4. To give us a taste and pledge both of his willingness and ability to do us good. He is a mighty God, and yet a Saviour : certainly
232 SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14, [SeR. XVIII.
there is a difference between God and man. If we pardon and do ^ood, it is out of need, because we dare not do otherwise ; but Jesus Christ is the mighty Grod, strong enough to revenge, yet our Saviour, gracious enough to save and pardon. The coupling of these words shows that Christ is not a Saviour out of necessity, but good-will. Men forbear their enemies out of policy, not pity : 2 Sam. iii. 19, ' These men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me.' Power makes us cruel. Who finds his enemy, and slays him not? ' If a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?' 1 Sam. xxiv. 19. Among men observe it, and you will find the weakest are most pitiful and merciful. Why? Because they need pity and commiseration themselves from others. But now Jesus Christ, that hath the greatest power, hath also the greatest mercy and the greatest love. He is the mighty God, but yet the Prince of Peace. He will be a mighty God rather in saving than in destroying ; though he hath all power in his hands, yet he will exer- cise it in acts of mercy. We abuse our power to acts of oppression and violence. Oh ! when shall we learn of Christ to be mighty and yet saving ; there cannot be a happier conjunction than when greatness and goodness, power and good-will, are met together. Kemember, power is only given us to do good with it ; and to do good is some resemblance of Christ. What a comfort is this to the faithful, that Christ is ' the great God,' and also ' a Saviour,' both able and willing to do them good, and to bestow abundance of grace upon them !
5. To show what Christ is to the saints. Whenever he shows himself a Saviour, there he doth also show himself to be a mighty God. Together with acts of grace and favour there are issued out acts of power and strength ; there is a concomitant operation of power, together with an act of pardon and grace. I find the scripture speaking of this ; he pardoneth as a strong God : Micah vii. 18, ' Who is a God like unto thee, pardoning iniquity ? ' &c. In the original, who is bi^ which signifies a strong God like unto thee : and so Junius renders it. So Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7, 'The Lord, the Lord God,' bii, the strong God, * merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.' Moses plainly alludes to it : Num. xiv. 17, 18, ' Now I beseech thee let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying. The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.' Whenever God shows grace in pardoning sin, he shows power also in subduing sin. So Ps. Ixii. 11, 'God hath spoken once ; twice have I heard this, that power belongs to God.' And presently, ver. 12, ' Also unto thee, 0 Lord, belongeth mercy.' Both these are dispensed together. Those that come to God for relief are under a double trouble — distempered affections as well as a guilty conscience ; therefore know for your comfort, mercy and power belong to God, and in the dispensation they usually go together : 2 Peter i. 3, ' According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness.' Christians, if you go to God aright, you go to him not only for life, that you may be respited from destruction, but for godliness ; not only for acts of grace, but for acts of power ; as wrath and power are suited to the reprobate, so mercy and power to the godly.
6. To show that Christ is not only a desirable friend, but a dreadful
VeK. 13.] SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. 233
adversary. You must close with him as a Saviour, or else you shall find him to your cost to be a mighty God. You must submit to him or be destroyed ; you must accept of mercy or feel the power of his wrath. And thus in scripture Christ is represented with a golden sceptre and with an iron mace, to dash his enemies in pieces like a potter's vessel. You must touch his golden sceptre, or feel the weight of his iron rod. He that saveth can punish, and crush as well as com- fort. Again, we read of a banner of love and of a flying roll of curses ; and therefore, as there is mercy and sweetness in Christ, so he is represented as a dreadful adversary. Usually we presume on God's mercy and fear man's power, but this should not be so. Oh ! observe the counsel the Lord gives : Isa. xxvii. 5, ' Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me.' Blessed God ! who is able to grapple and deal with thee in thy strength ? but we overcome by yielding. Let us humble ourselves betimes ; that is taking hold of his strength, and making power our friend. It is an allusion, not to a wrestler, for so how can our hands be strong and our hearts endure in the day he shall deal with us ? but to a suppliant ; when a parent or master is ready to strike, the child takes hold of his arm, and seeks terms of peace, and entreats him to pacify his wrath ; so saith the Lord, Make strength your friend, then his power, which otherwise would be your enemy is engaged to you.