the onely <HI>Mighty One,</HI> he is mighty and none be&s;ides him, (the Father alwayes excepted, who hath put all things under him;) power is Chri&s;ts peculiar, he is <HI>Plenepotentiarius,</HI> the Proprietary of power, and the Di&s;tributer of it; others, who are called mighty, are not &s;o, compared with him; for <HI>He is the one Lord over all, Zech:</HI> 14.9. and they his Subjects, who mu&s;t bow down before him, either freely or unwillingly; and therefore he is called by the Apo&s;tle, 1 <HI>Tim:</HI> 6.15. <HI>The ble&s;&s;ed and onely Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.</HI></P>
<P N="9">9. He is the <HI>Mighty One,</HI> that is truly that, and doth that, which other Mighty Ones are &s;aid to be, and are not, and do not; that which is fal&s;ely a&s;cribed to others, is truly attributed to him; for though the worlds mighty ones are accounted mightier than indeed they are, this <HI>Mighty One</HI> can|not be e&s;teemed mightier than indeed he is. Hi&s;tory tell us, that <HI>Canutus</HI> King of <HI>Eng|land</HI> being flattered by his Subjects, and cal|led <HI>King of Kings, Mo&s;t mighty,</HI> &amp;c. went and &s;ate down by the Sea-&s;ide, commanded the floods ari&s;ing and coming nigh him, nor to touch him nor his cloaths, but the floods came and made him &s;tart back, and he &s;aid to his Lords, <HI>Lo, ye call me &s;uch a mighty King,
<PB N="135" REF="75"> yet I cannot cau&s;e this little water to &s;tay at my command, but it is ready to drown me;</HI> but Chri&s;t can do this, <HI>(The Sea, and the winds obey him)</HI> and what&s;oever any of the mighty ones of the earth undertake to do, and can|not accompli&s;h: He is not onely called <HI>Mighty,</HI> but he is mighty and acts mightily; <HI>He is</HI> (without any flattery, or Hyperbole) <HI>Mo&s;t High, mo&s;t Mighty, mo&s;t Sacred, mo&s;t Ex|cellent; yea, He is Excellency, Highne&s;s, Holi|ne&s;s, Mightine&s;s, and Maje&s;ty it &s;elfe.</HI> Thus Chri&s;t 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 <HI>Nimrod, Pharaoh, Mo&s;es, Jo&s;hua, Gideon, Samp&s;on, David, Solomon,</HI><NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg"><HI>Alexander</HI> the Great, <HI>Pompey</HI> the Great.</NOTE> and others, who have done great and mighty things, but Chri&s;t ex|cels them all, and is greater than any, than all of them; indeed he is &s;o mighty, that he is above the under&s;tanding 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.</P>
<P>Que&s;t: <HI>How came Chri&s;t to be &s;uch a Migh|ty One?</HI></P>
<PB N="136" REF="76">
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> If we con&s;ider him in his Eternal E&s;&s;ence and Being, ab&s;tractively from his Humane Nature, as he is one with the Fa|ther from Eternity, &s;o his mightine&s;&s;e and dignity is of him&s;elf, and not from any other, but if we con&s;ider him as underta|king and carrying on the work of Media|tor&s;hip between God and man in the hu|mane Nature, which he a&s;&s;umed, &s;o he is &s;aid to be made <HI>Mighty:</HI> The Apo&s;tle <HI>Peter</HI> &s;peaking of him as &s;uch, &s;aith, <HI>Let all the hou&s;e of I&s;rael know a&s;&s;uredly, that God hath made that &s;ame Je&s;us whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ,</HI> Acts 2.36. In which re&s;pect God is &s;aid to do what he did, as ap|pears by the words of <HI>Peter</HI> in the &s;ame &s;peech to the men of <HI>I&s;rael, Je&s;us of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles, wonders and &s;igns, which God did by him in the mid&s;t of you,</HI> Acts 2.22. And thus Chri&s;t be|comes Mighty through the Father.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Through the Fathers mi&s;&s;ion; the Father &s;ent him, and that's his &s;trength, and therefore he &s;peaks much of it upon all occa&s;ions, nigh forty times in <HI>John,</HI> be&s;ides &s;everal other places, he hints that the Fa|ther &s;ent him, and that he came not of him|&s;elf, but proceeded forth, and came from God; God cannot &s;ay of Chri&s;t, as of tho&s;e Pr<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">phets mentioned <HI>Jer.</HI> 14.14. <HI>I &s;ent them
<PB N="137" REF="76"> not, neither have I commanded them: and as they were weak and could not profit the people, being not &s;ent of God,</HI> Chri&s;t being &s;ent of God be|comes mighty to accompli&s;h whatever he undertook: Had not God &s;ent him, he could not have &s;pake with &s;uch Power and Authority, could not have done &s;uch won|derful works, nor have undergone and &s;uf|fered &s;uch grievous torments as he did; but being &s;ent of the Father, and knowing that the Father &s;ent him, he was full of might, courage, and confidence to do and &s;uffer what was the Will of his Father that &s;ent him. Gods mi&s;&s;ion makes mighty, it was that which enabled <HI>Gideon</HI> to be a Saviour to <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> Judges 6.14. <HI>The Lord looked upon him, and &s;aid, Go in this thy might, and thou &s;halt &s;ave I&s;rael from the hand of the Midianites: have not I &s;ent thee?</HI> He that is &s;ent with full Authority and Power from &s;ome mighty Prince to tran&s;act his affairs, is thereby mighty, coming and acting as one &s;ent by him; Chri&s;t came and acted as one &s;ent from the ab&s;olute Monarch of all the world, the mo&s;t high <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">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 &s;ent him.</P>
<PB N="138" REF="77">
<P>Secondly, Through the Fathers Uncti|on; he was full of power and might by the Spirit of the Lord; the Anointing of the Lord makes mighty, It was that which made <HI>David, Solomon, Cyrus,</HI> and others migh|ty to do the worke of God in their &s;everall generations, and it is that which makes Chri&s;t &s;o Mighty, for being anointed with the holy Spirit above others, he became mightier than all others; The Lord anoin|ted him King, in which re&s;pect he is in a peculiar manner called <HI>Gods Anointed,</HI> P&s;al. 2.2. and thence it is that he is &s;o mighty to rule, both able to &s;ave and to de&s;troy; The Lord anointed him to preach good tidings unto the meeke, and &s;ent him to binde up the broken-hearted, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 61.1. with <HI>Luke</HI> 4.18. and thence it was that his words were with &s;uch power, and efficacy; And the Lord anointed him Prie&s;t, and &s;o he was Mighty to offer up him&s;elfe without &s;pot to God, and his blood al&s;o Mighty, and effectuall to purge the Con&s;cience from dead workes; according to the words of the Apo&s;tle, <HI>Heb.</HI> 9.14. <HI>How much more &s;hall the blood of Chri&s;t, who through the Eternall Spi|rit offered him&s;elfe without &s;pot to God, purge your Con&s;cience from dead workes to &s;erve the living God.</HI> And <HI>Peter</HI> in his Sermon, <HI>Act.</HI> 10.38. gives this very account of Chri&s;ts might,
<PB N="139" REF="77"> and mighty workes, <HI>viz. That God anointed Je&s;us of Nazareth with the holy Gho&s;t, and with power,</HI> who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppre&s;&s;ed of the De|vil, for God was with him: And him&s;elfe &s;aith, <HI>Joh.</HI> 8.29. <HI>He that &s;ent me is with me, the Father hath not left me alone.</HI> And thus through the Spirit of the Lord re&s;ting upon him, even the Spirit of might (according to what was prophe&s;ied of him, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.2.) he is Mighty.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Rea&s;ons why Chri&s;t is a Mighty One.</HEAD>
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 1. For the Fathers Glory, that the Father might be glorified in the Son; for as it had been a di&s;paragement and di&s;honour unto God to have &s;ent a weake, in&s;ufficient one, &s;o it is the Fathers glory that he hath &s;ent a Mighty One, one like unto him&s;elfe, <HI>able to &s;ave to the uttermo&s;t all them that come unto God by him,</HI> Heb. 7.25. It is the Fathers glory to have &s;uch a Son, &s;o Mighty a one, and that not onely becau&s;e he him&s;elfe did glorifie him on earth, but becau&s;e others al&s;o did glorifie him becau&s;e of his Son; for when the people, even the multitude &s;aw the mighty works, and miracles which he did, they marvelled, and glorified God, <HI>Math.</HI> 9.8. <HI>Math.</HI> 15.31. <HI>Mark</HI> 2.12. <HI>Luke</HI> 5.26.</P>
<PB N="140" REF="78">
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 2. For the Sons glory, that Chri&s;t might be honoured as well as the Father; Chri&s;t him&s;elfe gives this rea&s;on why the Father made him &s;uch a Mighty One, <HI>Joh.</HI> 5.22, 23. <HI>The Father Judgeth no man, but hath committed all Judgement unto the Son, That all men &s;hould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father;</HI> and by this the Father drawes the thoughts and hearts of men to the Son, &s;o as they receive and entertaine him as the Redeemer of the world; For Chri&s;t being a Mighty one, and &s;ufficiently manife&s;ting and evidencing him&s;elfe to be The Chri&s;t, the Son of the Ble&s;&s;ed, by doing the Works which none other man did, neither could do, many beleeved on him, and became followers, and honourers of him.</P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 3. Becau&s;e of the worke which God hath &s;ent him to do, which was hard worke, beyond the skil and &s;trength of men and Angels to performe, for it was to re|deeme a weake, captivated, cur&s;ed people from the power of Sin, World, Death, and Devil, (tho&s;e mighty Adver&s;aries) and to rai&s;e them up unto a participation of his holine&s;s, and glory. It is Requi&s;ite there &s;hould be a proportion of &s;trength in every Agent to the work which he hath to do, that if the worke be difficult, the Agent &s;hould be &s;trong; And it hath been the u&s;u|all
<PB N="141" REF="78"> way of the mo&s;t wi&s;e God to &s;uite per|&s;ons to things, who though he hath, and doth &s;ometimes make u&s;e of weak ones for Great, and weighty, and difficult &s;ervices, yet doth alwayes make them mighty, and &s;ufficient for the work whereunto he calls them; he did &s;o with <HI>Gideon, David,</HI> and o|thers: And thus it was, and is with Chri&s;t, for being &s;ent to &s;ave, he was and is there|fore mighty to &s;ave; being &s;ent to redeeme, he is a &s;trong Redeemer, that he may thoughly plead his peoples Cau&s;e, and di&s;|quiet, and confound all their enemies. The Spirit of God in the Prophets &s;peaking of the great work of Chri&s;t, in the execution of his Regal and Prophetical Offices, makes mention of his mightine&s;s and abili|ty thereunto, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 42.1, 4. <HI>Behold my &s;ervant whom I uphold, I have put my Spirit upon him, he &s;hall bring forth Judgement to the Gentiles. He &s;hall not faile, nor be di&s;couraged, till he hath &s;et Judgement in the Earth, Micah</HI> &s;peaking of him as the Ruler in <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> &s;aith, <HI>He &s;hall &s;tand, and feed in the &s;trength of the Lord, in the Maje&s;ty of the Name of the Lord his God, and they &s;hall abide; for now he &s;hall be great unto the ends of the Earth,</HI> Mic. 5.4. The Apo&s;tle al&s;o treating of his Prie&s;tly Office, &s;aith, <HI>That he through the Eternal Spirit offered him|&s;elfe without &s;pot to God,</HI> Heb. 9.14.</P>
<PB N="142" REF="79">
<P><HI>Que&s;t.</HI> Whence is it that men de&s;pi&s;e and oppo&s;e this Mighty One?</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> 1. It is through that Enmity which is in their hearts again&s;t him. God hath ac|cording to his word, <HI>Gen.</HI> 3.15. put Enmi|ty between the Serpent, and the Woman, and their &s;eed; and from this Enmity as from a cur&s;ed root proceeds that evil fruit of oppo&s;ition again&s;t Chri&s;t, which will not cea&s;e, till the Enmity be aboli&s;hed; This very account doth Chri&s;t him&s;elfe give of his enemies oppo&s;ition again&s;t him, in one of his parables, <HI>Luke</HI> 19.14. <HI>His Citizens ha|ted him, and &s;ent a Me&s;&s;age after him, &s;aying, we will not have this man to reigne over us.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, It is through the ignorance that is in them, not knowing him whom they per&s;ecute; It was &s;o with <HI>Paul,</HI> when Chri&s;t &s;pake to him, &s;aying, <HI>Saul, Saul, why per&s;ecute&s;t thou me? He &s;aid, who art thou Lord? and the Lord &s;aid, I am Je&s;us;</HI> he knew not Chri&s;t, <HI>Act.</HI> 9.4, 5. And thence it is that he &s;aith (&s;peaking of his being a per&s;ecuter and injurious) <HI>I obtained mercy, becau&s;e I did it ignorantly in unbeliefe,</HI> 1 Tim. 1.13. From hence it was, even from their ignorance, that the Princes of this World did &s;o op|po&s;e, and per&s;ecute him in his Per&s;on, they knew not the <HI>wi&s;dome of God,</HI> for <HI>had they knowne it,</HI> they <HI>would not have crucified the Lord
<PB N="143" REF="79"> of Glory,</HI> 1 Cor. 2.7, 8. And him&s;elfe gives the &s;ame rea&s;on of his &s;uffering, and per&s;e|cution in his Members, <HI>Joh.</HI> 16.2, 3. He &s;aith to his Di&s;ciples, <HI>They &s;hall put you out of the Synagogues, yea the time cometh that who&s;oever killeth you, will thinke he doth God &s;ervice; and the&s;e things will they do unto you, becau&s;e they have not knowne the Father nor me.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, Through <HI>unbeliefe;</HI> for though they heare of his Mightine&s;s, and power, yet they do not <HI>beleeve</HI> the <HI>report</HI> thereof, (though not one halfe of the greatne&s;s and power of Chri&s;t have been told them) but the words of them that declare it, &s;eeme to them as <HI>Idle tale<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"></HI> and they <HI>beleeve</HI> them <HI>not;</HI> and then no wonder they de&s;pi&s;e, and re|ject him: They do not beleeve his <HI>Omni&s;ci|encie,</HI> but &s;ay concerning their actions, <HI>How doth he know? can he judge through the darke cloud?</HI> Job 22.13. and &s;o they become bold to &s;peak and act again&s;t this <HI>Mighty One;</HI> like tho&s;e whom the Prophet complained of to the Lord, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 94.5, 6, 7. <HI>They breake in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thy heri|tage; they &s;lay the widdow, and the &s;tranger, and murther the Fatherle&s;s; yet they &s;ay, The Lord &s;hall not &s;ee, neither &s;hall the God of Jacob re|gard it.</HI> Or if they do beleeve that he is <HI>Mighty,</HI> yet they do not beleeve that he will be &s;o &s;evere, and <HI>terrible</HI> to his enemies,
<PB N="144" REF="80"> as many conceive, and &s;peake, giving no heed to what is written concerning him, e&s;pecially <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 2.9, 12. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 72.4. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 110.6. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.4. 2 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 1.7, 8, 9. Thus, fal&s;e|ly concluding in their own &s;pirits, that there is no great danger in oppo&s;ing him, they readily venture thereupon to their own de&s;truction.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Through <HI>confidence in their own &s;trength,</HI> thinking of them&s;elves more high|ly than they ought to thinke, they are car|ried forth to undertake more than they are able to performe. The <HI>Mighty Ones</HI> of the Earth do conceit, &amp; conclude within them|&s;elves, that they have a &s;ufficiency of coun|&s;el, and &s;trength, to e<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="4 letters">nter with this <HI>Mighty One. Pharaoh</HI> that <HI>mighty one</HI> was &s;o confident in his own &s;trength, that he &s;corn'd, and oppo&s;ed the <HI>Almighty;</HI> for he &s;aid, <HI>Who is the Lord, that I &s;hould obey his voice, to let I&s;rael go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let I&s;rael go,</HI> Exod. 5.2. Likewi&s;e <HI>Sennache|rib</HI> King of <HI>A&s;&s;yria,</HI> tru&s;ting to the multi|tudes of his Chariots, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> &s;ent a challenge to the <HI>living God,</HI> exalted, and lifted up him|&s;elfe on high, even again&s;t the <HI>holy One</HI> of <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> I&s;a. 36.18, 19, 20. Chap. 37.23. When men are confident to overcome, they are bold to oppo&s;e.</P>
<P>Fifthly, Through their <HI>putting afarre off
<PB N="145" REF="80"> the day of his wrath, and vengeance;</HI> they take boldne&s;s to rebell again&s;t him: And though they heare of his Indignation, and furious rebukes to be poured out upon them, yet they &s;ee that through his patience, &amp; long-&s;uffering, there is re&s;pite; and &s;o like <HI>Pha|raoh,</HI> they <HI>harden</HI> their hearts again&s;t him; they &s;ay, as they, <HI>Ezek.</HI> 12.22. <HI>The dayes are prolonged, and every vi&s;ion faileth; and becau&s;e &s;entence again&s;t them&s;elves,</HI> and other <HI>evil wor|kers is not executed &s;peedily,</HI> in &s;tead of &s;ubmit|ting unto him again&s;t whom they have &s;in|ned, <HI>the<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">r hearts are fully &s;et in them to do more evil,</HI> Eccl: 8.11. and at length become <HI>mock|ers,</HI> and &s;coffers at him, and his word, &s;ay|ing, Where is this Mighty one? <HI>where is the promi&s;e of his coming?</HI> where is his kingdome, and power, and glory? and thus become abu&s;ers, and per&s;ecutors of his &s;ervants up|on the Earth.</P>
<P>Sixthly, Becau&s;e <HI>they are afraid he will take away their deare enjoyments from them, their power, pompe, plea&s;ures, profits:</HI> If Chri&s;t would be with them as a <HI>&s;ojourner,</HI> and &s;tranger, and not meddle with their mat|ters, they would let him alone; but they feare he will be a <HI>Prince,</HI> &amp; a <HI>Judge</HI> among&s;t them, and drive them from their &s;tations, and pull them downe from their &s;tate, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 22.19. and therefore they thinke it wi&s;dome
<PB N="146" REF="81"> to oppo&s;e him betimes. When <HI>Tiberius</HI> the Emperour of <HI>Rome,</HI> &s;ent to the <HI>Senate,</HI> and required that <HI>the Image of Chri&s;t might be &s;et up in the Capitol;</HI> They returned <HI>An&s;wer,</HI> that <HI>if that were &s;et up, all the other Images of their Gods mu&s;t downe. Pote&s;tas Chri&s;ti non e&s;t priva|tiva, &s;ed cumulativa, The power of Chri&s;t doth not deprive men of any good, but conferrs, and mul|tiplies ble&s;&s;ings</HI> upon the heads of all tho&s;e that &s;ubmit to it, It being the readie&s;t way for Kings, Princes, and Potentates of the world to reigne long, and &s;afe, to &s;et <HI>their</HI> Thrones beneath the Throne of this <HI>Migh|ty One,</HI> 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 &s;hould bring them into contempt, and &s;hame, they de&s;perately oppo&s;e this <HI>Migh|ty One.</HI></P>
<P>Seventhly, Becau&s;e of <HI>the pre&s;ent &s;eeming meanne&s;s, &amp; contemptiblene&s;s of this Mighty One.</HI> The Prophet <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> &s;peakes of him as one <HI>de&s;pi&s;ed and rejected,</HI> upon this account, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 53.2, 3. <HI>He hath no forme nor comeline&s;s; and when we &s;hall &s;ee him, there is no beauty that we &s;hould de&s;ire him: he is de&s;pi&s;ed, and rejected of men.</HI> Though <HI>Chri&s;t's</HI> doctrine and works among his own <HI>Countrymen,</HI> were even to <HI>a&s;toni&s;h|ment;</HI> yet becau&s;e he had &s;uch a <HI>meane</HI> out|&s;ide, a meane trade and kindred, <HI>he was
<PB N="147" REF="81"> without honour among them,</HI> Mark 6.3, 4. <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> is without outward &s;plendor, and worldly glory, and therefore he is both <HI>lightly e&s;teemed by the worlds Mighty Ones, and greatly oppo&s;ed.</HI></P>
<DIV3 N="1" TYPE="application">
<HEAD><HI>&V;&s;e</HI> 1. Of <HI>Information.</HI></HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, It <HI>informes</HI> Gods people, <HI>what man|ner of Saviour they have;</HI> &s;ome, yea many who <HI>call</HI> Chri&s;t <HI>Lord, know not how great he is;</HI> I may &s;ay to &s;uch, in honour to Chri&s;t, what <HI>Pilate</HI> &s;aid in contempt of him, to the <HI>Jews, John</HI> 19.14. <HI>Behold your King,</HI> 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 thou&s;and, farre excelling all the worlds Saviours: <HI>Among all the Gods of the Heathen, and among all the wi&s;e and mighty Ones of the Nations, and in all their Kingdomes, there is none like unto him.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, It <HI>informes</HI> us of <HI>the &s;afe and happy condition of tho&s;e that are Chri&s;t's;</HI> they do indeed <HI>dwell on high,</HI> being built upon the rock which is higher than they, and all their enemies; &s;o that we may <HI>&s;ay to the righteous, that it &s;hall be well with him</HI> in the mo&s;t perilous times, (<HI>I&s;a.</HI> 3.10, 11.) and though they be as <HI>&s;heepe</HI> in the mid&s;t of
<PB N="148" REF="82"> <HI>wolves,</HI> yet being in the hands of their great Shepheard, this Mighty One, they are &s;afe, yea &s;o &s;afe, that none can harme them; For, &s;aith Chri&s;t, <HI>I give unto them eternal life, and they &s;hall never peri&s;h, neither &s;hall 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,</HI> Joh. 10.28, 29, 30. <HI>Paul</HI> al&s;o &s;peaking of their <HI>&s;afe</HI> and ble&s;&s;ed e&s;tate, &s;aith, <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.1. <HI>There is therefore now no Con|demnation to them that are in Chri&s;t Je&s;us, who walk not after the fle&s;h, but after the Spirit.</HI> Though there be many indictments, and <HI>accu&s;ations</HI> brought in again&s;t them, yet <HI>no condemnation;</HI> but being in him, and walk|ing in him, they are free, and &s;afe, and feare no evil: Hence the ble&s;&s;ed Apo&s;tle &s;ends a challenge to all the enemies of Gods Elect, &s;aying, <HI>Who &s;hall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it is God that ju&s;tifieth; Who is he that condemneth? It is Chri&s;t that died, yea ra|ther that is ri&s;en againe, who is even at the right hand of God, who al&s;o maketh interce&s;&s;ion for us.</HI> Nay, they are not onely <HI>&s;afe</HI> in <HI>tribulation, di&s;tre&s;&s;e, per&s;ecution, famine, nakedne&s;s, peril, &s;word,</HI> but <HI>in all the&s;e things they are more than Conquerours through him that loved them,</HI> Rom. 8 33, 34, 35, 37. And of this <HI>priviledge</HI> of the Lords people, the <HI>Prophets</HI> have &s;poken
<PB N="149" REF="82"> eminently to be enjoyed in the <HI>Reigne</HI> of this <HI>Mighty One. David,</HI> P&s;al. 72.7. &s;aith, <HI>In his dayes &s;hall the righteous flouri&s;h, and abundance of peace &s;o long as the Moone endureth. I&s;aiah</HI> &s;aith, <HI>Behold a King &s;hall reigne in righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and Princes &s;hall rule in Judgement, and a man &s;hall be an hiding place from the winde, and a co|vert from the Tempe&s;t,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 32.1, 2. <HI>Jeremy</HI> &s;aith, <HI>Behold, the dayes come, &s;aith the Lord, that I will rai&s;e unto David a righteous branch, and a King &s;hall reigne and pro&s;per: In his dayes Judah &s;hall be &s;aved, and I&s;rael &s;hall dwell &s;afely, and this is the name, whereby he &s;hall be called, The LORD our Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e,</HI> Jer. 23.5, 6. And to this agreeth al&s;o the Prophe&s;ie of <HI>Ezekiel,</HI> which &s;aith, <HI>I will make with them a Covenant of peace, and will cau&s;e the evil bea&s;ts to cea&s;e out of the Land, and they &s;hall dwell &s;afely in the wilderne&s;s, and &s;leepe in the woods; They &s;hall be &s;afe in their Land, and &s;hall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hands of tho&s;e that &s;erved them&s;elves of them; and they &s;hall no more be a prey to the Heathen, neither &s;hall the bea&s;ts of the Land devoure them; but they &s;hall dwell &s;afely, and none &s;hall make them afraid,</HI> Ezek 34.25, 27, 28.</P>
<P>Thirdly, It <HI>&s;hewes</HI> us the <HI>aggravation of the ev<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">l of unbeliefe:</HI> were Chri&s;t a meane, weak one, there might be &s;ome plea for <HI>un|beliefe;</HI>
<PB N="150" REF="83"> the unbeleever might excu&s;e him|&s;elfe, &s;aying, I was afraid to tru&s;t him, I dur&s;t not commit my &s;oule, body, name, e&s;tate, and concernments into his hand; but when a &s;oul refu&s;eth to beleeve on him, who is declared and manife&s;ted as well by work as word to be &s;o <HI>m<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">hty</HI> in every re|&s;pect, it is inexcu&s;able. The <HI>men</HI> of <HI>Nineveh,</HI> who <HI>repented</HI> at the preaching of <HI>Jonas;</HI> and the <HI>Queene</HI> of the <HI>South,</HI> who <HI>came from the uttermo&s;t parts of the Earth to heare the wi&s;dome of Solomon, &s;hall ri&s;e up in the Judgement with &s;uch, and condemne them, &s;eeing a Greater than</HI> Jonah <HI>and</HI> Solomon <HI>is with them.</HI> The Evan|geli&s;t <HI>John</HI> mentioneth the <HI>wonderfull</HI> workes which Chri&s;t did among the <HI>Jewes,</HI> as the <HI>Aggravation</HI> of their <HI>unbeliefe,</HI> Joh. 12.37. <HI>Though he had done &s;o many miracles before them, yet they beleeved not on him;</HI> Thence Chri&s;t is &s;aid to <HI>&V;pbraid the Cities wherein mo&s;t of his mighty workes were done,</HI> becau&s;e they <HI>repented</HI> not, it being a greater evil in them not to repent, than in others among&s;t whom Chri&s;t did not &s;hew him&s;elfe &s;o mighty. To heare, and not to beleeve on Chri&s;t, the Mighty Lord, who <HI>&s;peakes from heaven,</HI> is that which makes unbeliefe to be &s;uch a mighty &s;inne, (<HI>Heb.</HI> 12.25.)</P>
<P>Fourthly, It <HI>di&s;covers a ground for the Saints Expectation of great things;</HI> The Saints are in
<PB N="151" REF="83"> expectation of <HI>perfect Redemption,</HI> and mo&s;t <HI>glorious &s;alvation</HI> to be wrought for them by Chri&s;t; and there is good ground for it; for be&s;ides the <HI>promi&s;e</HI> of God, who is faithfull, here is the <HI>Ability</HI> of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> who is <HI>Mighty</HI> to performe the Fathers will. <HI>Great ones</HI> u&s;e to be <HI>active.</HI> The Mighty Kings and Princes of the Earth do not alwayes &s;it &s;till, only waite for opportunities for great and weighty un|dertakings. This <HI>Mighty One,</HI> the <HI>Lord Chri&s;t,</HI> though he hath done <HI>great</HI> and <HI>marvellous</HI> things, will &s;hew him&s;elfe yet <HI>more glorious</HI> than ever; for he hath yet but begun to &s;hew his &s;ervants his Greatne&s;s, and his Mighty hand; onely he waites till the &s;et time be come, and then he will <HI>ari&s;e,</HI> and <HI>redeeme I&s;rael from all his iniquities</HI> and troubles, (<HI>P&s;al.</HI> 130.8.)</P>
<P>The Di&s;ciples of Chri&s;t, who &s;aw his might and power in the dayes of his fle&s;h, became expectants of great things to be done by him; <HI>We tru&s;ted,</HI> &s;aid the two Di&s;|ciples, (&s;peaking of Je&s;us of <HI>Nazareth,</HI> a Pro|phet mighty in deed and word) <HI>that it had been he which &s;hould have redeemed I&s;rael,</HI> Luke 24.19.21. The Apo&s;tles (when Chri&s;t was a&s;&s;embled together with them,) asked of him, &s;aying, <HI>Lord, wilt thou at this time re|&s;tore againe the kingdome to I&s;rael,</HI> Acts 1.4, 6. His <HI>An&s;wer</HI> was no check to their <HI>expectati|on,</HI>
<PB N="152" REF="84"> but a reprehen&s;ion of their over-curious <HI>affectation,</HI> to acquaint them&s;elves with the <HI>particular time,</HI> in which they &s;hould behold the glorious accompli&s;hment of &s;o certaine a ble&s;&s;ing. And &s;eeing this <HI>Mighty One is &s;et on the right hand of the throne of the Maje&s;ty in the Heavens,</HI> (Heb: 8.1.) his &s;ervants may expect, that he will appeare in the pre&s;ence of God for them; yea that <HI>he &s;hall appeare the &s;econd time without &s;in, unto their evident and everla&s;ting &s;alvation,</HI> (Heb: 9.28.)</P>
<P><HI>Paul</HI> &s;peaking of him&s;elfe and other faith|full followers of Chri&s;t, &s;aith, <HI>Phil.</HI> 3.20, 21. <HI>Our conver&s;ation is in heaven, from whence al&s;o we looke for the Saviour, the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t; who &s;hall change our vile body, that it may be fa|&s;hioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to &s;ubdue all things unto him&s;elfe.</HI></P>
<P>Fifthly, For the <HI>di&s;covery of fal&s;e Chri&s;ts;</HI> The true Lord Chri&s;t hath told us that in the <HI>la&s;t dayes</HI> there &s;hall <HI>ari&s;e fal&s;e Chri&s;ts,</HI> as well as fal&s;e Prophets, <HI>Math.</HI> 24.24. And <HI>this doctrine</HI> doth <HI>informe</HI> us <HI>how to know them from the true;</HI> The <HI>true</HI> Chri&s;t is thus <HI>mighty;</HI> and it follows that others, who are <HI>not</HI> &s;o <HI>mighty,</HI> what&s;oever they may pretend, are not the true Chri&s;t. Therefore when <HI>fal&s;e Chri&s;ts</HI> &s;hall ari&s;e, and &s;hall come, and &s;ay, <HI>I am Chri&s;t,</HI> beleeve them not, neither go af|ter
<PB N="153" REF="84"> them; but labour to know <HI>their power,</HI> and not their <HI>&s;peech</HI> onely, (1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 4.19.) (for the kingdome of God is not in word but in power, <HI>ver&s;.</HI> 20:) whether they be <HI>mighty,</HI> as the <HI>true</HI> Chri&s;t is. And though they &s;hould &s;hew <HI>&s;ignes</HI> and <HI>wonders</HI> to de|ceive you, try whether they be equall with <HI>this Mighty One,</HI> who thought it no robbery to be equall with God. For though &s;ome may boa&s;t them&s;elves, and their <HI>mouths</HI> &s;peak <HI>great &s;welling words of vanity,</HI> yet their deficiency and in&s;ufficiency for &s;uch things as he did, &s;peak them to be <HI>fal&s;e Chri&s;ts,</HI> and deceivers. As there never did heretofore, &s;o there never will any one ari&s;e in every re&s;pect, &s;o <HI>mighty</HI> as Chri&s;t, by which he may be knowne to be the <HI>true</HI> Chri&s;t, from all others.</P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 N="2" TYPE="application">
<HEAD>&V;&s;e <HI>2.</HI> Of conviction to fal&s;e wor&s;hippers, who neglect and &s;light this Mighty One.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>To the Jews</HI> who do not beleeve that Je&s;us of <HI>Nazareth</HI> is the <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> the Me&s;&s;iah that was promi&s;ed, and the main <HI>plea</HI> which they have for their unbelief is, becau&s;e he did not appear to be &s;o <HI>mighty,</HI> as become the Saviour of the world: he came not in worldly glory, he had no &s;tately Palace, was not cloathed in Purple, did not fare
<PB N="154" REF="85"> deliciou&s;ly, he was not in form and fa&s;hion like the mighty ones of the earth; and there|fore they expect and look for another that is <HI>Mightier</HI> than he. Seeing this is the &s;tone they &s;tumble at, how ea&s;ily might it be re|moved, if they did con&s;ider him from fir&s;t to la&s;t? and in every re&s;pect he would ap|pear to them <HI>&s;o mighty</HI> as they would not look for another, but know and acknow|ledge him to be their Prince and Saviour; And indeed, the <HI>works</HI> of Chri&s;t did declare him to be the <HI>Me&s;&s;iah. John</HI> hearing of his works &s;ent two of his <HI>Di&s;ciples,</HI> and &s;aid un|to him, <HI>Art thou he that &s;hould come, or do we look for another?</HI> Chri&s;t &s;ends an <HI>An&s;wer</HI> to convince them; and the <HI>Argument</HI> he u&s;eth is a <HI>Catalogue</HI> of his <HI>mighty works</HI> (being &s;uch <HI>works</HI> as are <HI>proper to the Me&s;&s;iah</HI>) viz: <HI>The blind receive their &s;ight, and the lame walke, the Lepers are clean&s;ed, and the deaf heare, the dead are rai&s;ed up, and the poor have the Go&s;pel preached to them, Math.</HI> 11.2, 3.4, 5. With this Argument Chri&s;t proved him&s;elf <HI>&s;ent of God,</HI> in his &s;peech to the <HI>Jews, John</HI> 5.36. <HI>The works which the Father hath given me to fini&s;h, the &s;ame works that I do, bear witne&s;s of me, that the Father hath &s;ent me.</HI> And by this the people were convinced, <HI>John</HI> 6.14. <HI>Then the&s;e men when they had &s;een the miracle that Je|&s;us did, &s;aid, This is of a truth that Prophet that &s;hould come into the world.</HI></P>
<PB N="155" REF="85">
<P>Secondly, <HI>To the</HI> TURKS, who wor|&s;hip <HI>Mahomet,</HI> and neglect Chri&s;t, who is far <HI>mightier</HI> than <HI>he;</HI> if the mo&s;t mighty be to be acknowledged, honoured, and ado|red as Lord, then <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> and not <HI>Mahomet</HI> is to be wor&s;hipped.</P>
<P>Thirdly, As al&s;o to the <HI>idolatrous</HI> PA|GANS, and Heathens, who wor&s;hip and &s;erve the creature more than the Creator, who is ble&s;&s;ed for ever; as the Sun, Moon, Stars, Birds, Bea&s;ts, creeping things, the works of the hands of this <HI>mighty One,</HI> (Rom: 1.25. 2 Kings 17.16.) Nay ima|ges of Silver, Gold, Wood, and Stone, the work of mens hands; what are the&s;e vani|ties to this <HI>mighty One,</HI> that <HI>they</HI> &s;hould be wor&s;hipped, and <HI>he</HI> neglected? (<HI>P&s;al<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"></HI> 115.3, 4, 5, 9.)</P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 N="3" TYPE="application">
<HEAD><HI>&V;&s;e</HI> 3. Of REPROOF, e&s;pecially</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, To all <HI>&V;&s;urpers of the power and au|thority of this Mighty One;</HI> &s;uch as make &s;o bold with this <HI>mighty One,</HI> as to &s;tep up into his Throne, and to exerci&s;e that power which is proper to him onely; as to take upon them <HI>to give pardon of &s;in unto men;</HI> to make Laws to bind <HI>the con&s;ciences of men in the wor&s;hip of God,</HI> contrary to the Laws of this <HI>mighty One,</HI> &amp;c. (<HI>Mic:</HI> 6.16. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 33.39.)
<PB N="156" REF="86"> As it is the honour of the Kings and Prin|ces of the Earth to be Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters to encourage the executing of the Laws which he hath made and e&s;tabli&s;hed, (as of <HI>Cyrus,</HI> Ezra 1.1, 2. of <HI>Darius,</HI> Dan. 6.1.&mdash;7.&mdash;12. and <HI>Artaxerxes,</HI> Ezra 7.23.) So it is a great indignity and affront to this <HI>mighty One</HI> for his profe&s;&s;ed &s;ervants to di&s;anul, alter, or change their Lords Laws, and of their own <HI>heads</HI> to form, con&s;titute, and impo&s;e <HI>other</HI> in <HI>their</HI> &s;tead, upon his Subjects; (as King <HI>Jeroboam</HI> did, 1 <HI>Kings</HI> 11.28&punc; &mdash;34. King <HI>I<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">ri,</HI> and <HI>Ahab, Mic:</HI> 6.16.) This is not to be <HI>Stewards,</HI> mini&s;tring in his Name, but to be <HI>Lords</HI> &s;itting upon his <HI>Throne,</HI> and to make void the Power and Authority which he hath received of his Father, (as <HI>Mat.</HI> 15.2.&mdash;6.&mdash;9. <HI>Luke</HI> 19.27.) As this is an evill to which the <HI>mighty ones</HI> of the earth are mo&s;t inclined, &s;o it will by this <HI>Mighty One</HI> be lea&s;t endured; for though he advance &s;ome to <HI>honourable &s;ervices</HI> under him, yet he will permit none to <HI>wear his Crown;</HI> and as for tho&s;e that have a&s;&s;umed his Power and Authority, let them know a&s;&s;uredly, that he will recover it out of their hands in due time, fora&s;much as he is mighty to do <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&punc; (<HI>P&s;al.</HI> 12.5.)</P>
<P>Secondly, To all <HI>Re&s;i&s;ters of his power;</HI> Chri&s;t is undoubtedly the Highe&s;t Power,
<PB N="157" REF="86"> ordained of God, to whom every &s;oul ought to be &s;ubject; <HI>Who&s;oever therefore re&s;i&s;t|eth this power, re&s;i&s;teth the Ordinance of God; and they that re&s;i&s;t &s;hall receive to them&s;elves Damnation, Rom:</HI> 13.1, 2. Be&s;ides, all <HI>Op|po&s;ition</HI> again&s;t this Mighty One, is in vain, and to no purpo&s;e; for the <HI>creatures</HI> power proves <HI>weakne&s;&s;e,</HI> when exerci&s;ed again&s;t <HI>him,</HI> &s;eeing <HI>he</HI> can do with the &s;tronge&s;t of his Adver&s;aries, as the <HI>Potter with his ve&s;&s;el,</HI> according to the prophecy of him, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 2.9. <HI>Thou &s;halt da&s;h them in pieces like a Potters Ve&s;&s;el.</HI> He is mighty in &s;trength; <HI>who hath hardned him&s;elf again&s;t him, and hath pro&s;pered?</HI> (Job 9.4.) Yea, which is more, The <HI>Crea|tures</HI> &s;triking again&s;t him is the breaking of its &s;elfe; <HI>For who&s;oever &s;hall fall on this &s;tone, &s;hall be broken; but on whom&s;oever it &s;hall fall, it will grinde him to powder, Math.</HI> 21.44. In a word, to fight again&s;t this <HI>Mighty One,</HI> is to <HI>fight again&s;t God,</HI> and <HI>do we provoke the Lord, are we &s;tronger than he?</HI> 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 10.22.</P>
<P>Thirdly, To all <HI>pretended A&s;&s;i&s;ters of this Mighty One; who are &s;o bold as to take upon them of their own brain to make additions to him, and to adde Coadjut<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">rs, &amp; Helpers to this Mighty One,</HI> (thereby imputing weakne&s;s and in&s;uffici|ency to him) who is able of him&s;elf, with|out the help of any other to accompli&s;h all his undertakings. This is the known fault<PB N="158" REF="87"> of the <HI>Church of Rome,</HI> who (as Doctor <HI>Gouge</HI> hath ob&s;erved in his <HI>Expo&s;ition</HI> of the Epi&s;tle to the <HI>Hebrews</HI>) <Q><HI>add</HI> to <HI>all the Offices</HI> of Chri&s;t; as to <HI>his Kingly Office,</HI> they add a <HI>Viceroy,</HI> an Head, as it he were not able to govern of him&s;elf; To his <HI>Prophetical</HI> Of|fice, they add a <HI>Great Prophet,</HI> who coyn|eth <HI>new Articles of Faiths</HI> and &s;o to turn out tho&s;e that Chri&s;t hath e&s;tabli&s;hed in his Church; To his <HI>Prie&s;tly Office,</HI> they add <HI>other Prie&s;ts,</HI> to offer up (as they &s;ay) true, real, <HI>Propitiatory Sacrifices</HI> for thee quick and the dead; To his <HI>Mediation</HI> and <HI>Interce&s;|&s;ion,</HI> they add the Mediation and Interce&s;|&s;ion of Angels and Saints in Heaven; To his <HI>Ordinances</HI> they add others, as Orders, Penance, Extream Unction, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></Q> The&s;e <HI>Additions</HI> derogate from the mightine&s;s, ho|nour, and glory of Chri&s;t; whereas there is no need of the&s;e, Chri&s;t being &s;ufficient without the&s;e: That known Phylo&s;ophy|cal Axiome is al&s;o true in Divinity, <HI>Fru&s;tra fit per plura, quod fiat per pauciora, It is in vain to do that by more, which may be done by fewer.</HI> And the Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> dehorts the Saints at <HI>Colo&s;s,</HI> from all other things but <HI>Christ,</HI> upon the account of his <HI>fullne&s;s,</HI> and &s;ufficiency for them, <HI>Col:</HI> 2.8, 9, 10. <HI>Beware le&s;t any man &s;poil you through Philo&s;ophy, and vain deceit, af|ter the Tradition of men, after the rudiments of
<PB N="159" REF="87"> the world, and not after Christ: For in him dwelleth all the F&V;LNESSE of the Godhead bodily; and ye are COMPLEAT in him, who is the Head of all Principallity and Power.</HI> I have read that when <HI>Augu&s;tus Cae&s;ar</HI> de&s;ired the Senate to joyn <HI>two Con&s;uls</HI> with him for the carrying on the Government of the State; the <HI>Senators</HI> an&s;wered, <HI>That they held it a diminution to his Dignity, to joyn any with &s;o incomparable a man.</HI> To pretend to a&s;&s;i&s;t Chri&s;t in the work which he hath underta|ken to do by his own Power, is really to di&s;honour him.</P>
<P>Fourthly, To all <HI>De&s;pi&s;ers and Contemners of Christ:</HI> For though he is <HI>mighty,</HI> yet he is <HI>de&s;pi&s;ed and rejected of men;</HI> This was, and is the &s;in of the <HI>Jews;</HI> they &s;o far <HI>de&s;pi&s;ed him,</HI> that they <HI>denyed</HI> him, and de&s;ired <HI>a murther|er to be granted unto them, Acts</HI> 3.14. And they call him at this day in contempt, <HI>Tal|vi,</HI> the <HI>hanged man;</HI> and his <HI>Di&s;ciples, The followers of the hanged man.</HI> And this evil is common among the Gentiles al&s;o; yea, multitudes of tho&s;e that name the name of Chri&s;t are guilty of this iniquity: &s;o vile and abominable are many, as to de&s;pi&s;e him in their hearts and works, whom in words they profe&s;&s;e to honour as their Prince and Saviour: The very <HI>Turks</HI> will condemn &s;uch Chri&s;tians, for it is &s;aid, They &s;uffer
<PB N="160" REF="88"> no man to bla&s;pheme Chri&s;t, but honour him, and &s;peak reverently of him, though they do exceedingly vilifie Chri&s;tians for being &s;o unlike to him. The greatne&s;s and danger of this evil the Apo&s;tle &s;ets forth in his Epi&s;tle to the <HI>Hebrews,</HI> Chap: 10. ver&s;. 28, 29. <HI>He that de&s;pi&s;ed Mo&s;es Law, dyed without mercy under two or three witne&s;&s;es; of how much &s;oarer puni&s;hment &s;uppo&s;e ye, &s;hall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God?</HI> Wherefore then are ye not af|fraid to de&s;pi&s;e, and &s;peak again&s;t this <HI>migh|ty One.</HI></P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 N="4" TYPE="application">
<HEAD>&V;&s;e <HI>4. Of TERROR</HI> to the wicked.</HEAD>
<P><HI>For if Christ be &s;o mighty, where &s;hall the &s;in|ner and ungodly</HI> (the <HI>Enemies</HI> of this <HI>Mighty One) appear,</HI> (1 Pet. 4.17, 18.) Surely they &s;hall be broken in pieces like a Potters Ve&s;&s;el, (<HI>P&s;al.</HI> 2.) they &s;hall peri&s;h, and be as the fat of Lambs, they &s;hall con&s;ume, into &s;moak &s;hall they con&s;ume <HI>away, (P&s;al.</HI> 37.20.) for they will not be able to &s;tand before this <HI>mighty One, when he cometh to judge the earth in righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e;</HI> it will be ill, e&s;pe|cially with <HI>the&s;e;</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The <HI>Refu&s;ers of his Grace;</HI> tho&s;e that now make nothing to refu&s;e him (and his grace) that &s;peaketh from Heaven, &s;hall
<PB N="161" REF="88"> not be able to e&s;cape the &s;everity of this <HI>Mighty One</HI> again&s;t them, for de&s;pi&s;ing the riches of his goodne&s;&s;e, <HI>Rom:</HI> 2.3, 4. for they that have <HI>&s;lighted</HI> his greate&s;t <HI>love,</HI> mu&s;t look to <HI>endure</HI> his fierce&s;t <HI>wrath.</HI> One main end of his <HI>coming in great power</HI> and glory, is, <HI>to puni&s;h &s;uch,</HI> 2 <HI>The&s;&s;.</HI> 1.7, 8, 9. <HI>He &s;hall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Go&s;pel of our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t; who &s;hall be puni&s;hed with everla&s;ting de|&s;truction from the pre&s;ence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>The Oppo&s;ers of his Reigne:</HI> For this Mighty One will not <HI>&s;pare,</HI> neither will he have <HI>pity,</HI> nor have <HI>mercy</HI> on them. His <HI>fury</HI> again&s;t &s;uch is fully &s;et forth in the <HI>Pa|rable</HI> recorded, <HI>Luke</HI> 19.27. where he &s;aith, <HI>But tho&s;e mine enemies which would not that I &s;hould reign over them, bring hither, and &s;lay them before me.</HI> He &s;peaks it not of &s;uch that glad|ly <HI>would,</HI> though &s;in prevails: but of them that <HI>would</HI> it <HI>not.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, The <HI>Oppre&s;&s;ors of his &s;ervants:</HI> For though men now count it a <HI>&s;mall</HI> mat|ter (which God calls a <HI>mighty &s;in,</HI> Amos 5.12.) <HI>To afflict the ju&s;t, and oppre&s;&s;e the poor, and &s;ay, that God regards it not;</HI> yet this <HI>Mighty One</HI> will <HI>ari&s;e, and take vengeance for them,</HI> and that to purpo&s;e, for he &s;hall <HI>break in pieces
<PB N="162" REF="89"> the Oppre&s;&s;or, P&s;al.</HI> 72.4. yea, he &s;hall <HI>cut him in &s;under,</HI> and <HI>appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there &s;hall be weeping and gna&s;hing of teeth, Matth.</HI> 24.49.51.</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>The Scoffers at his coming:</HI> For tho&s;e that now <HI>mock</HI> and <HI>&s;coffe,</HI> &s;aying, <HI>Where is the promi&s;e of his coming?</HI> (as tho&s;e in 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3.3, 4.) they &s;hall find that the com|ing of our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t is no devi&s;ed fable, (Chap. 1.16.) but a real, yea, a powerful appearance again&s;t them, to their de&s;truction, (as I&s;a. 5.28, 29.) <HI>Who may abide the day of his coming? And who &s;hall &s;tand when he appeareth? Malachi</HI> 3.2.</P>
<P>This Doctrine &s;peaks <HI>terror</HI> more e&s;peci|ally <HI>to the great and mighty Ones of the Earth:</HI> for again&s;t them will Chri&s;t appear with greate&s;t indignation; <HI>He &s;hall &s;trike through Kings in the day of his wrath, and he &s;hall wound the heads over many Countreys, P&s;al.</HI> 110.5, 6. Yea, he will be &s;o terrible to <HI>them,</HI> that they &s;hall not know <HI>how to endure him,</HI> but &s;eek by any means to <HI>hide them&s;elves</HI> from him, <HI>Revel:</HI> 6.14, 15, 16. <HI>The Kings of the Earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty men, and eve|ry bond-man, and every free-man hid them&s;elves in the Dens, and in the Rocks of the Mountains; and &s;aid to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that &s;itteth on the
<PB N="163" REF="89"> Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the Great day of his wrath is come, and who &s;hall be able to &s;tand?</HI> And CHRIST, <HI>will be</HI> MOST TERRIBLE TO THEM;</P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 1. Becau&s;e it <HI>is a ju&s;t and righteous thing</HI> that he &s;hould be &s;o, &s;eeing they are not onely mo&s;t of them again&s;t him, (for <HI>not many mighty, not many noble are called,</HI> 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 4.26.) but they are often his greate&s;t Enemies, do mo&s;t de&s;pi&s;e and reject him, and oppo&s;e his Kingdome and Power; hence &s;aith the P&s;almi&s;t, <HI>The Kings of the Earth &s;et them&s;elves, and the Rulers take Councel together again&s;t the Lord, and against his ANOINTED,</HI> P&s;al. 2.2. <HI>The Great men have altogether broken the Yoke, and burst the Bonds,</HI> Jeremy 5.5. And Chri&s;t accepteth not the per&s;ons of <HI>Princes,</HI> nor regardeth the <HI>rich</HI> more than the <HI>poor,</HI> but will render to every one according to his works; they that <HI>offend mo&s;t</HI> again&s;t him, mu&s;t look to <HI>&s;uffer most</HI> from him.</P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 2. Becau&s;e <HI>it is to his honour:</HI> for by this he gets him&s;elfe a great name of &s;trength and power; having, and exerci&s;ing <HI>Dominion over the mighty,</HI> he is the more fea|red and glorified of men. The Prophet <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> tells us <HI>Chap:</HI> 2. <HI>That the day of the Lord of Ho&s;ts &s;hall be upon every one that is proud, end lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up,
<PB N="164" REF="90"> and he &s;hall be brought low, upon all the</HI> Cedars <HI>of</HI> Lebanon <HI>that are high, upon all the</HI> Oaks <HI>of</HI> Ba&s;han, <HI>upon all the high mountains, and upon all the high hills that are lifted up, and upon every high Tower, and upon every fenced Wall, upon all the Ships of</HI> Thar&s;hi&s;h, <HI>and upon all plea&s;ant</HI> Pi|ctures; <HI>and the</HI> loftine&s;&s;e <HI>of man &s;hall be bowed down, and the</HI> haughtine&s;&s;e <HI>of men &s;hall be made low, and the</HI> Lord alone <HI>&s;hall be exalted in that day, ver&s;.</HI> 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Chri&s;t doth therefore ingage with the <HI>Mighty,</HI> becau&s;e he &s;hall be <HI>exalted</HI> in their fall e&s;pecially.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>If Christ be &s;uch a</HI> Mighty One, <HI>why do the wicked live, become old, yea are migh|ty in power, flouri&s;h, and pro&s;per in the world, and go &s;o long unpuni&s;hed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Do&s;t thou not know, that the wicked are <HI>re&s;erved to the day of de&s;truction?</HI> they &s;hall be brought forth to the day of wrath, and then Chri&s;t will repay them what they have done, according to that in 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.9. <HI>The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations, and to re&s;erve the unju&s;t unto the day of Judgement, to be puni&s;hed.</HI></P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Chri&s;t doth not pre&s;ently de&s;troy wicked men.</HEAD>
<PB N="165" REF="90">
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 1. That he <HI>might magnifie his Ju&s;tice and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e in their de&s;truction.</HI> The Judge of all the Earth will do no iniquity to the wor&s;t of men: It &s;hall be &s;aid of him, when he hath executed his fierce&s;t vengeance upon rebellious Ones, he hath not done without cau&s;e all that he hath done to his enemies; though he doth <HI>ter|rible things,</HI> yet <HI>in righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e;</HI> (P&s;al. 65.5.) Therefore he doth not cut off his enemies at fir&s;t, but &s;tayes his hand till they have vented all their malice, and acted rebellion to the height, (not that Chri&s;t de&s;ireth the increa&s;e of their &s;in, for he calls upon them to repent,) but that he will proportion his judgements to their iniquities.</P>
<P>He will not bring great de&s;truction upon men for a little wickedne&s;s, and therefore he deferrs it till their tran&s;gre&s;&s;ions be mul|tiplyed; he will not de&s;troy men for a word, or a blow or two again&s;t his &s;ervants; but when they have a long time reproa|ched, &s;corned, abu&s;ed, troubled, and per&s;e|cuted his faithful ones, then it will appear to be a <HI>righteous thing with Chri&s;t to recompence tribulation to them that trouble them.</HI> (2 <HI>The&s;&s;:</HI> 1.6.) Chri&s;t doth not at fir&s;t judge the <HI>whore,</HI> but lets her alone till &s;he hath brought forth her <HI>Abominations,</HI> till <HI>the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication
<PB N="166" REF="91"> with her, and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornicati|on, till &s;he hath made her &s;elf drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Mar|tyrs of Je&s;us,</HI> Rev: 17.2, 4, 6. yea, till &s;he &s;aith in her heart, <HI>I &s;it a Queen, and am no widdow, and &s;hall &s;ee no &s;orrow; and when &s;he hath done thus</HI> wickedly, then &s;hall <HI>her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine,</HI> and &s;he &s;hall be utterly burnt with fire, <HI>for &s;trong is the Lord God, who judgeth her,</HI> Rev: 18.7, 8. <HI>And after the&s;e things a great voice of much people was heard in Heaven, &s;aying, Alleluja, Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and Power un|to 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 for|nication, and hath avenged the blood of his &s;er|vants at her hand,</HI> Rev: 19.1, 2.</P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 2. That he might <HI>magnifie his pati|ence and long-&s;uffering towards them;</HI> that it might appear, that he who is &s;o great in power, is al&s;o &s;low to anger, and doth en|dure with much long-&s;uffering the ve&s;&s;els of wrath, fitted to de&s;truction. There is not an enemy that the Lord Chri&s;t &s;hall de&s;troy, but &s;hall be forced to confe&s;s, that Chri&s;t the Great Lord, hath had <HI>patience</HI> with him.</P>
<PB N="167" REF="91">
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 3. Becau&s;e there are <HI>&s;ome among his Enemies which are to be brought in,</HI> &s;ome in <HI>re|bellion</HI> again&s;t him, who will <HI>&s;ubmit</HI> to him; and therefore he gives a <HI>&s;pace to them to re|pent,</HI> in which he waits for their return to him&s;elf. <HI>Peter</HI> tells us that <HI>there &s;hall come in the last dayes &s;coffers, walking after their own lu&s;ts, &s;aying, Where is the promi&s;e of his coming?</HI> &amp;c. 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.3, 4. They are <HI>an&s;wered</HI> in the 9. <HI>ver&s;. It is not his &s;lackne&s;&s;e, but his long-&s;uf|fering;</HI> it is not his <HI>unmindfullne&s;s</HI> of his <HI>pro|mi&s;e</HI> to his people, nor yet of his <HI>threatnings</HI> again&s;t his Enemies; but his abounding goodne&s;s to impenitent ones, being not <HI>willing that any &s;hould peri&s;h, but that all &s;hould come to repentance.</HI> Yea, there are &s;ome of <HI>his people</HI> among his <HI>Enemies,</HI> whom he will call, and draw out from among&s;t them; and becau&s;e of his favour to them, his judge|ments upon his enemies are deferred; for the righteous God will not de&s;troy the righteous with the wicked. God did not de&s;troy the <HI>old world</HI> with <HI>water,</HI> till he had provided for the &s;ecurity of his righteous Servant <HI>Noah;</HI> he did not de&s;troy <HI>Sodom</HI> and <HI>Gomorrah,</HI> before he had brought forth <HI>Lot,</HI> and &s;et him without the City, <HI>Gen:</HI> 19. And we finde, before the Lord bring his <HI>plagues</HI> upon <HI>Babylon,</HI> he <HI>calls his people to come out of her,</HI> Rev: 18.4. <HI>Babylons</HI> Judgements are
<PB N="168" REF="92"> deferred, that <HI>Gods people</HI> may depart out of her.</P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 4. <HI>That he might Exerci&s;e the Faith and Patience of his Saints;</HI> while wicked men live, and are &s;pared, they will be per&s;ecu|ting of Gods &s;ervants; as was manife&s;t in <HI>Pharaoh,</HI> and others; and that the Lords people may live in the exerci&s;e of their Graces, e&s;pecially their <HI>Faith</HI> and <HI>Patience,</HI> he lets the wicked live, become old, and migh|ty. The <HI>Romans</HI> could have de&s;troyed <HI>Car|thage</HI> when they <HI>plea&s;ed,</HI> but for the <HI>Exerci&s;e of their Souldiers</HI> they let it &s;tand; Chri&s;t, this <HI>Mighty One,</HI> could &s;oon bring down, and <HI>cut off all the wicked</HI> of the Earth, but for the <HI>Exerci&s;e of his Servants</HI> Graces he let them &s;tand a while. <HI>John</HI> mentions the <HI>Faith</HI> and <HI>Patience</HI> of the Saints as mo&s;t con&s;picuous in their &s;oare&s;t per&s;ecution under the Bea&s;ts Reigne, <HI>Rev:</HI> 13.10. <HI>Rev:</HI> 14.12. &s;aying, <HI>Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints.</HI></P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 5. That he may <HI>&s;hew forth the great|ne&s;&s;e of his power in their de&s;truction.</HI> He let them continue to plot and de&s;ign and to get as high a head again&s;t him as may be, that &s;o <HI>his</HI> might may be the more <HI>vi&s;ible</HI> in their Overthrow; that it may be known he can de&s;troy them when they are at the <HI>&s;tronge&s;t,</HI> and bring them down when they are at the <HI>highe&s;t;</HI> according to the word of the
<PB N="169" REF="92"> Lord to <HI>Edom,</HI> Obad 4. <HI>Though thou exalt thy &s;elf as the Eagle, and though thou &s;et thy ne&s;t among the Stars, thence will I bring thee down, &s;aith the Lord.</HI></P>
<DIV3 N="5" TYPE="application">
<HEAD><HI>&V;&s;e</HI> 5. Of CAUTION.</HEAD>
<P><HI>To the Mighty Ones, yea to the greate&s;t and mightie&s;t on the earth,</HI> to take heed what they do; for though they be mighty, yet they mu&s;t know Chri&s;t is mightier; therefore take heed that you <HI>oppo&s;e</HI> not this Mighty One, le&s;t ye peri&s;h. God made <HI>David</HI> his <HI>Mighty One,</HI> and you know what became of <HI>Saul, Ab&s;olom, Sheba,</HI> and others, who <HI>lif|ted</HI> up their <HI>hands</HI> again&s;t him. Yea, take heed what ye do again&s;t his &s;ervants; for the evill which is done again&s;t them, is done again&s;t him, and he &s;o accounts of it, (<HI>Matth.</HI> 25.35.&mdash;40.45.) what though <HI>they</HI> be <HI>weak, he</HI> is <HI>mighty</HI> to avenge all wrongs done to them.</P>
<P>The Wi&s;eman &s;peaking of the fatherle&s;s, cautions others again&s;t injuring of them, upon this account, <HI>Pro:</HI> 23.10, 11. <HI>Remove not the old Land-mark, and enter not into the Fields of the fatherle&s;&s;e; for their Redeemer is mighty, he &s;hall plead their cau&s;e with thee.</HI> The Prophet <HI>Jeremy</HI> al&s;o &s;peaking of the <HI>oppre&s;&s;ed</HI> condition of the children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> and <HI>Ju|dah,</HI>
<PB N="170" REF="93"> &s;aith, <HI>Their Redeemer is &s;trong, the Lord of Ho&s;ts is his Name; he &s;hall throughly plead their cau&s;e, that he may give re&s;t to the Land, and di&s;quiet the Inhabitants of Babylon,</HI> Jer. 50.33, 34.</P>
<P>Therefore though you be not affraid of <HI>them,</HI> yet be affraid of <HI>Chri&s;t their King,</HI> who in the mid&s;t of them is Mighty to &s;ave them, and to de&s;troy you. Ye mighty ones of the world, who intend mi&s;chief again&s;t <HI>Chri&s;ts Servants,</HI> know, that he will one day ari&s;e, and &s;ay, as that Great Prince <HI>Aha&s;ue|rus</HI> to Queen <HI>E&s;ther,</HI> when &s;he had told him of the <HI>De&s;ign</HI> of wicked <HI>Haman</HI> again&s;t <HI>her</HI> and <HI>her people,</HI> E&s;ther 7.5. <HI>Who is he? and where is he that dur&s;t pre&s;ume in his heart to do &s;o?</HI> and then like <HI>Haman,</HI> you will be affraid <HI>before this King</HI> and <HI>his</HI> people, whom now you de&s;pi&s;e.</P>
<P>Oh that you would con&s;ider the danger you are in, which you may ea&s;ily appre|hend from tho&s;e <HI>precious</HI> (though <HI>dreadfull</HI>) words of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> Matth. 18.6. <HI>Who&s;o &s;hall of|fend one of the&s;e little Ones which beleeve in me, it were better for him that a mil&s;tone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea.</HI> Therefore <HI>lift not up your horn,</HI> lift not up your horn on high (though you be never &s;o high and mighty,) Chri&s;t, this Mighty One is now the Judge, having
<PB N="171" REF="93"> all power in his hands, he putteth down one, and &s;etteth up another, (P&s;. 75.5.&mdash;7.) and he avengeth the evil which is done unto his Servants.</P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 N="6" TYPE="application">
<HEAD><HI>&V;&s;e</HI> 6. Of EXHORTATION.</HEAD>
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. <HI>To Chri&s;ts Enemies.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>2. <HI>To his Servants.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST>
<P>Fir&s;t, To his ENEMIES: <HI>Submit &amp; &s;ub|ject your &s;elves to him;</HI> &s;trive not with a Migh|ty man, &s;aith one; &s;urely it cannot be &s;afe to <HI>&s;trive</HI> with this <HI>Mighty One.</HI> Your &s;ecuri|ty lyes in &s;ubmi&s;&s;ion, not in oppo&s;ition; in ki&s;&s;ing the Son, not in kicking again&s;t him.</P>
<P>Therefore, O ye &s;inners, ye mighty ones, lay down all your weapons and your &s;elves at his feet. The men of this world de&s;ire <HI>peace</HI> with tho&s;e that are <HI>mightier</HI> than they, <HI>Luke</HI> 14.31. <HI>Acts</HI> 12.20. Learn of them to humble your &s;elves under the mighty hand of Chri&s;t, who is a King again&s;t whom there is no ri&s;ing up, as <HI>Prov:</HI> 30.31. What the Lord &s;peaks in faithfulne&s;&s;e, and with affection to the <HI>Kings and Judges of the Earth,</HI> I may &s;ay to them, and all others, <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 word"> &s;tand out again&s;t this Mighty One, <HI>Be wi&s;e, now therefore O ye Kings; be in&s;tructed ye Judges of the Earth; &s;erve the Lord with feare,
<PB N="172" REF="94"> and rejoyce with trembling; ki&s;&s;e the Son le&s;t he be angry, and ye peri&s;h from the way; when his wrath is kindled but a little, Ble&s;&s;ed are all they that put their tru&s;t in him,</HI> P&s;al. 2.10.11, 12. And if you be in &s;uch danger of <HI>peri&s;hing</HI> when <HI>his wrath is kindled but a little,</HI> what will ye do when the <HI>great day of his wrath is come,</HI> (Rev: 6.17.) the <HI>day that &s;hall burne as an Oven, and all the proud, and all that do wickedly &s;hall be &s;tubble; and the day that cometh &s;hall burne them up, that it &s;hall leave them nei|ther root nor branch,</HI> Mal. 4.1.</P>
<P>And <HI>who&s;oever thinkes either to pre|vaile again&s;t him, or to e&s;cape from him, they imagine a vaine thing;</HI> For</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, By <HI>WISDOME and POLI|CY &s;hall no man prevaile again&s;t him;</HI> God turneth the wi&s;dome of the wi&s;e into foo|li&s;hne&s;s; he leadeth Councellours away &s;poiled, and maketh the Judges fooles, <HI>Job</HI> 12.17. What Great and deepe <HI>policie</HI> did <HI>Saul</HI> u&s;e again&s;t <HI>David</HI> (a <HI>Type of Chri&s;t</HI>) to keep him from the <HI>Kingdome?</HI> he &s;et him over the men of Warre; and when he &s;aw that all <HI>I&s;rael</HI> loved him, in a way of &s;ub|tilty, he proffered him his Daughter, tha<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> &s;he might be a <HI>&s;nare</HI> unto him; and he <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">+&s;ired no <HI>dowry,</HI> but an <HI>hundred foreskins of the Phili&s;tines;</HI> for he thought to make <HI>David</HI>
<PB N="173" REF="94"> fall by the hand of the <HI>Phili&s;tines,</HI> 1 Sam. 18. and oft-times he &s;ought to <HI>kill</HI> him, both by open war and privately; but notwith&s;tand|ing all his policy he lo&s;t his <HI>kingdome</HI> and his <HI>life</HI> too, and <HI>David</HI> po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ed the <HI>king|dome.</HI> What <HI>deeper policy</HI> could <HI>Herod</HI> have u&s;ed to de&s;troy <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> when he came into the World? or the <HI>Jewes</HI> to hinder his <HI>Re|&s;urrection?</HI> yet could not prevaile; verifying the words of <HI>Solomon,</HI> Pro. 21.30. <HI>There is no wi&s;dome, nor under&s;tanding, nor coun&s;el again&s;t the LORD.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, And <HI>by STRENGTH &s;hall no man prevaile,</HI> 1 Sam: 2.9. <HI>He is mighty in &s;trength; who hath hardened him&s;elfe again&s;t him, and pro&s;pered?</HI> he will lead Princes away &s;poiled, and overthrow the Mighty, yea the Couragious among the Mighty &s;hall flee a|way naked in the day that he ari&s;eth. You that are &s;trong, have you an Arme like him? or can you thunder with a voice like him? Know, that it is altogether in vaine to <HI>&s;trengthen</HI> your &s;elves again&s;t Chri&s;t, for by rea&s;on of his <HI>Highne&s;s</HI> and <HI>Mightine&s;s</HI> you &s;hall not be able to endure.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Neither will RICHES profit in the day of his wrath,</HI> Pro. 11.4. For though the rich mans <HI>wealth</HI> is his <HI>&s;trong</HI> City, and as an <HI>high</HI> wall in his <HI>own</HI> conceit, <HI>Pro.</HI> 18.11. yet it cannot pre&s;erve him from peri&s;h|ing
<PB N="174" REF="95"> by the hand of <HI>this Mighty One;</HI> &s;o that there is no way to e&s;cape, but by a hearty <HI>&s;ubmi&s;&s;ion</HI> to the Son of God. Neither let the Greate&s;t and <HI>highe&s;t</HI> of the Earth thinke them&s;elves too Great and <HI>High</HI> to &s;toop to him, to whom <HI>every knee &s;hall bow,</HI> (Rom: 14.10, 11.) for it is no weakne&s;s, nor ba&s;e|ne&s;s, but true mightine&s;s and noblene&s;s of &s;pirit to be willing to be overcome by, and to him; yea the Greate&s;t honour attainable here con&s;i&s;ts in fulle&s;t &s;ubjection, and &s;er|viceablene&s;s to this Mighty One; The con|&s;ideration of which &s;hould cau&s;e <HI>&s;trangers</HI> and <HI>enemies,</HI> freely to <HI>&s;ubmit them&s;elves unto him,</HI> (as <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 18.44. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 66.3.) Be&s;ides he hath power to <HI>forgive &s;ins</HI> pa&s;t, and to make <HI>Rebels Favourites</HI> in the <HI>Court</HI> of Hea|ven, (<HI>P&s;al.</HI> 68.18.) and he waites that he may be thus gracious to them, (2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3.9.) Yea though he be a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> the King of Glory (who could de&s;troy the &s;tronge&s;t in a moment,) yet he <HI>knocks,</HI> yea he conde|&s;cends to <HI>&s;tand</HI> and <HI>knock at the doore of their hearts,</HI> de&s;iring to enter in that he might do them good, (<HI>Rev:</HI> 3.18, 19, 20.) Therefore Open to the King of Glory that he may come in, (<HI>P&s;al:</HI> 24.9, 10.) and rule in you, and over you for ever; And as you have been much in <HI>rebellion</HI> again&s;t him be much in <HI>&s;ubjection</HI> to him.</P>
<PB N="175" REF="95">
<P>Secondly, <HI>To CHRISTS SERVANTS.</HI> If <HI>Chri&s;t be Mighty,</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Feare him,</HI> O ye his Saints; feare not man, nor any of the &s;ons of man that &s;hall dye, that are as gra&s;&s;e, but feare this Mighty One, the Lord that liveth for ever, (<HI>I&s;a.</HI> 51.12, 13.) He that hath all power both in Heaven and Earth, (<HI>Math.</HI> 28.18.) let him be your feare, let him be your dread, (<HI>I&s;a.</HI> 8.13.) and not the Mighty, or rather weak ones of the world, that <HI>kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do, Luke</HI> 12.4. The Prophet <HI>Jeremiah</HI> advan|cing <HI>the true and living God</HI> above all <HI>Idols,</HI> &s;aith to the hou&s;e of <HI>I&s;rael, Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither al&s;o is it in them to do good, Fora&s;much as there is none like unto thee, O Lord: thou art great, and thy name is great in might, who would not feare thee, O King of Nations? for to thee doth it appertaine,</HI> Jer. 10.5, 6, 7. And this is the &s;umme of the triumphant Song of them that <HI>get victo|ry over the Bea&s;t,</HI> Rev. 15.3, 4. <HI>Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, ju&s;t and true are thy wayes, thou King of Saints; who &s;hall not feare thee, O Lord, and glorifie thy Name?</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>Tru&s;t in him;</HI> he is a <HI>&s;ure foun|dation,</HI> all the powers of <HI>Earth</HI> and <HI>Hell</HI> can|not move it: He is a fit object for your
<PB N="176" REF="96"> <HI>faith,</HI> &s;eeing he is the LORD, Mighty to &s;ave, and to &s;ave to the uttermo&s;t out of the deepe&s;t dangers and troubles you can be brought into, (<HI>Heb:</HI> 7.25.) yea he hath <HI>re|deemed the &s;oules</HI> of his &s;ervants <HI>from deceit and violence</HI> heretofore, and will for ever <HI>&s;hew him&s;elfe &s;trong on the behalfe of tho&s;e who&s;e hearts are &s;tay'd on him,</HI> (P&s;al. 26.3, 4.) And there|fore though ignorant worldlings &s;light and reject this Mighty One, and place their con|fidence in Kings, Princes, Hor&s;es, Chariots, (which do faile them often) yet do you that know his great and glorious Name, put your tru&s;t in him, (<HI>P&s;al.</HI> 20.7, 8.) yea <HI>at what time you are afraid,</HI> either of &s;pirituall or temporall evils, <HI>tru&s;t in him,</HI> in whom is everla&s;ting &s;trength, (<HI>P&s;al.</HI> 56.3.) you &s;hall finde him &s;ufficient for you, and faithfull to you; <HI>He that beleeveth on him &s;hall never be confounded,</HI> 1 Pet. 2.6.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Prize him above all;</HI> Prize him according to his excellent greatne&s;s. This was Gods <HI>de&s;igne</HI> in making him mighty, <HI>Joh.</HI> 5.22, 23. Do you further it, what in you lyeth, <HI>by honouring the Son, even as you honour the Father:</HI> If the people prized <HI>David</HI> farre above them&s;elves, &s;aying, <HI>Thou art worth ten thou&s;and of us,</HI> 2 Sam. 18.3. how &s;hould we value <HI>Davids</HI> Lord, &amp; our Lord, who is the onely Potentate, King of Kings,
<PB N="177" REF="96"> and Lord of Lords, above our &s;elves, and all things el&s;e, (1 <HI>Tim:</HI> 6.15.)</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>Stand by him, &s;tand by his cau&s;e and intere&s;t all your dayes;</HI> Worke and love righteou&s;ne&s;s evermore, though you be per&s;ecuted for its &s;ake; yea though many &s;hould for&s;ake him through the unbeliefe of their hearts, as the Di&s;ciples did of old, yet &s;tand by him, and his work of righte|ou&s;ne&s;s. For, he is <HI>Mighty to &s;ave you,</HI> (I&s;a. 63.1.); It was <HI>Shammah's</HI> commendation, that he &s;tood it out, and <HI>defended the Field alone,</HI> when all the people fled from the <HI>Phi|li&s;tines,</HI> 2 Sam. 23.12. and the Lord wrought a great Victory. Stand by this <HI>Mighty One,</HI> though alone. Though you that be faith|full, be but <HI>few</HI> and <HI>weake,</HI> and ingaged a|gain&s;t <HI>mighty</HI> Adver&s;ar<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">s, The <HI>Devil,</HI> the <HI>World,</HI> and the <HI>Fle&s;h;</HI> yet be bold and <HI>cou|ragious,</HI> and go on with confidence in your holy warre: you <HI>March</HI> under the <HI>Banner</HI> of a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> who is the <HI>Captaine of &s;alvati|on,</HI> (Heb: 2.10.) who hath conquered migh|ty Enemies, and will not re&s;t till he hath de|&s;troyed every evil work, &amp; worker, (2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4.16&mdash; 18.) <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> (&s;aith <HI>Luther) hath de|&s;troyed many great Kings, and laid them in the du&s;t; For my part I will hold with him, and on his &s;ide, rather than with the</HI> Turke, <HI>with the</HI> Em|perour, <HI>and the whole univer&s;all world.</HI> Let his
<PB N="178" REF="97"> Re&s;olution be yours; its rationall to be on the &s;tronge&s;t &s;ide.</P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>Ble&s;&s;e God,</HI> even the Father of our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, who of his rich mer|cy, and by his great power, <HI>hath drawne you out of the world,</HI> and &s;eparated you from your companions and brethren in iniquitie, and brought you from under the Dominion of <HI>other Lords,</HI> who were not able to &s;ave you, <HI>to be under this great and Mighty One. Pauls</HI> heart was wonderfully taken with this grace, as appeares by his words, <HI>Col.</HI> 1.12, 13. <HI>Giving thanks <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">nto the Father,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>Who hath delivered <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">s from the power of darkne&s;s, and hath tran&s;lated us into the kingdome of his deare Son.</HI> Ble&s;&s;e God for this un&s;peakable grace.</P>
<P>Yea <HI>Ble&s;&s;e God</HI> for that great grace vouch|&s;afed to thee, <HI>that</HI> (in thy unregenerate e|&s;tate,) <HI>thou wert not confounded,</HI> and de&s;troy|ed <HI>for,</HI> and <HI>in thy oppo&s;ition again&s;t Chri&s;t;</HI> for he is Mighty, and could have done it: Sup|po&s;e a <HI>child</HI> &s;hould take a <HI>&s;tick</HI> in its hand, and go into the <HI>Lions den,</HI> and there <HI>&s;trike the Lion,</HI> and the <HI>Lions whelpes,</HI> the young Lions; and <HI>continue</HI> beating them for &s;ome time with all its might, and yet the Lion <HI>not teare</HI> this child, nor meddle at all with it, but the child returne without any hurt done to it; <HI>what</HI> will this child <HI>&s;ay,</HI> when it comes to <HI>mans</HI> e&s;tate? It will be <HI>filled</HI> with amaze|ment,
<PB N="179" REF="97"> and a&s;toni&s;hment, when it &s;hall be told what it did, and how it e&s;caped; &s;urely it will cry out with wonder, what a mercy, what a providence pa&s;t finding out, that I was not devoured! I &s;troke the Lion, which was wont to devoure others. You that are <HI>Chri&s;ts</HI> &s;ervants, you have been the <HI>Enemies</HI> of Chri&s;t, and his people; you have as it were &s;truck at the face of Chri&s;t by your oppo&s;ition again&s;t him; yea peradventure you have <HI>continued</HI> &s;ome time beating Chri&s;t and his &s;ervants, provoking <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> (the <HI>Li|on of the Tribe of Judah</HI>) again&s;t you; and yet he did not teare you in pieces, as he did o|thers, but you are e&s;caped; oh &s;tudy what rich mercy and grace it is, that &s;uch a bold rebellious wretch as you have been, &s;hould be &s;pared by this <HI>Mighty One!</HI> Surely you cannot look back upon &s;uch delivering grace, without wondring, and being melted by it into love and &s;ubmi&s;&s;ion to Chri&s;t, who hath thus loved and &s;aved you from peri&s;hing in, and by your iniquities.</P>
<P>Sixthly, La&s;tly, If <HI>Chri&s;t be Mighty, La|bour to get much of Chri&s;t,</HI> to be Chri&s;tians in|deed; not by <HI>profe&s;&s;ion</HI> of the Name onely, but by <HI>participation</HI> of the Spirit of Chri&s;t; that &s;o receiving the <HI>Anointing,</HI> you may be <HI>Mighty</HI> al&s;o. He was full of <HI>might,</HI> by <HI>the Spi|rit of the Lord,</HI> (I&s;a. 11.2.) Let us &s;eek to be
<PB N="180" REF="98"> <HI>mighty,</HI> not by carnal might, nor power, nor &s;word, but by the Spirit of the Lord. He was mighty in <HI>Faith,</HI> let us be &s;o, a &s;trong migh|ty <HI>faith</HI> in a mighty Chri&s;t is very &s;utable; he was mighty in <HI>love</HI> to us, let us be &s;o to him, let us love him with <HI>all</HI> the heart, with <HI>all</HI> the &s;oule, with <HI>all</HI> our &s;trength. He was mighty in <HI>patience;</HI> Let us get much of that grace al&s;o, for <HI>we have need of patience, that after we have done the will of God, we may inherit the promi&s;e,</HI> (Heb: 10.36.) He was mighty in <HI>zeale;</HI> let us be &s;o, even a <HI>peculiar</HI> people, <HI>zealous</HI> of good works, (<HI>Tit.</HI> 2.14.)</P>
<Q><HI>Doctr: 2.</HI> God hath appointed This Mighty One, Chri&s;t, to be an help to his people.</Q>
<P>This <HI>Doctrine</HI> hath <HI>two Branches.</HI></P>
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. That <HI>Chri&s;t is an help to his people.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>2. That <HI>God hath appointed him thereunto.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST>
<P>Fir&s;t, That <HI>CHRIST IS AN HELP,</HI> appeares;</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>In the TYPES of him,</HI> both <HI>RE|ALL,</HI> as chiefly the <HI>Pa&s;&s;eover, Mannah,</HI> the <HI>Rock,</HI> the <HI>Brazen Serpent,</HI> which were types of Chri&s;t, and for the good and help of the people, (1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5.7, 8. <HI>Ch.</HI> 10.3. <HI>Joh.</HI> 2.14.) and <HI>PERSONALL,</HI> as ^a <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> ^b <HI>Jo|&s;uah,</HI>
<PB N="181" REF="98">
<NOTE N="c" PLACE="foot"><HI>Act.</HI> 2.29, 20. <HI>&amp;</HI> 13.34, 35.</NOTE> <HI>David,</HI><NOTE N="d" PLACE="foot"><HI>Act.</HI> 7.47. with <HI>Prov.</HI> 9.1&mdash;</NOTE> <HI>Solomon,</HI> and others, who were helps, or helpers of the people, even of Gods people <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> (<NOTE N="a" PLACE="foot"><HI>Heb:</HI> 3.5, 6.</NOTE> <NOTE N="b" PLACE="foot"><HI>Heb:</HI> 4.8.</NOTE>)</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>In the PROPHECIES of him;</HI> to in&s;tance but in a few, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 72.12, 13. <HI>He &s;hall deliver the needy when he cryeth; the poore al&s;o, and him that hath no helper; He &s;hall &s;pare the poore and needy, and &s;hall &s;ave the &s;oules of the needy; He &s;hall redeeme their &s;oule from de|ceit and violence.</HI> I&s;a. 11.4. <HI>With righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e &s;hall he judge the poore, and reprove with equitie for the meek of the Earth.</HI> The &s;ame <HI>Prophet,</HI> &s;peaking of the Admini&s;tration of his <HI>Kingly power,</HI> &s;aith, <HI>I&s;a:</HI> 32.2. <HI>And a man &s;hall be an hiding place from the winde, and a covert from the Tempe&s;t: as rivers of water in a dry place, as the &s;haddow of a great rock in a weary Land.</HI> And al&s;o &s;aith, <HI>Surely he hath borne our griefe, and carried our &s;orrows; he was wounded for our tran&s;|gre&s;&s;ions, he was brui&s;ed for our iniquities, the cha&s;ti&s;ement of our peace was upon him, and with his &s;tripes we are healed,</HI> I&s;a: 53.4, 5, 6. Hence &s;aith <HI>Mary</HI> in her &s;ong of prai&s;e to the Lord for his <HI>goodne&s;s</HI> to her, and his people, in <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> who was yet to be borne, <HI>Luke</HI> 1.54. <HI>He hath</HI> holpen <HI>his &s;ervant I&s;rael in Remembrance of his mercy, as he &s;pake to our Fathers, to Abra|ham, and to his &s;eed for ever.</HI> And to this agree|eth
<PB N="182" REF="99"> part of the Propheticall Song of <HI>Zacha|r<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">,</HI> Luke 1.68, 69. <HI>Ble&s;&s;ed be the Lord God of I&s;rael, for he hath vi&s;ited and redeemed his peo|ple, and hath</HI> rai&s;ed up an Horne of &s;alvation <HI>for us in the hou&s;e of his &s;ervant David;</HI> even <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> an help to his people.</P>
<P>Much need not be added to prove that which the Scriptures do abundantly te&s;tifie, and the Saints con&s;tantly experience, yea the whole work of Chri&s;ts <HI>Mediatour&s;hip</HI> is a large Demon&s;tration of this thing; For what is it but his being his <HI>peoples help?</HI> For, for this he <HI>came</HI> into the world, for this he <HI>lived</HI> here, and <HI>&s;uffered</HI> &s;uch grievous things; for this he <HI>dyed,</HI> for this he <HI>ro&s;e againe,</HI> for this he <HI>a&s;cended,</HI> for this he <HI>&s;its at the right hand of the Father,</HI> and for this he will <HI>come againe,</HI> even unto the perfect redemption and &s;al|vation of all them that <HI>look for,</HI> and <HI>love his appearing,</HI> (Rom: 8.33, 34. <HI>Heb:</HI> 9.28. 2 <HI>Tim:</HI> 4.8.) Thus it is manife&s;t in the Generall, that <HI>Chri&s;t is his peoples help.</HI></P>
<P>But for the further <HI>enlightning</HI> of their <HI>minds</HI> into this truth, and the more <HI>affecting</HI> their <HI>hearts</HI> therewith, I &s;hall endeavour to hold it forth more particularly, in a <HI>THREEFOLD GRADATION.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Chri&s;t is throughly furni&s;hed with what may fit and enable him to help,</HI> as</P>
<PB N="183" REF="99">
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>KNOWLEDGE</HI> is requi&s;ite to make one fit to help, and with this Chri&s;t is filled, he <HI>knowes</HI> the whole &s;tate of all his &s;ervants perfectly; He knows all their conditions, wayes, and frames, and what is good for them; he <HI>knoweth</HI> all their di&s;ea&s;es, troubles, and Temptations, and how to deliver them out of them all; He <HI>knows</HI> their <HI>enemies,</HI> and all the things which come into their minds, every one of them; he knows their imagi|nations, which they go about: It is &s;aid of him, <HI>Joh.</HI> 2.24, 25. <HI>He knew all men, he knew what was in man;</HI> yea he <HI>knows the thoughts of his,</HI> and his peoples <HI>enemies,</HI> Math: 12.25. Luke 6.8. He is <HI>omnipre&s;ent,</HI> every where; he is among the <HI>Great ones</HI> of the world; and whatever de&s;ignes they have again&s;t his &s;ervants, he takes notice of them, and &s;trikes in, on their behalfe. Not an act, nor word, nor yet imagination can pa&s;&s;e in any of their <HI>A&s;&s;emblies</HI> and <HI>Councels,</HI> again&s;t any of his, but he <HI>knoweth</HI> it altogether. Upon this account the <HI>P&s;almist</HI> exhorts the <HI>Judges</HI> of the Earth to <HI>defend,</HI> and <HI>deliver</HI> the poore, <HI>P&s;al:</HI> 82.1, 3, 4. <HI>God &s;tandeth in the Congre|gation of the Mighty; he Judgeth among the Gods. Defend the poore, and fatherle&s;s; do Ju|&s;tice to the poore and needy, deliver the poore and needy, rid them out of the hand of the wick|ed.</HI></P>
<PB N="184" REF="100">
<P>Secondly, <HI>POWER is requi&s;ite to help;</HI> And Chri&s;t hath enough of that, for he hath <HI>all power,</HI> as hath been &s;hewed at large, (<HI>Math.</HI> 28.18.) Power containes</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Authority;</HI> and he hath <HI>Authority,</HI> power of rule and Government over all, both per&s;ons and things; for he is gone in|to heaven, and is on the right hand of God, Angels, and Authorities, and Powers being made &s;ubject to him, 1 <HI>Pet:</HI> 3.22. With this he encouraged his Di&s;ciples when he &s;ent them into the world about his work, <HI>Math:</HI> 28.18, 19, 20. <HI>Je&s;us came, and &s;pake u<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">to them, &s;aying, All power is given unto me in Heaven, and in Earth; Go ye therefore, and teach all Nations, Baptizing them,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world;</HI> as if Chri&s;t &s;hould &s;ay, I that have received &s;uch great Authority from my Father, whereby I am &s;ufficiently able to help you, will continually &s;tand by you, in all the work and dangers whereunto I call you.</P>
<P>Secondly, Strength and ability to per|forme his purpo&s;es towards his people; and Chri&s;t is great in power in this re&s;pect; he is &s;o &s;trong and mighty, that what&s;oever things the Father doth, tho&s;e things he doth likewi&s;e, for as the Father rai&s;eth up the dead, and quickneth them, even &s;o the Son quickneth whom he will, <HI>John</HI> 5.19, 21.
<PB N="185" REF="100"> Yea, all things are po&s;&s;ible with him; He is the Lord God Omnipotent. The Apo|&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> did make &s;uch a reckoning of the &s;ufficiency of Chri&s;t to help in this particu|lar, as he &s;aid, <HI>I can do all things through Chri&s;t which &s;trengthneth me,</HI> Phil: 4.13.</P>
<P>Thirdly, WISDOME <HI>and</HI> COUNCEL <HI>is requi&s;ite to help;</HI> yea, mo&s;t requi&s;ite. <HI>Solo|mon</HI> makes <HI>wi&s;dome</HI> more requi&s;ite than <HI>&s;trength,</HI> for he &s;aith, Eccle&s;. 7.19. <HI>Wi&s;dome &s;trengthneth the wi&s;e more than the ten mighty men which are in the City; and wi&s;dome is better than &s;trength, and better than weapons of warre,</HI> Eccle&s;. 9.16, 18. Hence it was &s;aid of old, <HI>One Ne&s;tor will do more &s;ervice than ten Ajaxes:</HI> And Chri&s;t is rich in this grace al|&s;o, <HI>Councel is his,</HI> and &s;ound <HI>wi&s;dom;</HI> he is called <HI>Councellor, (I&s;a.</HI> 9 6.) and as his <HI>Name</HI> is, &s;o is <HI>he</HI> to his Servants; when they are in &s;traits and perplexities, and know not which way to turn them, then doth he <HI>guide them with his Coun&s;el,</HI> P&s; 32.8. Yea, <HI>In him are hid all the trea&s;ures of wi&s;dome and know|ledge,</HI> Col: 2.3.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>Christ is furni&s;hed with what may incline him to help.</HI></P>
<P>I &s;hall in&s;tance onely in three things.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, A <HI>Participation of the &s;ame Nature.</HI> Even Nature it &s;elf teacheth, and promps
<PB N="186" REF="101"> creatures to help their fellow-creatures, e&s;|pecially tho&s;e that partake of the &s;ame na|ture with them; as bea&s;ts, bea&s;ts; men, men; &s;o <HI>Christ</HI> having a&s;&s;umed the <HI>Humane</HI> Nature, &s;o that his people are of his <HI>fle&s;h,</HI> and <HI>his bone (Ephe&s;.</HI> 5.30.) He is thereby &s;trong|ly inclined to extend reliefe and help to them in <HI>that Nature.</HI> The Apo&s;tle makes u&s;e of this Argument in his Exhortation to men to love their wives; and &s;hews al&s;o how upon this very account Chri&s;t loveth and nouri&s;heth his Church, <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 5.28, 29, 30. <HI>So ought men to love their wives as their own bodyes; he that loveth his wife, loveth him&s;elfe: For no man ever yet hated his own fle&s;h, but loveth and cheri&s;heth it, even as the Lord the Church; For we are members of his body, of his fle&s;h, and of his Bones.</HI></P>
<P>The Scriptures &s;peaking of Chri&s;t as Me|diator, and Helper of his people, do fre|quently &s;tile him <HI>Man, Son of man.</HI> A <HI>man</HI> &s;hall be as an hiding place from the wind, &amp;c. <HI>There is one Mediator between God and men, the MAN Chri&s;t Je&s;us,</HI> as being in the &s;ame Nature with his people, (1 <HI>Tim:</HI> 2.5.)</P>
<P>Secondly, A <HI>Communication in the &s;ame conditions and &s;ufferings of his people in the &s;ame Nature;</HI> and this inclines him to help tho&s;e that are exerci&s;ed with the &s;ame afflictions, which he him&s;elf endured: the Apo&s;tle doth
<PB N="187" REF="101"> in&s;i&s;t much upon this, <HI>Heb:</HI> 2.16, 17, 18. <HI>Verily, he took not on him the Nature of</HI> Angels, <HI>but he took on him the &s;eed of</HI> Abraham; <HI>where|fore in all things it beh<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ved him to be made like unto his</HI> Brethren, <HI>that he might be</HI> a merciful, <HI>and</HI> faithful <HI>High-Prie&s;t, &amp;c. For in that he him&s;elf hath &s;uffered being tempted, he is able to &s;uccour them that are tempted;</HI> Chri&s;t hath been compa&s;&s;ed about with <HI>troubles,</HI> he hath been in all conditions that his &s;ervants have been, or are in, except &s;in; he hath been reproached, hated, per&s;ecuted, tempted, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and &s;o knows how to have Compa&s;&s;ion on &s;uch as are &s;o u&s;ed, (Heb: 4.15, 16.)</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Pity and Compa&s;&s;ion.</HI> A &s;pirit of compa&s;&s;ion inclineth tho&s;e in whom it is, to help &s;uch as are in trouble. It is &s;aid of the Lord concerning his People, I&s;a. 63.9. <HI>In his love, and in his pity he redeemed them, and bare them, and carryed them all the dayes of old.</HI> Gods <HI>pity</HI> inclined him to &s;uch gracious actings towards them: Chri&s;ts heart being full of <HI>pitty</HI> and compa&s;&s;ion, is greatly en|larged towards his &s;uffering &s;ervants; His pity towards them, &s;ets his power and wi&s;|dom a work for them. It was Chri&s;ts <HI>com|pa&s;&s;ion</HI> towards the multitude which moved him to put forth his power, and work a mi|racle to feed them, (<HI>Mat.</HI> 16.32.) And ac|cording to this method, the man who&s;e
<PB N="188" REF="102"> &s;on had the dumb &s;pirit prayed, Mark. 9.22. <HI>If thou can&s;t do any thing, have compa&s;&s;ion on us, and help us.</HI> This is very cleerly &s;et forth by Chri&s;t him&s;elf in the Parable of the woun|ded man, whom the <HI>Prie&s;t</HI> and <HI>Levite</HI> pa&s;|&s;ed by, and helped not; but the <HI>Samaritane</HI> when he &s;aw him, and <HI>had compa&s;&s;ion</HI> on him, <HI>Went to him, and bound up his wounds, pour|ing in Oyle and Wine, and &s;et him on his own bea&s;t, and brought him to an Inne, and took care on him,</HI> Luke 10.30, 31, 32, 33, 34. <HI>Compa&s;&s;ion</HI> in|clines to <HI>Action,</HI> and <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> being of <HI>greate&s;t Compa&s;&s;ion</HI> towards afflicted ones, is <HI>mo&s;t in|clined to help them.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Chri&s;t is greatly engaged to help his Servants.</HI></P>
<P>Several things ingage Chri&s;t to help; As</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>The intere&s;t that Chri&s;t hath in them.</HI> They are Chri&s;ts portion and inheritance, yea, his peculiar trea&s;ure, which he mo&s;t loveth and prizeth, &amp; therefore cannot but help them in their difficulties and &s;traits. Upon this account God promi&s;ed to help <HI>Jac<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">b, I&s;a:</HI> 43.1, 2. <HI>Fear not, O Jacob, thou art Mine;</HI> God challengeth <HI>Jacob</HI> to be <HI>his,</HI> and then he promi&s;eth his helping pre|&s;ence, &s;aying, <HI>When thou pa&s;&s;e&s;t through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the Ri|vers,
<PB N="189" REF="102"> they &s;hall not overflow thee,</HI> &amp;c. The <HI>Phy|&s;itian</HI> peradventure will help a <HI>&s;tranger,</HI> but much more the Patient in whom <HI>he hath an intere&s;t.</HI> The cho&s;en ones are <HI>Chri&s;ts own, his Father hath given him them; and therefore he careth for them, and keepeth them,</HI> John 17.6, 12. Neither are they <GAP DESC="foreign"> <HI>his goods,</HI> but <GAP DESC="foreign"> he hath a very neer propriety in them; they are a piece of him&s;elf, and thereupon he is engaged to help them.</P>
<P>The Evangeli&s;t <HI>John</HI> takes notice of the love, and the continuance of the <HI>love of Chri&s;t</HI> towards tho&s;e in whom he had an intere&s;t, towards <HI>his own, Having loved his own which were in the world</HI> (he &s;peaks not of <HI>things,</HI> but of <HI>per&s;ons) he loved them unto the end,</HI> John 13.1.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>The Relations that Chri&s;t &s;tands in towards them engage him to help.</HI> He is a <HI>Friend,</HI> and one Friend is engaged to help another; He is a <HI>Brother,</HI> and Brethren are engaged to help one another, (Prov: 17.17.) He is a <HI>Shepherd,</HI> and the Shepherd is engaged to help the <HI>Flock;</HI> He is an <HI>Husband,</HI> and the Husband is engaged to help the Wife; He is a <HI>Father,</HI> and the Father is engaged to help the <HI>Child,</HI> Jer: 31.8, 9. He is a <HI>Lord</HI> and <HI>Ma&s;ter,</HI> and the Lord and Ma&s;ter &s;tands engaged to help &amp; &s;ave <HI>his Servants.</HI> The Di&s;ciples when they were in danger of
<PB N="190" REF="103"> being drowned, they beg'd his help upon the account of that Relation he &s;tood in towards them, &s;aying, <HI>Ma&s;ter, care&s;t thou not that we peri&s;h?</HI> and like one engaged to help by vertue of that Relation, <HI>he pre&s;ently aro&s;e, and rebuked the wind,</HI> Mark 4.38, 39.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>The Promi&s;e of Christ is enga|ging Chri&s;t to help;</HI> and he hath promi&s;ed to be with his people, and to carry them through all &s;ervices and &s;ufferings: So much he promi&s;ed to his Di&s;ciples, Mat. 28.19, 20. as al&s;o Mat. 18.20. <HI>Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the mid&s;t of them;</HI> and Chri&s;t will not be idle in the mid&s;t of his people; he will not barely behold them, but graciou&s;ly help and a&s;&s;i&s;t them in their &s;everal conditions: And what a large promi&s;e of help doth Chri&s;t make to his <HI>Sheep,</HI> John 10.28. <HI>I give unto them eternal life, and they &s;hall never peri&s;h, neither &s;hall any man pluck them out of my hand:</HI> As if Chri&s;t &s;hould &s;ay, I will &s;tand by them, and lay out my power for their help and pre&s;ervation in every duty and danger which they may be called unto. And though <HI>men</HI> little regard their <HI>promi&s;es;</HI> yet <HI>Chri&s;t is faithfull,</HI> and will perform every good thing which he hath promi&s;ed unto his Servants to do for them, (1 <HI>The&s;&s;.</HI> 5.24.)</P>
<PB N="191" REF="103">
<P>Fourthly, <HI>The honour that Christ &s;hall re|ceive from his Servants whom he &s;aves,</HI> doth in|gage him to help, and &s;ave them out of their troubles, for he &s;hall deliver them, and they &s;hall glorifie him, (P&s;al. 50.15.) When he hath been their <HI>&s;trength</HI> and <HI>help,</HI> he &s;hall be their <HI>Song;</HI> according to that in I&s;aiah 12.3. <HI>The Lord, (Hebr: JAH) JEHOVAH is my &s;trength and my &s;ong;</HI> when the Lord hath <HI>holpen</HI> his people, they &s;hall <HI>prai&s;e him,</HI> and <HI>rejoyce in his &s;alvation.</HI> The Church makes this an Argument to engage God to help her in her low e&s;tate, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 85.6, 7. <HI>Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoyce in thee? Shew us thy mercy O LORD, and grant us thy Salvation.</HI> And that Chri&s;t &s;hall be glorified in his Saints, as well as they in him, is a &s;trong engage|ment upon Chri&s;t to help them.</P>
<P><HI>For the further opening and clearing of this</HI> fir&s;t Branch of the Doctrine, namely, <HI>Christ being a Help to his People.</HI> I &s;hall onely &s;et before you
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. WHAT MANNER <HI>of Help Christ is.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>2. HOW <HI>Chri&s;t doth help his people.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>What manner of Help is Christ?</HI></P>
<PB N="192" REF="104">
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>He is a</HI> SUFFICIENT <HI>Help;</HI> What ever the work, &s;trait, or condition be he can carry through it. Gods children of them&s;elves are not <HI>&s;ufficient</HI> for what they are called to, according to that of <HI>Paul,</HI> 2 Cor. 3.5. where he &s;aith, <HI>Not that we</HI> (in|cluding him&s;elf with the Saints at <HI>Corinth) are &s;ufficient of our &s;elves, to think any thing as of our &s;elves;</HI> neither yet are others (though willing, and &s;ufficient in &s;ome mea&s;ure to help) a <HI>&s;ufficient</HI> help for them; but it is Chri&s;ts peculiar to be a &s;ufficient help; His hand is not onely <HI>&s;ufficient</HI> for <HI>him&s;elf,</HI> but al&s;o for the <HI>help of all his Servants. Mo&s;es</HI> &s;ee|ing and con&s;idering the va&s;t difference be|tween the <HI>Enemies,</HI> and <HI>I&s;raels</HI> Rock, &s;aith triumphantly in his &s;ong, <HI>Deut.</HI> 32.31. <HI>Their Rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies them&s;elves being Judges.</HI> And with this did <HI>Hezekiah</HI> encourage the people again&s;t the King of <HI>A&s;&s;yria,</HI> and all the <HI>Multitude</HI> that was with him; <HI>With him is an arm of fle&s;h, but with us is the LORD our God to help us,</HI> 2 Chron: 32.7, 8. The Unbelievers help is but an <HI>Arm of fle&s;h,</HI> which will faile in time of need; but the <HI>Believers</HI> help is Chri&s;t Je&s;us, the Mighty God, that fainteth not, neither can be weary, who al&s;o giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increa&s;eth &s;trength, (I&s;a. 40.
<PB N="193" REF="104"> 10, 11, 29.) This <HI>Paul</HI> experienced in his <HI>weakne&s;&s;e,</HI> and <HI>gloryed in his infirmities,</HI> that the <HI>power of Chri&s;t might re&s;t upon him,</HI> 2 Cor: 12.9. And of this, <HI>viz: The &s;ufficiency of Chri&s;ts help,</HI> he had &s;uch a cleer apprehen&s;ion and &s;trong per&s;wa&s;ion, as that he &s;aid, <HI>I can do all things through Chri&s;t which &s;trengthneth me,</HI> Phil: 4.13.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>He is a</HI> SEASONABLE <HI>help:</HI> as he is Mighty, and knows <HI>how</HI> to help; &s;o he is Wi&s;e, and knows when to help. He that requires that his Servants &s;hould bring forth <HI>fruit in &s;ea&s;on,</HI> doth give forth &s;trength and help to them <HI>in &s;ea&s;on</HI> al|&s;o, he helps in the needfull time, (Heb: 4.16.) when it makes mo&s;t for his <HI>glory</HI> to help, and for his <HI>peoples good</HI> to be holpen. He <HI>dyed in &s;ea&s;on,</HI> according to that of the Apo&s;tle, <HI>Rom:</HI> 5.6. <HI>In due time Chri&s;t dyed for the ungodly.</HI> He comforteth them that are ca&s;t down in &s;ea&s;on (2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 7.6.) He &s;uc|coureth the tempted in &s;ea&s;on; when the &s;oul is ready to faint, and fall by the &s;trength of the temptation, he comes in to its help; <HI>He hath the tongue of the Learned, and knows how to &s;peak a word in &s;ea&s;on to him that is weary,</HI> (I&s;a. 50.4.) All the Miracles and wonders which he wrought, were a <HI>&s;ea&s;onable</HI> help to them, upon and for whom he wrought them: and in this re&s;pect he is an <HI>excellent
<PB N="194" REF="105"> help,</HI> every thing being <HI>beautiful</HI> and <HI>excellent in its &s;ea&s;on,</HI> (Eccle&s;: 3.11.)</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>He is a</HI> SUITABLE <HI>help;</HI> a meet help, <HI>&s;uitable</HI> to the &s;everal <HI>e&s;tates</HI> of tho&s;e whom he is to help.</P>
<P>This appears from tho&s;e famous pro|phecies of him, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 32.2, 3. <HI>A man &s;hall be as an hiding place from the wind, a covert from the Tempe&s;t; as Rivers of waters in a dry place, as the &s;haddow of a great Rock in a weary Land.</HI> So likewi&s;e <HI>I&s;a:</HI> 61.1, 3. <HI>The LORD hath anointed me to preach good tydings unto the meek, he hath &s;ent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Pri&s;on to them that are bound; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for a&s;hes, the oyl of joy for mourning; the garment of prai&s;e for the &s;pirit of heavine&s;&s;e,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>He is for a &s;pirit of Judgement to him that &s;itteth in Judgement, and for &s;trength to them that turn the battel to the gate,</HI> (I&s;a: 28.6.) Therefore Chri&s;t is &s;et forth under <HI>various</HI> Titles and Appellations, &s;uitable to the <HI>various</HI> conditi|ons that his people are in, and the &s;everal <HI>Relations</HI> he &s;tands in towards them, as a <HI>Father, Husband, Shepherd, King, Prie&s;t, Pro|phet, Meat, Drink, Wi&s;dome, Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e.</HI> He gives <HI>re&s;t</HI> to the <HI>weary,</HI> Mat. 11.28. and <HI>Water, Wine, Milk</HI> to the <HI>thir&s;ty,</HI> I&s;a. 55.1. Revel: 22.17.</P>
<PB N="195" REF="105">
<P>Fourthly, <HI>He is a</HI> CONSTANT <HI>help;</HI> he doth not only help at fir&s;t, but at la&s;t al|&s;o; he helps his own to the end, he will be with them, and not fail them, nor for|&s;ake them, untill they have fini&s;hed all the work, and pa&s;&s;ed through all the troubles which he &s;hall call them to; He is a <HI>fini&s;hing,</HI> and <HI>perfecting</HI> help, as well as a <HI>beginning help;</HI> he is <HI>Alpha and Omega, the Beginning, and the ending, Rev:</HI> 1.8, 10. <HI>The Authour and Fi|ni&s;her of Faith,</HI> Heb: 12.2.</P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>He is an</HI> ONELY <HI>help;</HI> Chri&s;t is not a <HI>joynt</HI> help, or helper, an help in con|junction with others; but he helps and &s;aves alone; he is the <HI>LORD,</HI> and <HI>be&s;ides</HI> him there is no <HI>Saviour,</HI> no helper. Indeed none can help but he; if we &s;hould go to the mightie&s;t Creatures they would &s;ay, <HI>help is not in us;</HI> the <HI>Valiant</HI> man would &s;ay, <HI>it is not in me;</HI> the <HI>Wi&s;e</HI> man would &s;ay, <HI>it is not in me;</HI> the <HI>Rich</HI> man would &s;ay, it <HI>is not in me:</HI> Yea all the Creatures mu&s;t &s;ay to them that come to them for help, as that King of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> to the Woman of <HI>Samaria,</HI> when &s;he cryed to him, <HI>Help my Lord, O King;</HI> (he &s;aid) <HI>If the LORD do not help thee, whence &s;hall I help thee?</HI> It is Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;t alone that helpeth, neither is there any other that can &s;ave in all the Cityes, nor among all the Judges of the earth; ac|cording
<PB N="196" REF="106"> to the words of <HI>Peter,</HI> Acts 4.12. <HI>Neither is there &s;alvation in any other: there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we mu&s;t be &s;aved.</HI></P>
<P>Sixthly, <HI>He is an Antient,</HI> OLD <HI>help, and helper;</HI> Not to con&s;ider him in re&s;pect of Gods appointing him, which was from everla&s;ting; but of mans need of him, which was as &s;oon as he had &s;inned: for he thereby became liable to the cur&s;e and wrath of God, and man being a guilty, weak creature, could not deliver him&s;elf out of this danger; neither could any of the Creatures help him, nor yet God him&s;elf (being ju&s;t as well as merciful) would free this offender from his threatned puni&s;h|ment, (any other way:) then Chri&s;t, who was given forth in the promi&s;e, became an help to him, and &s;aved him out of that deep pit into which he was fallen; and thus <HI>Chri&s;t was an help of old.</HI></P>
<P>Seventhly, <HI>Chri&s;t is a</HI> FREE, UNDE|SERVED HELP. As there was nothing in the children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> to cau&s;e God to rai&s;e them up <HI>Saviours</HI> and Deliverers, &s;uch as <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> and <HI>Jo&s;hua,</HI> and others, <HI>Types</HI> of Chri&s;t; (for they were a &s;tubborn and re|bellious people,) &s;o there was nothing of good in us, or done by us, to move God to &s;end <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> to be an <HI>help;</HI> nor to incline
<PB N="197" REF="106"> Chri&s;t to be an help to us, but he was <HI>freely</HI> &s;ent, and <HI>he freely</HI> came to the <HI>help</HI> of &s;in|ners: Chri&s;t him&s;elf gives this account of <HI>his Fathers</HI> giving him to help and &s;ave; John 3.16. <HI>God &s;o loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son; that who&s;oever beleeveth in him, &s;hould not peri&s;h, but have everla&s;ting life.</HI> It was Gods <HI>love,</HI> not the worlds, not his peoples de&s;ert, that prevailed with him to give his Son. And the Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> gives the &s;ame account of <HI>Chri&s;ts giving him&s;elf</HI> for his <HI>Church, Ephe&s;.</HI> 5.25. <HI>Christ al&s;o loved the Church, and gave him&s;elf for it;</HI> &s;o that <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> is both in re&s;pect of his <HI>Father,</HI> and <HI>him&s;elf</HI> al&s;o, a <HI>free help.</HI></P>
<P>Eighthly, <HI>He is a</HI> TRYED, EXPERI|MENTED HELP: There hath been proof made of him, and all the faithful in their &s;everal Generations have found <HI>Christ</HI> an <HI>help</HI> to them in their various conditions; &s;o that they can &s;et to their <HI>Seal</HI> that he is an <HI>Help.</HI> And <HI>Christ</HI> hath abundantly ma|nife&s;ted him&s;elf an <HI>Helper</HI> and <HI>Saviour</HI> of his people in the time of their trouble; he hath &s;aved many a <HI>&s;inner,</HI> he hath &s;uccoured ma|ny a <HI>tempted</HI> One, he hath healed many a <HI>wounded</HI> One, he hath &s;et free many a Cap|tive, he hath comforted many a <HI>mourner,</HI> he hath &s;trengthned many a <HI>weak</HI> One, he hath given re&s;t to many a <HI>weary</HI> &s;oul, he
<PB N="198" REF="107"> hath carryed many <HI>through manifold tempta|tions,</HI> and <HI>pre&s;erved</HI> them unto <HI>his Heavenly</HI> Kingdom. Yea all the Saints in glory can te&s;tifie, and &s;ay, <HI>we</HI> were <HI>weake, faint,</HI> and <HI>in&s;ufficient</HI> ones for the worke whereunto we were called; we were <HI>tempted, reproached, afflicted, hated, per&s;ecuted;</HI> but <HI>Christ helped us</HI> to do all our work, and he delivered us out of all our troubles</P>
<P>Ninthly, <HI>He is a</HI> GENERAL, uNI|VERSAL HELP, an <HI>help</HI> in all ca&s;es, in ca&s;es wherein others cannot help; for there is <HI>nothing too hard for Chri&s;t,</HI> (Jer. 32.17.27.)</P>
<P><HI>Gods &s;ervants &s;tand in need of help.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In re&s;pect of <HI>&s;ervice, and work which they have to do;</HI> Chri&s;t is an <HI>help</HI> in that re|gard; he works all their works in them, and for them; yea, <HI>He worketh in them both to will and to do,</HI> (Phil: 2.13. John 15.5.) By him it is, not onely in re&s;pect of <HI>Accep|tance,</HI> but <HI>A&s;&s;i&s;tance</HI> al&s;o, that they offer up their &s;piritual &s;acrifices to God. Would any <HI>pray?</HI> it is not onely through <HI>his merit</HI> that they have acce&s;s with confidence, (<HI>Eph.</HI> 2.13, 18.) but it is <HI>his Spirit that helpeth their infirmities, when they know not what they &s;hould pray for as they ought,</HI> Rom: 8.26. Would any one <HI>prai&s;e</HI> the Lord? that &s;acrifice al&s;o
<PB N="199" REF="107"> is to be <HI>offered up by him, Heb:</HI> 13.15. <HI>By him let us offer the &s;acrifice of prai&s;e to God continu|ally;</HI> Yea, whatever the Saints do, mu&s;t be through his help, and &s;o <HI>they can do all things, Phil.</HI> 4.13.</P>
<P>Secondly, In re&s;pect of <HI>trouble and &s;uffe|rings;</HI> For Gods Servants of them&s;elves neither know <HI>how</HI> to &s;uffer, nor yet to <HI>free them&s;elves</HI> from &s;ufferings; but Chri&s;t is an <HI>help</HI> in both ca&s;es; for though his <HI>&s;uccouring them</HI> in Temptation, his <HI>comforting</HI> them in Tribulation, and <HI>&s;upporting</HI> them in Afflicti|on, they are able to bear their Burthens; and by, and through him helping them, they know how to be aba&s;ed, how to be hungry, and &s;uffer need, how to be per&s;e|cuted, and hated of all men for his names &s;ake, (2 Cor: 4.10, 11.) yea, they can &s;uf|fer, as well as do <HI>All things, through Chri&s;t which &s;trengthneth them, (Phil:</HI> 4.12, 13.)</P>
<P>Neither is he an <HI>help</HI> onely <HI>in</HI> trouble, but al&s;o a <HI>Deliverer out of</HI> Trouble; for he takes away <HI>reproach</HI> from his people, he wipes away <HI>tears</HI> from their eyes, he breaks <HI>yokes</HI> from off their necks, he removes <HI>burdens</HI> from off their &s;houlders, and bani&s;heth <HI>fears</HI> from their hearts; in a word, he rebukes <HI>Satan,</HI> and reproves Kings for their &s;akes; (P&s;al. 105.14.) and &s;ets them in &s;afety from every one that puffeth at them, (P&s;al.
<PB N="200" REF="108"> 12.5.) They that write the &s;toryes of <HI>Egypt,</HI> report, that there is no Country in which there are &s;o many <HI>venemous</HI> Crea|tures, and no Country hath &s;o many <HI>An|tidotes</HI> again&s;t poy&s;on as are there: there is no people that have &s;o many <HI>Troubles</HI> as faithful <HI>Chri&s;tians;</HI> and none have &s;o much <HI>help,</HI> both in, and from trouble, as they have; And <HI>that</HI> HELP <HI>is</HI> CHRIST.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>How is Chri&s;t an help?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w. Chiefly</HI> FIVE <HI>Wayes.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>By the vertue and efficacy of his</HI> DEATH. For though the Death of others &s;peak forth their <HI>inability,</HI> and incapacity to <HI>help</HI> any longer; yet <HI>Chri&s;ts death</HI> is &s;o far from being his weakne&s;s, and his cea&s;ing to help any further, that it is of <HI>wonderfull pow|er</HI> and <HI>efficacy,</HI> and a &s;tanding abiding help to his weak Servants. The Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> in his Triumphant challenge to the <HI>enemies</HI> of Gods elect, layes much weight upon the help of Chri&s;t in this re&s;pect, Rom: 8.33, 34. <HI>Who &s;hall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? it is God that Ju&s;tifieth; who is he that condemneth? it is Chri&s;t that dyed.</HI> Yea, the <HI>Death</HI> of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> is of &s;uch great power and efficacy, as that the Gracious &s;oul from
<PB N="201" REF="108"> thence (as from a <HI>Fountain</HI> of all good) re|ceiveth daily <HI>&s;upplyes</HI> of &s;trength, and help in every time of need; to the making it victorious over all evils and enemies what|&s;oever: It is of &s;uch <HI>vertue,</HI> as that it <HI>appea|&s;eth</HI><NOTE N="a" PLACE="foot"><HI>Rom:</HI> 3.25.</NOTE> the wrath of God, it <HI>weakneth</HI> and wa&s;teth the body<NOTE N="b" PLACE="foot"><HI>Rom:</HI> 6.6.</NOTE> of &s;in, it<NOTE N="c" PLACE="foot">2 <HI>Tim:</HI> 1.10.</NOTE> <HI>aboli&s;heth</HI> death, and <HI>de&s;troyeth</HI> him<NOTE N="d" PLACE="foot"><HI>Heb:</HI> 2.14.</NOTE> that had the power of death, that is, the <HI>Devil.</HI></P>
<P>Neither is the death of Chri&s;t the price onely of our Redemption from manifold de&s;erved evils; but the purcha&s;e al&s;o of our glorious, heavenly inheritance; For hereby he hath procured eternal life for all tho&s;e, who by patient continuance in well doing, &s;eek for glory, and honour, and im|mortality, (<HI>Rom:</HI> 2.7.) Hereby al&s;o he <HI>con|firms the Te&s;tament</HI> and <HI>Covenant</HI> of Grace to his people: <HI>For where a Te&s;tament is, there mu&s;t al&s;o of nece&s;&s;ity be the death of the Te&s;tator. For a Te&s;tament is of force after men are dead; otherwi&s;e it is of no &s;trength at all, while&s;t the Te&s;tator liveth,</HI> Heb: 9.16, 17. And thus <HI>Chri&s;t is an help by the vertue of his</HI> Death.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>By the Excellency of his</HI> EXAM|PLE. An <HI>Example,</HI> a Copy, or a Pre&s;i|dent is an help, and for an help, and in that Chri&s;t hath given us his <HI>Example,</HI> he there|by helpeth us; the more excellent al&s;o the
<PB N="202" REF="109"> Example is, the greater is its help; and there is an excellency in Chri&s;ts example, whereby he helpeth them much that fol|low him.</P>
<P>It is the <HI>Prime, Chief,</HI> and <HI>ab&s;olute Example;</HI> not regulated by any other, but all other to be conformed to it; and therefore we are to be <HI>followers of others,</HI> onely <HI>as they are of him.</HI> The Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> would not pre&s;s his <HI>own Example</HI> upon the <HI>Corinthians,</HI> but with <HI>this</HI> limitation, 1 Cor. 11.1. <HI>Be ye followers of me, even as I al&s;o am of Chri&s;t:</HI> But the <HI>Ex|ample</HI> of Chri&s;t affords a certainty to the &s;oul what to follow, and hold to, and &s;o becomes a choice <HI>help,</HI> and furtherance to a Chri&s;tian in his walk, above the <HI>Example</HI> of any other, which he is to examine, and try, and follow, and refu&s;e as it agreeth, or di&s;a|greeth with this.</P>
<P>Be&s;ides, there are <HI>no blots,</HI> defects, nor <HI>im|perfections;</HI> but contrariwi&s;e a wonderfull <HI>exactne&s;s, plainne&s;s,</HI> beauty, and <HI>glory</HI> in the <HI>Example of Chri&s;t,</HI> whereby it is of &s;ingular u&s;e and advantage to his followers, their way being thereby made <HI>plaine</HI> before them.</P>
<P>Neither is it a &s;cant, but a full, and large <HI>Example,</HI> both of <HI>obedience,</HI> (For <HI>He that &s;aith he abideth in him, ought him&s;elf al&s;o &s;o to walke, even as he walked,</HI> 1 John 2.6.) and the &s;e|veral
<PB N="203" REF="109"> <HI>parts</HI> thereof; he hath given us an <HI>ex|ample</HI> of <HI>faith, love, patience, &s;elf-denyall, meek|ne&s;s, diligence,</HI> &amp;c. And of <HI>&s;uffering</HI> al&s;o, (that he might help in that needfull time;) To encourage us to it, he hath given us an <HI>ex|ample</HI> of <HI>readine&s;s,</HI> and <HI>willingne&s;s</HI> to &s;uffer; he <HI>willingly</HI> laid downe his life for his <HI>&s;heepe, (Joh.</HI> 10.15.18.) and to guide us in it, he hath given us an example of <HI>meekne&s;s,</HI> and <HI>patie<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ce,</HI> for <HI>he was led as a &s;heep to the &s;laugh|ter, and like a lamb dumb before the &s;hearer, &s;o opened he not his mouth,</HI> Acts 8.32. And <HI>when he was reviled, reviled not againe; when he &s;uffe|red, he threatned not,</HI> 1 Pet. 2.23. And thus <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> is an <HI>Help</HI> by the <HI>excellency</HI> of his ex|ample.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>By the powerfulne&s;s of his Spirit.</HI> The <HI>Spirit</HI> of Chri&s;t, is a Spirit of life and power, which he giveth forth into the hearts of his &s;ervants for their help, in their various &s;ervices and conditions; and there|fore the <HI>Spirit</HI> is &s;aid to <HI>help their Infirmities, Rom:</HI> 8.26. Yea Chri&s;t doth &s;o u&s;ually <HI>help</HI> by his <HI>Spirit,</HI> that mo&s;t acts of help are fre|quently attributed, in Scripture, to the <HI>Spi|rit;</HI> as to <HI>Quicken, uphold, &s;trengthen, comfort, teach, lead, beare witne&s;s, bring to remembrance, give utterance, cau&s;e to do, John</HI> 6.63. <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.11. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 51.12. <HI>Eph.</HI> 3.16. <HI>John</HI> 14.16. <HI>John</HI> 14.26. <HI>Gal.</HI> 5.18. <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.16. <HI>Acts</HI> 2.4.
<PB N="204" REF="110"> <HI>Ezek.</HI> 36.27. By <HI>this</HI> did Chri&s;t eminent|ly <HI>help</HI> his &s;ervants in the work whereunto he called them in the <HI>primitive</HI> times; By <HI>this</HI> he enabled them to be <HI>his witne&s;&s;es,</HI> not onely <HI>in Jeru&s;alem,</HI> and <HI>in all Judea, and in Sa|maria, but unto the uttermo&s;t part of the earth, Acts</HI> 1.8. By <HI>this</HI> they <HI>evercame</HI> the <HI>mightie&s;t</HI> Adver&s;aries of Truth; For they were <HI>not able to re&s;i&s;t the wi&s;dome and &s;pirit by which they &s;pake,</HI> (Luke 21.15. Acts 6.10.) And by <HI>this</HI> he helped them to do many wonderful things, to the great advantage and further|ance of the Go&s;pel, (<HI>Act.</HI> 11.19-21.) By the &s;ame <HI>Spirit</HI> he hath helped others al&s;o in later Generations to te&s;tifie for him a|gain&s;t <HI>Antichri&s;t,</HI> and his Adherents, and by their Te&s;timony exceedingly to prevaile; as <HI>Wickliffe, Hus, Luther,</HI> and others. And this is that which <HI>Luther</HI> in an Epi&s;tle to &s;ome among&s;t whom his doctrine was &s;uc|ce&s;sfull, would have them to ob&s;erve; <HI>Con|&s;ider</HI> (&s;aith he) <HI>with what</HI> &s;word <HI>I have con|quered &s;in, and overcome Errours, and &s;ubdued policy; I have never touched you with a</HI> finger, <HI>but with the</HI> Spirit <HI>of Chri&s;ts mouth,</HI> viz. <HI>the Sword of his Go&s;pel.</HI> And &s;everall of the <HI>Mar|tyrs,</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">hough meane, and unlearned, yet by the help of the <HI>Spirit</HI> of Chri&s;t, have put to &s;ilence their learned Adver&s;aries: Among the re&s;t, Hi&s;tory tells us of one <HI>Alice Dri|ver,</HI>
<PB N="205" REF="110"> that &s;hee <HI>non-plu&s;t</HI> the <HI>Doctors</HI> that Exa|mined her, and then &s;aid, <HI>God be honoured, you be not able to re&s;i&s;t the</HI> Spirit <HI>of God in a poore wo|man;</HI> And as it was then, even &s;o it is now, for Chri&s;t by the <HI>&s;ame Spirit,</HI> helpeth his &s;er|vants both to will, and to do, and to &s;uffer, of his good plea&s;ure, (<HI>Phil:</HI> 1.29. <HI>Phil.</HI> 2.13.)</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>By the Admirablene&s;s of his R&V;LE, and Admini&s;tration;</HI> For he &s;o ordereth, and di&s;po&s;eth of all things, that <HI>they work together for good, to them that love God,</HI> Rom. 8.28. &s;o that tho&s;e things which men contrive, and de&s;igne to be mo&s;t hurt|full, (through his power and wi&s;dome) be|come helpfull to his &s;ervants, yea he &s;ome|times makes his <HI>Enemies</HI> intended <HI>De&s;tructi|on,</HI> his <HI>peoples</HI> glorious <HI>&s;alvation.</HI> And indeed the <HI>Rule</HI> and <HI>Reigne</HI> of Chri&s;t, doth much con&s;i&s;t in his helping and relieving his op|pre&s;&s;ed &s;ervants, in his pleading their cau&s;e, and executing judgement for them; in his breaking the bands of their yoke, and deli|vering them out of the hand of tho&s;e that &s;erve them&s;elves of them, that they may be no more a prey to the Heathen; yea the maine de&s;igne of Chri&s;t, next to his own Glory, is the <HI>&s;alvation,</HI> and <HI>&s;afety</HI> of his <HI>flock, Jer.</HI> 23.5, 6. <HI>Ezek.</HI> 37. And he doth many <HI>admirable</HI> things in order to this end; as he
<PB N="206" REF="111"> maketh the <HI>weak</HI> to conquer, and the <HI>migh|ty</HI> to be overthrowne; he maketh the Coun|&s;el of the <HI>&s;imple</HI> to &s;tand, and the devices of the <HI>crafty</HI> to be di&s;appointed; he doth that marvellous work, and a wonder, &s;poken of <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 29.14. <HI>He cau&s;eth the wi&s;dome of wi&s;e men to peri&s;h, and the under&s;tanding of the prudent to be hid:</HI> And <HI>he judgeth the poore of the people, and &s;aveth the children of the needy; and breaketh in pieces the Oppre&s;&s;or,</HI> P&s;al. 72.4.</P>
<P>Sometimes he &s;ets enemies one again&s;t another; The Mighty again&s;t the Mighty, Ruler again&s;t Ruler, <HI>Jer:</HI> 46.12. <HI>Jer.</HI> 51.46. &s;o that they fight, Brother again&s;t Brother, Neighbour again&s;t Neighbour, City again&s;t City, Kingdome again&s;t Kingdome, and &s;o help to de&s;troy one another, <HI>I&s;a:</HI> 19.2. 2 <HI>Chron:</HI> 20.23. Sometimes he wonderfully <HI>re&s;traines</HI> the rage of Enemies, &s;o that they do <HI>not hurt, nor de&s;troy in his holy Mountaine,</HI> but <HI>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 &s;hall lead them;</HI> according to that famous prophe&s;ie of his Kingdome, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.6, 7, 8, 9.</P>
<P>Sometimes he cau&s;eth them to <HI>favour his</HI> people, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 106.46. and &s;ometimes he ma|keth them <HI>helpfull and &s;erviceable to them;</HI> ac|cording to that precious promi&s;e of God to
<PB N="207" REF="111"> his Church, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 60.10. <HI>The &s;ons of &s;trangers &s;hall build up thy walls, and their Kings &s;hall mini|&s;ter unto thee.</HI> Thus <HI>God turned the heart of the King of (Per&s;ia</HI> that was now over) <HI>A&s;&s;yria unto his people, to &s;trengthen their hands in the work of the hou&s;e of God, of the God of I&s;rael,</HI> Ezra 6.22. And <HI>put it al&s;o into the heart of</HI> Artax|erxes <HI>to help</HI> Ezra <HI>to beautifie the hou&s;e of the Lord which was at Jeru&s;alem,</HI> Ezra 7.27. And thus <HI>Chri&s;t helpeth by the Admirablene&s;s of his R&V;LE and Admini&s;tration.</HI></P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>By the prevalency of his Interce&s;&s;ion;</HI> by this he helpeth them much who beleeve through grace. Chri&s;t <HI>perfecteth</HI> by his <HI>In|terce&s;&s;ion</HI> that good worke of the &s;alvation of his people which he <HI>begun</HI> by his <HI>Pa&s;&s;ion;</HI> for though Chri&s;t help exceedingly by the ver|tue and efficacy of his <HI>death,</HI> as hath been &s;hewne, yet there is need of his <HI>Interce&s;&s;ion</HI> al&s;o, and therefore he is entred into heaven <HI>to appeare in the pre&s;ence of God for us,</HI> Heb: 9.24. And this is of &s;uch great benefit, and advantage to the Saints, that the Apo&s;tle layes the <HI>weight</HI> of their <HI>&s;alvation</HI> upon it, <HI>Rom:</HI> 5.10. <HI>If when we were</HI> enemies, <HI>we were reconciled to God by the</HI> death <HI>of his Son, much more being reconciled, we &s;hall be</HI> &s;aved <HI>by his life;</HI> and indeed, it is now &s;ufficient for &s;al|vation; and therefore Chri&s;t is &s;aid to be <HI>able to &s;ave them to the uttermo&s;t that come unto
<PB N="208" REF="112"> God by him, &s;eeing he ever</HI> liveth <HI>to make inter|ce&s;&s;ion for them,</HI> Heb: 7.25. And as the <HI>Inter|ce&s;&s;ion of Chri&s;t is of great u&s;e</HI> and help to a Chri&s;tian in <HI>all ca&s;es,</HI> &s;o e&s;pecially in the&s;e <HI>THREE CASES.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>In ca&s;e of &s;in;</HI> to that purpo&s;e are the words of <HI>John,</HI> 1 <HI>Joh.</HI> 2.1. <HI>If any man &s;in, we have an Advocate with the Father, Je&s;us Chri&s;t the Righteous.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>In ca&s;e of Satans Temptations and de&s;ignes again&s;t his &s;ervants;</HI> &s;o much may be gathered from the words of Chri&s;t, <HI>Luke</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">2.31, 32. The Lord &s;aid, <HI>Simon, Simon, beho<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">,</HI> Satan <HI>hath de&s;ired to have you, that he may &s;ift you as wheat; but</HI> I <HI>have prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>In ca&s;e of &s;ufferings;</HI> It is through the help of Chri&s;t by his <HI>Interce&s;&s;ion,</HI> that the Elect are made <HI>Conquerours,</HI> and <HI>more <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 word"> Conquerours</HI> in all their afflictions. Faith fel|cheth its chiefe matter of <HI>Triumph</HI> over <HI>Tri|bulation, di&s;tre&s;&s;e, per&s;ecution, famine, nakedne&s;s, peril, &s;word,</HI> &amp;c. from the <HI>Interce&s;&s;ion</HI> of Chri&s;t, <HI>Rom:</HI> 8.34. &amp;c. <HI>Who is he that condemneth? it is Chri&s;t that died, yea rather that is ri&s;en a|gaine, who is even at the right hand of God, who al&s;o maketh</HI> Interce&s;&s;ion <HI>for us; Who &s;hall &s;epa|rate us from the love of Chri&s;t? &s;hall tribulation? &amp;c.</HI> And thus Chri&s;t helpes by the <HI>preva|lency of his</HI> Interce&s;&s;ion.</P>
<Q><PB N="209" REF="112"><HI>Branch 2.</HI> God hath Appointed Chri&s;t, this Mighty One, to be an help to his people.</Q>
<P><HI>God,</HI> not <HI>man,</HI> nor yet Chri&s;t, He hath laid in <HI>Zion</HI> this u&s;efull <HI>Corner Stone,</HI> I&s;a. 28.16. <HI>Behold, I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious</HI> corner Stone, <HI>a &s;ure foundation. God</HI> hath laid him, and laid him for an <HI>help,</HI> &s;o that he that <HI>beleeveth on him &s;hall not be confounded,</HI> 1 Pet. 2.6. The Lord hath <HI>given</HI> him to be an help to the people: &s;o much the Lord &s;aith by his Pro|phet, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 42.6, 7. <HI>I the LORD have called thee in Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the Pri&s;oners from the Pri&s;on, and them that &s;it in darkne&s;s out of the Pri&s;on-hou&s;e.</HI> Yea he was <HI>fore-ordained</HI> before the Foundation of the world, to be an help to Gods people, though manife&s;ted in the la&s;t dayes for them, (1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.21. 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 1.9, 10.)</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Rea&s;ons why God hath appointed Chri&s;t, this Mighty One, to be an help to his people.</HEAD>
<PB N="210" REF="113">
<P>Rea&s;. 1. <HI>Becau&s;e the Lord &s;aw there would be need of a Mighty One;</HI> and that in &s;everall regards; as</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The <HI>weakne&s;s of his people;</HI> they being a feeble flock, of a very little &s;trength, and the Lord loves to &s;trengthen the weake hands; <HI>Feare not thou Worme Jacob</HI> (&s;aith God) <HI>I will help thee,</HI> I&s;a: 41.10, 14. Chap. 35.3.)</P>
<P>Secondly, The <HI>Difficulty of their worke;</HI> It is not onely hard, but impo&s;&s;ible to fle&s;h and blood to performe; Every part of it is hard; it is hard to <HI>beleeve,</HI> hard to <HI>pray,</HI> hard to <HI>deny a mans &s;elfe,</HI> hard to <HI>for&s;ake fa|ther</HI> and <HI>mother, wife, children, brethren</HI> and <HI>&s;i&s;ters, hou&s;es</HI> and <HI>lands,</HI> and a mans <HI>life</HI> too for Chri&s;ts &s;ake (<HI>Luke</HI> 9.23, 24. <HI>Luke</HI> 14.26.) It is hard to keep the Commande|ments of God, and the Faith of Je&s;us, (<HI>Rev:</HI> 12.11, 17. <HI>&amp;</HI> 14.12.) And therefore God &s;ent a <HI>Mighty One</HI> from heaven, even his own Son to <HI>help</HI> his <HI>weak</HI> &s;ervants in all their <HI>difficult</HI> &s;ervices.</P>
<P>Thirdly, The <HI>Mightine&s;s of their Adver|&s;aries,</HI> who daily &s;eek to hinder, and trouble them in their work. The <HI>Jewes</HI> that built the <HI>Temple</HI> at <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> had <HI>mighty</HI> Adver|&s;aries, who hindred them all that ever they could; and the Lord put it into the hearts of <HI>Darius</HI> and <HI>Artaxerxes</HI> to help th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters"> (Ez|ra
<PB N="211" REF="113"> 6.1, 7. Ezra 7.12, 13.) All the people of God may complaine with <HI>David;</HI> That their <HI>per&s;ecutors are too &s;trong for them,</HI> neither do they <HI>wre&s;tle</HI> onely again&s;t <HI>fle&s;h</HI> and <HI>blood,</HI> but <HI>again&s;t Principalities, again&s;t powers, again&s;t the Rulers of the darkne&s;s of this world, again&s;t &s;piritual wickedne&s;s in high places,</HI> Ephe: 6.12. And therefore the Lord &s;ees it needfull to &s;end them a Saviour, and a Great one, and he &s;hall help and deliver them.</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>Al&s;o the promi&s;ed exaltation, and e&s;tabli&s;hment of his people;</HI> For God hath pro|mi&s;ed that in <HI>the la&s;t dayes, the Mountaine of the Lords hou&s;e &s;hall be e&s;tabli&s;hed in the Top of the Mountaines, and &s;hall be exalted above the hils, and all Nations &s;hall flow unto it,</HI> I&s;a. 2.2. <HI>Mic.</HI> 4.1. That <HI>Jeru&s;alem &s;hall be a quiet ha|bitation, a Tabernacle that &s;hall not be taken downe, not one of the &s;takes thereof &s;hall ever be removed, neither &s;hall any of the Cords thereof be broken,</HI> I&s;a. 33.20. Yea the Lord hath &s;aid of <HI>Zion, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many Generations,</HI> I&s;a. 60.15. But as yet the people of God are <HI>low, Zion</HI> &s;its in the <HI>dust,</HI> and is afflicted, and to&s;&s;ed with <HI>Tem|pe&s;t,</HI> as yet &s;he is a <HI>Reproach,</HI> and a <HI>taunt</HI> and a <HI>by-word</HI> among the Nations; &s;o that <HI>great</HI> things are yet to be done before &s;he be <HI>clo|thed</HI> with her promi&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters"> <HI>glory.</HI> But &s;eeing the Lord hath <HI>loved</HI> her, and <HI>purpo&s;ed,</HI> and <HI>promi|&s;ed</HI>
<PB N="212" REF="114"> that &s;he <HI>&s;hall be exalted,</HI> and e&s;tabli&s;hed for ever; therefore hath he <HI>laid help upon one that is Mighty to do it</HI> for her, even <HI>Chri&s;t.</HI></P>
<P><HI>Rea&s;.</HI> 2. For <HI>the honour and exaltation of Chri&s;t;</HI> That he who hath borne &s;o much &s;hame, and endured &s;uch contradiction of &s;inners again&s;t him&s;elfe, might be <HI>&s;eene</HI> and <HI>knowne</HI> to be the <HI>Help, Deliverer,</HI> and <HI>Saviour of his people:</HI> And therefore the Father is &s;aid to <HI>exalt him</HI> in this re&s;pect; <HI>Him hath God</HI> ex|alted <HI>with his Right hand, to be a</HI> Prince, <HI>and a</HI> Saviour, <HI>for to give repentance to I&s;rael, and forgivene&s;s of &s;ins,</HI> Acts 5.31. And by this Chri&s;t &s;hall have,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>The HONO&V;R of the Saints faith,</HI> and confidence; For in him they &s;hall tru&s;t for help in their &s;everal conditions; Accord|ing to what was prophe&s;ied of him, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.10. <HI>To him &s;hall the Gentiles &s;eek; or in him &s;hall the Gentiles trust,</HI> as the Apo&s;tle explaines it, <HI>Rom:</HI> 15.12. Its <HI>honour</HI> to Chri&s;t that the Saints are <HI>looking to him</HI> for deliverance and &s;alvation, in their &s;traits and Troubles.</P>
<P>Secondly, The <HI>HONO&V;R of the Saints prai&s;es;</HI> When they have found him to be their <HI>&s;trength,</HI> and <HI>help,</HI> they will make him their <HI>Song,</HI> and <HI>exalt</HI> him in their <HI>prai&s;es,</HI> (I&s;a. 2.3, 4.) Their &s;oules will be joyfull in him, and rejoyce i<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">s <HI>&s;alvation:</HI> All their bones &s;hall &s;ay, <HI>LORD, who is like unto thee,
<PB N="213" REF="114"> which delivere&s;t the poore from him that is too &s;trong for him; yea the poore and the needy from him that &s;poileth him?</HI> All Chri&s;ts &s;aved and delivered ones, will cry with a loud voice, <HI>Worthy is the Lamb that was &s;laine, and hath holpen us, and Redeemed us to God by his blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and Nation, to receive power, and riches, and wi&s;|dome, and &s;trength, and honour, and glory, and ble&s;&s;ing,</HI> Rev: 5.9-12.</P>
<P><HI>Object.</HI> Some may &s;ay, as <HI>Gideon</HI> to the Angel, <HI>Judg.</HI> 6.13. <HI>Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? If God hath appointed Chri&s;t, That Mighty One, to be a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> help to his people, why are they in &s;o much trou|ble and di&s;tre&s;&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> 1. As the Lord hath appointed Chri&s;t to be an help, &s;o <HI>he hath al&s;o appointed a time for his people to &s;uffer in;</HI> For as <HI>Christ,</HI> this Mighty One, <HI>had a &s;uffering time in re&s;pect of HIS PERSON,</HI> in which he was &s;et at nought, and derided, and per&s;ecuted both by people, and Rulers, (before he entred into his Glory, <HI>Luke</HI> 24.26.) &s;o he &s;hall have <HI>in re&s;pect of his my&s;ticall body the Saints,</HI> before they enter into the promi&s;ed <HI>re&s;t</HI> and <HI>Glory.</HI> Thus much God told <HI>Abraham,</HI> when he appeared to him, <HI>Gen.</HI> 15.13, 14. &s;aying, <HI>Know of a &s;urety, that thy &s;eed &s;hall be a &s;tranger in a land that is not theirs, and &s;hall &s;erve them;
<PB N="214" REF="115"> and they &s;hall afflict them foure hundred yeares; And al&s;o that Nation whom they &s;hall &s;erve, will I Judge; and afterward &s;hall they come out with Great &s;ub&s;tance.</HI> So likewi&s;e there was a <HI>time</HI> when the Lord &s;aid to <HI>Zedekiah</HI> King of <HI>Ju|dah; Bring your necks under the yoke of the King of</HI> Babylon, <HI>and &s;erve him, and his people,</HI> Jer: 27.12. And they were to be <HI>quiet</HI> in that e&s;tate till <HI>&s;eventy yeares</HI> were accompli&s;hed. And there was a <HI>time</HI> wherein God would <HI>break his yoke</HI> from off his peoples neck, and <HI>bur&s;t</HI> their <HI>bonds,</HI> that &s;trangers might no more &s;erve them&s;elves of them, <HI>Jer:</HI> 30.8, There is <HI>a day of Jacobs trouble,</HI> and there is a <HI>time, when he &s;hall be &s;aved out of it,</HI> (ver&s;. 7.) And when <HI>the time to favour</HI> Zion, <HI>yea the</HI> &s;et time <HI>be come, God will ari&s;e and have mercy upon</HI> her, <HI>P&s;al:</HI> 102.13. But the day of the Lords patience, and his peoples &s;ufferings, mu&s;t precede the day of his vengeance, and his peoples &s;alvation. The &s;ervant, as well as his Lord, mu&s;t &s;uffer, before he enter into Glory, (<HI>Rom:</HI> 8.17.)</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>The Lord hath &s;everal wayes of helping his &s;ervants;</HI> his help doth not con&s;i&s;t onely in <HI>freeing</HI> them from &s;ufferings, but al&s;o in <HI>upholding,</HI> and &s;upporting them under &s;ufferings, &s;o that they faint not in the evil day. Thus the Lord promi&s;ed to help <HI>Ja|cob,</HI> I&s;a: 41.10. <HI>Feare thou not, For I am with
<PB N="215" REF="115"> thee; be not di&s;mayed, for I am thy God. I will &s;trengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will up|hold thee with the right hand of my righteou&s;ne&s;s.</HI> With <HI>this way</HI> of help from the Lord, the Apo&s;tle labours to encourage the Saints at <HI>Corinth</HI> in their Temptations, 1 <HI>Cor:</HI> 10.13. <HI>God is faithfull, who will not &s;uffer you to be Temp|ted above that you are able; but will with the</HI> Temptation <HI>al&s;o make a way to e&s;cape, that you may be able to beare it.</HI> Chri&s;t doth as well help his &s;ervants by keeping them from <HI>falling</HI> by Temptation, as by <HI>delivering them</HI> out of temptation; Thus Chri&s;t hath been, is, and will be the help of his people in their &s;uffering day.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Though <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> be Mighty to help, and &s;ave to the uttermo&s;t all his <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">r|vants out of all their Troubles; yet <HI>he &s;eeth it meet in his infinite wi&s;dome to help them &s;ome|times but with a</HI> LITTLE <HI>help.</HI> God gran|ted <HI>Rehoboam,</HI> and the Princes of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> &s;ome Deliverance, but not a full Deliverance; a Deliverance from de&s;truction, but not from &s;ervitude and &s;poile, 2 <HI>Chron:</HI> 12.7, 8, 9. And thus God helped his people <HI>I&s;ra|el</HI> in <HI>Ezra's</HI> dayes, which he <HI>thankfully</HI> took notice of in his Confe&s;&s;ion and Prayer, <HI>Ezra</HI> 9.7, 8, 9. <HI>For our iniquities have we, our Kings, and our Prie&s;ts been delivered into the hand of the Kings of the Lands, to the &s;word, to
<PB N="216" REF="116"> captivity, and to a &s;poil, and to confu&s;ion of face, as it is this day; and now for a little &s;pace grace hath been &s;hewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a Remnant to e&s;cape, 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 bon|dage; For we were bond men, yet our God hath not for&s;aken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the &s;ight of the Kings of Per&s;ia, to give us a reviving,</HI> &amp;c. It was the gracious Promi&s;e of God to his People, whom he ca&s;t far off among the Heathen, and &s;cat|tered among the Countries, <HI>That he would be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countryes where they &s;hould come, Ezek:</HI> 11.16. It is al|&s;o &s;aid of tho&s;e per&s;ecuted, oppre&s;&s;ed ones b<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ho&s;e Mighty Kings mentioned <HI>Dan:</HI> 11.34. <HI>They &s;hall be holpen with a little help.</HI> And therefore though Chri&s;t doth not help &s;o eminently and <HI>fully,</HI> as he <HI>will</HI> hereafter; yet let us not undervalue his <HI>pre&s;ent help;</HI> let us not &s;ay he <HI>helps</HI> not at all, becau&s;e he <HI>helps</HI> us but with a <HI>little help,</HI> in compari&s;on of what he <HI>will</HI> do: He &s;ees a <HI>little help</HI> is be&s;t for us at pre&s;ent, and it is more than we de&s;erve at his hands.</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>The Deliverances and Salvation of Gods people are commonly carryed on in a Mi&s;te|ry; Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God.</HI> Gods Providence towards his Ser|vants,
<PB N="217" REF="116"> is as a <HI>Wheel</HI> in the <HI>mid&s;t</HI> of a <HI>Wheel,</HI> (as <HI>Ezek:</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.16.) who&s;e motion and work, and end in working, is not di&s;cerned by a com|mon eye. Chri&s;t doth &s;ometimes walk in the dark, when he is <HI>helping</HI> 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 <HI>I&s;aiah,</HI> Ch: 45. ver&s;. 15. <HI>Verily, thou art a God that hide&s;t thy &s;elf, O God of I&s;rael, the Saviour:</HI> Yea, God is &s;ometimes in a way of deliverance with his People, and their deliverance neer, when he &s;eems to ingage them to greater &s;ufferings. There is &s;o much contained in that promi&s;e of God to <HI>Zion, Micah</HI> 4.10. <HI>Be in pain, and labour to bring forth O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in travel; for now &s;halt thou go forth out of the City, and thou &s;halt dwell in the field, and thou &s;halt go even to Babylon; there &s;halt thou be delivered; there the LORD &s;hall re|deem thee from the hand of thine enemies.</HI> We mu&s;t not conclude that Chri&s;t doth not <HI>help</HI> us, becau&s;e we &s;ee not his hand lifted up.</P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>There is</HI> SOMETHING IN CHRISTS SERVANTS <HI>becau&s;e of which he doth not &s;ometimes help them;</HI> as &s;ometimes <HI>CHRIST DOTH NOT HELP:</HI> &s;ometimes</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>When his people do not beleeve,</HI> do not tru&s;t nor &s;tay upon him for <HI>help;</HI> for he is
<PB N="218" REF="117"> an <HI>help</HI> to all them that tru&s;t in him; for any one to <HI>di&s;trust</HI> the <HI>Power</HI> and <HI>Faithfull|ne&s;&s;e</HI> of Chri&s;t, is to exclude him&s;elf from partaking of the benefit thereof. When the children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> beleeved not the word of God, the Lord did not <HI>help</HI> them, <HI>but lifted up his hand again&s;t them to overthrow them in the wilderne&s;&s;e,</HI> P&s;a. 106.24, 26. <HI>Chri&s;t did not many mighty works in his own Countrey, be|cau&s;e of their unbelief, Math.</HI> 13.58. If thou do&s;t not <HI>beleeve</HI> that he can, and will help, thou can&s;t not <HI>expect</HI> he &s;hould <HI>help.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>When they &s;et about any work without his call;</HI> The Lord hath been wont to help in tho&s;e things he hath called his Servants to, as might ea&s;ily be made mani|fe&s;t in <HI>Mo&s;es, Jo&s;uah, Gideon, David,</HI> and others; but when his People have run, and he <HI>&s;ent them not,</HI> they have been without his <HI>help</HI> in &s;uch undertakings. When the children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> would <HI>invade the Land of Canaan without Gods call,</HI> they were <HI>&s;mitten,</HI> and <HI>di&s;comfited, Numb:</HI> 14.44, 45. And though <HI>Jo&s;iah</HI> was a good man, yet <HI>going to fight again&s;t Pharaoh Necho,</HI> contrary to the <HI>mind of God,</HI> he dyed for it, 2 Chron 35.20, 21, 22, 23. They that act without Chri&s;ts call, are like to act without his <HI>help.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>When they undertake any work,</HI> though never &s;o good and excellent in at
<PB N="219" REF="117"> &s;elf, <HI>in their own &s;trength, without engaging him to their help, he helps</HI> them not; as in the ca&s;e of <HI>Peter,</HI> it was a good work, and much conducing to the honour of Chri&s;t, which <HI>Peter</HI> undertook; but tru&s;ting to his own &s;trength, Chri&s;t left him to mi&s;carry in it (John 13.37, 38.)</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>When the eyes of his people are up|on &s;ome other</HI> be&s;ides him, or <HI>when they joyn &s;ome other with him to help,</HI> then he u&s;ually leaveth <HI>both him that helpeth, and him that is holpen to fall together,</HI> I&s;a. 31.3. The Lord was <HI>I&s;raels help</HI> when he was their <HI>God alone, and none other with him,</HI> Deut: 32.12. <HI>The LORD alone did lead them, and there was no &s;trange God with him.</HI> When the Spou&s;e &s;hall lean upon Chri&s;t her Beloved, and upon other Lovers al&s;o, then Chri&s;t with|holdeth his help from her.</P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>When they have any &s;ini&s;ter ends and aims in what they do;</HI> for though the work be good, yet if a mans end be bad, Chri&s;t doth not u&s;ually further him in it; as when a man in <HI>Preaching, Praying,</HI> or any part of <HI>Religion,</HI> &s;eeks not &s;o much <HI>Chri&s;ts honour,</HI> as his <HI>own prai&s;e</HI> and <HI>profit,</HI> he cannot expect, neither doth he ordinarily receive &s;uch <HI>help</HI> from the Spirit of Chri&s;t therein; They that <HI>&s;eek not Chri&s;ts things, but their own,
<PB N="220" REF="118"> &s;hall not pro&s;per,</HI> Jer: 10.21. Haggai 1.4, 6, 9.</P>
<P>Sixthly, <HI>When they refu&s;e to be holpen by him;</HI> Chri&s;ts Servants are &s;ometimes more e&s;pe|cially in great dangers and &s;traits, and &s;tand in need of his help: and though Chri&s;t &s;hew him&s;elf willing and ready to &s;ave, and deliver them, yet &s;uch is the folly and un|towardne&s;&s;e of their &s;pirits, that they <HI>will none of his help,</HI> but rather chu&s;e to &s;uffer through walking in the wayes and imagi|nations of their own hearts, than to be de|livered in their hearkning to his coun&s;el, and &s;ubmitting to his will; and then no wonder <HI>Chri&s;t helps not;</HI> this was the frame of &s;pirit, and &s;ad condition of <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> which Chri&s;t <HI>lamented</HI> over, <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI> was in danger, Chri&s;t would have holpen her, but <HI>&s;he would not,</HI> Chri&s;t lets her alone, and the i&s;&s;ue is &s;ad, <HI>Matth.</HI> 23.37, 38. <HI>O Jeru|&s;alem, Jeru&s;alem, thou that kille&s;t the Prophets, and &s;tone&s;t them that are &s;ent unto thee, how of|ten would I have gathered thy children together, even as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, and ye would not? behold your hou&s;e is left unto you de&s;olate.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>What &s;hall Gods people do when Chri&s;t helps not?</HI></P>
<PB N="221" REF="118">
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Seriou&s;ly con&s;ider, and lay it to heart, as a matter of greate&s;t concernment, and trouble to us.</HI> So did <HI>Jo&s;hua</HI> when the Lord with|held his help from <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> Jo&s;hua 7.6, 8. <HI>Jo&s;uah 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 I&s;rael, and put du&s;t upon their heads; and Jo&s;hua &s;aid, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore ha&s;t thou at all brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to de&s;troy us? would to God,</HI> (Hebr: <HI>O that) we had been content, and dwelt on the other &s;ide Jordan. Oh LORD, what &s;hall I &s;ay, when I&s;rael turneth their backs before their enemies?</HI> We &s;hould look upon it as that wherein both <HI>God</HI> and his <HI>People</HI> &s;uffer. <HI>God</HI> &s;uffers in his name, when he doth not <HI>help</HI> his people; His, and their enemies bla&s;|pheme his name. Sometimes they ca&s;t dirt upon his <HI>power,</HI> &s;aying, <HI>The Lord cannot help,</HI> nor &s;ave; &s;ometimes upon his goodne&s;&s;e, and mercy, <HI>The Lord will not help;</HI> &s;ome|times upon his Truth and Faithfulne&s;&s;e, <HI>The Lord hath forgotten his people:</HI> Hence &s;aith <HI>Jo&s;hua, What wilt thou do for thy great name?</HI> And <HI>his people</HI> they mu&s;t needs &s;uffer when he with-draws his hand; they are endan|gered, and trampled upon by their enemies: and the &s;uffering of Gods Name, and the di&s;tre&s;&s;es of his Servants, mu&s;t not &s;eem a
<PB N="222" REF="119"> light thing in our eyes. <HI>Nehemiah's</HI> frame and carriage under &s;uch a di&s;pen&s;ation, is worthy of imitation. <HI>When he heard that the Remnant that were left of the Captivity were in great affliction, and reproach, that the wall of Je|ru&s;alem was broken down, and the gates thereof burnt with fire, he &s;at down and wept, and mourn|ed certain dayes, and fa&s;ted, and prayed before the God of Heaven,</HI> Neh: 1.3, 4. And this is that which <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI> lamented with much bitterne&s;s of &s;pirit, Lament: 1.15, 16. <HI>The Lord hath troden under foot all my mighty men, in the mid&s;t of me; he hath called an A&s;&s;embly again&s;t me to cru&s;h my young men, the Lord hath troden the Virgin, the Daughter of Judah, as a Wine-pre&s;&s;e; For the&s;e things I weep, mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, becau&s;e the Comforter that &s;hould relieve my &s;oul is far from me.</HI> It's ju&s;t matter of mourning and <HI>lamen|tation</HI> when the <HI>appointed helper</HI> and Saviour doth not help nor &s;ave.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>They &s;hould diligently &s;earch out the cau&s;e and rea&s;on why Chri&s;t helps not:</HI> For if the Lord cea&s;e to help his People, there is <HI>&s;ome cau&s;e</HI> for &s;uch a dealing, as there is for <HI>what evil &s;oever the Lord bring upon them,</HI> Ezek. 14.23. And when the Lord &s;lacks his hand concerning the help of his Servants, its their pre&s;ent work and duty to look nar|rowly about them, and in them, to find out
<PB N="223" REF="119"> the cau&s;e thereof. When the Lord <HI>denyed I&s;rael</HI> his help again&s;t the men of <HI>Ai,</HI> he told them the cau&s;e of it, <HI>There is an accur&s;ed thing in the mid&s;t of thee, O I&s;rael;</HI> and comman|ded, and directed them to &s;eek, and they found it out, <HI>Achan was taken, and the Silver, and the Garment, and the wedge of Gold, his Sons, Daughters, A&s;&s;es, Sheep, Tent, and all that he had, and they &s;toned him, and burned them with fire,</HI> Jo&s;hua 7. This was part of <HI>Jobs</HI> work in his affliction, to find out the <HI>cau&s;e</HI> of it, and that he might know it, he begs of God to <HI>&s;hew him wherefore he contended with him,</HI> Job 10.2. Thus did <HI>David</HI> al&s;o in his di&s;tre&s;&s;e, P&s;a. 22.1. <HI>My God, my God, why ha&s;t thou for&s;aken me? why art thou &s;o far from helping me:</HI> And we find the Faithful in their low and helple&s;&s;e e&s;tate calling upon one another to this very thing, <HI>Lament:</HI> 3.40. <HI>Let us &s;earch, and try our wayes, and turn again to the Lord.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>They &s;hould humbly acknowledge, and really for&s;ake tho&s;e evils wherewith they have provoked Chri&s;t to with-hold his help from them in time of need.</HI> The Faithful do not onely complain of their mi&s;ery and troubles, but they confe&s;&s;e, and for&s;ake their iniquities; when <HI>Nehemiah</HI> con&s;idered the afflicted condition of the People, he doth not onely put them upon fa&s;ting and confe&s;&s;ion, but
<PB N="224" REF="120"> upon reformation al&s;o, <HI>Neh:</HI> 13. This is that which the Lord &s;o frequently calls for at the hands of his people, <HI>Turn, turn your &s;elves from all your tran&s;gre&s;&s;ions;</HI> And they al&s;o call upon God for this, <HI>Lam:</HI> 5.21. <HI>Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord.</HI></P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>They &s;hould earne&s;tly cry to the Lord for help;</HI> This hath been the cour&s;e of the &s;ervants of God of old, whereby they have prevailed with God to lift up his hand to their help in time of trouble. The Church <HI>lifted up</HI> her voice in affliction, &s;ay|ing, <HI>Awake, why &s;leepe&s;t thou, O Lord? Ari&s;e, ca&s;t us not off for ever</HI> (P&s;al. 44.23.) <HI>Where|fore hide&s;t thou thy face, and forgette&s;t our af|fliction and oppre&s;&s;ion? For our &s;oul is bowed down to the du&s;t, our belly cleaveth to the earth; ari&s;e for our help, and redeem us for thy mercy &s;ake,</HI> This is a tryed means; &s;aith <HI>David, This poor man cryed, and the Lord heard him, and &s;aved him ou<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">f all his troubles,</HI> P&s;al. 34.6. When the men of <HI>Gibeon</HI> were in great di|&s;tre&s;&s;e and danger by rea&s;on of five Kings coming again&s;t them, and needed help, they &s;ent to <HI>Jo&s;hua,</HI> &s;aying, <HI>Slack not thy hand from thy &s;ervants, come up to us quickly, and &s;ave us, and help us,</HI> Jo&s;hua 10.6. So &s;hould all the &s;ervants of the Lord cry to their <HI>Jo&s;hua,</HI> the <HI>Lord Chri&s;t,</HI> whom God hath made &s;o <HI>&s;trong</HI> for them, <HI>to come and help,</HI> and &s;ave them
<PB N="225" REF="120"> out of all their troubles When the Di&s;|ciples were in danger on the Sea, and want|ed help, they cryed to Chri&s;t to <HI>&s;ave</HI> them, they <HI>awaked</HI> him, and &s;aid unto him, <HI>Ma&s;ter, care&s;t thou not that we peri&s;h? and he aro&s;e, and rebuked the wind,</HI> Mark 4.38, 39. O ye Saints, cry to Chri&s;t; and the more he &s;eems to neglect you, cry &s;o much the more earne&s;tly and con&s;tantly, and give him no re&s;t till he hear and help, and redeem you from all evils.</P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>They &s;hould patiently wait upon Chri&s;t for help;</HI> Though Chri&s;t do not help pre&s;ently, 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 pre&s;ently, they <HI>lay them down at the door,</HI> &s;aying within them&s;elves, we will <HI>wait here,</HI> may be their compa&s;&s;ions will move them as they pa&s;&s;e by to help us: God forbid that any of Chri&s;ts Servants &s;hould &s;ay, either with heart or mouth, as that per&s;on, 2 Kings 6.33. <HI>What &s;hould I wait for the Lord any longer?</HI> but rather to follow the coun&s;el of the man after Gods own heart, mentioned P&s;al. 37.7. <HI>Re&s;t in the LORD, and wait patiently for him, and for his help; though it tarry, wait for it, becau&s;e it will &s;urely come, it will not tarry;</HI> and in the mean time know, <HI>It is a good thing that a man
<PB N="226" REF="121"> &s;hould both hope and quietly wait for the &s;alvation of the LORD,</HI> Lament: 3.26. Such only &s;hall &s;ay, and &s;ing in the day that the Lord ari&s;e for the help of his people, <HI>Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will &s;ave us; This is the LORD, we have waited for him; we will be glad, and rejoyce in his &s;alvation,</HI> I&s;a. 25.9.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>When may Gods people groundedly expect that Christ will help them?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>When they are afflicted greatly;</HI> when their burthens are &s;o heavy, that they know not how to bear them, then the Lord hath been wont to help them. The <HI>Egyptians</HI> made the children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> to &s;erve with ri|gor, &s;o that they <HI>&s;ighed</HI> and <HI>groaned</HI> by rea|&s;on of their bondage; and the <HI>LORD &s;aw the affliction of his people,</HI> and delivered them out of the hand of the <HI>Egyptians,</HI> Exod. 1.13. &amp; 2.23. &amp; 3.&mdash;7,&mdash;8. And at another time, <HI>when God &s;aw the affliction of the children of I&s;rael that it was bitter, he &s;aved them by the hand of Jeroboam,</HI> 2 Kings 14.26, 27. This <HI>David</HI> experienced, and acknowledgeth to the prai&s;e of God, P&s;al. 116.6.&mdash;10.&mdash;16.
<PB N="227" REF="121"> &s;aying, <HI>I was brought low, and he helped me; I was greatly afflicted, O LORD, thou ha&s;t loo&s;ed my bonds:</HI> And he profe&s;&s;eth faith in God for the &s;ame towards others, P&s;al. 18.27. P&s;al. 140.12. <HI>Thou wilt &s;ave the afflicted &s;oul: I know that the Lord will maintain the cau&s;e of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.</HI> The Church in her complaint and prayer to God for help, &s;preads the greatne&s;&s;e of her affliction before him, <HI>Lament: per totum,</HI> (throughout the Book) and concludes &s;ay|ing, <HI>Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us; con&s;ider, and behold our reproach,</HI> Lament: 5.1.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>When they are for&s;aken utterly,</HI> when all creature help failes and cea&s;es. <HI>The LORD will judge his people, and repent him|&s;elf for his &s;ervants, when he &s;eeth that their pow|er is gone, and there is none &s;hut up, nor left,</HI> Deut: 32.36. And according to this word did the Lord do for <HI>I&s;rael;</HI> for when there was not any &s;hut up, nor any left, nor any helper for <HI>I&s;rael, he &s;aved them by the hand of Jeroboam, the &s;on of Joa&s;h,</HI> 2 Kings 14.26, 27. And the efore God is &s;aid to be the <HI>helper of the Fatherle&s;&s;e,</HI> P&s;al. 10.14. <HI>And to regard the prayer of the de&s;titute,</HI> P&s;al. 102.17. <HI>Jeho&s;haphat</HI> &s;eeking help of God, urgeth him with their <HI>weak</HI> and <HI>de&s;titute</HI> condition, 2 Chron: 20.12. &s;aying, <HI>O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might again&s;t this great company
<PB N="228" REF="122"> that cometh again&s;t us; neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.</HI> And to rai&s;e Gods Servants expectation of help from Chri&s;t in their <HI>lowe&s;t e&s;tate,</HI> it is prophe&s;ied of him, P&s;al. 72.4.12, 13. <HI>That he &s;hall judge the poor of the people, he &s;hall &s;ave the chil|dren of the needy; he &s;hall deliver the needy when he cryeth, the poor al&s;o, and him that hath no helper.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>When they cry mightily to the LORD for help.</HI> When <HI>I&s;rael</HI> was oppre&s;|&s;ed time after time, <HI>they cryed to the Lord, and he delivered them;</HI> when the Lord hath a purpo&s;e to help his &s;ervants, he u&s;ually <HI>poures</HI> forth a <HI>Spirit of Prayer upon them.</HI> When the Decree of relea&s;e from <HI>Babylon</HI> was ready to i&s;&s;ue forth, God put a mighty <HI>Spirit of Prayer</HI> upon <HI>Daniel, Chap:</HI> 9. And immediately, before God will work, delive|rance and &s;alvation for <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> he will <HI>&s;pirit</HI> his &s;ervants to cry mightily unto him to do it for them, I&s;a: 62.6, 7. <HI>I have &s;et Watchmen upon thy walls, O Jeru&s;alem, which &s;hall never hold their peace, day, nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not &s;ilence, and g<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ve him no rest till he e&s;tabli&s;h, and till he make Jeru&s;alem a prai&s;e in the earth;</HI> &s;o that when a <HI>M<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ghty Spirit of Prayer</HI> goes forth to engage Chri&s;t to help, he is not far from the help of his People.</P>
<PB N="229" REF="122">
<P>Fourthly, <HI>When they beleeve on him &s;trongly:</HI> when Gods &s;ervants have reacht out an hand of faith towards him, he hath lifted up his hand to help them. <HI>Abraham</HI> belee|ved &s;trongly, and the Lord did help him greatly; <HI>Jeho&s;haphat, A&s;a, David,</HI> and others, relyed on the Lord, and were holpen in the time of their troubles; the <HI>three &s;ervants of God,</HI> mentioned <HI>Dan:</HI> 3. were of <HI>great faith,</HI> and Chri&s;t helped them, &s;o that the <HI>fire burnt them not, neither could the flame kindle up<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">n them;</HI> yea, as many as ever came to Chri&s;t for help, either for body or &s;oul, (e&s;peci|ally all &s;uch, as were of <HI>great faith</HI>) received it: and &s;urely when the People of God &s;tagger not at the <HI>Promi&s;e</HI> of <HI>help,</HI> but are &s;trong in faith, notwith&s;tanding many diffi|culties, and natural impo&s;&s;ibilities before them, the Performance thereof is at hand. (Rom. 4.20.)</P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>When they walk before him fa<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">th|fully;</HI> nor doing their own, nor others, but his will. When the Servants of God of old did walk in their integrity, &s;erving their Generations according to the will of God, he helped them and made their wayes pro|&s;perous; but when they did put forth their hands unto iniquity, the LORD was not with them: There is none can expect that <HI>God &s;hould meet them in a way of mercy</HI> and <HI>help,</HI>
<PB N="230" REF="123"> but <HI>&s;uch as work righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e,</HI> and all &s;uch may, I&s;a. 64.5. they can confidently pray for help in time of need, as <HI>David</HI> did, P&s;al. 119.173. <HI>Let thine hand help me, for I have cho&s;en thy precepts.</HI> Chri&s;t promi&s;ed and gave forth his help to his &s;ervants, when they were working his work in the &s;implicity and &s;incerity of their &s;ouls; &s;ee his pro|mi&s;e, <HI>Math.</HI> 28.19, 20. <HI>Go ye, teach all Nations, bapt<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">zing them in</HI> (or <HI>unto) the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to ob&s;erve all things, what|&s;oever I have commanded you; And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.</HI> So al&s;o <HI>Luke</HI> 21.12, 13, 14, 15. See like|wi&s;e his <HI>performance</HI> of his good word to them in their <HI>Preaching, Di&s;puting, Writing,</HI> Gal: 2.8. Acts 6.10. Acts 11.21. 2 Cor. 10.10. And certainly, as many as &s;hall be <HI>faithfull</HI> to him in the work whereunto he calls them, &s;hall receive a <HI>&s;ufficiency</HI> of help to carry them through it.</P>
<P>Sixthly, <HI>When they u&s;e appointed means di|l gently;</HI> doing neither more, nor le&s;&s;e, nor any other thing than what God requi|reth of them. When the Lord of old had a urpo&s;e to help and &s;ave his People in an eminent way, he was wont to &s;et them about doing &s;omething; and &s;ometimes that which was very unlikely (as to out|ward
<PB N="231" REF="123"> appearance) to further his intended work; yet when they were diligent in it, they were wonderfully helped, as might be &s;hewn at large; &s;o when Chri&s;t is in the way of the help and &s;alvation of his people, he requireth &s;omething that might &s;eem a weak, fooli&s;h thing for them to do, which may &s;eem in their eyes to be rather to their hurt, than help; yet they ought to be found u&s;ing of it, and therein may expect A&s;&s;i|&s;tance from him. When there was want of wine at the Marriage in <HI>Cana of Galilee, the Mother of Je&s;us &s;aid unto the &s;ervants, What|&s;oever he &s;aith unto you, do it;</HI> which then they did, they were <HI>helped</HI> by him. (John 2.) When the Di&s;ciples de&s;pairing of &s;ucce&s;s (having <HI>toiled all the night, and taken nothing</HI>) had given over fi&s;hing for that time, and were wa&s;hing their Nets; he <HI>&s;aid to Simon, Lanch out into the deep, and let down your Nets for a draught; at his word they did &s;o; and when they had this done, they inclo&s;ed a great multitude of fi&s;hes.</HI> (Luke 5.4, 5.)</P>
<P>Seventhly, <HI>When enemies &s;peak proudly, act highly, and &s;eem to bear down all before them, be|ing most &s;ecure and confident in their wayes;</HI> then Chri&s;t is not far from the help of his People. The Lord hath &s;aid by the mouth of his Prophet, I&s;a: 59.19, <HI>When the enemy &s;hall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the
<PB N="232" REF="124"> LORD &s;hall lift up a Standard again&s;t him.</HI> It was &s;o of old, when <HI>Pharaoh</HI> was mo&s;t proud and confident, and &s;aid, <HI>I will pur&s;ue, I will overtake, I will divide the &s;poil, my lu&s;t &s;hall be &s;atisfied upon them, I will draw the &s;word, my hand &s;hall de&s;troy them;</HI> then the Lord appea|red for the help of his People again&s;t <HI>Phara|oh,</HI> and all his Ho&s;t, (Exod. 15.8.) as he did in <HI>Jeho&s;haphats</HI> time, when <HI>multitudes</HI> came again&s;t them, 2 <HI>Chron:</HI> 20. as al&s;o in <HI>Nehe|miah's</HI> dayes, when the Adver&s;aries &s;aid, <HI>They &s;hall not know, neither &s;ee, till we come in the mid&s;t among them, and &s;lay them, and cau&s;e the work to cea&s;e,</HI> Neh: 4.11, 12, 15. And as it was heretofore, &s;o it &s;hall be hereafter; For when <HI>Babylon &s;aith in her heart,</HI> I <HI>&s;it a Queen, and am no widdow, and &s;hall &s;ee no &s;orrow,</HI> Then &s;hall Chri&s;t the King of <HI>Sion,</HI> throw her down with violence, like a great <HI>Mil&s;tone</HI> in|to <HI>the Sea,</HI> never to ri&s;e again, (de&s;troying her in a day, <HI>Rev:</HI> 18.7, 8.21.) and &s;o free his Servants from all their oppre&s;&s;ions; when men and Devils are raging, Chri&s;t will be helping.</P>
<P>Thus I have an&s;wered the <HI>Que&s;tion</HI> by the&s;e &s;eaven Particulars, which I de&s;ire may be con&s;idered joyntly; for when the&s;e things concurre, when both the <HI>ca&s;e</HI> and <HI>car|riage</HI> of Gods People, as al&s;o of their Ene|mies, is or &s;hall be as hath been mentioned,
<PB N="233" REF="124"> <HI>help is at hand;</HI> they may then look up, and <HI>Lift up their heads, for their Redemption draweth nigh.</HI> (as <HI>Luke</HI> 21.28.)</P>
<P><HI>Quest.</HI> What <HI>&V;SE</HI> &s;hould we make of this?</P>
<P>An&s;w: I. <HI>It is for Our INSTR&V;CTION,</HI> in <HI>Four Things.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>It &s;hews the Original, and fir&s;t cau&s;e of Gods Servants help,</HI> namely, the <HI>LORD:</HI> For as their affliction, &s;o their help cometh not forth out of the du&s;t, but from above, from the mo&s;t High God: And as it is the choice priviledge of Gods People to find help in time of need; &s;o it is their duty, and great advantage to know, and con&s;ider from <HI>whence</HI> it cometh: And this <HI>Doctrine</HI> is an help to them therein; this did <HI>David,</HI> P&s;al. 121.1, 2. <HI>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;</HI> who&s;oever be the <HI>In&s;truments,</HI> what&s;oever be the <HI>means,</HI> help is from God alone; all <HI>Saviours</HI> and <HI>Salvations</HI> are from him. To this agreeth part of the <HI>Levites</HI> confe&s;&s;ion of Gods goodne&s;&s;e to <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> Nehem: 9.27. <HI>According to thy manifold mercies thou gave&s;t
<PB N="234" REF="125"> them Saviours, who &s;aved them out of the hand of their Enemies.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>It &s;hews a &s;ufficient ground and rea&s;on of the faith and hope that is in the Saints for help from Chri&s;t in time of need;</HI> He is mighty to help; but that is not all, it is the <HI>will and ordination of God that he &s;hould help,</HI> He was both <HI>anointed and appointed thereunto,</HI> I&s;a: 42.1, 6, 7. &amp; 61.1, 2, 3. Not onely <HI>anointed</HI> and <HI>enabled,</HI> but <HI>appointed</HI> al&s;o; and what God hath <HI>anointed</HI> and <HI>appointed</HI> Chri&s;t to do, the Saints may <HI>beleeve, and hope for.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>It &s;hews the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, faith|fullne&s;&s;e, and goodne&s;&s;e of God in his commands to, and dealings with his people:</HI> He is no hard Ma&s;ter, looking <HI>to reap where he hath not &s;own,</HI> nor <HI>to gather where he hath not &s;trawed;</HI> but as he hath appointed work for his people to do, and <HI>afflictions</HI> for them to endure, &s;o he hath appointed and provided help for every imployment and condition.</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>It &s;hews whence it is that the peo|ple of God have been, and are able to do &s;uch great things;</HI> it is not of, nor from them&s;elves, but from <HI>Chri&s;t their helper and help.</HI> It was the Lords b<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ing with, and helping his Ser|vants of old, which made them do &s;o va|liantly and worthily; It was not by the Apo&s;tles <HI>own power and holine&s;s, but by the name of the Holy Child Je&s;us</HI> (Gods appointed help
<PB N="235" REF="125"> and helper) <HI>that &s;o many &s;ignes and wonders were done by them,</HI> Acts 3.12. <HI>&amp;</HI> 4.30. Hence &s;aith <HI>Paul,</HI> Phil: 4.13. <HI>I can do all things through Chri&s;t which &s;trengtheneth me.</HI> I <HI>labou|red more abundantly then they all; yet not I,</HI> but <HI>the grace of God which was with me,</HI> 1 Cor: 15.10.</P>
<DIV3 N="2" TYPE="application">
<HEAD>II. <HI>&V;SE</HI> of REPROOFE.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>To the prophane ones of the world, who in&s;ult and triumph over Gods people, as</HI> if they were altogether <HI>helple&s;s,</HI> and <HI>utterly for&s;aken;</HI> yea, they &s;ay concerning the Righteous, <HI>There is no help in God for him,</HI> P&s;al: 3.2. <HI>God hath for&s;aken him; per&s;ecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him,</HI> P&s;al: 71.11. This <HI>Doctrine</HI> tells &s;uch, that <HI>they lie,</HI> and <HI>&s;peak not the truth;</HI> and which is wor&s;e, they make God a liar; for God hath &s;worn it by his holine&s;s, <HI>that he will not lie herein,</HI> P&s;al. 89.35, 19. and &s;aith, <HI>I have laid help</HI> (and help <HI>enough,</HI> help) <HI>upon one that is mighty; and they &s;ay, there is no help for him.</HI> And thus do many <HI>contradict</HI> the Lord him&s;elfe; but they &s;hall one day finde that God is true, and they are liars, (<HI>Jer:</HI> 44.28.) for God will performe every Good word which he hath &s;poken concerning the help&punc; deliverance, and &s;alva|tion of his people, (as <HI>Jo&s;:</HI> 21.45. <HI>Jo&s;:</HI> 23.
<PB N="236" REF="126"> 14.) I &s;hall onely &s;ay to &s;uch, &s;peak no more &s;o fooli&s;hly.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>To the proud ones of the earth, who tru&s;t in them&s;elves, and in their own works for &s;al|vation,</HI> &s;aying in their hearts, (though not with their tongues) that there is <HI>no need of the help of Chri&s;t,</HI> no need of his being made to them <HI>Wi&s;dome, Righteou&s;ne&s;s, Sanctification, and Redemption,</HI> (1 Cor: 1.30.) hereby <HI>fru|&s;trating the grace of God, and making the death of Chri&s;t of none effect,</HI> Gal: 2.21. Such will one day finde, (though now they &s;ay, <HI>they are rich, and increa&s;ed with goods, and have need of nothing,</HI>) that <HI>they are wretched, and mi&s;era|ble, and poore, and blind, and naked; and &s;tand in need of his gold, that they may be rich, and of his white rayment, that they may be clothed, that the &s;hame of their nakedne&s;s may not appeare,</HI> Rev. 3.17, 8. Let &s;uch heare, and con&s;ider what God &s;peaks to them, <HI>I&s;a:</HI> 50.11. <HI>Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compa&s;s your &s;elves about with &s;parks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the &s;parks that ye have kindled: this &s;hall ye have of mine hand, ye &s;hall lie downe in &s;orrow.</HI> As al&s;o what Chri&s;t &s;aith in his parable, <HI>Luke</HI> 18.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. <HI>Two men went up into the Temple to pray, the one a Phari&s;ee, and the other a Publican; The</HI> Phari&s;ee <HI>&s;tood, and prayed thus with him&s;elfe, God, I thanke thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unju&s;t,
<PB N="237" REF="126"> Adulterers, or even as this</HI> Publican; I <HI>fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I po&s;|&s;e&s;&s;e. And the</HI> Publican <HI>&s;tanding a farre off, would not lift up &s;o much as his eyes unto heaven; but &s;mote upon his brea&s;t, &s;aying, God be mercifull to me a &s;inner; I tell you, this man went downe to his hou&s;e, ju&s;tified rather than the other.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>This al&s;o reproves tho&s;e that tru&s;t in their own &s;trength for pre&s;ervation and delive|rance from danger,</HI> that &s;ay in their hearts, <HI>We will deliver our &s;elves,</HI> our own &s;words &s;hall &s;ave us; as al&s;o tho&s;e that conceit their own hands &s;ufficient for their de&s;ignes. How proudly did <HI>Pharaoh</HI> &s;peak, <HI>Exod:</HI> 15.9. <HI>I will pur&s;ue, I will overtake, I will divide the &s;poil, my lu&s;t &s;hall be &s;atisfied upon them, my hand &s;hall de&s;troy them;</HI> And yet he was &s;o far from being able to performe his enterpri&s;e, that he and all his ho&s;t mi&s;erably peri&s;hed in the mighty waters. <HI>Sennacherib</HI> likewi&s;e was &s;o confident of prevailing again&s;t <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> that he made a <HI>&s;corne</HI> at all oppo&s;ition which &s;hould be made again&s;t him: And yet was <HI>not able</HI> &s;o much as to come before it with <HI>Shields,</HI> nor to <HI>ca&s;t a bank</HI> again&s;t it. And the <HI>Angel of the Lord &s;mote in his Camp an hundred, and four&s;core, and five thou&s;and in one night,</HI> I&s;a: 37. Neither have they onely been fru&s;trated in, and puni&s;hed for, their confident <HI>boa&s;ting in them&s;elves,</HI> but other
<PB N="238" REF="127"> <HI>Mighty Ones</HI> al&s;o; and as many as &s;hall yet <HI>glory</HI> in their <HI>might,</HI> &s;hall faint, and be weary, and utterly fall in the end, (<HI>I&s;a:</HI> 40.30, 31.)</P>
<P>Fourthly, This al&s;o reproves <HI>DE|SPAIRING ONES.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Tho&s;e that de&s;paire of eternal &s;alvation;</HI> and they are</P>
<P><HI>Either GREAT SINNERS,</HI> &s;uch as have &s;inned &s;o long, &s;o much, and &s;o grievou&s;ly, that they conclude their iniquitie is <HI>greater</HI> than <HI>can</HI> be forgive<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">; and their filthine&s;s is &s;uch as <HI>cannot</HI> be wa&s;hed away, and that there is <HI>no hope that ever they &s;hould be &s;aved:</HI> To &s;uch I &s;ay, though you have exceeding|ly <HI>provoked</HI> the Lord by your <HI>Rebelling</HI> a|gain&s;t him; Why &s;hould you <HI>further</HI> di&s;ho|nour him, and endanger your &s;elves, by di|&s;tru&s;ting, and de&s;pairing of that <HI>help,</HI> which <HI>God hath laid upon Chri&s;t for you?</HI> And know, if you have <HI>abundantly</HI> &s;inned, he can <HI>AND WILL abundantly pardon the Returning &s;inner, (I&s;a:</HI> 55.7. <HI>Jer:</HI> 3.1, 12, 13. <HI>Ho&s;:</HI> 14.1, 2, 3.) Why &s;hould any <HI>de&s;paire of help</HI> from <HI>him, who is</HI> not onely <HI>able to &s;ave them to the uttermo&s;t that come unto God by him,</HI> (Heb: 7.25.) but is al&s;o <HI>appointed</HI> of God thereunto, (<HI>John</HI> 3.16, 17.)</P>
<P><HI>Or WEAK SAINTS,</HI> &s;uch have &s;ome|times <HI>&s;aid, that there is no help in Chri&s;t for them;</HI>
<PB N="239" REF="127"> but that they &s;hall <HI>peri&s;h</HI> in their Tran&s;gre&s;|&s;ions, and fall, at la&s;t, by the hand of <HI>&s;ome</HI> Temptation or other. But <HI>how injurious</HI> are &s;uch to the <HI>grace</HI> of God, and their <HI>own</HI> &s;oules; not con&s;idering, that <HI>God laid help upon</HI> his &s;ervant <HI>David</HI> for <HI>all I&s;rael,</HI> e&s;pecial|ly for the <HI>weak of the flock;</HI> yea, becau&s;e his people are weak, and that they might not tru&s;t in them&s;elves, but in <HI>Chri&s;t, he hath ap|pointed</HI> him <HI>to be an help for them,</HI> (1 Tim: 1.15. Rom: 4.5.)</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>Tho&s;e that de&s;paire of delive|rance,</HI> or any promi&s;ed pro&s;perous conditi|on; And this is when Gods people have prayed much, and waited long in a <HI>low</HI> and <HI>&s;uffering</HI> e&s;tate, and the mercy &s;eemes as far off at la&s;t, as it was at fir&s;t; and the provi|dence of God &s;eemes to run cro&s;&s;e to his promi&s;e. Thus it was with the <HI>children of I&s;rael,</HI> Ezek: 37.11. <HI>Behold, they &s;ay, our bones are dried, and our hope is lo&s;t, we are cut off for our parts.</HI> But why &s;hould Gods people de|&s;paire in this re&s;pect, God can <HI>open their graves,</HI> and cau&s;e <HI>them to come up out of their graves,</HI> (ver&s;: 12.) He hath appointed a Mighty one to be an help to them, a Migh|ty Saviour and deliverer, who can deliver them when they are at the <HI>lowe&s;t.</HI></P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>Tho&s;e that &s;eek and look to others for help in time of trouble,</HI> as the manner of mo&s;t
<PB N="240" REF="128"> is, <HI>and neglect Chri&s;t;</HI> that cry to the Migh|ty, and wi&s;e ones of the Earth, help us, &s;ave us; To &s;uch I &s;ay,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>It's in vaine to go to the Creature for help,</HI> for help is not to be found in it; The wi&s;e&s;t, mightie&s;t, riche&s;t, and honourable&s;t, man on earth mu&s;t &s;ay, as the <HI>King of I&s;rael</HI> to the <HI>Woman of Samaria,</HI> crying to him for help, &s;aying, <HI>Help my Lord, O King: If the LORD do not help thee, whence &s;hall I help thee?</HI> 2 <HI>Kings</HI> 6.26, 27. The <HI>P&s;almi&s;t</HI> cryes out once, and againe, <HI>Vaine is the help of man, (P&s;al:</HI> 60.11. <HI>&amp;</HI> 108.12.) The Children of <HI>I&s;rael went downe to Egypt for help,</HI> but they were a people that could not profit them, nor be an help, but <HI>a &s;hame and reproach,</HI> I&s;a: 30.2, 5. If the Cities of <HI>Judah,</HI> and Inhabi|tants of <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> go and <HI>cry unto the Gods,</HI> unto whom they offered <HI>Incen&s;e,</HI> they &s;hall <HI>not &s;ave them at all in time of their trouble,</HI> Jer: 11.12. <HI>Populous No was &s;ituate among the ri|vers,</HI> and had the waters round about her, the <HI>Sea was her Rampart, and her wall was from the Sea; Ethiopia and Egypt were her &s;trength, Put and Lubim were her helpers, yet &s;he was car|ried away,</HI> &s;he went <HI>into Captivity,</HI> Nah: 3.8, 9, 10. The Church acknowledgeth, and bewaileth her fault and condition in this re&s;pect, <HI>Lament:</HI> 4.17. &s;aying, <HI>As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vaine help, in our watch|ing
<PB N="241" REF="128"> we have watched for a Nation that could not &s;ave us.</HI> And what is more common and ordinary, than for tho&s;e that conceit, and look to receive help from Creatures, to meet with di&s;appointments, and to finde by experience that they <HI>imagine a vaine thing.</HI> I &s;hall conclude this particular with that &s;e|rious Affirmation, <HI>Jer:</HI> 3.23. <HI>Truly in vaine is &s;alvation hoped for from the hils, and from the multitude of Mountaines; truly in the Lord our God is the &s;alvation of I&s;rael.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly; <HI>It is not onely in vaine,</HI> but <HI>dan|gerous al&s;o;</HI> greatly to the hurt and lo&s;&s;e of tho&s;e that flee to the Creature for help: For the Lord will not onely not help, but he is thereby provoked to come again&s;t &s;uch, and their helpers too, to cau&s;e them all to fall; And therefore there is a <HI>Woe</HI> pronoun|ced again&s;t &s;uch, <HI>I&s;a:</HI> 30.1. <HI>&amp;</HI> 31.1. <HI>Wo to them that go downe to Egypt for help, to &s;trengthen them&s;elves in the &s;trength of Pharaoh: I&s;rael</HI> &s;ought for help from <HI>Egypt,</HI> but received hurt; hence God tells the Inhabitants of <HI>Egypt,</HI> that <HI>they have been a &s;taffe of reed to the hou&s;e of I&s;rael. When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou did&s;t break, and rent all their &s;houl|der; and when they leaned upon thee, thou brake&s;t, and made&s;t all their loins to be at a &s;tand,</HI> Ezek: 29.6, 7. If <HI>Ahaziah</HI> neglect the God of <HI>I&s;|rael in his &s;ickne&s;s,</HI> and &s;eek help from <HI>Baal|zebub,
<PB N="242" REF="129"> the God of Ekron,</HI> God will meet with him for it, And <HI>he &s;hall not come downe from the bed on which he went up, but &s;hall &s;urely die,</HI> 2 King, 1.2, 4. <HI>Ahaz in his &s;traits</HI> &s;ent to the King of <HI>A&s;&s;yria to help him;</HI> but he received harme, in &s;tead of help; for, it is &s;aid, <HI>he came unto him, and di&s;tre&s;&s;ed him, but &s;trengthe|ned him not.</HI> And <HI>Ahaz</HI> took away a porti|on out of the hou&s;e of the Lord, and out of the hou&s;e of the King, and of the Princes, and gave it unto the King of <HI>A&s;&s;yria; but he helped him not;</HI> and mi&s;&s;ing of help from him, he betook him&s;elfe to <HI>fal&s;e Gods,</HI> he <HI>&s;a|crificed to the Gods of Dama&s;cus,</HI> which &s;mote him, and &s;aid, <HI>becau&s;e the Gods of the Kings of Syria help them, therefore will I &s;acrifice to them, that they may help me;</HI> but they al&s;o were far from helping him, <HI>For they were the ruine of him, and of all I&s;rael,</HI> 2 Chron: 28.16, 20, 21, 23. And thus will it fare with the man, that (neglecting the help of Chri&s;t) <HI>tru&s;teth in man,</HI> and <HI>maketh fle&s;h his Arme,</HI> (Jer: 17.5.)</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>It is &s;infull, VERY SINF&V;LL;</HI> Such (like to the children of <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> of whom God greatly complaines, <HI>Jer:</HI> 2.12, 13.) <HI>commit two great evils at once, they for&s;ake the Lord</HI> Chri&s;t, the Saviour, and the Great one, whom God hath appointed for their help, <HI>and cho&s;e to them&s;elves Creatures,</HI> weak Crea|tures,
<PB N="243" REF="129"> <HI>that can afford no help. The greatne&s;s of this evil con&s;i&s;ts chiefly in THREE THINGS.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>It is a de&s;pi&s;ing the riches of Gods good|ne&s;s;</HI> In this was manife&s;ted the greatne&s;s of the love, and the <HI>riches</HI> of the <HI>goodne&s;s</HI> of God to his people, that he <HI>appointed</HI> his onely begotten Son to be an help for them; and now for them to refu&s;e his help, and to &s;eek to others for help, is a <HI>de&s;pi&s;ing of the riches of Gods goodne&s;s,</HI> and that is no little evil, (<HI>Rom:</HI> 2.4, 5.)</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>It is al&s;o a &s;lighting of Chri&s;t;</HI> yea it is highly di&s;honourable to Chri&s;t, whom God hath appointed to help. It is not onely a preferring others before him, but it is a &s;etting by this <HI>Mighty One,</HI> as <HI>need|le&s;s,</HI> and a making u&s;e of others as <HI>&s;ufficient</HI> to help; This was <HI>I&s;raels</HI> &s;in, in <HI>asking a King</HI> to reigne over them, when <HI>God was their King; They &s;lighted the Lord:</HI> Hence &s;aid the Lord to <HI>Samuel, they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I &s;hould not reigne o|ver them,</HI> 1 Sam: 8.7. And <HI>Samuel</HI> charged it home upon them, 1 <HI>Sam:</HI> 10.19. <HI>Ye have this day rejected your God, who him&s;elfe &s;aved you out of all your adver&s;ities, and your tribula|tions, and ye have &s;aid unto him, nay but &s;et a King over us.</HI> It is no little &s;in <HI>to tread under|foot the Son of God,</HI> Heb: 10.29.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Further, it is a walking contrary
<PB N="244" REF="130"> to profe&s;&s;ion.</HI> Upon this account <HI>Ezra</HI> would not &s;eek to the Creature for help again&s;t the enemy, which did lie in wait by the way, <HI>Ezra</HI> 8.21, 22. He <HI>betook</HI> him&s;elfe to the <HI>Lord,</HI> to <HI>&s;eek of him a right way for him, and his companions, and their little ones, and all their &s;ub&s;tance. For</HI> (&s;aith he) <HI>I was a&s;hamed to require of the King a band of Souldiers, and Hor&s;men to help us against the Enemy in the way; becau&s;e we had &s;poken unto the King, &s;ay|ing, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that &s;eek him.</HI> Becau&s;e it was <HI>contrary to his profe&s;&s;ion,</HI> he &s;ought not help from the King. For men to call Chri&s;t LORD, and acknowledge him to be King, the Saviour, helper, redeemer, and deliverer of all tho&s;e that tru&s;t in him; and yet to look to the hils, and the mountaines for help and &s;al|vation, is to walk contrary to their profe&s;|&s;ion; and that is a great evil al&s;o.</P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 N="3" TYPE="application">
<HEAD>&V;&s;e <HI>III.</HI> From hence flow forth &s;everal &s;treames of COMFORT to the people of the Lord, in their various conditions, and employments in this World.</HEAD>
<P>It holds forth comfort to them;</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Against mightiest Adver&s;aries.</HI> They that hate the faithfull without a Cau&s;e are many; they that would de&s;troy
<PB N="245" REF="130"> them, being their enemies, wrongfully, are mighty, their per&s;ecutors are &s;tronger than they, <HI>P&s;al:</HI> 142.6. But here is the <HI>Comfort</HI> of the Righteous, they are not left alone to encounter with the&s;e <HI>Giants; Chri&s;t,</HI> the <HI>Cap|taine of &s;alvation</HI> &s;tands at their right hand to help them, (<HI>P&s;al:</HI> 109.31.) If the <HI>Devil</HI> &s;tirre up <HI>Mighty Ones</HI> to hate, and per&s;ecute Gods &s;ervants; <HI>God</HI> (an&s;werable thereunto) hath appointed a <HI>Mighty One,</HI> yea a Migh|tier than they, to be an <HI>help</HI> to his people. When the <HI>Devil</HI> him&s;elfe like a <HI>Roaring Ly|on</HI> &s;hall in any &s;peciall manner &s;eek to <HI>de|voure</HI> them, (1 <HI>Pet:</HI> 1.8.) Chri&s;t the Lyon of the Tribe of <HI>Judah,</HI> is at hand to help and deliver them, (<HI>Zac:</HI> 3.1, 2. <HI>Rev:</HI> 5.5.) It is the high priviledge of the Church of the living God, that Chri&s;t, the appointed helper thereof, is <HI>mightier to &s;ave,</HI> than the Devil, and all enemies are to de&s;troy, <HI>I&s;a:</HI> 63.1. Yea, the very <HI>weakne&s;s</HI> of their Mighty helper and Saviour is <HI>&s;tronger</HI> than their Ad|ver&s;aries, (1 <HI>Cor:</HI> 1.25, 27.) They may boldly &s;ay, <HI>the Lord is our Helper, we will not feare what man &s;hall do unto us,</HI> Heb: 13.6. With this, <HI>Luther comforted,</HI> and encouraged him&s;elfe, again&s;t <HI>many and Mighty Adver&s;a|ries,</HI> &s;aying, <HI>Ego habeo qui cau&s;am defendat, eti|am&s;i totus mundus in me &s;olum in&s;aniat, I have one that can defend my Cau&s;e, although the Whole
<PB N="246" REF="131"> World &s;hould be in a rage against me alone.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>Comfort again&s;t greate&s;t diffi|culties:</HI> When the people of God con&s;ider what <HI>great and hard things,</HI> even impo&s;&s;ible to fle&s;h and blood, the <HI>Lord hath required at their hands;</HI> [as to Deny them&s;elves, to for|&s;ake all for Chri&s;ts &s;ake, to confe&s;&s;e him before men, and &s;o to walk, even as he wal|ked in this world,] And al&s;o compare <HI>their great work</HI> with their <HI>own little &s;trength;</HI> they are &s;ometimes much <HI>di&s;couraged,</HI> and ready to <HI>faint</HI> in their work, and to &s;ay, almo&s;t de|&s;pairing, <HI>Who is &s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">fficient for the&s;e things?</HI> In|deed the &s;tronge&s;t are not &s;ufficient of <HI>them|&s;elves,</HI> as of them&s;elves to performe the lea&s;t part of the Lords will as they ought; yet the <HI>lea&s;t</HI> and <HI>weakest</HI> of the Saints (through Chri&s;t that Mighty One helping) are well able to overcome all difficulties. According to this the Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> &s;peaks, <HI>Phil:</HI> 4.13. <HI>I can do all things through Chri&s;t which &s;treng|theneth me;</HI> Surely it mu&s;t needs be matter of great joy and <HI>comfort</HI> to Gods fearing and trembling &s;ervants, becau&s;e of difficul|ties, to heare of, and experience &s;uch an al&s;ufficiency of help, as is in Chri&s;t for them.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Comfort again&s;t deepe&s;t troubles;</HI> Sometimes God <HI>&s;hews his people hard things, and make them to drinke the wine of A&s;toni&s;h|ment,</HI>
<PB N="247" REF="131"> P&s;al: 60.3. They are &s;ometimes trou|bled on every &s;ide, innumerable evils com|pa&s;&s;ing them about, (<HI>P&s;al:</HI> 40.12.) &s;o that they know not what to do, nor how to e&s;|cape. But the Father of mercies will not leave his children to peri&s;h in the deep wa|ters of Affliction; but hath provided help for them in that e&s;tate, a Saviour in time of trouble. <HI>Jacob</HI> mu&s;t have <HI>a time of trouble; but he &s;hall be &s;aved out of it,</HI> Jer: 30.7. This was <HI>Davids faith</HI> in his low e&s;tate, <HI>P&s;al:</HI> 71.20, 21. <HI>Thou which ha&s;t &s;hewed me great and &s;ore troubles, &s;halt quicken me againe, and &s;halt bring me up againe from the depths of the Earth; thou &s;halt increa&s;e my greatne&s;s, and comfort me on every &s;ide.</HI> And let all the faithfull &s;er|vants of the Lord, who are this day in the <HI>deep,</HI> even <HI>overwhelmed</HI> with troubles, <HI>lift up their heads,</HI> and rejoyce in this grace of God in laying help upon one that is Mighty, <HI>to redeeme I&s;rael out of all his Troubles,</HI> (P&s;al: 130.8.)</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>Comfort again&s;t weakest In&s;tru|ments of help.</HI> He <HI>giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might, he encrea&s;eth &s;trength,</HI> (I&s;a: 40. at the end.) If the <HI>In&s;tru|ments</HI> he intend to u&s;e in his work be <HI>dull,</HI> he can <HI>&s;harpen</HI> them; He can make the <HI>Worm Jacob,</HI> a <HI>new &s;harp thre&s;hing In&s;trument having teeth, to thre&s;h the Mountaines, and beat them
<PB N="248" REF="132"> &s;mall,</HI> I&s;a: 41.14, 15. And if the <HI>iron</HI> be <HI>blunt,</HI> and he do whet the <HI>edge,</HI> he hath &s;o much <HI>&s;trength</HI> to put to, as he can make it do <HI>execution,</HI> to cut a&s;under, what he will have cut a&s;under; <HI>It is nothing with him to help, whether with many, or with few, or with them that have no power,</HI> (2 Chron: 14.11.) Therefore let the &s;ervants of Chri&s;t be com|forted and encouraged in the <HI>Mightine&s;s</HI> of their Lord to help, though they &s;ee nothing but fooli&s;h, weak, ba&s;e, and de&s;pi&s;ed things in his hand to make u&s;e of for their delive|rance. Its the manner of Chri&s;t (and he gets honour thereby) to help by &s;uch things; he hath <HI>cho&s;en the fooli&s;h things of the world, to confound the wi&s;e; and the weak things of the world, to confound the things that are migh|ty; and ba&s;e things of the world, and things which are de&s;pi&s;ed, yea things which are not, to bring to nought, things that are,</HI> (1 Cor: 1.27.) The <HI>Mightine&s;s</HI> of the <HI>Agent,</HI> is an <HI>encouragement</HI> again&s;t the <HI>weakne&s;s</HI> of the <HI>meanes.</HI></P>
<P><HI>Object.</HI> But many put away from them|&s;elves this brea&s;t of con&s;olation, and object against this Doctrine.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Some &s;aying, <HI>they are not worthy that Ch<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">i&s;t &s;hould help them;</HI> And though God hath appointed him to be an help to his
<PB N="249" REF="132"> people, yet he will not ari&s;e to the help of &s;uch ob&s;tinate and rebellious ones as they have been, and are.</P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Chri&s;t is <HI>a free, unde&s;erved</HI> help, and none of tho&s;e who&s;e help he hath been, were <HI>ever worthy</HI> of it; But he hath remem|bred his people in their <HI>low</HI> e&s;tate; and re|deemed them from many enemies, and e|vils; not becau&s;e of their merits, but becau&s;e his mercy endureth for ever. The children of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> were a rebellious, and &s;tiffnecked people, and yet the Lord &s;aved, and delive|red them many a time. And the Lords hand is not &s;hortned that it cannot &s;ave; nor his goodne&s;s abated, that he &s;hould not &s;till help his people, notwith&s;tanding their un|worthine&s;s.</P>
<P>Secondly, Some &s;ay, <HI>that they are of fro|ward, di&s;contented, and peevi&s;h &s;pirits under trou|bles, and Afflictions; and Chri&s;t will not help &s;uch.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Such a frame and carriage of any of the &s;ervants of Chri&s;t, mu&s;t needs be a griefe, and trouble to his &s;oule; but yet their hope of help from him in time of need, is not hereby cut off. The <HI>children of I&s;rael</HI> were a <HI>froward, murmuring</HI> generation, and yet the <HI>mo&s;t high God was their help</HI> from time to time; The <HI>tender-hearted mother</HI> is as rea|dy to &s;uccour, and help her <HI>froward,</HI> di&s;con|tented
<PB N="250" REF="133"> child, that <HI>cryes</HI> night and day, as the <HI>re&s;t</HI> of her children: And &s;urely <HI>Chri&s;ts</HI> &s;uc|cour and help extends as farre as any <HI>mo|thers</HI> on earth.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Some &s;ay, <HI>That Chri&s;t hath helped us often, we have wearied him, he will help no more.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> It proves oft &s;o in re&s;pect of men; but in re&s;pect of Chri&s;t it is not &s;o: He is an helper that <HI>fainteth</HI> not, <HI>neither can he be weary,</HI> (I&s;a: 40.28.) And though men think when they have done a little for their followers, that they have done enough, and they mu&s;t not trouble them too often; yet the Servants of Chri&s;t may go as often as they will to him for help, and be alwayes welcome, &s;o they do not abu&s;e his grace towards them.</P>
<P>Be&s;ides, Chri&s;ts former, frequent helping of his People in their &s;everal &s;traits, is &s;o far from containing any thing again&s;t his helping them for the future, that it is an <HI>Argument</HI> to prove, <HI>that he will continue his help to them;</HI> and according to this <HI>David</HI> argued, 1 Sam: 17.37. <HI>The Lord that delive|red me out of the paw of the Lyon, and out of the paw of the Bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Phili&s;tim.</HI> He did not &s;ay, God hath d<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">livered me &s;everal times, he will deliver
<PB N="251" REF="133"> me no more; but the contrary, he will de|liver me. The Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> u&s;eth the &s;ame Argument, 2 Cor. 1.10. 2 Tim: 4.17.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Some, <HI>That Chri&s;t indeed did help when on earth, but he is NOW IN HEA|VEN, HE WILL HELP NO MORE.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Though Chri&s;t be in Heaven, yet he is as neer to help his Servants, as when he was on Earth; there is nothing in his being in Heaven, whereby they &s;hould fear he will not help: For by HIS BEING <HI>in Heaven,</HI> con&s;ider</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>He is not di&s;enabled to help;</HI> for there <HI>Angels &amp; Authorities are made &s;ubject unto him,</HI> 1 Pet. 3.22. If Chri&s;t were &s;o mighty to help when in a &s;tate of <HI>Humiliation;</HI> how mighty to help and &s;ave mu&s;t he needs be now he is <HI>&s;et on the right hand of the Throne of the Maje&s;ty in the Heavens?</HI> (Heb: 8.1.) He can help them again&s;t all enemies, he can rain down fire and brim&s;tone, &s;torm and tempe&s;t upon them; he can help them again&s;t <HI>all outward wants,</HI> for from on high he can &s;end down &s;howres of ble&s;&s;ings, as rain upon his Inheritance; he can help them <HI>al&s;o again&s;t all &s;pirituall wants,</HI> he can &s;end the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth
<PB N="252" REF="134"> which &s;hall guide them into all Truth.</P>
<P>Secondly, By his Being in Heaven, <HI>He is not di&s;affected towards them:</HI> his heart turned not from them by his going to Heaven; but though he be cloathed with glory, yet he is full of bowels; the &s;ame Spirit that acted him here below, re&s;ts upon him, and abides with him for ever. Though there be a great alteration in his condition, being pa&s;|&s;ed from Earth to Heaven, from &s;hame to glory; yet there is no change in his di&s;po|&s;ition, he is as pitiful and merciful to his People as ever, (Heb: 2.17, 18, &amp; 4.15. with 5.2.) and therefore his Servants may now, as well as heretofore, expect help from him in time of need.</P>
<P>Thirdly, By his being in Heaven, <HI>He is not di&s;engaged from helping them.</HI> The Lord God appointed him to be an help to his People <HI>now he is in Heaven, as well as when he was on Earth.</HI> And as Chri&s;t did on Earth what was to be done for them here, &s;o now he is in Heaven, he is there to do what is yet to be done for them; what he begun to work here, he is to fini&s;h there, (John 14.2. John 16.7.&mdash;15.) God made him a Prie&s;t for ever and that for the help of his People, and therefore it is &s;aid, <HI>He is able to &s;ave them to the uttermo&s;t, that come unto God by him, &s;eeing he ever liveth to make interce&s;&s;ion for them,</HI> Heb:
<PB N="253" REF="134"> 7.25. The &s;ame Apo&s;tle tells us, <HI>That he is entred into Heaven it &s;elf, now to appear in the pre&s;ence of God for us,</HI> Heb: 9.24.</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>He is not thereby di&s;-intere&s;ted in them, nor they in him.</HI> Chri&s;ts being in Hea|ven doth not de&s;troy tho&s;e neer Relations that are between Chri&s;t and his People; he is &s;till a <HI>Shepherd,</HI> and they his &s;heep; &s;till an <HI>Husband,</HI> and they his <HI>Spou&s;e;</HI> he is &s;till their <HI>Head,</HI> and they his <HI>Members;</HI> he is &s;till their <HI>Brother, Friend, Father,</HI> neither are the&s;e Re|lations onely abiding, but are in their <HI>full vigour</HI> and <HI>glory</HI> in <HI>Heaven;</HI> he being a more <HI>glorious Head, Husband, Friend,</HI> than when on earth; the abiding of the&s;e Relations &s;peak forth his helping of his People.</P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>He is not di&s;regardful of them by his being in Heaven.</HI> Some may be ready to &s;ay, he is at Gods right hand, he is in glory; and though he be not di&s;affected towards us, yet he being &s;o far above us, may forget, and <HI>di&s;regard us in our low e&s;tate;</HI> but it is not with Chri&s;t, as with corrupt man; his ho|nour and advancement doth not puff him, nor make him proud; but though he be in his high e&s;tate, at the right hand of God, Angels, and Authorities, and Powers being made &s;ubject unto him, yet he doth regard, and help his Servants in their <HI>low</HI> e&s;tate. <HI>All things are delivered unto me of my Father,</HI> &s;aith
<PB N="254" REF="135"> Chri&s;t, yet he was then mindful and care|ful of weak helple&s;&s;e &s;ouls, earne&s;tly invi|ting them to him&s;elfe, &s;aying, <HI>Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and</HI> I <HI>will give you rest,</HI> Math. 11.27, 28. with 28.18, 19, 20.</P>
<P>Sixthly, <HI>He is not di&s;&s;waded from helping them, being in Heaven.</HI> There is none there again&s;t his Servants, that &s;hould &s;eek to take him off from helping them; the <HI>Fa|ther</HI> who hath committed all things into his hands, is well plea&s;ed with it, being al&s;o full of compa&s;&s;ion towards tho&s;e that are in di&s;tre&s;s. The <HI>Angels</HI> al&s;o, tho&s;e mini&s;tring Spirits rejoyce at it, and are ready at his word to go forth to mini&s;ter for the Heirs of &s;alvation. (Heb. 1.14.)</P>
<P>Seventhly, <HI>Neither is he</HI> (being in Heaven) <HI>any way damnified, nor di&s;advantaged by helping his Servants on Earth;</HI> he hath not the le&s;&s;e by what he giveth to them; he is not the weaker by what he doth for them, but he gaineth by his layings out upon them; the more he <HI>&s;oweth,</HI> the more he <HI>reapeth;</HI> the more he <HI>gives</HI> forth of grace and help to them, the more he <HI>receives</HI> of love and ho|nour from them.</P>
<P>Thus it appears, that there is no cau&s;e why the Saints &s;hould doubt of the help of Chri&s;t becau&s;e he is in Heaven, but that they
<PB N="255" REF="135"> &s;hould the more confidently expect it, be|cau&s;e he liveth there to help them.</P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 N="4" TYPE="application">
<HEAD>IV. <HI>&V;&s;e.</HI> EXHORTATION.</HEAD>
<P><HI>Commit all to him.</HI> When others are com|mitting them&s;elves and their concernments to the wi&s;e and mighty, and honourable ones of the earth, to be kept, ordered, and di&s;po&s;ed of by them, do you <HI>commit</HI> your &s;elves, and things into the hands of Chri&s;t, unto whom the Father hath <HI>committed all Judgement,</HI> and made mighty to help, and keep what&s;oever is committed to him. He is in Heaven, and what <HI>Trea&s;ures</HI> you <HI>lay up</HI> for your &s;elves there, are &s;afe; there neither Moth, not Ru&s;t doth corrupt, and there Thieves do not break through nor &s;teal, (Mat. 6.20.) He is the &s;trong man, &s;tronger than all others, into who&s;e hou&s;e none can enter to &s;poil his goods, Luke 11.21, 22. <HI>therefore</HI> COMMIT ALL TO HIM.</P>
<P N="1">I. <HI>Commit your</HI> SOULS <HI>to him.</HI> They are your mo&s;t <HI>precious</HI> Trea&s;ure, therefore it doth greatly concern you to look well to them, e&s;pecially in perilous times, that they may be &s;afe; commit therefore the keeping of your &s;ouls to this Mighty One, (1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 4.19.) who alone is able to keep you from falling by the hand of any temp|tation,
<PB N="256" REF="136"> per&s;ecution, corruption, or what&s;o|ever may annoy, or indanger you in the way to his Heavenly Kingdome; he is the <HI>Great Shepherd, and Bi&s;hop of &s;ouls,</HI> who can pre&s;erve, feed, and nouri&s;h them unto eter|nal life, (1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.25.) <HI>Luther</HI> was wont to &s;ay, <HI>Let him that dyed for my &s;oul, &s;ee to the &s;alvation of it.</HI></P>
<P N="2">II. <HI>Commit your</HI> BODIES <HI>to him,</HI> for he is mighty to help and &s;ave them, al&s;o he is <HI>ABLE TO HELP, AND SAVE THEM.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>In ca&s;e of &s;ervice;</HI> When the Lord Chri&s;t calls his People to his work, they oft neglect it with this pretence, their bodies are &s;o weak, that they cannot do what is required; this is &s;ometimes the Mini&s;ters Plea for his negligence, he is &s;o weak, that he cannot Preach much, nor oft; the Peo|ples Plea for not hearing, we cannot go &s;o far, or we cannot &s;it &s;o long; we canno<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> vi&s;it the &s;ick at a di&s;tance, our bodyes wil<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> not away with journeying; This hath been many a Believers Plea, for not being bap|tized, their bodies cannot bear it, &s;urely (&s;ay they) God doth not call us thus to af|flict and endanger our bodyes; <HI>he will hav<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> mercy, and not &s;acrifice:</HI> But let &s;uch know that the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, who hath <HI>bough<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"></HI> the <HI>Body,</HI> as well as the <HI>Spirit,</HI> doth requir<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> to be <HI>glorified</HI> in, with, and by the <HI>bodyes</HI> o<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">
<PB N="257" REF="136"> his People; and &s;eeing he is mighty to help in this re&s;pect, namely to fit and &s;trengthen the weak <HI>bodyes</HI> of his Servants in his work, (as they have oft found by experience,) it &s;hould greatly encourage and engage them, to <HI>giv<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> them up to watching, fa&s;ting, labouring,</HI> &s;acrifice, or whatever &s;ervice the Lord &s;hall call them to do. (Rom: 12.1.)</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>In ca&s;e of &s;ickne&s;s and di&s;ea&s;es.</HI> This the Lord commandeth by his Servant <HI>James,</HI> and encourageth to by a gracious promi&s;e of help in that re&s;pect, James 5.14, 15. <HI>Is any &s;ick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oyl the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith &s;hall &s;ave the &s;ick, and the Lord &s;hall rai&s;e him up.</HI> And this was the <HI>Primitive</HI> Practice, both Saints and People committed their <HI>bodyes</HI> to him, and were holpen, he healed them all, yea, ma|ny were healed, and many &s;igns and won|ders were done by the Name of Gods <HI>holy Child Je&s;us,</HI> in the Apo&s;tles dayes, (Acts 4.30. Acts 8.5, 7. &amp; 3.6.) and therefore let us commit our bodies to this Mighty One; let us make him our Phy&s;itian, he is able to help and heal.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>In ca&s;e of &s;ufferings.</HI> When you be called to &s;uffer in your bodies, whether &s;tripes, buffetings, impri&s;onments, hunger,
<PB N="258" REF="137"> thir&s;t, cold, nakedne&s;&s;e, or death for the &s;ake of Chri&s;t; be not fearful nor careful, but commit your bodyes (and every part thereof) to him, who is mighty to help in this re&s;pect al&s;o; both to prepare, fit, and &s;trengthen the body for the enduring the&s;e, and the like afflictions, and al&s;o to keep it that it &s;hall not be lo&s;t, nor peri&s;h in any of its &s;ufferings, (no, not a hair or bone there|of, (<HI>Phil:</HI> 3.21. <HI>Luke</HI> 21.18. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 34.20.) but though it dye, it &s;hall live again, he will rai&s;e it in power and glory, (1 Cor. 15.43.) and therefore men are &s;aid only to kill the body, not utterly to de&s;troy it. (Mat. 10.28.</P>
<P N="3">III. <HI>Commit your E&s;tates to him.</HI> He is able, and he will either keep your e&s;tates for you, (as &s;ome of his Servants who have been willing to part with them, have expe|rienced, while&s;t others di&s;tru&s;ting, and not committing them into his hands, but &s;eek|ing to &s;ave them, have lo&s;t them,) or if you <HI>part</HI> with them for his &s;ake, he will help you to <HI>live</HI> of a <HI>little,</HI> yea, to live more <HI>comfortably</HI> of a little, than you did of a great deal; <HI>he will make your little that you have in a way of righteou&s;ne&s;s, better than great Revenues with|out right,</HI> Pro: 16.8. And this Gods People have often experienced, and found that &s;ay|ing of Chri&s;t verified, <HI>Luke</HI> 12.15. <HI>viz: That
<PB N="259" REF="137"> a mans life con&s;i&s;teth not in the abundance of the things which he po&s;&s;e&s;&s;eth:</HI> and at la&s;t he will re&s;tore them with encrea&s;e, no le&s;s than an <HI>hundred fold,</HI> according to tho&s;e incouraging words of his, to his &s;elf-denying Di&s;ciples, <HI>Math.</HI> 19.29. <HI>Mark</HI> 10.29, 30. Neither &s;hall they onely have <HI>more,</HI> but better things than they lo&s;e; for <HI>Bra&s;s</HI> they &s;hall have <HI>Gold,</HI> and for <HI>Iron</HI> they &s;hall have <HI>Silver,</HI> and for <HI>Wood Bra&s;&s;e,</HI> and for <HI>Stones Iron;</HI> for <HI>car|nall</HI> things they &s;hall have <HI>&s;piritual,</HI> and for <HI>temporal</HI> things they &s;hall have <HI>eternal,</HI> 2 Cor. 4.16, 17, 18. Thus will Chri&s;t ble&s;&s;e the latter end of his faithfull followers, more than their beginning.</P>
<P N="4">IV. <HI>Commit your</HI> NAMES <HI>to him;</HI> he is mighty to help his Servants in that re&s;pect al&s;o; And either he will keep up your <HI>Names</HI> and Reputations among men, that your very enemies &s;hall be forced to &s;peak well of you, and to acknowledge, <HI>that you are more righteous than they:</HI> Or if your <HI>Names</HI> be covered and buried under re|proach and di&s;grace, yet he will <HI>rai&s;e them up again; He will bring forth your righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e as the light, and your Judgement as the noon-day,</HI> P&s;al. 37.2. Yea, the time is a coming, when he will take away <HI>the reproach and rebuke of his people from off all the earth, and make them a
<PB N="260" REF="138"> name and a prai&s;e among all people,</HI> I&s;a. 25.8. Zeph: 3.20.</P>
<P N="5">V. <HI>Commit his</HI> CAUSE <HI>to him.</HI> His <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> is the be&s;t cau&s;e in all the world, it is no other thing than <HI>truth</HI> and <HI>righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e</HI> it &s;elf, and it becometh his Servants to do what they can to help it forward; but yet not to be &s;o &s;olicitous and careful for it, as if the promoting of it depended onely upon them; but when they have done what they can, to <HI>leave it to him</HI> who is able to <HI>plead, and maintain his own Cau&s;e</HI> again&s;t <HI>all</HI> the enemies thereof. What though <HI>Truth and Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e be fallen in the &s;treets,</HI> and &s;eem to lye dead and buried, and almo&s;t forgot|ten by many? yea, what though in&s;tead of <HI>Truth</HI> there be <HI>Errour,</HI> in&s;tead of <HI>holine&s;&s;e</HI> there be <HI>prophane&s;&s;e,</HI> in&s;tead of <HI>judgement</HI> there be <HI>oppre&s;&s;ion,</HI> and in&s;tead of <HI>righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e</HI> a <HI>cry;</HI> yet he is <HI>able</HI> to rai&s;e up his own Cau&s;e, and will do it; <HI>For he &s;hall not fail, nor be di&s;couraged, till he have &s;et judgement; yea, till he have e&s;tabli&s;hed Truth and Righteou&s;|ne&s;&s;e in the Earth,</HI> I&s;a. 42.4. Therefore let none of the followers of Chri&s;t be di&s;coura|ged, if at any time the <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> of their Lord do not pro&s;per in their hands, according to the de&s;ires of their hearts, but commit it to him to mannage, who is <HI>wonderful in coun|&s;el, and excellent in working,</HI> (I&s;a. 28.29.)
<PB N="261" REF="138"> This did <HI>David,</HI> P&s;al. 74.22. &s;aying, <HI>Ari&s;e O God, plead thy own cau&s;e.</HI> As al&s;o <HI>Luther,</HI> who was wont to &s;ay when the Cau&s;e of God was low in his hand, <HI>It is Gods Cau&s;e, let him look to it.</HI></P>
<P>Sixthly, <HI>Commit</HI> YOUR OWN CAUSE <HI>to him.</HI> Other Mighty ones may be neglect and condemn <HI>your</HI> Righteous Cau&s;e; this <HI>Mighty One,</HI> the Lord Chri&s;t, who <HI>is higher than the highe&s;t,</HI> regardeth, and pleadeth the Cau&s;e of his People, yea, he will <HI>throughly plead</HI> their cau&s;e. In confi|dence of this grace of God, the Church of old re&s;olving to be quiet under the pre&s;ent di&s;pen&s;ation, <HI>committed</HI> her cau&s;e to the Lord, as appears from tho&s;e words recor|ded Micah 7.8, 9. <HI>I will bear the indignation of the Lord, becau&s;e I have &s;inned again&s;t him, untill he plead my Cau&s;e, and execute judgement for me; he will bring me forth to the light, and I &s;hall behold his righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e; then &s;he that is mine enemy &s;hall &s;ee it, and &s;hame &s;hall cover her which &s;aid unto me, Where is the Lord thy God?</HI> When <HI>Davids</HI> enemies digged pits for his &s;oul, and rejoyced over him wrongfully, and devi&s;ed deceitfull matters again&s;t them that were quiet in the Land, and opened their mouth wide again&s;t him, &s;aying, <HI>Aha, aha, our eye hath &s;een it.</HI> He commit|ted his cau&s;e to the Lord, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 35.22, 23.
<PB N="262" REF="139"> <HI>This thou hast &s;een, O Lord, keep not &s;ilence; O Lord, be not far from me, &s;tir up thy &s;elfe, and awake to my judgement, even unto my cau&s;e, my God, and my Lord.</HI> Thus did <HI>Jeremy</HI> al&s;o when his enemies devi&s;ed devices again&s;t him, <HI>Jeremy.</HI> 11.20. &amp; 20.10, 11, 12. Let then the upright Ones of the earth, when they are oppre&s;&s;ed and wronged by the wicked of the world, be of good cheer, and not faint in their minds, but <HI>commit all</HI> to the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, who is Mighty to clear and ju&s;tifie them, and to take vengeance for them.</P>
<P>Seventhly, <HI>Commit your</HI> WORK <HI>to him.</HI> All your work and way, e&s;pecially your difficult work wherein you mo&s;t need his help, look for it, God hath appointed him to be an help, and he is free to help, yea to <HI>work all your works in you, and FOR you.</HI> (I&s;a: 26.12.)</P>
<P>Eighthly, <HI>Commit your</HI> CONDITIONS <HI>to him;</HI> Yea, let all, both the <HI>Wicked</HI> and the <HI>Righteous,</HI> both <HI>Sinners</HI> and <HI>Saints,</HI> com|mit their conditions to him.</P>
<P N="1">I. <HI>SINNERS,</HI> Commit <HI>your Conditions to him,</HI> that you may not peri&s;h in your iniqui|ties; he onely can help you.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>There is no other name under Heaven given among men, whereby you can be &s;aved,</HI> (Acts 4.12.) Neither is there need of any
<PB N="263" REF="139"> other, fora&s;much as <HI>he is able to &s;ave them to the uttermo&s;t, that come unto God by him.</HI> (Heb. 6.7.) And therefore ha&s;ten away from the Devil, world, and your own &s;elves, and all vanities, le&s;t they be your ruine; and <HI>commit your Conditions to him,</HI> and you &s;hall find help and healing of all your wounds, and in the end everla&s;ting life, <HI>Acts</HI> 13.38, 39.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>Are you laden with &s;in?</HI> &s;o that you <HI>cannot look up</HI> with any confidence or cheerfulne&s;&s;e of &s;pirit, (<HI>P&s;al.</HI> 40.12.) <HI>De|&s;pair not,</HI> do not &s;ay, <HI>There is hope:</HI> (as <HI>Jer:</HI> 2.25.) Chri&s;t hath both power to forgive, and de&s;troy &s;in; his blood can clean&s;e from all &s;in, Mat. 11.28. 1 John 1.7, 9. His Spirit can crucifie the fle&s;h, with the affe|ctions and lu&s;ts, <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.11, 13.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Are you ignorant of the way of &s;al|vation?</HI> Do you &s;it in great darkne&s;s? God hath given him to be a Light to the <HI>Gen|tiles,</HI> to open the blind eyes, (I&s;a. 42.6, 7.) and he can make you that are darkne&s;&s;e, light in the Lord, (as tho&s;e in <HI>Eph:</HI> 5.8.) him &s;elf hath &s;aid, <HI>That he is the light of the world, and he that followeth him &s;hall not walk in dark|ne&s;&s;e, but &s;hall have the light of Life,</HI> John 8.12.</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>Are you the Devils Captives and Slaves to do his will?</HI> Je&s;us Chri&s;t can deliver you from that &s;ervitude al&s;o, he can turn
<PB N="264" REF="140"> you (as he hath others) from the power of Satan unto God, (Acts 26.18.) to be his Servants, and Sons, ble&s;&s;ed for ever: Yea, <HI>however</HI> it is with you, he can help you; therefore to day while it is called to day, while he tenders his help and &s;alvation, do not neglect it, le&s;t hereafter when you call, and cry to him for it, he refu&s;e to hear you at all, (<HI>Heb:</HI> 2.3. &amp; 3.7.&mdash;11. <HI>Prov:</HI> 1.22, 23, 24.)</P>
<P N="2">II. <HI>SAINTS, Commit your Conditions to him al&s;o;</HI> your mo&s;t afflictive Conditions, <HI>Ca&s;t all your burthens upon him,</HI> according to that word, P&s;al. 5.22. <HI>Ca&s;t thy burthen upon the Lord, and he &s;hall &s;u&s;tain thee.</HI></P>
<P N="1">I. <HI>Commit your O&V;TWARD CONDITI|ONS to him,</HI> all your bodily concernments and troubles; As</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Your <HI>Reproach;</HI> he is mighty to <HI>roll it away,</HI> Jo&s;. 5.9. And he will a&s;&s;ured|ly <HI>bring forth the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of his people as the light, and their judgement as the noon day.</HI> (P&s;al. 37.6.)</P>
<P>Secondly, Your <HI>Poverty,</HI> and <HI>low e&s;tate,</HI> as it is &s;aid P&s;al. 10.14. <HI>The poor committeth him&s;elf to thee, thou art the helper of the father|le&s;&s;e.</HI> It is the work of this Mighty One <HI>to deliver the needy when he cryeth, the poor al&s;o, and him that hath no helper,</HI> (P&s;al. 72.12.)</P>
<PB N="265" REF="140">
<P>Thirdly, Your oppre&s;&s;ions and per&s;e|cutions, he can deliver from them, he can and will bur&s;t every band, and take off eve|ry yoke, and al&s;o break in pieces the op|pre&s;&s;or, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 72.4.</P>
<P N="2">II. <HI>Commit your INWARD SPIRIT&V;AL Conditions to him.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, All the troubles and burthens of your &s;pirits, which are mo&s;t heavy, and hard to bear, as it is written, <HI>A wounded &s;pirit who can bear?</HI> Prov: 18.14. Make u&s;e of the arm of Chri&s;t, which he &s;tretcheth out for your help, your &s;ouls &s;upport, and &s;al|vation; and <HI>come to him</HI> (according to his gracious invitation) <HI>all you that are weary and heavy laden, and he will give you rest,</HI> (Mat. 11. at the end) and you &s;hall find help in every time of need. (Heb: 4.)</P>
<P>Secondly, Are you <HI>&s;uch as the Devil tempteth, and thru&s;ts &s;ore against, that you might fall?</HI> Commit that condition to Chri&s;t, that he may be your helper therein, fora&s;|much as he is <HI>appointed</HI> of God; and <HI>in that him&s;elf hath &s;uffered, being tempted is able to &s;uc|cour them that are tempted,</HI> Heb: 2.18. And to <HI>keep you from falling. (Jude</HI> 24.)</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Have you been overcome by the Tempter?</HI> Still look unto Chri&s;t who is <HI>mighty to recover you</HI> out of the &s;nare of the Devil, &amp; to rai&s;e you up again, (1 <HI>Joh.</HI> 3.8.)</P>
<PB N="266" REF="141">
<P>Fourthly, <HI>Are you men and women of &s;orrow|full &s;pirits, and full of heavine&s;&s;e? Lye at the feet of him whom God hath &s;ent to comfort all that mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for a&s;hes&punc; the oyl of joy for mourning, the garment of prai&s;e for the &s;pirit of heavine&s;&s;e,</HI> I&s;a. 61.2, 3.</P>
<P>Fifthly, <HI>Do you find a Combate within you, the fle&s;h lu&s;ting against the &s;pirit, and the &s;pirit again&s;t the fle&s;h,</HI> &s;o that you are hindred <HI>from doing the good you would, Gal.</HI> 5.17. and &s;ometimes <HI>brought into captivity to the Law of &s;in,</HI> that you even cry out like wretched un|done men, <HI>Who &s;hall deliver us from the body of this death?</HI> Rom: 7.19, 23, 24. <HI>Commit this</HI> condition to Chri&s;t al&s;o, who <HI>is able to &s;ubdue</HI> your corruptions, and to &s;et your &s;ouls above your <HI>lu&s;ts,</HI> and to make you (as he did <HI>Paul</HI>) victorious over all evil; &s;o that you &s;hall &s;ay with him in the like conditi|on, <HI>We thank God through Je&s;us Chri&s;t our Lord. Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t,</HI> Rom: 7.25. 1 Cor: 15.57.</P>
<P>USE. <HI>Put your &s;elves into Chri&s;ts &s;ervice.</HI></P>
<P>There are TWO THINGS u&s;ually <HI>di&s;courage</HI> &s;ouls from Chri&s;ts worke; the
<PB N="267" REF="141"> <HI>Mightine&s;&s;e of Christ</HI> to help, doth encour|age again&s;t both.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>DIFFIC&V;LTY:</HI> Chri&s;ts &s;ervice is apprehended to <HI>be hard and difficult;</HI> and the &s;oul that is &s;ometimes &s;omewhat inclined to it, doth ordinarily put it off with the&s;e or the like arguings, <HI>I cannot perform it, if I &s;hould undertake it; if I &s;hould profe&s;s Chri&s;t,</HI> I <HI>&s;hall not hold fa&s;t my profe&s;&s;ion, but di&s;honour him by apo&s;tacy; if I &s;hould name his Name, and not depart from iniquity, I had better make no menti|on of him: I know I &s;hall never be able to pray as others do, nor &s;o to learn, nor under&s;tand the My|&s;teries of the Kingdome, nor to deny my &s;elf, and for&s;ake all for Chri&s;t; and therefore I had as good abide a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> I am, and not mind things that are TOO high and HARD for me.</HI></P>
<P>You know what <HI>An&s;wer</HI> Chri&s;t made to his Di&s;ciples in the like ca&s;e, Math. 19.26. <HI>With men this is impo&s;&s;ible, but with God all things are po&s;&s;ible.</HI> And though of your &s;elves, as of your &s;elves you are not &s;ufficient for the lea&s;t of tho&s;e things, (2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 3.6.) yet through the help of Chri&s;t, you may per|form them all, he can make the dulle&s;t to under&s;tand, and the weake&s;t mighty to do his will, and it is his work to <HI>&s;trengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees, and to make them that are of a fearfull heart, bold and &s;trong;</HI> yea, he performeth all things for
<PB N="268" REF="142"> his Servants: And thus through Chri&s;t &s;trengthning of them, they experience his <HI>burthen</HI> to be <HI>light,</HI> and his <HI>yoke ea&s;ie,</HI> Mat. 11.29. Therefore let not the thoughts, nor fears of difficulty hold any off from Chri&s;ts &s;ervice, &s;eeing he is &s;o <HI>able to help.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, The other Di&s;couragement <HI>DANGER:</HI> He that engageth in Chri&s;ts work heartily and throughly, expo&s;eth him&s;elf to <HI>danger,</HI> (as &s;ome men count dan|ger) his <HI>Name, Liberty, E&s;tate,</HI> and <HI>Life</HI> it &s;elf is in danger of being lo&s;t; and the con|&s;ideration of the&s;e things keeps off many from profe&s;&s;ing and &s;erving Chri&s;t accor|ding to his pure, and glorious Go&s;pel.</P>
<P>But to <HI>An&s;wer.</HI> But what though dangers be many, and great, it is enough to encou|rage to his work, that Je&s;us Chri&s;t is a <HI>Great One,</HI> and a <HI>Saviour,</HI> mighty to help, and deliver in, and out of dangers: it was dangerous in the eyes of men for <HI>Shadrach, Me&s;hach,</HI> and <HI>Abednego,</HI> not to wor&s;h<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">p the <HI>Golden Image</HI> which <HI>Nebuchadnezzar</HI> the King &s;at up, as the generality of the people did, for they were ca&s;t into the mid&s;t of the <HI>burning fiery furnace,</HI> and yet they were &s;afe there, having <HI>the Son of God with them,</HI> who did &s;o keep them that they had no hurt, <HI>Dan:</HI> 3. It was dangerous for <HI>Daniel</HI> con|trary to the <HI>Kings Decree, to pray three times a
<PB N="269" REF="142"> day,</HI> his Windows being open in his Cham|ber towards <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> for he was ca&s;t into the <HI>Lions den,</HI> and yet he was &s;afe there; God &s;ent his <HI>Angel</HI> and <HI>&s;hut the Lions mouths,</HI> &s;o that no manner of hurt was found upon him, <HI>Dan:</HI> 6.10. It was <HI>dangerous</HI> al&s;o for <HI>E&s;ther</HI> to go in to the King, contrary to <HI>Law;</HI> And yet it made way both for her <HI>own,</HI> and her <HI>peoples</HI> pre&s;ervation, and &s;afety. It was <HI>dangerous</HI> likewi&s;e for the <HI>Apo&s;tles</HI> and <HI>primitive</HI> Saints, to preach, and practi&s;e, <HI>con|trary</HI> to the <HI>commands</HI> of the <HI>Rulers,</HI> and cu|&s;tomes of the people: And yet Je&s;us Chri&s;t being with them, according to his promi&s;e to help and &s;trengthen them in their work, they did wonderfully prevaile, and pro&s;per, as in <HI>Acts</HI> 4.18, 19, 20, 29. <HI>Acts</HI> 5.17, 18, 19, 20-28, 29-38, 40, 41, 42.</P>
<P>Therefore let not <HI>feare of danger hinder any</HI> from yeelding up them&s;elves to the &s;ervice of Chri&s;t. And you that are &s;o carefull to <HI>avoyd</HI> danger, con&s;ider that you <HI>bring</HI> your &s;elves into the <HI>greate&s;t</HI> danger, by declining his work. While you &s;eek to <HI>&s;ave your &s;elves,</HI> you loo&s;e your &s;ouls and &s;elves; While you &s;tudy to e&s;cape the danger of <HI>mans</HI> ha|tred and wrath, you fall into <HI>danger</HI> of the di&s;plea&s;ure of the mo&s;t <HI>high God,</HI> yea into danger of eternal Damnation, (<HI>Math:</HI> 16.25, 26. <HI>Mark</HI> 8.34-38.)</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<PB N="270" REF="143">
<HEAD>&V;SE <HI>of</HI> CA&V;TION. Take heed you do not abu&s;e this Doctrine of the help of Christ.</HEAD>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>That you be not idle, and negligent.</HI> It was never the purpo&s;e of the Father in his <HI>Appointment</HI> of Chri&s;t to <HI>help;</HI> nor yet of Chri&s;t, in his willingne&s;s and readine&s;s thereunto, to <HI>exempt</HI> his people from any duty; but to &s;trengthen, and <HI>encourage</HI> them again&s;t every <HI>difficulty</HI> therein. Chri&s;ts help is not to <HI>indulge</HI> the fle&s;h, but to <HI>quicken</HI> the dull &s;pirits of his &s;ervants. Yea the <HI>Doctrine</HI> of the <HI>help of Christ,</HI> is &s;o farre from being a principle of <HI>loo&s;ne&s;s,</HI> and <HI>&s;lothfulne&s;s,</HI> as that it <HI>engageth,</HI> and worketh up the &s;oules of tho&s;e that do under&s;tand it aright, unto a faith|full, vigorous, and cheerfull performance of the will of God. And indeed, Chri&s;ts <HI>help</HI> doth <HI>&s;uppo&s;e,</HI> as his peoples <HI>weakne&s;s,</HI> &s;o their <HI>willingne&s;s,</HI> and <HI>diligence.</HI> The help of ano|ther, doth imply, that he that is holpen, is exerci&s;ed, and doing what he can in his bu|&s;ine&s;&s;e. And therefore, when <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> is <HI>help|ing,</HI> be <HI>you</HI> a <HI>working,</HI> le&s;t you provoke him to anger through your <HI>&s;lothfulne&s;s;</HI> for the &s;ame Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, who helpeth the weak, and willing; will <HI>condemne</HI> the <HI>&s;loth|full &s;ervant,</HI> Math: 25.26. (This is not &s;po|ken
<PB N="271" REF="143"> to deject tho&s;e that are grieved, and would grieve more for their own &s;lothful|ne&s;s.)</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>That you do not l<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">mit Chri&s;t:</HI> It was the <HI>Jewes</HI> fault of old, for which God was &s;o angry with them, <HI>They limited the ho|ly one of I&s;rael,</HI> P&s;al. 78. therefore <HI>do not limit this</HI> Mighty one, and his <HI>help at all.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Not to MEANS,</HI> that either he mu&s;t help by this, or <HI>that means,</HI> by this, or that <HI>per&s;on,</HI> or per&s;ons, or el&s;e not at all. This is too u&s;uall among men. <HI>Naaman</HI> will pre&s;cribe <HI>meanes,</HI> and limit <HI>Eli&s;ha</HI> to <HI>them</HI> to accompli&s;h the cure of his Lepro&s;ie. He was <HI>wroth,</HI> and &s;aid, <HI>Behold, I thought, he will &s;urely come out to me, and &s;tand, and call upon the Name of the Lord his God, and &s;troke his hand over the place, and recover the Leper. Are not Abana, and Pharpar, rivers of Dama&s;cus, better than all the Rivers of I&s;rael? may I not wa&s;h in them and be clean?</HI> 2 Kings 5.11, 12. This was al&s;o <HI>Mo&s;es</HI>'s fault, God bade him <HI>&s;peak</HI> to the <HI>Rock,</HI> and he neglected that, and in&s;tead thereof, he <HI>&s;mote</HI> it <HI>twice,</HI> Numb: 20.8, 11. And &s;urely i<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> is very <HI>di&s;honourable</HI> to Chri&s;t, and <HI>unbecoming</HI> Saints, to <HI>limit</HI> him to <HI>means,</HI> that can help by what he plea&s;eth; and hath u&s;ually holpen, and &s;aved his peo|ple by weak, and fooli&s;h things, and things that are not; that no fle&s;h might glory in
<PB N="272" REF="144"> his pre&s;ence, 1 <HI>Cor:</HI> 1.26, 27-29, 31.</P>
<P>Secondly, (Limit not the Lord Je&s;us) <HI>to time, your own time;</HI> Chri&s;t mu&s;t help <HI>now,</HI> or <HI>never,</HI> (&s;ay &s;ome,) <HI>If not now, we are undone;</HI> as if Chri&s;t knew not <HI>when</HI> to help, or could not help at <HI>one time,</HI> as well as at another. Indeed there is <HI>a &s;et</HI> and <HI>appointed</HI> time when Chri&s;t will <HI>more eminently</HI> appeare for the deliverance and &s;alvation of <HI>Zion,</HI> yet he is an help to her at all times.</P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>Limit him not to particular &s;traits and conditions;</HI> As if Chri&s;t could help in &s;ome ca&s;es and conditions onely; thence &s;aith &s;ome Chri&s;tian in his heart &s;omtimes; <HI>Chri&s;t helped, &amp; delivered me out of &s;uch, and &s;uch a temptation; but he cannot deliver me out of my pre&s;ent &s;trong temptation;</HI> He <HI>hath</HI> mortified &s;uch and &s;uch a lu&s;t, but he <HI>cannot</HI> &s;ubdue this unruly lu&s;t; he <HI>hath</HI> wiped away my reproach, but he <HI>cannot</HI> break my bonds; he <HI>hath</HI> provided for me in &s;uch and &s;uch a condition, but he cannot furni&s;h a Table for me in the Wilderne&s;s (as tho&s;e &s;aid, <HI>P&s;al:</HI> 78.19.) What is this but to <HI>Eclip&s;e</HI> the glo|ry of this <HI>Mighty One,</HI> who is an help in <HI>all ca&s;es,</HI> and <HI>conditions,</HI> as hath been &s;hewed?</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>Limit him not to particular per|&s;ons, to &s;ome of I&s;rael;</HI> Let none &s;ay, as &s;ome (even of <HI>I&s;rael</HI>) have &s;ometimes &s;poken, there is help in Chri&s;t for <HI>&s;uch,</HI> and &s;uch;
<PB N="273" REF="144"> but not for <HI>me;</HI> I am excluded, and cut off from partaking of it. But &s;oule, take heed thou do&s;t not <HI>exclude</HI> thy &s;elfe from a par|ticipation of Chri&s;ts help, which extends to <HI>all Zion,</HI> to the <HI>whole flock,</HI> to the <HI>weak</HI> and <HI>&s;ick,</HI> as well as to the <HI>&s;trong,</HI> and <HI>&s;ound;</HI> yea e&s;pecially to the <HI>weak;</HI> according to that good word of the Lord, <HI>Ezek:</HI> 34.15, 16. <HI>I will feed my flock, and I will cau&s;e them to lie downe, &s;aith the Lord God, I will &s;eek that which was lo&s;t, and bring againe that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will &s;trengthen that which was &s;ick;</HI> yea, it is &s;aid of him, <HI>He &s;hall gather the lambs with his Arm, and carry them in his bo&s;om, and &s;hall gent|ly lead tho&s;e that are with young,</HI> I&s;a: 40.11. Therefore do not <HI>limit this</HI> holy One in any wi&s;e.</P>
<P>U&s;e. <HI>Seek to Chri&s;t for help in every time of need;</HI> whil&s;t others are looking and &s;eeking to Creatures like to them&s;elves, for help, and can finde none, their eyes failing for their vaine help; do you look to him who is both <HI>Mighty,</HI> and <HI>ordained</HI> of God to help, and then you &s;hall be &s;ure to finde; when you <HI>&s;eek with your whole heart, (Jer:</HI> 29.13. <HI>P&s;al:</HI> 20.7, 8.) He is the great helper, and Saviour, and there is <HI>none can help like him.</HI></P>
<P><HI>None &s;o Authoritatively,</HI> he, having all
<PB N="274" REF="145"> power both in heaven and earth, he com|mandeth deliverances for <HI>Jacob,</HI> P&s;al: 44.4.)</P>
<P><HI>None &s;o tenderly,</HI> and compa&s;&s;ionately; In his love, and in his pity, he redeemeth, and &s;aveth his people, (<HI>I&s;a:</HI> 63.9.)</P>
<P><HI>None &s;o &s;ea&s;onably;</HI> he is a very pre&s;ent help in time of trouble, (<HI>P&s;al.</HI> 46.5.)</P>
<P><HI>None &s;o con&s;tantly;</HI> he is an help for ever, (<HI>P&s;al:</HI> 12.7.) therefore &s;eek to him above all others.</P>
<P><HI>And having found help from him in time of need, be &s;ure you carry it well towards him,</HI> let your Conver&s;ation to him-ward be as becometh this grace; be e&s;pecially carefull,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, To <HI>SERVE HIM THE MORE FREELY;</HI> he both de&s;erves, and expects it at your hands; had you found him, either unwilling, or unable to ayd you, you might have had &s;ome plea for your backwardne&s;s to &s;erve him, but &s;eeing he hath been rea|dy to a&s;&s;i&s;t you in every bu&s;ine&s;s, how ought you to be ready to an&s;wer when he calls, to go when he bids you go, and to do what he bids you do, and that with a willing, and cheerfull &s;pirit? Let your ex|perience of his help, make you forward to his work, <HI>&s;o</HI> &s;hall you finde, that <HI>he that
<PB N="275" REF="145"> hath holpen, will help,</HI> and he that <HI>hath &s;aved,</HI> is <HI>&s;till mighty to &s;ave.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, To <HI>CLEAVE TO HIM CONSTANTLY;</HI> It will be your wi&s;|dome, and greate&s;t &s;afety to &s;tick to him whom you know to be both mighty, and faithfull; oh, <HI>for&s;ake not him in</HI> any <HI>condition,</HI> whom <HI>you have found an help in</HI> every <HI>condi|tion.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, To <HI>PRAISE HIM CON|TIN&V;ALLY;</HI> make him evermore your &s;ong, who hath been alwayes your &s;trength, (<HI>I&s;a:</HI> 12.3. <HI>I&s;a:</HI> 38.20.) This did <HI>David,</HI> as appeares, <HI>P&s;al:</HI> 71.6. <HI>By thee have I been holden up from the womb, thou art he that took me out of my mothers bowels; my prai&s;e &s;hall be continually of thee:</HI> Yea, give him all the glory of all <HI>your</HI> works, which are indeed rather <HI>his</HI> than <HI>yours,</HI> being wrought by his &s;trength and help. The <HI>Apo&s;tles</HI> carriage, as in other things, &s;o in this, is worthy of imitation, who when they had wrought <HI>miracles</HI> by <HI>Chri&s;ts</HI> power, were carefull to give <HI>all</HI> the glory to his Name, (as <HI>Acts</HI> 3.12, 13. <HI>Acts</HI> 14.13, 14-18, &amp;c.) The like we reade of <HI>Charles</HI> the <HI>fifth,</HI> who after he had obtained a great Victory, &s;aid, <HI>I have Conquered in the Name of Chri&s;t Je&s;us;</HI> I &s;hall onely &s;ay, <HI>Go you, and do likewi&s;e;</HI> for <HI>Worthy is the Lamb that was &s;laine, to receive power,
<PB N="276" REF="146"> and riches, and wi&s;dome, and &s;trength, and ho|nour, and Glory, and ble&s;&s;ing, for ever, and ever.</HI> AMEN.</P>
<EPIGRAPH>
<Q><BIBL><HI>PSAL. 35.10.</HI></BIBL>
<P><GAP DESC="foreign"></P>
<P><GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 word"> He: Jehovah quis &s;icut tu? eripiens afflictu~ &agrave; forti prae ill<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.</P></Q>
<Q><BIBL><HI>APOCAL: 15.3.</HI></BIBL>
<P><GAP DESC="foreign">,</P>
<P>Contant&mdash;Magna et mirabilia illa opera tui,</P>
<P><GAP DESC="foreign">,</P>
<P>Domine qui Deus omnipotens: ju&s;tae et verae</P>
<P><GAP DESC="foreign">.</P>
<P>Illae viae tua, O Rex Sanctorum.</P>
<P>4 <GAP DESC="foreign">.</P>
<P>4 Quis non timebit te Domino?</P></Q>
</EPIGRAPH>
</DIV2>
<TRAILER>THE END.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
<BACK>
<DIV1 TYPE="table of contents">
<PB REF="146">
<HEAD>THE CONTENTS OF SERMONS On PSAL. 89.19.</HEAD>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>I.</HI> _THE Scope of the <HI>P&s;alm,</HI> and Cohe|rence of <HI>ver&s;. 19. Page 1.&mdash;7.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>I. Ob&s;erv:</HI> from ver&s;. <HI>19.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>I.</HI> In <HI>General.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1. The condition of Gods people here needs help. Page 8.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> The <HI>Lord</HI> him&s;elf <HI>provides</HI> help therein. <HI>Page 10.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> He layes in <HI>&s;ufficiency</HI> of help &s;everal wayes. Three <HI>Rea&s;ons</HI> of this. <HI>Page 11, 12.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> In <HI>Particular.</HI> Two <HI>Ob&s;ervations.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>I. That Je&s;us Chri&s;t</HI> is <HI>a Mighty One. Page 14</HI>
<LIST>
<PB REF="147">
<ITEM><HI>I.</HI> Explaining the word <HI>Mighty, Page 15.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> In General: <HI>2.</HI> In Particular, its put for
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Rich: <HI>2.</HI> Powerful: <HI>Page 16.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Valiant: <HI>4.</HI> One that Ruleth. <HI>Page 17.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM>So Je&s;us Chri&s;t con&s;idered, 1. In his <HI>E&s;&s;ence. Page 19.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> In his <HI>Mediator&s;hip,</HI> wherein four things &s;peak Chri&s;ts Mightine&s;&s;e. <HI>Page 20.</HI>
<LIST>
<HEAD><HI>Demon&s;trations</HI> of his <HI>Mightine&s;&s;e.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> In his Original. <HI>2.</HI> In the first promi&s;e of him. <HI>Page 21.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> In the Types, in the multitude, mightine&s;&s;e. <HI>Page 23.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> In Prophe&s;ies of him. <HI>Page 24.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> In the expectation of his people. <HI>Page 29.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> In his Fore-runner. <HI>Page 31.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>7. Incarnation;</HI> where <HI>1.</HI> Conception: <HI>2.</HI> Birth, Further in <HI>Page 32.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Its <HI>1.</HI> Subject: <HI>2.</HI> Time. <HI>3.</HI> Concomitants. <HI>Page 34.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>As <HI>1.</HI> Angels Me&s;&s;age: <HI>2.</HI> Ho&s;t pri&s;ing: <HI>3.</HI> Homage of the Wi&s;e men <GAP DESC="foreign">, <HI>Page 35.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM>Of who&s;e per&s;ons, pains, &mdash;direction. <HI>Page 36.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> The dread of the Mighty, (<HI>Herod,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>Page 37.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>8.</HI> In his <HI>De&s;cent,</HI> in re&s;pect of <HI>1.</HI> his &s;tock in General. <HI>Page 38.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> His Tribe, <HI>Judah.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>9. Chri&s;t</HI> is <HI>Mighty</HI> in his Name. <HI>Page 39.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>10.</HI> Titles. <HI>11.</HI> Pre&s;entation. <HI>Page 40.</HI></ITEM>
<PB REF="147">
<ITEM><HI>12.</HI> Bapti&s;me: <HI>13.</HI> Fa&s;ting. <HI>Page 41.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>14.</HI> Transfiguration. <HI>Page 42.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>15.</HI> In the te&s;timony given of Chri&s;t.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Of him&s;elf: <HI>2.</HI> Of the Father. <HI>Page 43.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Of the Spirit: <HI>4.</HI> Of faithfull men. <HI>Page 44.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> Of Angels: <HI>6.</HI> Of Enemies. <HI>Page 45.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>16.</HI> In his Fame. <HI>17.</HI> His Attendants. <HI>Page 47.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>18.</HI> In Holine&s;&s;e and Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e. <HI>Page 49.</HI>
<LIST>
<HEAD>Which appears <HI>Generally.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> In his Obedience to Gods will: &s;o</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2. Particularly,</HI> In the graces of the Spirit that were in him, <HI>Faith, Love,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>Page 52.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>19. In Chri&s;ts Works of two &s;orts. Page 59.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1. Spiritual</HI> and Heavenly preaching, praying, baptizing, conference. <HI>Page 60.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Re&s;pecting mens <HI>bodyes. Page 63.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Wrought Miracles: <HI>2.</HI> Many: <HI>Page 64.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Various: <HI>4.</HI> Speedily: <HI>5.</HI> Ea&s;ily: <HI>6.</HI> Rea|dily: <HI>Page 66.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>7.</HI> Vi&s;ibly: <HI>8.</HI> Sea&s;onably: <HI>Page 70.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>9.</HI> The &s;ubjects on whom
<LIST>
<ITEM>Where <HI>1.</HI> The largene&s;&s;e on all &s;orts: <HI>2.</HI> &V;nruline&s;s in them&s;elves. <HI>Page 71.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Indi&s;po&s;ition to his works.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>10.</HI> The perfection of Chri&s;ts works. <HI>Page 73.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>11.</HI> Con&s;tancy of the &s;ucce&s;&s;e. <HI>Page 74.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>12.</HI> In the faith of tho&s;e on whom, and for who&s;e &s;ake he wrought them. <HI>Page 74.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>13.</HI> In the time of their performance. <HI>Page 75.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>14.</HI> In his effecting all alone, without others help.</ITEM>
<PB REF="148">
<ITEM><HI>15.</HI> In the meanne&s;&s;e of the means to work them.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>16.</HI> In the effects, Generall and Particular. <HI>Page 76.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>17.</HI> In his &s;elf-denyal, and humility. <HI>Page 77.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Not &s;eeking his own honour: <HI>2.</HI> profit. <HI>Page 78.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>20. Mighty in Victories</HI> over <HI>1.</HI> the World: <HI>Page 79.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Sin: <HI>3.</HI> Death: <HI>4.</HI> Satan. <HI>Page 81.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II. Chri&s;t</HI> is Mighty in his <HI>Offices. Page 83.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>I. A Mighty King. 1.</HI> In <HI>him&s;elf. Page 84.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM>(<HI>1.</HI> In Maie&s;ty: <HI>2.</HI> Wi&s;dome)</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> In his <HI>Subjects.</HI> Two things &s;hew Chri&s;ts Mightine&s;&s;e: <HI>1.</HI> Their Mightine&s;&s;e: <HI>Page 85.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Their Multitude.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> In his <HI>Rule,</HI> towards both
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> His <HI>Friends. 1.</HI> Pre&s;erving: <HI>2.</HI> Re|munerating everla&s;ting Life, Joy, Ho|nour. <HI>Page 88</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2. Enemies,</HI> in <HI>1.</HI> Re&s;traint: <HI>2.</HI> De|&s;truction. <HI>Page 90.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II. A Mighty Prie&s;t</HI> in Dignity. <HI>Page 93.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Of his Per&s;on: <HI>2.</HI> Title: <HI>3.</HI> Nature:</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Order.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> In &s;olemnity of his being ordained a Prie&s;t by an Oath. <HI>Page 96.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6. Performance of his work,</HI> con&s;i&s;ting
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> In making <HI>Satisfaction</HI> for &s;in.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> To the uttermost.</ITEM>
<PB REF="148">
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> At once. <HI>3.</HI> By his Dying. <HI>Page 97.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> In his <HI>Interce&s;&s;ion.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3. Offering up</HI> the Peoples &s;ervices. <HI>Page 100.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4. Ble&s;&s;ing</HI> the People better than other Prie&s;ts.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> More than they: <HI>2.</HI> With choicer ble&s;&s;ings: <HI>3.</HI> More eminently. <HI>Page 102.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>7.</HI> In the unchangeablene&s;&s;e of Chri&s;ts <HI>Of|fice. Page 102.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>III. Chri&s;t is a Mighty Prophet 1.</HI> In his Original: <HI>2.</HI> Qualifications. <HI>Page 103.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Commi&s;&s;ion: <HI>4.</HI> Its Execution. <HI>Page 105.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> In Gods command concerning him.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>22.</HI> In the carriage <HI>of others</HI> towards Chri&s;t. <HI>Page 106.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>I.</HI> Of the <HI>Generality</HI> of the People: <HI>As</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Their recour&s;e to him.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Their Marvelling at his <HI>Doctrine</HI> and <HI>Works. Page 108.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Their rejoycings, acclamations. <HI>Page 109.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Their be&s;eechings, their wor&s;hippings. <HI>Page 110.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> In regard of his Enemies carriage.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Their Per&s;ecutions: <HI>2.</HI> Confederacies. <HI>Page 111.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Of all intere&s;ts. <HI>2.</HI> Of all they have. <HI>Page 113.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>III.</HI> In the carriage of Chri&s;ts Servants to him. <HI>Page 114.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Their confidence in him: <HI>2.</HI> Confe&s;&s;ion
<PB REF="149"> of him: <HI>3.</HI> Suffering for. <HI>Page 116.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>23. Chri&s;t is Mighty in his own &s;ufferings. Page 116.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM>Manife&s;ted <HI>1.</HI> In the <HI>kinds</HI> of them: <HI>Page 2.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Subject</HI> of them: <HI>1.</HI> In his <HI>&s;oul. Page 117.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> In his <HI>body,</HI> in all parts, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> In his <HI>Name,</HI> by Reproach.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> In his <HI>E&s;tate</HI> and Goods.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> In the <HI>Mea&s;ure</HI> of his &s;ufferings.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> In <HI>Efficient</HI> Cau&s;e of them. <HI>Page 119.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> From his Father.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> From his Foes. <HI>3.</HI> From his Friends. <HI>Page 120.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> In the <HI>Per&s;ons</HI> for whom he &s;uffered.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> In his <HI>willingne&s;&s;e</HI> to &s;uffer.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>7.</HI> In the <HI>End</HI> of his &s;uffering. <HI>Page 121.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> Chri&s;ts mightine&s;s &s;een in his <HI>PARTI|CULAR</HI> &s;ufferings.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> In his apprehen&s;ion. <HI>2.</HI> his tryal. <HI>Page 122</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> His Condemnation. <HI>4.</HI> his Death. <HI>Page 124</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM>His mightine&s;s &s;hewed in his Death.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Concomitants. <HI>2.</HI> its vertue.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>24.</HI> Mighty in his <HI>Burial. Page 125</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM>In his <HI>Re&s;urrection. Page 126</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>25.</HI> Which appears: <HI>1.</HI> In that he ro&s;e at all.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> That he ro&s;e &s;een.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Against utmost humane Oppo&s;ition.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>26.</HI> In his <HI>A&s;cention. Page 127</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>27.</HI> In his <HI>Se&s;&s;ion,</HI> on Gods right hand. <HI>Page 128</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>29.</HI> In his Coming againe in three things.
<LIST>
<PB REF="149">
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> In the &s;ignes thereof.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> In the manner of it. <HI>Page 129</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> In the end of it.
<LIST>
<ITEM>Somewhat more to &s;hew the <HI>Superexcel|lencie</HI> of this Mighty One. <HI>Page 130</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> He is Mighty and <HI>Righteous. Page 130</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> And <HI>Merciful. 3.</HI> And <HI>Meek. Page 131</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> And <HI>Wi&s;e. 5.</HI> And <HI>Patient.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> And <HI>Almighty. Page 132</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>7.</HI> And <HI>alwayes Mighty. 8.</HI> And onely <HI>Mighty. Page 134</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>9.</HI> Really &s;o, and not &s;o appearing onely. <HI>Page 134</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Qu:</HI> How came Christ to be &s;o <HI>Mighty? Page 135</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;: 1.</HI> In his E&s;&s;ence: <HI>2.</HI> As Mediator. <HI>Page 136</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM>And thus Christ is <HI>Mighty</HI> by the Fathers,</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Mi&s;&s;ion: <HI>2.</HI> his &V;nction. <HI>Page 138</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Rea&s;ons</HI> why Chri&s;t is a <HI>Mighty One. Page 139</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> For the Fathers Glory.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> For his own Glory. <HI>Page 140</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Becau&s;e his Work was Difficult.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Qu:</HI> Whence is it that men de&s;pi&s;e him? <HI>Page 142</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;: 1.</HI> Through natural enmity.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> By Ignorance. <HI>3.</HI> &V;nbeliefe. <HI>Page 143</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Confidence in their own &s;trength. <HI>Page 144</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> Putting far off the day of his Wrath.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> By fear he'l deprive of whats dear. <HI>Page 145</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>7.</HI> By his pre&s;ent &s;eeming meanne&s;s. <HI>Page 146</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>USE I.</HI> Of <HI>Information</HI> to Gods People.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> What manner of Saviour they have. <HI>Page 147</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Of their &s;afe Condition. <HI>Page 148</HI></ITEM>
<PB REF="150">
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> It aggravates the &s;in of &V;nbeliefe. <HI>Page 149</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Ground of expecting great things. <HI>Page 150</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> For Di&s;covery of Fal&s;e Chri&s;ts. <HI>Page 152</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> Of <HI>Conviction</HI> to fal&s;e Wor&s;hippers that &s;light him. <HI>Page 153</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> To <HI>Jewes,</HI> that beleeve not Je&s;us is the Chri&s;t. <HI>Page 153</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> To <HI>Turks,</HI> that Wor&s;hip <HI>Mahomet. Page 155</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> To <HI>Pagans</HI> and <HI>Heathens.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>III.</HI> Of <HI>Reproofe.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> To all U&s;urpers of his Power &amp; Authority.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> To all Re&s;i&s;ters of his Power. <HI>Page 156</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> To all pretended a&s;&s;i&s;ters of him. <HI>Page 157</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> To all de&s;pi&s;ers of Christ. <HI>Page 159</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>IV.</HI> Of <HI>Terror</HI> to the Wicked in Generall. <HI>Page 160.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> To Refu&s;ers of his Grace.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Oppo&s;ers of his Reigne. <HI>3.</HI> Servants. <HI>Page 161</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Scoffers at his coming. <HI>Page 162</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> More <HI>e&s;pecially,</HI> to the Great ones in Earth.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>R. 1.</HI> Becau&s;e its just Chri&s;t &s;hould terrifie them. <HI>Page 163</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Its to his Honour.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Qu:</HI> Why do the Wicked pro&s;per? <HI>Page 164</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;:</HI> They are re&s;erved to de&s;truction.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> To magnifie his Ju&s;tice therein. <HI>Page 165</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> To magnifie his patience toward them. <HI>Page 166</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Becau&s;e &s;ome of them mu&s;t be brought in. <HI>Page 167</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> To exerci&s;e his Saints faith and patience. <HI>Page 168</HI></ITEM>
<PB REF="150">
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> To magnifie his Power in their De&s;truction. <HI>Page 168</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>V.</HI> Of <HI>Caution</HI> to the <HI>Mighty Ones,</HI> to take heed what they do. <HI>Page 169</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>VI.</HI> Of <HI>Exhortation.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>I.</HI> To Christs Enemies: &s;ubmit to him, <HI>Page 171</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>There being no prevailing against him;
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Not, by Wi&s;dome. <HI>2.</HI> Nor &s;trength. <HI>Page 173</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Nor Riches.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> To Christs &s;ervants. <HI>1.</HI> Fear him. <HI>Page 175.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Trust in him. <HI>3.</HI> Prize him highly. <HI>Page 176</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Stand by him, and his interest. <HI>Page 177</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> Ble&s;s God that drew you out of the world. <HI>Page 178</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> Labour to get much of Christ. <HI>Page 179</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> Doctrine, <HI>God hath appointed this Mighty One (Chri&s;t,) to be a help to his people here. Page 180</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1. Chri&s;t</HI> is an <HI>Help</HI> to his people, appeares.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> By Types of him, <HI>Pa&s;&s;eover, Manna, Mo&s;es, David, Solomon,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>Page 180</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> By the Prophe&s;ies of him, <HI>P&s;: 72. I&s;. 11. Page 181</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>In a threefold Gradation. <HI>Page 182</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Chri&s;t is furni&s;hed with <HI>ability</HI> to help.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Knowledge: <HI>2.</HI> power: where <HI>3.</HI> things. <HI>Page 184</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> With what may <HI>incline</HI> him to help. <HI>Page 185</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM>As <HI>1.</HI> Participating of our Nature.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Participating of his peoples &s;ufferings. <HI>Page 186</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Pity and Compa&s;&s;ion. <HI>Page 187</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Chri&s;t is <HI>engaged</HI> to help them. <HI>Page 188</HI>
<LIST>
<PB REF="151">
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> By his intere&s;t in them.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> By his Relations to them. <HI>Page 189</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> By his Promi&s;e to help them. <HI>Page 190</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> The honour he Receives from helped ones. <HI>Page 191</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>For further opening the first Branch, &s;hew,
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>I.</HI> What <HI>Manner</HI> of help Chri&s;t is. <HI>Page 191</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Sufficient help. <HI>Page 192</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> A &s;ea&s;onable help. <HI>3.</HI> Suitable. <HI>Page 193</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Con&s;tant. <HI>5.</HI> Onely help. <HI>Page 195</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> Old help. <HI>7.</HI> Free, unde&s;erved. <HI>Page 196</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>8.</HI> A tryed experimentall help. <HI>Page 197</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>9.</HI> &V;niver&s;al help. <HI>Page 198</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM>GODS &s;ervants need help:
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> In regard of &s;ervice they mu&s;t do.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> In regard of &s;ufferings. <HI>Page 199</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II.</HI> How is Chri&s;t an help? <HI>Page 200</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;:</HI> Chiefly five wayes.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> By efficacy of his death.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> By excellency of his example. <HI>Page 201</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> By powerfulnes of his Spirit. <HI>Page 203</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> By the admirablene&s;s of his Rule. <HI>Page 205</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> By the prevalency of his Interce&s;&s;ion. <HI>Page 207</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM>E&s;pecially in three Ca&s;es. <HI>Page 208</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Of &s;in. <HI>2.</HI> Of Satans Temptings.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Of &s;ufferings.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II</HI> Branch: <HI>God hath appointed Chri&s;t this Mighty One, to be a help to his people. Page 209</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>I Rea&s;ons. 1.</HI> In their regard he &s;aw there
<PB REF="151"> would be need of &s;uch.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> The difficulty of their work. <HI>Page 210</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> The Mightine&s;s of their Enemies.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> The promi&s;ed exalting of his people. <HI>Page 211</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM>For the Honour of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> in <HI>1.</HI> the Saints Faith. <HI>2.</HI> Honour of their Prai&s;es. <HI>Page 212</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Obj.</HI> Why then are his people in &s;o much di|&s;tre&s;s? <HI>Page 213</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;: I.</HI> As the Lord appointed their help, &s;o a <HI>time</HI> to <HI>&s;uffer. Page 213</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> The Lord hath &s;everal <HI>wayes</HI> of helping them. <HI>Page 214</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Yet he &s;ees good to help &s;ometimes but a little. <HI>Page 215</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Their &s;alvations are oft carried on in a My&s;tery. <HI>Page 216</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5. Some things in them may delay pre|&s;ent help. Page 217</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> When they beleeve not.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> When they act without his call. <HI>Page 218</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> When they act in their own &s;trength. <HI>Page 219</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> When they eye &s;ome other be&s;ides him.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> When they have &s;ini&s;ter ends in actings.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> When they refu&s;e to be helped by him. <HI>Page 220</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM>Qu: <HI>1. What &s;hall they do when he helps not?</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;: 1.</HI> Seriou&s;ly lay it to heart, as a trouble. <HI>Page 221</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Search diligently the cau&s;e of it. <HI>Page 222</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> For&s;ake tho&s;e evils that &s;o provoke him. <HI>Page 223</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Earne&s;tly cry to him for his help. <HI>Page 224</HI></ITEM>
<PB REF="152">
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> Patiently wait on Chri&s;t for help. <HI>Page 225</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Qu: <HI>2. When may Gods people expect his helping them? Page 226</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;: 1.</HI> When they are afflicted greatly.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> When they are for&s;aken utterly. <HI>Page 227</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> When they cry mightily for Gods help. <HI>Page 228</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> When they beleeve on him &s;trongly. <HI>Page 229</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> When they walk before him faithfully.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> When they u&s;e appointed meanes diligently. <HI>Page 230</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>7.</HI> When enemies &s;peak proudly, act highly, mo&s;t &s;ecure. <HI>Page 231</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Qu: <HI>3. What</HI> &V;&s;e <HI>&s;hould we make of this?</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;: I.</HI> Its for our <HI>In&s;truction</HI> in <HI>4.</HI> things. <HI>Page 233</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> It &s;hews the fir&s;t Cau&s;e of Gods peoples help, the Lord.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> A &s;ufficient Rea&s;on of the Saints hope of help in need. <HI>Page 234</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> The righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of God in his dealings with his. <HI>Page 234</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Whence Gods People can do &s;o great things. <HI>Page 234</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>II. USE</HI> of <HI>Reproof. 1.</HI> To profane ones that in&s;ult again&s;t Gods People as helple&s;&s;e. <HI>Page 235</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> To proud ones that tru&s;t to their works for &s;alvation. <HI>Page 236</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> To tru&s;ters in their &s;trength for help in danger. <HI>Page 237</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> To de&s;pairing ones <HI>1.</HI> Of <HI>Eternal Salva|tion. Page 238</HI>
<LIST>
<PB REF="152">
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Great Sinners. <HI>2.</HI> Weak Saints.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Of deliverance, or promi&s;ed help. <HI>Page 239</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> To &s;eekers for other help in trouble.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> As being in vain, help is not there. <HI>Page 240</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Its dangerous, to the hurt of the &s;eekers. <HI>Page 241</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Its &s;infull; Chiefly in three things. <HI>Page 242</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Its a de&s;pi&s;ing the riches of Gods goodne&s;&s;e. <HI>Page 243</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Its a &s;lighting of Chri&s;t.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Its a walking contrary to profe&s;&s;ion. <HI>Page 244</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>III. USE. Streams of COMFORT to Gods people. Page 244</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Again&s;t mighty adver&s;aries. <HI>Page 245</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Again&s;t greate&s;t difficulties. <HI>Page 246</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Again&s;t deepe&s;t troubles.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Again&s;t weake&s;t in&s;truments of help. <HI>Page 247</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM>Object. <HI>1. We are not worthy Chri&s;t &s;hould help. Page 248</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Chri&s;t is a free unde&s;erved help. <HI>Page 249</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Object. <HI>2. We are froward under troubles.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Though this provokes, yet God helps &s;uch. <HI>Page 249</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Object. <HI>3. We have wearied Chri&s;t, hee'l help no more. Page 250</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Though &s;o with men; he is not weary.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Object. <HI>4. Chri&s;t helped on earth, but will not now. Page 251</HI></ITEM>
<PB REF="153">
<ITEM><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Chri&s;t is as neer to help in <HI>Heaven.</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Not <HI>thereby di&s;enabled</HI> to help.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Not <HI>di&s;affected</HI> towards them. <HI>Page 252</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Not <HI>di&s;engaged</HI> from helping them. <HI>Page 252</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Not <HI>di&s;intere&s;ted</HI> in them, nor they in him.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>5.</HI> Not <HI>di&s;regardful</HI> of them thereby. <HI>Page 253</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> Not <HI>di&s;&s;waded</HI> from helping them. <HI>Page 254</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>7.</HI> Not <HI>di&s;advantaged</HI> by helping them.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>IV. USE</HI> of <HI>Exhortation.</HI> Commit all to him. <HI>Page 255</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Your <HI>Souls: 2. Bodyes. Page 256</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> In ca&s;e of &s;ervice. <HI>Page 256</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> In ca&s;e of &s;ickne&s;&s;e. <HI>Page 257</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> In ca&s;e of &s;ufferings.</ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3. Commit</HI> your <HI>E&s;tates</HI> to him. <HI>Page 258</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Your <HI>Names: 5.</HI> His <HI>Cau&s;e. Page 260</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>6.</HI> Your own Cau&s;e: <HI>7.</HI> Your Work. <HI>Page 261</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>8.</HI> Your Conditions: <HI>1.</HI> Ye <HI>Sinners; Page 262</HI>
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> There's help in no other.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Are you laden with &s;in? <HI>3.</HI> ignorant? <HI>Page 263</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Ye <HI>Saints: 1.</HI> Your <HI>outward</HI> State, <HI>Page 264</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Reproach, Poverty, Oppre&s;&s;ions.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Your <HI>inward,</HI> in Spirit, tempted fle&s;h lu&s;t|ing. <HI>Page 265</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>USE.</HI> Serve Chri&s;t. <HI>Page 266</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Here Helps again&s;t two Lets: <HI>1.</HI> Difficulty: <HI>Page 267</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Danger. <HI>Page 268</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>USE</HI> of <HI>CAUTION. Abu&s;e not this Do|ctrine. Page 270</HI>
<LIST>
<PB REF="153">
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Be not idle, or negligent. <HI>Page 271</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Limit not Christ to your <HI>Time. Page 272</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Not to particular <HI>&s;traits.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>4.</HI> Nor to particular <HI>Per&s;ons. Page 272</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>USE</HI> of <HI>EXHORTATION: 1.</HI> Seek to Chri&s;t for help in every time of need. <HI>Page 273</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Having found help in need, carry it well.
<LIST>
<ITEM><HI>1.</HI> Serve him more freely. <HI>Page 274</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>2.</HI> Cleave to him con&s;tantly:</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>3.</HI> Prai&s;e him continually. <HI>Page 275</HI></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST></ITEM>
</LIST>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="errata">
<HEAD><HI>ERRATA.</HI> (The Author being di&s;tant from the Pre&s;&s;e.)</HEAD>
<P>PAge 1. Line 8. <HI>read</HI> contains. Page 83. <HI>Secondly, read</HI> XXI^l^y. II^l^y.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="publisher's advertisement">
<PB REF="154">
<HEAD>Books printed, and are to be &s;old by <HI>Henry Cripps</HI> at the fir&s;t &s;hop in <HI>Pope&s;-head-Alley,</HI> next <HI>Lom|bard</HI>-&s;treet.</HEAD>
<LIST>
<ITEM>DR. <HI>Sibbs</HI> Saints Cordials, being &s;eve|rall Sermons on divers &s;ubjects.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Burroughs</HI> Expo&s;ition on the three fir&s;t Chapters of <HI>Ho&s;ea.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Cradocks</HI> Go&s;pel-holine&s;&s;e.</ITEM>
<ITEM>His Go&s;pel-liberty.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>John Goodwin</HI> his Treati&s;e of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Bi&s;hop <HI>Reynolds</HI> his Expo&s;ition on the 4. Chapter of <HI>Ho&s;ea.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Cotton</HI> on the &s;even Vials, being an Expo&s;ition of &s;ome part of the <HI>Revelations.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Norton</HI> his Orthodox Evangeli&s;t.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Brooks</HI> his Crown of Chri&s;tianity, or Holine&s;&s;e the way of Happine&s;&s;e.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Lye</HI> his Sermon at the Funeral of Mris. <HI>Nichols.</HI></ITEM>
<PB REF="154">
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Dougla&s;&s;es</HI> My&s;tery of Godline&s;s, in &s;everal Sermons.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Armitages</HI> Son of God, walking in the fire with the &s;ervants of God, in &s;eve|ral Sermons on the 3. of <HI>Daniel.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>His Tryall of Faith, or the Woman of <HI>Canaan,</HI> in &s;everall Sermons.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Baxters</HI> three Treati&s;es, <HI>Viz:</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>1. A Sermon of Judgement.</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. Danger of &s;lighting Chri&s;t.</ITEM>
<ITEM>3. True Chri&s;tianity; or Chri&s;ts ab&s;o|lute Dominion, and mans nece&s;&s;ary &s;elf-re&s;ignation to him.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Eaton</HI> on the God-head of Chri&s;t.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mris. <HI>Sarah Wight,</HI> or Grace advanced in a nothing creature.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Dingley's Vox Coeli,</HI> or a Di&s;cour&s;e of Thunder.</ITEM>
<ITEM>His Divine Opticks, or a Treati&s;e of the Eye.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Trenchfields</HI> Chri&s;tian Chymi&s;try, or Hi&s;tory improved.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Hubberts</HI> Pill to purge Formallity.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Brooks</HI> his Ark for all Gods <HI>Noahs</HI> in a &s;tormy day.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Lyes</HI> method of u&s;ing the A&s;&s;emblies Catechi&s;me.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Cottons</HI> Milk for Babes in Chri&s;t. A Catechi&s;me.</ITEM>
<PB REF="155">
<ITEM>An Epitomie of Hi&s;tory, containing the lives of the <HI>Roman</HI> Emperours, wherein is al&s;o contained an Epitomie of <HI>Engli&s;h</HI> Chronicle.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Wards</HI> Nature and Grace.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Byfields</HI> Signes of a Godly man.</ITEM>
<ITEM>His Touch-&s;tone of A&s;&s;urance.</ITEM>
<ITEM>The Mirrour of Martyrs.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Wells</HI> Anchor of hope.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Warner</HI> Gain of Lo&s;s, or temporal lo&s;&s;es &s;piritually improved.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Huits</HI> Anatomy of Con&s;cience.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Dr. <HI>Sibbs</HI> Brui&s;ed Reed.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Sarrocolds</HI> Supplications of Saints, a Book of Prayers and Prai&s;es.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Hookers</HI> Souls preparation for Chri&s;t.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Dikes</HI> right receiving Chri&s;t.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Sam: Clarks</HI> Saints No&s;egay, or 741 Scripture Flowers or Meditations.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mr. <HI>Powels</HI> Experiences.</ITEM>
<ITEM>An An&s;wer to <HI>Fiat Lux</HI> a Popi&s;h Au|thour. To be &s;old by <HI>Henry Cripps</HI> in <HI>Pope&s;-head-Alley.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
<PB REF="155">
</DIV1>
</BACK>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
