Vers. 37-40.] sermons upon matthew xxy. 73
look askew upon him ; but Jesus Christ, though he be the eternal Son of God, by whom he made the world, the splendour of his Father's glory, and the brightness of his person, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, and we be poor, vile, and unworthy creatures, yet he dis- daineth not to call us brethren, notwithstanding our meanness and unworthiness, and his own glory and excellency. Divines observe that Christ never gave his disciples tlie title of brethren but after his resurrection ; before, servants, little children, friends, were their usual designations ; but then he expressly calleth them bretliren : John xiii. 13, 14, 'Ye call me lord and master, for so I am ; ' and John xii. 26, ' If any man serve me, let him follow me ; and where I am, there shall my servant be.' Friends : John xv. 15, ' I liave called you friends,' But after the resurrection the style of brethren is very fre- quent : Mat. xxviii. 10, ' Go tell my brethren, I go into Galilee ; ' and John XX. 17, ' Go to my brethren, and tell them, I go to my Father, and your Father.' And at the last day he giveth this title to all the elect, that are put at his right hand.
Quest. But what is the reason of this ?
Ans. Though the ground were laid in the incarnation, when Christ naturalised himself to us, and became one of our own line, yet he doth expressly own it after his resurrection, and will own it at his coming to judgment, to show that his glory and exaltation doth not diminish his affections towards his people, but rather the expressions thereof are enlarged. He still continueth our brother, and will do so as long as our nature remaineth in the unity of his j^erson, which will be to all eternity.
2. That it is a real privilege to us ; it is a title of great dearness and intimacy ; it is not an idle compliment, for there is cause and reason for it, hia rrjv alrlav. All mankind coming of one father, and being made of one blood, are brethren ; and Christ reckoneth him- self among us, and assumeth the relation proper to his nature, especially when we get a new kindred by grace. It is not an empty title, but a great and real privilege; not a nominal, titular relation, to put honour upon us, but to give us benefit, Kom. viii. 17, and for the present assureth us of his tender respect.
Use 1. It comforts us against the sense of our own unworthiness. Though our nature be removed so many degrees of distance from God, and at that time polluted with sin, when Christ glorified it, and assumed it into his own person, yet all this hindered him not from taking our nature, and the title depending thereupon. Therefore the sense of our unworthiness, when it is seriously laid to heart, should not hinder us from looking after the benefits we need, and which are in his power to bestow upon us. This term should revive us. Whatever serves to our comfort and glory, Christ will think it no disgrace to do it for us. This may be one reason why Christ biddeth them tell his brethren, ' I am risen,' Mat. xxviii. 10. The poor disciples were greatly dejected and confounded in themselves ; they had all forsaken him, and fled from him ; Peter had denied him, and forsworn him ; what could they look for from him but a sharp and harsh exprobration of their fear and cowardice ? But he comforts them with this message, * Go tell my disciples, and Peter, that I am risen.' The fallen man is
74 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. XXIII.
not forgotten. Peter was weeping bitterl}'- for liis fault, but Christ sends him a comfortable message, ' Gro tell Peter I am risen.' Secondly, The next thing that I shall observe is — Doct. That what is done to his people, to the least of them, Christ will esteem it as done to himself
1. It holdeth true in injuries : Isa. Ixiii. 9, ' In all their afflictions he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them ; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them ; ' and Acts ix. 4, ' And he fell to the earth, and he heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, whyper- secutest thou me ? ' Christ was wronged when the saints were wronged. He is above passion, but not above compassion. The enemies of the church have not men for their enemies, but Christ himself. When they are mocked and scorned, Christ is mocked and scorned.
2. It holdeth also true of benefits. The least courtesy or act of kindness showed to them is showed to Christ ; that which is done in Christ's name, and for Christ's sake, is done unto Christ. You do not consider the man so much as Christ in him. The apostle saith they ' received him even as Christ Jesus,' Gal. iv. 14 ; that is, in his name, and as his messenger, 2 Cor. v. 10 ; and Luke x. 16, ' He that heareth you, heareth me ; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me ;' as a king is resisted in a constable armed with his authority. As when we go to Grod in Christ's name, whatever we obtain is put upon Christ's account (it is not for our merit, but Christ's), so whatsoever you do to any person in Christ's name, and for Christ's sake, is done to Christ. If you send another in your name, if he be denied, you take yourselves to 1)0 denied ; if granted for your sake, you think it granted to you.