and therefore was ashamed to go unto him, yet at last he comes and makes his moan unto him: This friend had no sooner heard the case of this miserable distressed man, but forthwith he goes and maketh full satisfaction and account in his own person for all the debt.

The first of these three friends is the World, which hath so many to pleasure, as the distressed sinner finds little comfort, if at any time he crave help of it. The second friend is the Law of God, which will rather speak against him than for him. The third is our Lord Jesus, the surest friend of all, whose love is more dear unto us than heart can conceive this is the friend that will stand by us, when all fail us, and should we not therefore forsake all for his sake? Should we with Demas follow the world because it hath a little more pleasure than Paul? No, Saint Paul's Crown of glory will make amends for all, if with Saint Paul we keep the faith, and fight a good fight, 2 Tim. 4. 10.

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6. What should possess our hearts wholly rather than the love of Christ? To whom should we resign our hearts, but unto him? Yea, what have we to give him but our hearts? Eschines a poor student saw many of his school fellows bring presents to Socrates their Master, he came saying, Sir, I have nothing to give, lo I give myself: because said Socrates, thou dost give thyself, thou shalt not lose thyself, but receive thyself bettered by instruction. So if we give ourselves to Christ, we shall receive ourselves bettered.

The soul is as a house possessed of a Tenant, which is the love of God: when the desire

of earthly things doth come, there is no room, the house is taken up before. Wayfaring men when they see the Inn full, they pass along : wandering desires when they see our hearts full of the love of God, away they go.

CHAPTER XXII.

What we learn by Christ's many Miracles mentioned in the Gospel.

L

IKE as for sundry other good and godly respects, the life of Christ may

well be compared unto a Book, whereupon we may often read, and meditate both for the strengthening of our faith, and also for the instruction of our Christian lives; so especially in respect of his miracles mentioned in the Gospel. On whom may we more firmly fix our faith and hope than on him, who by his wonderful miracles showed openly he could do all things again, how profitable and how pleasant a thing it is to have Christ our Saviour's miracles in remembrance, that of the Spouse in the Canticles doth show, My Spouse is as a bundle of Myrrh; what is this bundle but the odoriferous life of the Son of God? What are those divine miracles of his but as sweet perfumes much refreshing our minds: for if for no other, yet for this cause, that we might learn to know him to be the true Messias, which was sent into the world, Christ confirmed his heavenly doctrine by many heavenly deeds, that those whom his teaching

could not move, at least his Divine working might compel to confess him to be God.

The people were content to hear his Sermons, so they might see his Miracles, and Christ was content they should see his miracles, so they would hear his Sermons. If I do not the works of my father, saith he, believe me not: If I do them, though ye believe not me, yet believe me for my work's sake. The works which I do testify of me. By which we may gather, whereunto tended the miracles of the Son of God, even unto the strengthening of our faith.

To manifest that he had power in earth to forgive sins, he saith unto the sick of the palsy, no more but this, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee, calling a poor miserable sinner son, and bidding him be of good comfort.

To confirm that he indeed was the bread of life, he feeds a great multitude with five barley loaves and two fishes. To show that he had authority over Sea and Land, he commands the waters and they obey him.3 To make his power known over the power of darkness, he chargeth foul spirits, who had taken up their dens in many distressed creatures, to come forth from them, and to depart. To show that he was the resurrection and the life, he raised Lazarus from death. The Magicians of Egypt did some wonders before Pharaoh, but they came not near to Moses's doings, they were only slender illusions, yet Moses's miracles came far behind those of our Saviour, they were so many, they were so wonderful, as none but God could effect them.

2. So then, this order did our Saviour Christ observe, that from doctrine, he proceeded to show miracles, that if his words could not prevail, yet his works might. By which works it was evident how willing he was to heal our infirmities, and hov able to help all that still call upon him. To this end therefore in the second place serve his miracles, to show his power, that he was GOD, and that there is no disease so desperate, which he by his only word cannot cure and in the third place also they serve to show his goodness, that there is none so miserable whom he will exclude.

Jehosaphat the King, when he was at a great straight, and knew not what to do, at least he resolved upon this; Ask counsel of the Lord I pray thee," saith he, as if he should say, I will go seek help of God. When we know not what to do, or which way to turn us for help, we may resolve upon this, we will go to CHRIST, he was merciful on earth, and showed mercy by many miracles in helping all that came unto him; and he is still the same, ready to show mercy unto all that come unto him.

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3. And now observe we the manner of his working Miracles: at one time he speaketh the word only: 6 at another he toucheth the diseased: sometimes he cures in presence, another time being far absent. In some he is lifting up his eyes to heaven, in others he prayeth openly, all which want not a mystery, and appertain as well to instruction of our faith, as the direction of our Christian lives,

5 1 Kings 22. 5.
7 Mat. 9. 25.

6 Mat. 8. 13.

8 Mar. 7. 36.

and are as part of the Gospel, because they show unto us good and joyful things. When the Prophets wrought miracles, they were always praying, but we hear CHRIST COMmanding and speaking the word only, and it is done. He commandeth the winds and the Seas, he charges diseases to cease, and Devils to depart. Unto the Leper he saith, I will, be thou clean. Unto the man that lay by the Pool of Bethesda, Take up thy bed and walk.10 Unto the Widow's son, Young man arise: so Christ's miracles differed from the miracles of the Prophets and of the Apostles in manner of doing them.

The Church Story" doth mention a certain Letter written by Agbarus the Edissean, the tenure whereof was this, Agbarus the Edissean to Jesus the good Saviour in the country of Jury, &c. It is showed unto me that thou and thy Disciples do give health to mortal men without herbs, or medicines: for as the fame goes of thee, thou dost bring to pass that the blind see, the lame walk, the Lepers are cleansed, that thou dost cast out foul spirits, and even raiseth some dead amongst the people: these things when I heard of thee, I began to conceive this, to wit, that either thou wert God, or at the least the Son of God, come down from heaven.

In this we see that the miracles of our Saviour, made the world to stand amazed at him, and the faithful to believe on him.

4. When Christ had turned water into wine, who did turn sorrow into joy, the law into 92 Kings 4. 35. 1 Kings 17.2.

11 Euseb. 1. cap. 14.

10 John 5. 1.