Prov. xxx. 3. How dull, how forgetful! Is it not stand therefore, Eph. vi. But have we strength of our own wherewithal? Do we stand on our own legs? No, certainly, Phil. iv. 1. "Stand fast in the Lord." Those are the walking parts. And what walking ability have we? The way we are to walk, is in the way of God's commandments, of righteousness, of holiness, of our duty. Alas, how weak! not only weak-sighted, eyes weak, not seeing our way, however not clearly and plainly, but weak-footed; as appears, (1.) By our aptness to stumble, even at straws. 2. We are weak in the heart-weak-hearted, Ezek. Every little thing offends, and turns us aside. xvi. 39. The heart is put for the lower region, the will and the affections. In these, it is true, there is strength, but it lies the wrong way, as wise to do evil, but to do good we have no knowledge. We are strong and stiff in choosing evil, and fast in holding it; in refusing good motions, resisting, gain-saying, loving simplicity, hating knowledge, Prov. i. but as to that which is good, how weak are we to embrace it, and hold it fast. How weak are we in spiritual combats with sin and Satan; yielding presently, overcome immediately, easily, at the first onset. What is that but weakness? Now the Lord Jesus is the strength of our heart, Ps. lxxiii. 26. 3. We are weak in the hands-weak-handed. The hand is the part that we receive with, if any gift offered, money, a jewel. Such a hand we must have, or we cannot be saved. Now that hand is faith. And are we strong or weak in believing? As weak as water; it is not in us to believe, till the Lord Jesus works it in us; faith is his gift. The disciples were of little faith. The hand is the part that we hold with, when we have received. Suppose a man taking hold of Christ, good hold, justifying hold, saving hold, can he keep that hold by any strength of his own? No, he cannot, but as Christ is his strength. He is weak. The hand is what we work with. We have a great deal of work to do for God, for ourselves, for the good of others; repenting work, obeying work, praying work. And are we not weak in it, not only backward to it, but awkward, untoward? And is not he our strength? I can do all things through Christ, Isa. xxxiii. 2. 4. We are weak in the back and shoulders. Those are the bearing parts; and are we strong there? Can we hold up under a heavy cross, or calamity befalling us? No, no. We sink, we droop, we faint, and that is a sign our strength is small, Prov. xxiv. 10. But if the blessed Jesus put to his helping hand, that strengthens, that upholds, Phil. i. 29. Col. i. 11. Therefore to him we must go in this case also. 5. We are weak in the feet. Those are the standing parts, that bear the weight of the body. The shoulders bear other things, but the feet bear them. Now what feet hast thou, what ability to stand? We are often called on to stand; (2.) By the slowness of our pace. Were it not for weakness, how might we rid ground in our way to heaven. (3.) By our inability to hold out. We are soon tired; we begin well, but are weary presently. This weakness is born with us, and is increased through our own default, more and more. It is growing weakness; old men become weaker and weaker;-and yet we are loth to own it, through pride of heart. III. What are the properties of this strength? 1. It is divine strength. Less than divine strength, and other than divine strength, will not do divine work. We had need of the strength of God to take hold, and to wrestle with God, and to walk with God, and to work for God, and, therefore, such is provided for us. "By his strength he had power with God," Hos. xii. 3.—not by Jacob's own strength, but Jehovah's strength. Everlasting arms were under him, enabling him to tug and wrestle with him, as he did." According to his glorious power," Col. i. 11.-not according to our own shameful weakness. Christ the power of God, 1 Cor. i. 24. Therefore, be of good comfort, thou feeble soul; God and a weak creature can do any thing. 2. It is daily strength, that is, strength that we have need of every day, and strength that is ready for us every day; "Be thou their arm every morning," Isa. xxxiii. 2. Think of this, when waking every morning. Three things are to be done every day : (1.) New temptations are to be resisted; and how else shall we be able to resist them, but in the strength of Jesus Christ? Read 1 Sam. xvii. (2.) New afflictions are to be borne. Sufficient for each day is the evil of it. We are born to trouble, and born again to trouble, but whence are we able to bear it, but in the strength of Christ? Col. i. 11. (3.) New duties are to be performed-towards God-towards our neighbours-towards our families towards ourselves. And whence are we able to do them, but in the strength of Christ? Christ is our arm in every prayer, in every thanksgiving, in every repenting act, in every believing act. Are we to give reproof, to take reproof? Strength is needful. So in the affairs of our particular calling. 3. It is inward strength. I mean not only strength in the inward man, in opposition to bodily strength, but strength arising and flowing from an inward principle. A man may be strong to do much, and suffer much, from external weights pulling and drawing, that is, from motives from without-to please men, or gain applause from men, but that is another thing from what is done by an inward principle, grace in the heart, the love of God shed abroad there, the love of Christ constraining, as the bias in the bowl, the spring in a watch. Both of them are out of sight, but both are strong and strengthening. Now inquire, Have ye this principle, can ye witness to such a drawing from within? 4. It is increasing strength. It is said of our Lord himself, that he grew in strength, Luke ii. 52. that is, as man. So do all that are his, Prov. iv. 18. They go from strength to strength, Ps. lxxxiv. 7. Job xvii. 9. Thence it is that true believers who live long are best at last. Other things weaken by age, but grace strengthens by it. 5. It is suitable strength. It is suited To persons that have it, according as their age, condition, need requires. The little finger hath not the strength of the arm, nor is it needful it should have it. So a private Christian needs not the strength of a magistrate, or minister; nor the child, or the servant, that of the master, or father, in the family. It is suited also To the work that is to be done with it. All work requires not the same measure of strength for the doing of it; one hath work of one kind, now of another. See Numb. vii. 6-8. "As thy days so shall thy strength be,” Deut. xxxiii. 25. V. What special inferences are to be drawn hence? 1. Learn what is the reason we are so weak, the ground of all our infirmities. We are Christless, Christless. Some are totally so, therefore, tossed to and fro like children, by errors, by temptation: therefore no work is done for God, or for the soul. All in partare so; we go forth in our own strength; as Peter, and you know what came of it. 2. Learn what to do that we may be strengthened. Ask it of God in the name of Jesus Christ, Ps. Ixviii. 28. Isa. xxxiii. 2. Every day in every thing. 3. Learn what to do when we have asked and received it. Use it; it is a talent. We can do more than we think we can, through Christ strengthening. 4. Learn what to do when duty is done, especially if well done; give him the glory, Ps. cxv. 1. Gal. ii. 20. 1 Cor. xv. 10. SERMON XXVI. CHRIST IS OUR SONG. Ps. cxviii. 14. The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. CHRIST, the true treasure, is certainly hid in the field of the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Psalms, yet more particularly in this psalm. Who else but he is the stone refused by the builders, and made the head-stone of the corner? v. 22. Who else 6. It is sufficient strength, 2 Cor. xii. 9. As for ourselves, we have no sufficiency of our own to any thing that is good. No matter, while there is an all-but he is here spoken of? v. 14. my strength and song, sufficiency in the grace of Christ. Therefore, fear not that any temptation, affliction, duty, will be too hard for thee, Ps. xxiii. 4. IV. How is this strength communicated to us? 1. By the immediate influences of his Spirit, Eph. iii. 16. As it is the Spirit that quickens, so it is the Spirit that strengthens. He is the soul of our souls ; as all the strength the body hath it hath from the soul, so all the strength the soul has is from the Spirit. He works all our works in us, and for us, Isa. xxvi. 12. Our mortifying work, Rom. viii. 13. our repenting work, Zech. xii. 10. our praying work, Rom. viii. 26. 2. By the ordinances. The word is strengthening both read and preached. It strengthens the head in knowledge, the heart in faith, and love, and all obedience. Is it not the same that is become our salvation? our Jesus? All true believers may as truly say it in their measure as David, he is my song. DOCT. That Jesus Christ alone is, and ought to be, the song of all true believers. Show, I. In what sense we are to understand it. II. What of Jesus Christ is it that is especially a believer's song. III. What are the properties of that song which Jesus Christ is to all true believers. IV. Make the application. I. In what sense are we to understand this, the Lord is my strength and song? To be sure, not in that sense in which Job says, "Now am I their song, yea, I am their by-word,” Job xxx. 9. Or David-" I was the song of the drunkard," Ps. lxix. 12. It is enough, and too much, The sacraments as seals are strengthening: what that he is so to unbelievers, to them that swear by a help to believing! 3. By good society. Ps. lxxxiv. 7. “ They go from strength to strength;" that is, they increase in number, and by that means in strength. his blood and wounds, as unholy things, trampling them under their feet. No; "Unto you which believe he is precious," 1 Pet. ii. 7. Believers have other thoughts of him, carry it otherwise towards him; and it is one of their best evidences that they are true | which we come to him, the hand by which we receive believers. him, the mouth by which we feed upon him. What is it that makes two one in the conjugal relation, but the mutual assent and consent each to the other? Hos. iii. 3. So it is here. (2.) The knowledge of that interest. Many have the former that have not this, and that is the reason why many, concerning whom we hope they are truly in Christ Jesus, yet do not rejoice in him as they ought. He is not their song. Their strength he is, to uphold and support them, that they sink not under their doubts and despondences, but their song he is not. The more is the pity that these two should be But it is to be understood in a three-fold sense : 1. He is the main object of their hope and trust, and ought to be so. Of this we discoursed before, from 1 Tim. i. 1.* That which is our confidence uses to be our song. If gold be our confidence, gold is our song; if our great friends are our confidence, they are our song; and so every thing else. Now a believer's great, nay only, confidence is the Lord Jesus Christ; his hope is in him, and in no other; no, not in God himself, nor in the mercy of God, nor promises out of Christ. "The Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, he also is become my salva-parted; yet sometimes it is so. Zion said, "The Lord tion," Isa. xii. 2. Are our sins to be forgiven, our performances to be accepted? His merit and righteousness alone must be our song. We must hope and trust in no other. hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me," Isa. xlix. 14. And is it any marvel, when the King of Zion himself hath said so, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Ps. xxii. 1. It thereforc concerns all true believers that have an interest in Christ, to clear up their interest to their own souls, that they may be able to say, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his," and, therefore, he is and shall be my song. (3.) Suitable walking. If we let the reins loose to sin and folly; if we suffer the world and vanities of it to encroach upon us, and to steal away our thoughts and affections, that will quickly spoil Christ's being our song, Hos. ix. 1. Joy is forbidden fruit to a back 2. He is the main subject of their praises and thanksgivings, and ought to be so. We have many occasions to sing, that is, to give thanks, upon the account of the many many mercies and deliverances vouchsafed, both public and personal, Ps. xxxii. 7. Nay, we must sing not of mercy only, but judgment also, Ps. ci. 1. Like the nightingale, even when the thorn is at our breast. But the mercy of mercies that we are to sing of, and to bless God for, is Jesus Christ, the gift of gifts, the unspeakable gift, 2 Cor. ix. 15. 3. He is the main matter of their joy and rejoic-slider, such have other work to do. It is they only ing, and ought to be so. He is the head of their joy, Ps. cxxxvii. 6. He is the gladness of their joy, Ps. xliii. 4. We may rejoice in other things: husbands are bid to live joyfully with the wife of their youth, | Eccl. ix. We must eat our bread with joy, and rejoice in the labour of our hands; but still Jesus Christ must be our chief joy. Our song must be of him, above and beyond them all: and is it so? Can we appeal to God and say, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that it is so? If we can, it is a good sign of the good work wrought in us. "We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh," Phil. iii. 3. Mark, no confidence; Jesus Christ alone is our confidence. And where is our Joy? Is it not in Christ Jesus? He that rejoices aright in Christ Jesus can find enough in him to rejoice in, in the want of other things, Hab. iii. 17, 18. Three things are requisite to the making of Jesus Christ our song, that is, the main matter of our joy and rejoicing. 1 (1.) An interest in him. Not a common interest, which all have in him as a common Saviour; but a peculiar interest, a special interest, as my Saviour: this must be supposed. Now that which gives this interest is our closing with him by faith; it is believing that makes him ours; that is the foot by • See Discourse VI. that keep conscience void of offence, that walk cir- II. What of Christ especially is a believers' song? 1. Of what Jesus Christ is in himself as to his personal excellences and perfections. It is usual to make songs, and to sing them by way of encomium, or praising, of worthy men that outshine others. They made songs of Saul, and of his valour; of David also. David himself made a song in praise of Jonathan. And have not we much more cause to make and sing songs of the blessed Jesus? Is there any like him, any in heaven, or on earth, to be compared with him? There is something in him that makes him more admirable than his being a Saviour. What is that? His perfections as God infinite, eternal, unchangeable in his being, wisdom, and power. Of these we ought to sing. His name is Michael-who is like thee, O Lord! We ought to sing of him as a Saviour, our Saviour.-So in the text-and is become my salvation. There is no need to make songs to this purpose, there are some made already; read Ps. xlv. The book of Solomon's Song is an encomium of our Solomon, read ch. v. 10, &c. 2. We ought to sing of what he is to us. You have heard in sundry particulars already, and more is yet behind. He is our foundation, our food, our root, our raiment; and should we not sing of these? | Is there not cause? 3. We ought to sing of what he hath done, and is doing, and will yet do, for us. What he hath done. He hath taken our nature upon him, and in our nature suffered and died; he hath washed us from our sins in his own blood; called us with a holy calling; begun a good work. What he is doing. Is he not ever living to make intercession for us? Is he not guiding and guarding us, enlightening and comforting us, every day? What he will do for us. He will perform the good work that he hath begun; he will come again and fetch us to himself, that where he is there we may be also. Can ye name any other to sing of, that hath done the like for you? III. What are the properties of this song? 1. He is the angels' song. They were singing songs at the beginning of time, to the praise and glory of God-creator, Job xxxviii. 7. Aye, and they were singing too in the fulness of time, Luke ii. and what was their song? It was to the praise and glory of God-redeemer, Luke ii. 13, 14. Though they could not sing, as we, Who washed us from our sins yet for our sake they sang, On earth, peace. Yea, and for their own confirmation also. So that it is no disparagement to be heard singing this song, when the blessed angels themselves sing it. Christ is their song. 2. He is the most ancient song; the song of the ancients. All the Old-Testament saints sung of him, and rejoiced in him. Abraham saw his day, and rejoiced; the patriarchs sung of him; the prophets sung of him; Isaiah especially, the evangelical prophet, read ch. v. xü. xxvi. xxvii. and lxiii. only with this difference, they sung of him as one to come, for they saw him, though it was but as through the lattices, or as through a glass darkly. 3. He is the new song. Wherever ye read of a new song in Scripture, it points at him, Ps. xxxiii. 3; xl. 3; xcvi. 1; xcviii. 1; cxlix. 1. He is the NewTestament song. Ever since his coming in the flesh all his saints have been singing of him, as of one already come; rejoicing in him, and showing forth his praises. As fast as they have been made new creatures they have learned this new song. New, that is, excellent, because when things are new they are at the best. In the night season, when others are sleeping, true believers are rejoicing in God their Redeemer, and solacing themselves in him, Ps. cxlix. 5. Cant. i. 13. Acts xvi. Paul and Silas sang at midnight. In the night of sorrow and affliction. To be able to sing then, when every thing looks sad and sorrowful round about us, is a great matter; as David, 1 Sam. xxx. 6. 5. He is their song all the week, and their song on the sabbath. We are bid to rejoice in the Lord always, every day, and they that have an interest in Christ, and know it, do so; but especially on sabbath days, Ps. cxviii. 24. Sabbath days are set apart on purpose. Ps. xcii, is entitled a Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day, v. 1—3. 6. He is their song while they live, and their song when they die. While they live, in all the turns of their lives, Ps. cxlvi. 2. And in a special manner when they come to die; upon sick-beds, and deathbeds. As it is said of the swan, that she sings sweetest when dying, so it is with many of God's people. At the death of Mr. John Janeway,* one present said, he never was in a room where God in Christ had more praises than there at that time. 7. He is their song in the world, and will be their song to eternity. What is the great employment of heaven, and what will it be for ever and ever, but to lift up God-redeemer, Rev. v. 9-13. Jesus Christ is to be our everlasting song, Isa. xxxv. 10. It is good to be found doing that now that we would be glad to be found doing hereafter-world without end. IV. Let us make the application. 1. This may serve for an examining sign, or mark of trial, whereby to know what we are as to our spiritual state and condition. We are bid to try ourselves, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. The glory of God and our own comfort depend much upon our knowing, or not knowing, of ourselves. Marks are needful for our help herein. Amongst others this; What is Jesus Christ to us? What think we of him? Hath he ever been our song? Do we rejoice in him? Do we not rejoice in other things more than in him? Have not other things more of our thoughts, desires, pursuits, joys? If yea, suspect thyself, and change thy way. Conversion is often spoken of under the notion of singing, Ps. cxxxviii. 4, 5. Isa. liv. 1. Rom. xv. 9, 10. Get acquainted with Jesus Christ. The Word reveals him to us, but the Spirit reveals him in us. Pray for that Spirit. Be learning Christ daily. Make him thy own by believing; accept of him ; close with him; let all go for him. Having done this, be often meditating what the blessings and benefits are that are made over to us New, upon the account of new occasion given, a by him, and through him-justification, adoption, new mercy received. and sanctification-and call them all thy own: Ps. 4. He is their night song, Ps. xlii. 8. Job xxxv. 10. xlviii. 11, 12. * A. D. 1667, æt. 23. See Clarke's Lives, p. 60. fol. ed. 1683. 2. Here is a word of reproof to the true believers among us, that do not make Christ their song, that are in him, but do not rejoice in him; however, not with evenness and constancy, not in that measure and degree, that they should and ought. Thou shouldst chide thyself for it, Ps. xlii, and xliii. 5. Consider It grieves the Spirit of God. It blemishes the ways of God; makes thee a stumbling-block to them that are without, like the evil spies. It is weakening to thyself. The more Christ is our song the more is our strength, Neh. viii. 10. Then search out the cause. 3. Exhortation, to all that call themselves believers. Make Christ your song, week days and sabbath days. He is worthy that you should. The gain of it will be thy own, in present comfort, in eternal recompence. "Now the Lord of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost," Rom. xv. 13. SERMON XXVII. CHRIST IS OUR HORN. LUKE i. 68, 69. Blessed be the Lord-for he hath raised up an HORN of salvation for us. THESE are the first words of the song of Zacharias, the father of John, wherein he blesses God, not for John, though John was to him a great mercy, being the son of his old age; yea, and a mercy to all Israel, being the prophet of the Highest, and the forerunner of Jesus; but for Jesus, the mercy of mercies, the universal mercy. If you ask wherein? I answer,-As a Redeemer-who hath visited and REDEEMED God the Father, by God the Son; not from corporal, but from spiritual, slavery. We have cause to bless God every day for a Redeemer. And As a horn of salvation. DOCT. That our Lord Jesus Christ is raised up of God to be a horn of salvation to all true believers. Show, I. The meaning of this-why a horn, and wherein a horn of salvation. And, II. What kind of horn of salvation Jesus Christ is—what are the properties of this horn. And, III. Make the application. I. I am to explain this-a horn of salvation. A horn hath many significations in Scripture: 1. There are horns, properly so called, wherewith beasts are armed; some with two, some, it is said, with one, as the unicorn, which hath its name from having but one horn, Ps. xxii. 20, 21. These horns are not only the beauty of the beast that hath them, but his strength also: with them he pushes, and gores, and tosses to and fro what is in his way; and it is incredible what the strength of some creatures is in their horns. 2. There are figurative horns. We read of the horns of the altar; to which the beasts were tied that were unruly when they were to be sacrificed, Ps. exviii. 27.—and to which Joab fled for refuge from the avenger of blood that was in pursuit of him, 1 Kings ii. 28. The power of wicked men, wherewith they vex and oppress their poor neighbours, is called their horn, Ps. lxxv. 4, 5, 10. The godly also have their horns, "The horns of the righteous shall be exalted," Ps. lxxv. 10.—that is, I will advance them to honour and power. It is never well with a nation or kingdom but when it is so, Prov. xi. 10. Antiochus,* that bloody enemy of the Old-Testament church, the type of the antichrist, is called in Daniel, the little horn, Dan. vii. 8, 21. 3. There is the musical horn, to blow with; either made of a beast's horn, or of some other materials framed in the likeness of a beast's horn; crooked, 1 Chron. xxv. 5. The same are elsewhere called cornets, Ps. xcviii. 5, 6. Dan. iii. 5, 15. 4. There is a vessel called a horn wherein oil was put, when David was anointed king by Samuel, 1 Sam. xvi. 1, 13. Saul was anointed with a vial of oil, a small quantity, 1 Sam. x. 1. David was anointed with a horn, that is, abundance of oil; noting the difference that was to be between them— in their gifts for government-and in the duration of their kingdom. Now which of all these is applicable to Jesus Christ? I will tell you when I shall first have told you what the salvation is. Salvation is three-fold. Temporal-from temporal enemies. Spiritual-from sin, and the world, and the devil. Eternal-in heaven, from the wrath that is to come. Neither is that all. Salvation of each sort hath more in it than rescue from evil, it includes also the presence and fruition of the contrary good. So that salvation is the main matter. When it is said of Christ that he is a horn of salvation, it means that he is the author and procurer of all good to us, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. It is he also that saves and delivers us from all evil, bodily and ghostly, present and future. Well might Zachary say, "Blessed be the Lord, for he hath raised up an horn of salvation," Ps. lxviii. 19, 20. A horn of salvation, namely, a saving horn. Other • Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria. He died, B. C. 1650, in the 12th year of his reign, and the 39th of his life. |