The main scope of all, is, to aUm-e us to the entertainment of Christ's mUd, safe, wise, victorious government, and to leave men naked of all pre- tences, why they will not have Christ to rule over them, when we see sal- vation not only strongly wrought, but sweetly dispensed by him. His government is not for his own pleasure, but for our good. We are saved by a way of love, that love might be kindled by this way in us to God again ; because this affection melteth the soul, and mouldeth it to all duty and acceptable manner of performance of duty. It is love in duties that God regards, more than duties themselves. This is the true and evangelical disposition arising from Christ's love to us, and our love to him again ; and not to fear to come to him, as if we were to take an elephant by the tooth. It is almost a fundamental mistake, to think that God delights in slavish fears, whenas the fruits of Christ's kingdom are peace and joy in the Holy Ghost : for from this mistake come weak, slavish, superstitious conceits.
Two things trouble the peace of Christians very much (1), then* weak- nesses hanging upon them, and (2) fear of holding out for time to come. A remedy against both is in this text, for Christ is set out hero as a mild Saviour to weak ones ; and, for time to come, his powerful care and love is never interrupted, until he bring forth judgment to \dctory. And there- upon it is that both the means of salvation and grace wrought by means, and glory the perfection of grace, come all under one name of the kingdom OF God so oft ; because whom by means he brings to grace, he will by gi'ace bring to glory.
This makes * the thoughts of the latter judgment comfortable unto us, that ho who is then to be our judge, cannot but judge for them who have been ruled by him here ; for whom he guides by his counsel, those he * ' Maketh,' in A and B.
TO THE CHRISTLVN READER. 41
brings to glory, Ps. Ixxiii. 24. If our faith were but as firm as our state in Christ is secure and glorious, what manner of men should we be ?
If I had gone about to affect writing in a high strain, I should have missed of mine end, and crossed the argument in hand. For shall we that are servants quench those weak sparks which our Lord himself is pleased to cherish ? I had rather hazard the censure of some, than hinder the good of others ; which, if it be any ways furthered by these few observations, I have what I aimed at. I intended not a treatise, but opening of a text ; what I shall be drawn to do in this kind must be by degrees, as leisure in the midst of many interruptions will permit : the Lord guide our hearts, tongues, and pens for his glory and the good of his people.
RICHAED SIBBES.
♦
I
THE BRUISED REED AND SMOKING FLAX.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. — Matt. xii. 20.
[Chaptee I. — The Text opened and divided. What the Reed is, and what
the Bruising.]
The prophet Isaiah being Ufted up, and carried with the wing of propheti- cal spirit, passeth over all the time between him and the appearing of Jesus Christ in the flesh, and seeth with the eye of prophecy, and with the eye of faith, Christ as present, and presenteth him, in the name of God, to the spiritual eye of others, in these words : ' Behold my servant whom I have chosen,' &c., Isa. sliii. 10. Which place is alleged by Saint Matthew as fulfilled now in Chiist, Matt. xii. 18. Wherein is propounded — ■
Fu'st, the calling of Christ to his office.
Secondly, the execution of it.
I. For his calling : God styleth him here his righteous servant, &c. Christ was God's servant in the greatest piece of service that ever was ; a chosen, and a choice servant : he did and suffered all by commission from the Father : wherein we may see the sweet love of God to us, that counts the work of our salvation by Christ his greatest ser\dce ; and that he wiU put his only beloved Son to that service. He might well prefix Behold, to raise up our thoughts to the highest pitch of attention and admiration. In time of temptation, misgiving consciences look so much to the present trouble they are in, that they need be roused up to behold him in whom thoy may find rest for their distressed souls. In temptations it is safest to behold nothing but Christ the true brazen serpent, the true Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, John i. 29. This saving object hath a special influence of comfort into the soul, especially if we look not only on Christ, but upon the Father's authority and love in him. For in all that Christ did and suftered as Mediator, wo must see God in him recon- ciling the world unto himself, 2 Cor. v. 19.