1. I look at the mind of Christ, at his judgment, will, affections; such as love, joy, delight, and the rest; and especially at the compassions of Jesus Christ. O the dear affections, and compassions which Christ had towards the sons of men! this was his errand from Heaven, and while he was upon the earth he was ever acting it, I mean his pitifulness,1 I mean his affections, and compassion in healing broken hearts; so the Psalmist, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds; it is spoken after the manner of a Chirurgeon, he had a tender heart towards all broken hearts; he endeavoured to put all broken bones into their native place again; nor speak I thus only of him in respect of his office; but as he was man, he had in him such a mind, that he could not but compassionate all in misery; O what bowels! what stirrings, and boilings, and wrestlings of a pained heart, touched with sorrow, was ever, upon occasion, in Jesus Christ?2 peruse these texts, and Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and he was moved with compassion towards them, and he healed their sick.—And Jesus when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion towards them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd.3—And there came a leper to him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, and Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean.—Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, 4and said, I have compassion on the multitude. And for the two blind men that cried out, Have mercy on us O Lord, thou son of David, 5it is said, that Jesus stood still,—and he had compassion on them, and touched their eyes. And the poor prodigal returning, When he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. How sweet is this last Instance! that our sense of sinful weakness, should be sorrow and pain to the bowels and heart of Jesus Christ! you that are Parents of young Children, let me put the case; if some of you standing in the relation of a Father, should see his Child sweat, and wrestle under an over-load, till his back were almost broken, and that you should hear him cry, Oh I am gone, I faint, I sink, I dye; would not your bowels be moved to pity? and would not your hands be stretched out to help?
1. I look at the mind of Christ, at his judgment, will, affections; such as love, joy, delight, and the rest; and especially at the compassions of Jesus Christ. O the dear affections, and compassions which Christ had towards the sons of men! this was his errand from Heaven, and while he was upon the earth he was ever acting it, I mean his pitifulness,1 I mean his affections, and compassion in healing broken hearts; so the Psalmist, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds; it is spoken after the manner of a Chirurgion, he had a tender heart towards all broken hearts; he endeavoured to put all broken bones into their native place again; nor speak I thus only of him in respect of his office; but as he was man, he had in him such a mind, that he could not but compassionate all in misery; O what bowels! what stirrings, and boylings, and wrestlings of a pained heart, touched with sorrow, was ever, upon occasion, in Jesus Christ?2 peruse these texts, and Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and he was moved with compassion towards them, and he healed their sick.—And Jesus when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion towards them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd.3—And there came a leper to him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, and Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean.—Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, 4and said, I have compassion on the multitude. And for the two blind men that cried out, Have mercy on us O Lord, thou son of David, 5it is said, that Jesus stood still,—and he had compassion on them, and touched their eyes. And the poor prodigal returning, When he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. How sweet is this last Instance! that our sense of sinful weakness, should be sorrow and pain to the bowels and heart of Jesus Christ! you that are Parents of young Children, let me put the case; if some of you standing in the relation of a Father, should see his Child sweat, and wrestle under an over-load, till his back were almost broken, and that you should hear him cry, Oh I am gone, I faint, I sinck, I dye; would not your bowels be moved to pity? and would not your hands be stretched out to help?
- 1Luke 4.18. Psal. 147.3.
- 2Matth. 14.1. Mark 6.34.
- 3Mark 1.40, 41.
- 4Mat. 15.32.
- 5Matth. 20.34. Luke 15.20.
