So mention being made of his compassionateness and fellow-suffer- ing with us, Heb. iv. 15, it is added, verse 16, that he administers X(^P'v ih ivy-aipov iSorjhiav, — seasonable gi-ace, grace for help in a time of need. This is an evidence of compassion, when, like the Samaritan, we afford seasonable help. To lament our troubles or miseries, \vith- out affording help, is to no purpose. Now, this Christ doth ; he gives ivxaipov (Boridsiav, — seasonable help. Help being a thing that regards want, is always excellent; but its coming in season jiuts a crown
' Deut. xxxii. 10; Ps. xvii. 8.
2 " En ipse capellas
Protimis soger ago; hanc etiam vix Tityi e duco," etc.
— Yirg. [Ec. i. 12.] ' " Quod frequenter in Seriptura, pastoris nomen Deus iisurpat, iiersoiuiimiuo induit, noil vulgare est teneri in iios anujris sigiiuni. Nam quuni liuniilis et ab- jecta sit loqucndi forma, singularitor erga iios affectus sit oportet, qui se nostra causa itadeuiittere non gravatur: niirum itacjue nisi turn blanda et fainiliaris invi- tatio ad eum nos alliciat." — Calvin in I's. xxiii. 1.
* Ileb. xiii. 20; 1 Pet. ii. 2'), v. 4; Ps. xxiii. 1; Zecli. xiii. 7; Isa. xl. 11; I zik. xxxiv. 23; John x. 11, \i, lO". ' Vtcu. xxxiii. 13.
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 143
upon it. A pardon to a malefactor when he is ready to be executed, is sweet and welcome. Such is the assistance given by Christ. All his saints may take this as a sure ride, both in their temptations and afflictions : — when they can want them, they shall not want relief; and when they can bear no longer, they shall be relieved, 1 Cor. x. 13.
So it is said emphatically of him, Heb. ii. 18, "In that he him- self hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." It is true, there is something in all our temptations more than was in the temptation of Christ. There is something in our- selves to take part with every temptation ; and there is enough in ourselves to Hempt us, though nothing else should appear against us. With Christ it was not so, John xiv. 30. But this is so far from taking off his compassion towards us, that, on all accounts whatever, it doth increase it; for if he will give us succour because we are tempted, the sorer our temptations are, the more ready will he be to succour us. Take some instances of Christ's giving ei/xaipov jSo^ihiav, — seasonable help in and under temptations unto sin. Now this he doth several ways : —
[1.] By keeping the soul which is liable to temptation and exposed to it, i7i a strong habitual bent against that sin that he is obnoxious to the assaults of So it was in the case of Joseph : Christ knew that Joseph's great trial, and that whereon if he had been conquered he had been undone, would lie upon the hand of his mistress tempting him to lewdness; whereupon he kept his heart in a steady frame against that sin, as his answer without the least deliberation argues. Gen. xxxix. 9. In other things, wherein he was not so deeply con- cerned, Joseph's heart was not so fortified by habitual grace; as it appears by his swearing by the ^life of Pharaoh. This is one way whereby Christ gives suitable help to his, in tenderness and comjias- sion. The saints, in the course of their lives, by the company, society, business, they are cast upon, are liable and exposed to temptations great and violent, some in one kind, some in another. Herein is Christ exceedingly kind and tender to them, in fortifying their hearts with abundance of grace as to that sin unto temptations whereunto they are most exposed ; when perhaps in other thmgs they are veiy weak, and are often surprised.
[2.] Christ sometimes, by some strong imjjulse of actual gi'ace, recovers the soul yrom the very borders of sin. So it was in the case of David, 1 Sam. xxiv. 4-6. " He was almost gone," as he speaks himself; " his feet had well-nigh slipped." The temptation was at the door of pre valency, when a mighty impulse of grace recovers him. To show his saints what they are, their own weakness and infirmity, he sometimes suffers them to go to the veiy edge and brow of the ' James i. 14, 15. ' Gen. xlii. 15.
] 44 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
hill, and then causeth them to hear a word behind them saying, "This is the right way, walk in it," — and that with power and efficacy; and so recovers them to himself.
[3.] By taking away the temptation itself, when it grows so strong and violent that the poor soul knows not what to do. This is called " deliveiing the godly out of temptation," 2 Pet. ii. 9, as a man is plucked out of the snare, and the snare left beliiud to hold another. This have I known to be the case of many, in sundiy perplexing temptations. When they have been quite weary, have tried all means of help and assistance, and have not been able to come to a comfort- able issue, on a sudden, unexpectedly, the Lord Christ, in his tender- ness and compassion, rebukes Satan, that they hear not one word more of him as to their temptation. Christ comes in in the storm, and saith, " Peace, be still."