The Apostles were so dignified, as to be called the Pillars of the world; but these left him, and yet for all that in this time of their desertion of him, go tell my brethren. Therefore be not discouraged, go to Christ in our 1worst condition, in our greatest temptations, when our hearts misgive us most, that we have used God most unkindly, and Satan plied us most with desperate temptations, yet own him for our brother, who owned his Disciples, when they dealt most unkindly with him. I beseech you count it a comfort unvaluable, which no tongue is able to express, that ⟨p. 51⟩Christ after his Resurrection, should call brethren. He might well call them brethren after the Resurrection, because then all debts were discharged by his death. He had paid their debts, and now the acquittance was due to them, because Christ, as surety, had paid all. Now I am risen, go, and tell my brethren so. If we can make use of the death and Resurrection of Christ, and say, Christ hath dyed for my sins, and rose again for my justification, I will interest my self in his death, I will claim the virtue of his Resurrection, then take the comfort of this. In Popery they had much comfort in those dark times, when a Company of proud carnal beastly men ruled the roast according to their own lusts, these Clergymen made a great pother with fraternity and brotherhood. And if they were of such a fraternity of 2Dominick or Francis, or merely in a Friars Coal; it was not only satisfactory, but meritorious, they could not do amiss, away with these shadows. Here is the brotherhood that must comfort Christians, that Christ owned us for brethren after his Resurrection. ⟨p. 52⟩He paid dear for it, alas, are we worth so much, that God should become man to die for us, to rise again for us, to justify us, and make us brethren? That infinite love, that God became man, and dyed for us, and rose again to own us for his brethren, will satisfy all doubts. Shall we doubt any thing of that love, when he out of his free love, will own us as brethren, shall not we own him? I confess it is a marvellous thing, in times of temptation it is difficult to make use of it. Oh, but pray with the good Apostle, Lord increase our faith; with the poor man in the Gospel, I 3believe, Lord help my unbelief. So when any temptation cometh for our 4unworthiness, and our undeserving:
The Apostles were so dignified, as to be called the Pillars of the world; but these left him, and yet for all that in this time of their desertion of him, go tell my brethren. Therefore be not discouraged, go to Christ in our 1worst condition, in our greatest temptations, when our hearts misgive us most, that we have used God most unkindly, and Satan ply'd us most with desperate temptations, yet own him for our brother, who owned his Disciples, when they dealt most unkindly with him. I beseech you count it a comfort unvaluable, which no tongue is able to express, that ⟨p. 51⟩Christ after his Resurrection, should call brethren. He might well call them brethren after the Resurrection, because then all debts were discharged by his death. He had paid their debts, and now the acquittance was due to them, because Christ, as surety, had payd all. Now I am risen, go, and tell my brethren so. If we can make use of the death and Resurrection of Christ, and say, Christ hath dyed for my sins, and rose again for my justification, I will interest my self in his death, I will claim the vertue of his Resurrection, then take the comfort of this. In Popery they had much comfort in those dark times, when a Company of proud carnall beastly men ruled the roast according to their own lusts, these Clergymen made a great pother with fraternity and brotherhood. And if they were of such a fraternity of 2Dominick or Francis, or meerly in a Fryars Coule; it was not only satisfactory, but meritorious, they could not do amisse, away with these shadows. Here is the brotherhood that must comfort Christians, that Christ owned us for brethren after his Resurrection. ⟨p. 52⟩He payd dear for it, alas, are we worth so much, that God should become man to die for us, to rise again for us, to justifie us, and make us brethren? That infinite love, that God became man, and dyed for us, and rose again to own us for his brethren, will satisfie all doubts. Shall we doubt any thing of that love, when he out of his free love, will own us as brethren, shall not we own him? I confesse it is a marvellous thing, in times of temptation it is difficult to make use of it. Oh, but pray with the good Apostle, Lord increase our faith; with the poor man in the Gospel, I 3believe, Lord help my unbelief. So when any temptation cometh for our 4
- 1Tentatio, est ad Christum eundi opportunitas, ut nobis succurrat.
- 2Vanity of Popery & Popish Orders.
- 3Mark 9. 24
- 4Reliance on Christs comforts.Relyance on Christs comforts.
