Compassionate CHRIST. A SMALL TREATISE, Setting forth the tenderness of Christ towards the bruised and broken in spirit. By H. PRIME. Minister of the Gospel. ZACH. 13.7. I will turn my hand upon the little ones. MATTH. 11.29. I am meek and lowly in heart. LONDON, Printed for G. Calvert, at the black spread-eagle at the West-end of Paul's. 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 real Christ to thee or me, until we find his finger upon our haerts kindly breaking and bruising of them, till than we spend all upon Physicians (with her in the Gospel) and are never the better, but the worse. It is worth the while to look to this, that we err not in our beginning for heaven and foundation for happy eternity: This Treatise tells us in a little, how the Kingdom of heaven is laid in the small, but sure beginnings of Gospel bruisings; a day of small things it is that dawns to heaven and glory, take heed it be not despised. Many men have been long in gathering of a little, and even that poor 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 be not himself, and our touch and hand of faith handles & feels it so, vanisheth. But if it be he himself, his sweet Spirit inwardly enlivening, heating, and kindling his good word, outwardly breaking, melting, humbling, though it be but upon a reed or smoking 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 soul who know little, and believe less of this Divinity; where to lay the fault I know not, but sure I am, that the face of Ignorance and unbelief shall gather blackness at the day of Christ's 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 formal outside professor is a very vanity, but to be a solid sound true Christian indeed, Joh. 1.47. though but as a bruised reed, is a very hopeful and happy condition. COMPASSIONATE CHRIST. MATTH. 12.20. A bruised reed shall he not break etc. CHRIST having cured the withered hand upon the Sabbath, the Pharises were offended: His Answer, First, for curing on the Sabbath it was a good work, and it is lawful to do good upon any day; the Sabbath only forbids sinful and servile works. Secondly, in that he did heal and cure, he showeth that it was his Calling, and the end of his coming in the flesh, formerly foretell by the Prophet, Esay 42. out of which this text is taken, He shall not break a bruised reed, etc. How hard a thing it is to do good without some exceptions, yea, for the best to carry themselves so but offence will be taken, as here etc. yet conscience of our duty must prevail against all discouragements. Here are two things in this text: 1. The condition of weak Christians, compared in this text to bruised reeds. 2. Christ's carriage towards such, He will not break etc. Observation singular. That Christ is tenderly affected towards all his, especially unto such as be weak. Proofs. Esay 61.1, 2 3. A description of the Saints necessities. 2. Of Christ's qualification for his office. Thirdly, of his accommodation of himself to their Several 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 kindness towards her, and that when she was at the worst in the wilderness, Christ that Angel of God's presence, Col. 3.12, 13. Christ's example is propounded. This is further proved by several instances. 1. Christ's 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 ye that are weary and etc. A melting invitation to all bruised broken spirits, labouring under the burden of sin or sufferings. 2. His carriage was an humble carriage, the humblest soul 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 towel, bond it about him, took 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 shows; O woman, if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, give me drink, etc. 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 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 Figtree. So he looked upon Peter, Luke 22.6. after his denial 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 soul from sinking: Christ looked 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, judg. 40.16. How did he lay to heart Jerusalem's misery, Forty years 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 skilful hand to make a plaster 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 near him; and to quiet and comfort her grieved and perplexed spirit: And therefore first addresses himself unto Simon, and stops his clamour against her and himself, by the parable of the two debtors; applying of it to her, showing 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, etc. And then with the other hand applying a plaster to her, saying, Woman, thy sins are forgiven thee; and woman thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace, Luke 7.50. 6. Christ's doctrine is dropping doctrine, distilling doctrine; distilling as the dew, Dropping as the rain upon the tender grass, Deut. 32.2. He preached at lowest, and prayed at lowest, spoke 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, hungering 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 hear: So that as Luke says, all were affected with his ministry, all bore him witness, as, wondering at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, Luke 4.22. 7. So his discipline, gentle discipline: Matth. 11.30. My yoke is easy, burden light, easy 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 God's Commands, whose Commands are not grievous: Besides, Christ hath drawn in this yoke himself, he learned obedience by the things he suffered, and so must all his, all is not done at first, Peter, James, John, etc. were a long time learning conformity to this yoke. 8. He is tenderly carried 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 sick and ill, how readily do they come to tell Christ of Lazarus sickness? 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 took care for the future of the poor bruised and broken travellers good: When Priest nor Levite, neither did nor durst come near 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 denial: Go tell my disciples and Peter: And so to Thomas: Bring hither thy finger, etc. and to Mary weeping at the Sepulchre 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 die in Christ's arms: Into thy hands I commend my spirit. So Stephen: So Luther, Thee only O Christ have I known, have I loved, trusted, served, Into thy hands I commend my spirit. Reasons of the point. 1. The near relation between Christ and his: He is our elder brother, our kinsman, our flesh and blood, which he took into fellowship with the Godhead, 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 crush him in his cradle: See his bruisings in all the Evangelists, Esay 53.3.5. verse. 3. He was free from sin, which made him so compassionate towards all, his especially: Sin hardens the heart; Lest your hearts be hardened through etc. Self-love, pride, covetousness, 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 fullness 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 proclaim 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 always chide, but hath the pity of a Father, Psal. 103.7, 8.13, 14. God is very careful 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 slothful servant, and was glad of such an excuse to put off Christ's service; but the Saints upon trial 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 eternal life. Application follows. 1. Admire the wisdom and goodness of God, that hath set such a one over his household so wise, so compassionate, our lot might have been under bondage all our days, and to have had such over us as would have rend our flesh with Scorpions, and pulled out our heart out of our bodies, and after all have been sent to hell: The Lord might have set Lions and Tigers over us, but he governs his by the Lamb, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins 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. What is thy beloved above other beloved's? My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand, none so wise as he, none so gracious, so merciful, 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 Odours, bringing them into favour with God. 3. It shows their vileness that sin 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 reign over us. 4. See what great dissimilitude there is betwixt Christ and men; men in place set over others, where shall we find Christ's bowels in many men's bosoms? 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 pattern to all Governors, Masters, Ministers, Parents, etc. 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, than a broken gilded gaudy Idol, Jer. 22. God calleth Coniah 2 Broken Idol, a vessel in which is no honour, though a great man, and such is all sinful greatness, when under judgement: What more deformed, despised a thing than a broken Idol? Wicked men that must be adored as Idols for their honours, greatness, riches, learning, parts, in the day of their visitation and destruction (coming as a Whirlwind from God) most miserable, forlorn, and despised is their condition. Such was Coniah's case and saul's. 7. Be exhorted to seek to Christ, all you that are his, though much afflicted and tossed, Psal. 132. Lord remember etc. In all thy break and bruisings, seek to him; for bruisings may come like waves very thick; There are the devils bruisings, the world's bruisings, and Christ's bruisings: The devils bruisings, are the bruisings of sin: The worlds are the bruisings of sufferings, losses and crosses: Christ's bruisings are the bruisings of repentance and godly sorrow for sin in all have recourse to Christ. The devils bruisings, are the bruisings of sin, such were david's, and Peter's bruisings, Psal. 51. Psal. 32. Luke 19 both sifted, and both bruised. The world's bruisings, are the bruises of losses and crosses; such were Jobs bruisings, in his Children, Cattles, houses, etc. Christ's bruisings, are the bruisings of godly sorrow and repentance for sin: 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 hear, and yet be bruised (as there) and yet thou must hear 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 thyself 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 Angel in mercy before Israel, his warning was, Take heed thou provoke him not. Exod. 23.21, 22. So Exod. 34.7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving, etc. but by no means clearing the guilty. If we run upon the Score with so gracious a God; who shall clear it? This was the Aggravation of David's sin; it was against God's great kindness, 2 Sam. 12. God takes it unkindly when men forget his benefits; which David prays 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 fail not; Sun may fail of light, and Moon and Stars, and the waters of the great deep may be dried up, friends may fail you, yea, life itself; but God's Compassions in Christ fail 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 bless them, be their bulwark, strong tower, fortress, rock, Psal. 18.1. 5. Not Direction, 1 Sam. 2.9. He keepeth the feet, etc. He guideth and directeth them in their way, even then when they tread upon the Lion, and Adder, and walk in the midst of snares. 6. Not Consolations, They may want Corn, and Wine, but the light of God's countenance, putteth joy into their hearts, Psal. 4.6, 7. verses FINIS.