1. By frequent and delightful speaking of him, and for him. When Paul had once mentioned his name, he knows not how to part with it, but repeats it no less than ten times in the compass of ten verses, in 1 Cor. i. It was Lambert's motto, " None but Christ, " none but Christ." It is said of Johannes Milius, that after his conversion, he was seldom or never observed to mention the name of Jesus, but his eyes would drop ; so dear was Christ to htm. Mr. Fox never denied any beggar that asked an alms in Christ's name, or for Jesus' sake. Julius Palmer, when all con- cluded he was dead, being turned as black as a coal on the fire, at iast moved his scorched lips, and was heard to say, Sweet Jesus, and fell asleep. Plutarch *f- tells us, that when Titus Flaminius had freed the poor Grecians from the bondage with which they had been long ground by their oppressors, and the herald was to proclaim in their audience the articles of peace he had concluded for them, they so pressed upon him, (not being half of them able to hear), that he was in great danger to have lost his life in the press; at last, reading them a second time, when they came vb understand distinctly how their case stood, they shouted for joy, crying, Swnjo, Swttjp, " a Saviour, a Saviour," that they made the very heavens ring again with their acclamations, and the very birds fell down astonished. And all that night the poor Grecians, with instruments of music, and songs of praise, danced and sung about his tent, extolling him as a god that had delivered them. But surely you have more reason to be exalting the Author of your sal- vation, who, at a dearer rate, hath freed you from a more dread- ful bondage. O ye that have escaped the eternal wrath of God,
* Quanto pro me vilior, tanto mihi charior. Bern, f Plutarch in vita Titi Flaminiu
234 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XVIII.
by the humiliation of the Son of God, extol your great Redeemer, and for ever celebrate his praises !
2. By acting your faith on him, for whatsoever lies in the jiro~ mises yet unaccomplished. In this you see the great and most diffi- cult promise fulfilled, Gen. iii. 15. " The seed of the woman shall 66 break the serpent's head ;" which contained this mercy of Christ's incarnation for us in it : I say, you see this fulfilled ; and seeing that which was most improbable and difficult is come to pass, even Christ come in the flesh, methinks our unbelief should be re- moved for ever, and all other promises the more easily believed. It seemed much more improbable and impossible to reason, that God should become a man, and stoop to the condition of a crea- ture, than being a man, to perform all that good which his incar- nation and death procured. Unbelief usually argues from one of these two grounds, Can God do this ? or Will God do that ? It is questioning either his power or his will ; but after this, let it cease for ever to cavil against either. His power to save should never be questioned by any that know what sufferings and infinite burdens he supported in our nature : and surely his willingness to save should never be put to a question, by any that consider how low he was content to stoop for our sakes.
3. By drawing nigh to God with ddight, " through the veil of " Christ's flesh," Heb. x. 19- God hath made this flesh of Christ a veil betwixt the brightness of his glory and us : it serves to rebate the unsupportable glory, and also to give admission to it, as the veil did in the temple. Through this body of flesh, which Christ as- sumed, are all decursus et rccursus gratiarum, " outlets of grace <' from God to us ; and through it, also, must be all our returns « to God again." It is made the great medium of pur communion with God.
4. By applying yourselves to him, under all temptations, wants and troubles, of what kind soever, as to one that is tenderly sensible of your case, and most willing and ready to relieve you. O remem- ber, this was one of the inducements that persuaded and invited him to take your nature, that he might be furnished abundantly with ten- der compassion for you, from the sense he should have of your infir- mities in his own body *, Heb. ii. 17. " Wherefore in all things " it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might " be a merciful and faithful High-priest, in things pertaining to " God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." You know by this argument the Lord pressed the Israelites to be kind
* Hiud ignara mafi, miscris svccurere disco. Lirg. Like you, an alien in a land unknown, I learn to pity woes, so like mine own. Dryden.
SERM. XIX, THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 235
to strangers ; for, (saith he) " you know the heart of a stranger,1* Exod. xxii. 9- Christ, by being in our nature, knows experi- mentally what our wants, fears, temptations, and distresses are, and so is able to have compassion. O let your hearts work upon this admirable condescension of Christ, till they be filled with it, and your lips say,
Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ.
Of Cheist's Humiliation in Iiis Life.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and be~ came obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
JL HIS scripture hath been once already under consideration, and, indeed, can never be enough considered : It holds forth the humbled state of the Lord Jesus, during the time of his abode on earth. The sum of it was delivered you before in this point :
Doct. That the state of Christ, from his conception to his resur- rection, zcas a state of deep debasement and humiliation.
The humiliation of Christ was proposed to you under these three general heads or branches; of his humiliation in his incarnation; his humiliation in his life ; and his humiliation in his death. How be was humbled by incarnation, hath been opened above in the 18th sermon. How he was humbled in his life, is the design of this sermon : yet expect not that I should give you here an exact history of the life of Christ. The scriptures speak but little of the private part of his life, and it is not my design to dilate upon all the memorable passages that the evangelists (those faithful narra- tors of the life of Christ) have preserved for us ; but only to ob- serve and improve those more observable particulars in his life, wherein especially he was humbled : and such are these that follow.
First, The Lord Jesus was humbled in his very infancy, by his circumcision according to the law. For bein^ of the stock of Israel, he was to undergo the ceremonies, and submit to the ordinances belonging to that people, and thereby to put. an end to them ; for so it became him to fulfil all righteousness. Luke ii. 21. " And
236 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XIX.
*S when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the " child, his name was called Jesus." Hereby the Son of God was greatly humbled, especially in these two respects.