Sol. This is a different case. True, it is so, and must be so, or else it had signified nothing to your relief. For had Christ been internally defiled, he had not been a fit Mediator for you; nor could you have had any benefit, either by his temptations, or suf- ferings for you. But he being tempted, and yet still escaping the defilement of sin, hath not only satisfied for the sins you commit when tempted, but also got an experimental sense of the misery of your condition, which is in him, (though now in glory) as a spring of pity and tender compassion to you. Remember, poor tempted Christian, " the God of peace shall shortly tread Satan under thy " feet," Rom. xvi. 20. Thou shalt set thy foot on the neck of that enemy : and as soon as both thy feet are over the threshold of glory, thou shalt cast back a smiling look, and say, now, Satan, do thy worst ; now I am there where thou canst not come. Mean while, till thou be out of his reach, let me advise thee to go to Jesus Christ, and open the matter to him ; tell him how that base spirit falls upon thee, yea, sets upon thee, even in his presence : in- treat him to rebuke and command him off: beg him to consider thy case, and say, Lord, dost thou remember how thy own heart was once grieved, though not defiled, by his assaults ? I have grief and guilt together upon me. Ah Lord, I expect pity and help from thee ; thou knowest the heart of a stranger, the heart of a poor and tempted one. This is singular relief in this case. O try it !
Inf. 5. Was Christ yet more humbled, by his own sympathy with others in their distresses ? Hence we learn, that a compassionate spirit, towards such as labour under burdens of sin, or afflic- tion, is Christ-like, and truly excellent: this was the Spirit of Christ : O be like him ! Put on as the elect of God, bowels of
SERM. XIX. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 245
mercy, Col. iii. 12. " Weep with them that weep, and rejoice " with them that rejoice," Rom. xii. 15. It was Cain that said, " Am I my brother's keeper ?" Blessed Paul was of a contrary temper, 2 Cor. xi. 29. " Who is weak, and I am not weak ? Who is offended, and I burn not ?" Three things promote sympathy in Christians, one is the Lord's pity for them ; he doth as it were suf- fer with them ; " in all their afflictions he was afflicted * ;" Isa. lxiii. 9- Another is, the relation we sustain to God's afflicted people : they are members with us in one body, and the members should have the same care of one another, 1 Cor. xii. 25. The last is, we know not how soon ourselves may need from others, what others now need from us. " Restore him with the spirit of " meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted," Gal. vi. 1.
Inf. 6. Did the world help on the humiliation of Christ by their base and vile usage of him ? Learn hence, that the judgment the world gives of* persons, and their worth, is little to be regarded. Surely it dispenses its smiles and honours very preposterously and unduly, in this respect, among others, the saints are styled persons, u of whom the world is not worthy," Heb. xi. 38. i. e. it doth not deserve to have such choice spirits as these are, left in it, since it knows not how to use or treat them. It was the complaint of f Salvian, above eleven hundred years ago ? " if any of the nobility " (saith he) do but begin to turn to God, presently he loseth the " honour of nobility ! O in how little honour is Christ anion «• " Christian people, when religion shall make a man ignoble ! So u that (as he adds) many are compelled to be evil, lest they should " be esteemed vile." And indeed, if the world gives us any help to discover the true worth and excellency of men by, it is by the rule of contraries, for the most part. Where it fixes its marks of hatred, we may usually find that which invites our respect and love. It should trouble us the less to be under the slights and dis- respects of a blind world. " I could be even proud upon it, (saith " | Luther) that I see I have an ill name from the world." And Jerom § " blessed God that counted him worthy to be hated of the " worlcl." Labour to stand right in the judgment of God, and trouble not thyself for the rash and headlong censures of men. Let
* In all the afflictions, losses, and troubles that befal believers, Christ saith, Half mine : yea, he not only bears half, but all the burden, and more than all; for he bears us and our burdens too. O that more of his Spirit dwelt in his people. We are, or have been, or may be what he is.
f Si quis ex nobilitate converti ad Deum cceperit, statim honorem nobilitatis amiltit. 0 quantulus in Christiano populo honor Christi est ubi religio ignobilitatemfacit ! Salv. lib. 4. de Gub. Dei.
\ Superbusjio, quod video nomen pessimum mihi, crescere ; gaudeo rehellis dici. Luth,
5 Gratias ego Deo meo, quod dignus sum, quern mundus oderit. Hieroa,
246 TEE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SEEM. XX.
wicked men, saith one. cut the throat of my credit, and do as they Bke best wil hen the wind of their calumnies, hath
blown awav mv good name from me in the way to heaven, I know Christ wil v name out of the mire, and wash it, and restore
21 the whole of Christ's humiliation in his life, learn you to pass through all the troubles of your life with a contented, composed spirit, m Christ your fore-runner did. He wa? perseeu- ted, and bare it meekly : poor, and never murmured ; tempted, and never yielded to the temptation : :.nd reviled not again.
When ye therefore pass through anv of these trials, look to Jesus, and consider him. See how he that passed through those things before you, managed himself in like circumstances ; yea, not only beat the way by his pattens, and example for you, but hath in every one of those conditions left a blessing behind him, for them that follow his steps.
Thanks be to Godjbr Jesi.
Q( CLnr.'s Humiliation unto Death, in his first preparative
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in tlie world ; and I come to thee : Holy Father, keep througfi thine own name, those whom thou hast given me; that tJiey may be one, as we are.
▼ ▼ E now come to the last and lowest step of Christ's humilia- tion, which was in his submitting to death, even the death of the cross. Out of this death of Christ the life of our soul spnnes up; and in this blood of the cross, all our mercies swim to us. Ine blood 1 1 runs deep to some eyes ; the judicious
believer sees multitudes, multitudes of inestimable blessings in it iris crimson fisJastsi ve to sit down ; and concerning the
death of C rist, I shall take distinctly into consideration the pre- ^tions made for it : the nature and quality of it ; the deportment 1;: :.c.t •:.■-. 2'-. • :^ Jesus; titefimeral tolcmmtie* with which he was buried; and lastly, the blessed designs and glorious ends of liis
The prepar I Iris death were six. Three on his own part,
and three more by his enemies. The preparations made by himself for it, were the solemn recommendation of his friends to his Fa-