Compassionate CHRIST. A SMALL TREATISE, Setting forth the tendernesse of Christ towards the bruised and broken in spirit.
By H. PRIME. Minister of the Gospell.
I will turne my hand upon the little ones.
I am meeke and lowly in heart.
LONDON, Printed for G. Calvert, at the black spred-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls. 1645.
The Preface.
IT is generally received that CHRIST is come in the flesh, and yet it is a little of the best that is done in the blind world, Matth. 21. to make up this Christ of any thing; But the truth is, there is no reall Christ to thee or me, untill we find his finger upon our haerts kindly breaking and [Page]bruising of them, till then we spend all upon Physitians (with her in the Gospell) and are never the better, but the worse. It is worth the while to look to this, that we erre not in our beginning for heaven and foundation for happie eternity: This Treatise tells us in a little, how the Kingdome of heaven is laid in the small, but sure beginnings of Gospell bruisings; a day of small things it is that dawns to heaven [Page]and glory, take heed it be not despised. Many men have been long in gathering of a little, and even that poore seeming little, crumbles to nothing, because Christ is not in it. Yea, not only that which is wide from Christ, but even that which is like him, if it bee not himselfe, and our touch and hand of faith handles & feels it so, vanisheth. But if it be he himselfe, his sweet Spirit inwardly enlivening, heating, [Page]and kindling his good word, outwardly breaking, melting, humbling, though it be but upon a reed or smoaking week, it being his work abideth for ever. Soule-bruisings, and soule-healings, both are from him. It is drawing towards night (everlasting night) with many a poor soule who know little, and beleeve lesse of this Divinity; where to lay the fault I know not, but sure I am, that the face of Ignorance [Page]and unbelief shall gather blacknesse at the day of Christs appearing. In fine I say but this, 2 Thes. 1.8. to be a reed shaken with the wind, that is, to be a light formall out-side professor is a very vanity, but to bee a solid sound true Christian indeed, Joh. 1.47. though but as a bruised reed, is a very hopefull and happy condition.
COMPASSIONATE CHRIST.
A bruised reed shall he not breake &c.
CHRIST having cured the wither'd hand upon the Sabbath, the Pharises were offended: His Answer, First, for curing on the Sabbath it was a good work, and it is lawfull to do good upon any day; the Sabbath only forbids sinfull and servile works. Secondly, in that he did heale and cure, he sheweth that it was his Calling, and the end of his comming in the flesh, formerly fore-told by the Prophet, Esay 42. out of which this text is taken, He shall not break a bruised reed, &c. How hard a thing it is to doe good without some exceptions, yea, for [Page 2]the best to carry themselves so but offence will be taken, as here &c. yet conscience of our duty must prevaile against all discouragements.
Here are two things in this text: 1. The condition of weake Christians, compared in this text to bruised reeds.
2. Christs carriage towards such, Hee will not break &c.
Observation singular.
That Christ is tenderly affected towards all his, especially unto such as be weak.
Proofes.
Esay 61.1, 2 3. A description of the Saints necessities. 2. Of Christs qualification for his office. Thirdly, of his accommodation of himself to their Severall conditions, made all things to all men, Esay 49.13, 14, 15. verses. So Esay 63.7.89. verses, the Church praiseth God for his kindnesse towards her, and that when shee was at the worst in the wildernesse, Christ that Angell of Gods presence, Col. 3.12, 13. Christs example is propounded.
This is further proved by severall instances.
[Page 3] 1. Christs promises and invitations, are melting promises, and invitations universally propounded, Joh. 7.37. What a melting invitation universally propounded. So Esay 54. Ho every one that thirsteth. Matth. 11.25. Come unto me all yee that are weary and &c. A melting invitation to all bruised broken spirits, labouring under the burthen of sin or sufferings.
2. His carriage was an humble carriage, the humblest soule that ever trod upon the ground, I am meek and lowly, Mat. 11.25. How humble was he towards his Disciples, then especially when he took a towell, bound it about him, tooke water, and stooped, and washed his Disciples feet, John 13. An Example of humility for them to do the meanest offices for the poorest bruised reeds belonging unto him.
How humble in his carriage was he towards the woman of Samaria, she mightily proud, and he greatly humble in his words and behaviour towards her, as that Answer of his shewes; O woman, if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, give me drink, &c. His Disciples marvelled at his carriage towards her, being such a woman, and alone.
3. Christ hath a quick sight to behold the least more or scruple that troubles any [Page 4]of his: and healing is in his very looks. So in Esay 66.2. compared with the 57.15. Thus his eye was upon Nathaniel, Joh. 1. I saw thee under the Fig-tree. So he look't upon Peter, Luke 22.6. after his deniall Christ could not come to him, nor speak to him; Peter durst not own Christ, but denied him with swearing; Christ did as he might to preserve this broken reed, this poor soule from sinking: Christ look't upon him, and Peter wept; Christ cast a loving eye upon him, or woe had been unto Peter.
4 So he hath a compassionate heart, his Soul was grieved for the misery of Israel, Iudg. 40.16. How did he lay to heart Jerusalems misery, Forty yeares before it fell out ill with them? All that then he could do for them was to pity them, and so he did, lamenting over it, Luke 19.41.
5. Hath he not a skilfull hand to make a plaister and lay it on: Consider, Luke 7. When Magdalen came into the Pharisees house, Christ had enough to do both to stop their mouths, grumbling at him for suffering such a one to come neere him; and to quiet and comfort her grieved and perplexed spirit: And therefore first addresses himselfe unto Simon, and stops his clamour against her and himself, by the [Page 5]parable of the two debters; applying of it to her, shewing that her weeping and wiping, wiping and weeping again and again, and kissing his feet, came from her love, more than he would do for him, or did since he came into his house, &c. And then with the other hand applying a plaister to her, saying, Woman, thy sins are forgiven thee; and woman thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace, Luke 7.50.
6. Christs doctrine is dropping doctrine, distilling doctrine; distilling as the dew, Dropping as the rain upon the tender grasse, Deut. 32.2. He preach't at lowest, and prayd at lowest, spake in parables to win his followers: At his first Sermon, Matth. 5. What tender droppings of the Word of Grace from his lips: beginning with blessings, Blessed are the poor in Spirit, meek, hungering, pronouncing blessings unto the beginnings of grace, poverty of spirit, hungring and thirsting, little more than privations, preceding habits of grace, or else preparations unto grace; and so along, treating of divine providence by arguments taken from Lillyes and Sparrows, as they were able to heare: So that as Luke sayes, all were affected with his ministry, all bare him witnesse, as, wondering at the gracious words which proceeded [Page 6]out of his mouth, Luke 4.22.
7. So his discipline, gentle discipline: Matth. 11.30. My yoke is easie, burthen light, easie to the spirit, though not to the flesh, or hard at first putting on, though gentle and light afterwards; and this is the yoke of obedience to Gods Commands, whose Commands are not grievous: Besides, Christ hath drawn in this yoke himselfe, he learned obedience by the things he suffered, and so must all his, all is not done at first, Peter, James, John, &c. were a long time learning conformity to this yoke.
8. He is tenderly carryed towards his when they are well and in health, Joh. 11. How familiarly conversing with Lazarus, Mary, Martha, eating, sitting, talking at times with them: how pleasant is the company of a wise, grave, godly, loving friend to us.
9 Much more when they are sicke and ill, how readily doe they come to tell Christ of Lazarus sicknesse? Lord he whom thou lovest is sick: Who but Christ to them who are sick? For this, he is compared unto the good Samaritan, Luke 10. who came to, and comforted, and tooke care for the future of the poor bruised and broken travellers good: When Priest nor Levite, neither did nor durst come [Page 7]neer him: the Priest especially: Ne Cadaveris contactu pollueretur. Beza. How speedy in rising from the grave to comfort his perplexed Disciples, Peter especially, that had both crazed his conscience and lost his office by his deniall: Go tell my disciples and Peter: And so to Thomas: Bring hither thy finger, &c. and to Mary weeping at the Sepulcher
10 Last of all, and most of all to his, when they die, as, Joh. 11. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, weeping, groaning in Spirit; all the Saints dye in Christs armes: Into thy hands I commend my spirit. So Stephen: So Luther, Thee onely O Christ have I known, have I loved, trusted, served, Into thy hands I commend my spirit.
Reasons of the point.
1. The neare relation between Christ and his: Hee is our elder brother, our kinsman, our flesh and blood, which he took into fellowship with the God-head, that he might compassionate our estate. See Heb. 2.14, 15. The best nature in heaven, and the best nature on earth united in one person.
2. He was a bruised reed himself from his infancy to his death, Herod sought to [Page 8]crush him in his cradle: See his bruisings in all the Evangelists, Esay 53.3.5. vers.
3. He was free from sin, which made him so compassionate towards all, his especially: Sin hardens the heart; Lest your hearts be hardned through &c. Self-love, pride, covetousnesse, bring a callosity upon the heart.
4. He is full of grace, and thereby sufficiently qualified for this office: Note Esay 61.1, 2, 3. Having the fulnesse of the holy Spirit, he was made fit to accommodate himself to the comfort of every distressed case; if the heart were broken, his office was to bind it up: if in captivity, he was to proclaime liberty.
5. Whither should the Saints go in their difficult cases? if Christ had no bowels, refuge may utterly fail. See Esay 63.15, 16. Abram is ignorant of us, Psalm. 44.17, 18, 19. So Paul left and forsaken of all, though not of God, 2 Tim. 1.15. 2 Tim. 4.16, 17.
6. If Christ were not thus tenderly affected, God would have none to serve him, seeing the righteous fall seven times a day. And therefore David speaks of him as of a loving Master, that will not alwayes chide, but hath the pity of a Father, Psal. 103.7, 8.13, 14. God is very careful [Page 9]not to discourage his bruised reeds: naturally Christ is thought an hard Master, as that servant falsely said, I knew that thou wert an aushere man, but nothing so, he was a foolish slothfull servant, and was glad of such an excuse to put off Christs service; but the Saints upon triall find it otherwise, being sorry they knew him and his service no sooner, not willing to change it for another: Whiter shall we go? thou hast the words of eternall life.
Application followes.
1. Admire the wisdom and goodnesse of God, that hath set such a one over his houshold so wise, so compassionate, our lot might have been under bondage all our dayes, and to have had such over us as would have rent our flesh with Scorpions, and puld out our heart out of our bodies, and after all have been sent to hell: The Lord might have set Lions and Tygers over us, but he governes his by the Lambe, Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world; Eliakim in this was a type of Christ, Esay 22.21, 22, 23, 24. this is for our holy admiration.
2. Admire the excellency of our Redeemer. [Page 10]What is thy beloved above other beloveds? My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand, none so wise as he, none so gracious, so mercifull, so compassionate to his poor afflicted bruised reeds. As their Prophet, resolves all their doubts. Clearing all the Cases out of Scriptures. As their King, subduing all their lusts, confounding all their enemies, maintaining all their liberties. As their Priest, pardoning all their sins, perfuming, mending all their prayers with his Odors, bringing them into favour with God.
3. It shewes their vilenesse that sinne against so tender a Saviour; those principally that, first, despise his Word and Ordinances; secondly, that refuse his Government, We will not have this man to reigne over us.
4. See what great dissimilitude there is betwixt Christ and men; men in place set over others, where shall wee find Christs bowels in many mens bosomes? Where is become the spirit of Elisha, when others would have had the Armies slain? His word was, Set bread and water before them, and send them to their master.
5. Christ herein is a patterne to all Governours, Masters, Ministers, Parents, &c.
[Page 11] 6. Here is comfort to all bruised reeds, from their relation they have to Christ: Their case is exceeding comfortable, though much afflicted: It is better to be a bruised reed, then a broken gilded gawdy Idoll, Jer. 22. God calleth Coniah 2 Broken Idoll, a vessell in which is no honour, though a great man, and such is all sinfull greatnesse, when under judgement: What more deformed, despised a thing than a broken Idoll? Wicked men that must be adored as Idols for their honours, greatnesse, riches, learning, parts, in the day of their visitation and destruction (comming as a Whirle-wind from God) most miserable, forlorne, and despised is their condition. Such was Coniah's case and Sauls.
7. Be exhorted to seek to Christ, all you that are his, though much afflicted and tossed, Psal. 132. Lord remember &c. In all thy breakings and bruisings, seek to him; for bruisings may come like waves very thick; There are the devils bruisings, the worlds bruisings, and Christs bruisings: The devils bruisings, are the bruisings of sinne: The worlds are the bruisings of sufferings, losses and crosses: Christs bruisings are the bruisings of repentance [Page 12]and godly sorrow for sinne in all have recourse to Christ.
The devils bruisings, are the bruisings of sinne, such were Davids, and Peters bruisings, Psal. 51. Psal. 32. Luke 19. both sifted, and both bruised.
The worlds bruisings, are the bruises of losses and crosses; such were Jobs bruisings, in his Children, Cattell, houses, &c.
Christs bruisings, are the bruisings of godly sorrow and repentance for sinne: Such were Marics, Luke 7. Such the Prodigals, such the Publicans.
Thou mayest pray, and yet be bruised, and yet thou must pray still: Thou mayest heare, and yet be bruised (as there) and yet thou must heare still. Thou mayest come to the Sacrament, and yet be bruised, and yet thou must come to the Sacrament still: wait upon Christ.
8. Is he tenderly affected towards thee? then carry thy selfe respectively towards him: Take heed thou sin not presumptuously against mercy, tender mercy. If he do not break thee, take heed that thou do not grieve him: When God sent his Angell in mercy before Israel, his warning was, Take heed thou provoke [Page 13]him not. Exod. 23.21, 22. So Exod. 34.7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving, &c. but by no meanes clearing the guilty. If we run upon the Score with so gracious a God; who shall cleare it? This was the Aggravation of David's sin; it was against Gods great kindnesse, 2 Sam. 12. God takes it unkindly when men forget his benefits; which David prayes against, Psal. 103.3.
9. This is for comfort to these bruised reeds; Is Christ so tender? Then shall they want nothing good for them.
1. No Compassion, Lament. 3.23. his Compassions faile not; Sun may faile of light, and Moon and Stars, and the waters of the great deep may be dried up, friends may faile you, yea, life it selfe; but Gods Compassions in Christ faile not.
2. They shall not want Instruction, God will teach the humble, Psalm. 25.80. Esay 50.4.
3. Not Correction: A thing which no Son can be without, Hebr. 12. Amos 3.2. Jer. 46.28.
4. Not Protection, Matth. 12.2. He will not break them, saith Matthew here, but he will blesse them, be their bulwark, strong tower, fortresse, rock, Psal. 18.1.
[Page 14] 5. Not Direction, 1 Sam. 2.9. Hee keepeth the feet, &c. He guideth and directeth them in their way, even then when they tread upon the Lion, and Adder, and walk in the middest of snares.
6. Not Consolations, They may want Corne, and Wine, but the light of Gods countenance, putteth joy into their hearts, Psal. 4.6, 7. verses