the cud, and divide the hoof.15 Christ saith of Mary that heard the word, Mury hath chosen the good part: Hearing is but a part. When the Prophet speaks of the Testimonies of God's Law, he addeth this, In custodiendo merces magna, in keeping of them there is great reward.16 He doth not say, in audiendo, in only hearing. The promises of salvation in holy Scriptures are not so much laid forth to the hearers, as to the doers of the will of God their heavenly Father. It was his own practice, who was the natural son of God: It ought to be ours, who are the Sons of God by grace, to do the will of our Father which is in heaven. For as he joined in one, doing and teaching, so should we believing and following; that so a right faith and a Christian life, which are as it were coupled together, we should in no case sever: You know these things, happy are you if ye do them. Whatsoever we profess, we must not think to come to Heaven by doing nothing worthy of our Christian calling. It is true, saith Saint Bernard," of good works, they are not causa regnandi the cause of reigning, yet are they, via ad regnum, the way to the Kingdom. Wherefore let us walk in this way, after the example of him who hath said unto us all, Ego sum via, I am the way. 15 Lev. 11.4, 5. CHAPTER XII. What we learn by Christ's example in visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and curing all that came unto him. W HETHER it were to behold our Saviour's miracles as the people came, John vi. 2, Or to be cured of their corporal maladies, as the multitude, Luke ix. 17, Or of desire to commune with him, as Nicodemus, John iii. 2, Or of an affection to see him, of whom so great fame went abroad, as Zaccheus came, Luke xix. 3, Whether for those causes or any other, so it was, that a company of people altogether came flocking after our Saviour in great abundance. As when some skilful Physician repaireth to any populous City, the diseased of all other draw unto him: So came they unto Christ, who was able not only to cure their sick bodies, but even to raise to life again their sick, yea their dead souls to the life of grace: Showing that he would not the death of a sinner, that came to die for sinners. 2. Ancient and later Records1 make mention of an Epistle sent by Lentulus the Proconsul unto the States and Senate of Rome, in which he tells them of one Jesus, who appeared in Jewry, going about doing good, and healing all of what infirmity soever they were taken. Julian the Apostate himself confessed thus much of him. Indeed, saith he, He cured 1 Magdeb. Cent. 1. certain blind men, and recovered some few that were diseased in body: Yea Julian, and that was enough to have made thee see him to be the Son of God, hadst thou not been obstinately blind. For was it ever heard since the beginning of the world, that any gave sight unto men born blind,2 except Christ the Redeemer of the world? The great power he showed in healing only by his Word, the diseases of the body might have moved thee to believe on him3 for the health and welfare of thy soul. See him, Julian, doing such works, and if for no other cause, yet believe him for his works' sake. The Centurion had authority over his Soldiers, If he said to one, go, he goeth, to another, come, he came : Christ's authority was as absolute over all Diseases: if he said go, they departed, if come, they obeyed, but chiefly was he wont to command them to depart: And not only diseases, but even his authority was the same over the devils themselves, whom he cast out, bringing many tormented creatures into their right minds again. 3. Well did our Saviour Christ compare himself unto a Physician, for so was he indeed; there was no disease so desperate but he could salve it. He wrought many cures, but when he cured the soul of man, He wrought a cure indeed, for the effecting whereof, he used divers kinds of medicines which he took himself. The first, by Diet, when he fasted forty days and forty nights. The second, by Electuary, when he gave to sickly souls his most precious body and blood in his last sup 2 John. 9. 31. 5 Mat. 9. 12. 3 John 14. 11. 4 Mat. 8. 9. 8 per. The third by sweat, at his agony in the Garden. The fourth by Piaster, when his face was spitted on by the Jews." The fifth, by Potion, when he tasted Vinegar mixed with Gall. The sixth, by letting of blood, when his hands and feet were pierced :" Yea, when his heart-vein was stricken, his side gored with the Spear.12 Here was a cure of all cures, which all the Galenists in the world may admire with reverence, and become his Patients, who was such a Physician of souls. A strange kind of prescription it was he enjoined some of his patients, Behold, thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.13 This is the good Diet for the time to come which the cured must use, because the relapse is wont to prove dangerous unto Death. 4. But to consider a little farther Christ's taking pity and compassion upon the miserable when some earthly King will visit his Subjects, and people under him, they all by way of gratulation bring him presents, and offer the best gifts they can devise: But when the King of heaven came to visit his people, they bring him in beds, say the Evangelists, all that were diseased :14 those were all Christ's presents, and he took them in good part too, when they were presented unto him. It is said of David (who was a pitiful Prince) that all who were indebted, distressed, or of a sorrowful mind, they came unto him.15 When we come unto Christ, we come unto him to whom 7 Mat. 26. 26. 10 John 19. 29. 13 John 5. 34. 15 1 Sam. 22. 2. 8 Luke 22. 42. 9 Mat. 15. 16. 12 John 10. 34. 14 Mark 2. 4. Mat. 9. 2. Luke 5. 19. 19 David himself came when he was distressed. The blind man threw off his sorry cloak to run to Christ.16 The Centurion comes for his sick servant: 17 It was a thing commendable, to have a care of his servant in the time of his sickness. A man that was deaf and dumb is brought unto him, Christ openeth his ears, looseth his tongue, 18 showing him the best use thereof, Go and give glory unto God. When the Leper came unto him, and said, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean: Why Leper? Hadst thou come near any of the Pharisees, there was no other to be looked for, but away, be gone Leper, thou mayest not approach towards the Congregation, I will in no case touch thee: Leper, thou art unclean. What doth Christ? He gently stretcheth out his hand, which was liberality against the covetous, which was humility against the proud, which was pity against the envious, and last of all, power against the incredulous. When the Physician recovers the sick, who hath the benefit, the sick party or the Physician? The Centurion thought Christ's word was enough: Both how able and willing he was to do good, we may see, in that when the sick were not able to come unto him, he went himself to visit them, as he did to Peter's wife's mother, and the Ruler's daughter.20 5. Amongst other works of mercy, his delivering those who were possessed of Devils,21 was most admirable, and none knew the benefit thereof better than those who were partakers 16 Mar. 10. 50. 17 Luke 7. 6. 18 Mar. 7. 34. 20 Mat. 8. 14. Mat. 9. 25. 19 Mar. 1. 40. Mat. 8. 2. 21 Mar. 5. 8. G |