* A noccssitalibiis mcis libera me Domine. — Auff [tistine]. t ' If .... ill us,' added in B. J ' Yet,' in A.
AND SMOKING FLAX. 71
[Chapter XVI. — Satan not to he believed, as he representeth Christ imto us.]
Since Ckrist is thus comfortably set out unto us, let us not believe Satan's representations of bim. "\^1^en we are troubled in conscience for om- sius, his manner is then to present him to the afflicted soul as a most severe judge armed with justice against us. But then let us present him to our souls, as thus oflered to our view by God himself, as holding out a sceptre of mercy, and spreading his arms to receive us. When we think of Joseph, Daniel, John the Evangehst, &c., we frame conceits of them with delight, as of mild and sweet persons ; much more when we think of Christ, we should conceive of him as a mirror of all meekness. If the sweetness of all flowers were in one, how sweet must that flower needs be ? In Christ all perfec- tions of mercy and love meet ; how great then must that mercy be that lodgeth in so gracious a heart ? whatsoever tenderness is scattered in hus- band, father, brother, head, all is but a beam from him, it is in him in the most eminent manner. We are weak, but we are his ; we are deformed, but yet carry his image upon us. A father looks not so much at the blemishes of his child, as at his own natm-e in him ; so Christ finds matter of love from that which is his own in us. He sees his own nature in us : we are diseased, but yet his members. Who ever neglected his own mem- bers because they were sick or weak ? none ever hated his ovra flesh. Can the head forget the members ? can Christ forget himself ? we are his fulness, as he is ours. He was love itself clothed with man's nature, which he united so near to himself, that he might communicate his goodness the more freely unto us ; and took not our nature when it was at the best, but when it was abased, with all natural and common infirmities it was subject unto. Let us therefore abhor all suspicious thoughts, as either cast in or cherished by that damned spuit, who as he laboured to divide between the Father and the Son by jealousies, ' If thou be the Son of God,' &c., Matt, iv. 6, so his daily study is, to divide betwixt the Son and us, by breeding mispersuasions in us of Christ, as if there were not such tender love in him to such as we are. It was his art from the beginning to discredit God with man, by calling God's love into question, with our first father Adam ; his success then makes him ready at that weapon still.
Object. But for all this, I feel not Christ so to me, saith the smoking flax, but rather the clean contrary ; he seemeth to be an enemy imto me, I see and feel evidences of his just displeasm-e,
A)is. Christ may act the part of an enemy a little while, as Joseph did, but it is to make way for acting his own part of mercy in a more seasonable time; he cannot hold in his bowels long. He seemeth to wrestle with us, as with Jacob, but he supplies us with hidden strength, at length to get the better. Faith pulls ofi" the vizard from his face, and sees a loving heart under contrary appearances. Fides Chiisto larvam dctrahit. At first he answers the woman of Canaan crying after him not a word ; 2, Then gives her a denial ; 3, Gives an answer tending to her reproach, calling her dog, as being without the covenant ; yet she would not be so beaten ofi', for she considered the end of his coming. As his Father was never nearer him in strength to support him, than when he was fm-thest off" in sense of favour to comfort him ; so Christ is never nearer us in power to uphold us, than when he seemeth most to hide his presence from us. The influence of the Sun of righteousness pierceth deeper than his light. In such cases, whatsoever •(ilhrist's present carriage is towards us, let us oppose his nature and office
72 THE BRUISED REED
against it ; he cannot deny himself, he cannot but discharge tno office his Father hath laid upon him. We see here the Father hath undertaken that he shall not ' quench the smoking flax ;' and Christ again undertaking for us to the Father, appearing before him for us, until he presents us blame- less before him, John xvii. 6, 11. The Father hath given us to Christ, and Christ giveth us back again to the Father.
Object. This were good comfort, if I were but as smoking flax.
Ans. It is well that thy objection pincheth upon thyself, and not upon Christ ; it is well thou givest him the honour of his mercy towards others, though not to thyself : but yet do not wi'ong the w^ork of his Spirit in thy heart. Satan, as he slandereth Christ to us, so he slandereth us to our- selves. If thou beest not so much as smoking flax, then why dost thou not renounce thy interest in Christ, and disclaim the covenant of grace ? This thou darest not do. Why dost thou not give uj) thyself wholly to other con- tents ? This thy spirit will not sufier thee. Whence come these restless groanings and complaints ? lay this thy present estate, together with this office of Christ to such, and do not despise the consolation of the Almighty, nor refuse thy own mercy. Cast thyself into the arms of Christ, and if thou perishest, perish there ; if thou dost not, thou art sure to perish. If mercy be to be found anywhere, it is there.