2. Here we see the rich preparations of grace, and the disposal of all those means which conduce to our good, both natural and spiritual, both of education, acquaintance, relation, and everything else that might work for us ; to order all these circumstances of our lives, when we knew not, nor thought of any such matter. Then for spiritual helps : 2 Thes. ii. 13, 14, ' We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth : whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the Lord Jesus Christ.' It was for a while shut up in the will of God, but then it exerted itself to bring about the good intended to us ; there we see the distinguishing love of God. Election is not a taking of all, but some, passing by others ; all are not called : John xiv. 22, ' Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world ? ' Surely not effectually called : 1 Cor. i. 29, ' Not many mighty, not many noble are called.' Not those of highest abilities and esteem with men : Mat. xi. 25, ' Father, I thank thee that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent.'
3. Here we see his preventing love, which excludes all boasting or glorying in ourselves : Eph. ii. 9, ' Not of works, lest any man should boast.' It is not in the men themselves, but in the free grace and love of God, who hath given his first elective love, without all actual or foreseen worthiness in us.
4. We see his personal love to us in particular : Gal. ii. 20, ' Who loved me, and gave himself for me ; ' Eph. i. 13, ' In whom after ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.'
5. This is that love which is the ground of our solid comfort in all conditions: Luke x. 20, ' Eejoice that your names are written in heaven ; ' and whereby all things are sanctified to us, and we to God : Kom. viii. 28, ' We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and are called according to purpose.' And it is an ever- lasting love : Ps. ciii. 17, ' The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him.'
SERMON UPON MARK VII. 37.
He hath done all things ivell. — Mark vii. 37.
This is the attestation of the people to Christ's miracles. He forbad the publication of them, because he would not too openly discover himself till the resurrection ; but they were surprised with such wonder and astonishment, that they could not hold their peace. If they admire and praise, Christ forbidding them, surely we should admire and praise, Christ commanding us. That which is spoken of the miracles of Christ is true of all his actions, ' He hath done all things well/ It is a good account of all the dispensations which pass through his hands.
Doct. That the works of the Lord are all good, exceeding good.
We will consider Christ's works —
1. More limitedly and restrainedly to the matter in hand; his works in the days of his flesh, especially his miracles.
2. More largely, extending the words to all his works, of creation, redemption, and daily providence.
I. In the limited restriction, this speech may be interpreted to imply either the matter or the manner of his actions, bonum or bene. He did nothing but what was good and well.
1. Bonum, good. It was Christ's work to do good, and only good, for the life, preservation, and welfare of man: Acts x. 38, ' How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power ; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil ; for God was with him.' The whole story of his life was nothing else but a catalogue of good works. You find him everywhere going up and down upon this errand, that he might give sight to the blind, limbs to the lame, health to the sick, liberty to the possessed, life to the dead. You will find him either feeding the hungry or healing the diseased, and having compassion on them that are faint, and raising the dead.
2. Bene, well. This may be represented negatively and affirmatively. [1.] Negatively ; and so —
(1.) Not vindictively. His miracles were not such as tended to destruction, but acts of succour and relief, except blasting the barren fig-tree, and permitting the devils to enter into the herd of swine ; the one a notable emblem, and so the instruction countervailed the loss ; the other showed the devil's rage, but Christ's lenity, and his power over Satan. Of all his miracles that ever he wrought, he never wrought
SERMON UPON MAEK VII. 37. 365
any in malice and revenge. He used not his divine power to make men blind, or lame, or to kill any; no, not his worst enemies, when he could easily have done it, and might justly have done it. He rebuked his disciples when they called for fire from heaven against those that rejected his person, and showed that this furious zealotic spirit did not suit with the meekness and persuasiveness of the gospel dispensation : Luke ix. 54, 55, ' When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, as Elias did ? But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.' They con- sidered not that this spirit was unsuitable to his design and business in the world, who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them.