CHAPTER III.—Christ will not Break the Bruised Reed
CHAPTER III.
Christ will not Break the Bruised Reed 2. The second point is, that Christ will not 'break the bruised reed.'
Physicians, though they put their patients to much pain, yet they will not destroy nature, but raise it up by degrees. Chirurgeons* will lance and cut, but not dismember. A mother that hath a sick and froward child will not therefore cast it away. And shall there be more mercy in the stream than in the spring? Shall we think there is more mercy in ourselves than in God, who planteth the affection of mercy in us? But for further declaration of Christ's mercy to all bruised reeds, consider the comfortable relations he hath taken upon him of husband, shepherd, brother, &c., which he will discharge to the utmost; for shall others by his grace fulfil what he calleth them unto, and not he that, out of his love, hath taken upon him these relations, so thoroughly founded upon his Father's assignment, and his own voluntary undertaking? Consider his borrowed names from the mildest creatures, as lamb, hen, &c., to shew his tender care; consider his very name Jesus, a Saviour, given him by God himself; consider his office answerable to his name, which is that he should
'heal the broken-hearted,' Isa. 61:1. At his baptism the Holy Ghost sate on him in the shape of a dove, to shew that he should be a dovelike, gentle Mediator. See the gracious manner of executing his offices. As a prophet, he came with blessing in his mouth, 'Blessed be the poor in spirit,' &c., Matt. 5:3, and invited those to come to him whose hearts suggested most exceptions against themselves, 'Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,' Matt. 11:28. How did his bowels yearn when 'he saw the people as sheep without a shepherd!' Matt. 9:36. He never turned any back again that came unto him, though some went away of themselves. He came to die as a
priest for his enemies. In the days of his flesh he dictated a form of prayer unto his disciples, and put petitions unto God into their mouths, and his Spirit to intercede in their hearts; and now makes intercession in heaven for weak Christians, standing between God's anger and them; and shed tears for those that shed his blood. So he is a meek King; he will admit mourners into his presence, a king of poor and afflicted persons: as he hath beams of majesty, so he hath bowels of mercies and compassion; 'a prince of peace,' Isa. 9:6. Why was he 'tempted, but that he might succour those that are tempted,'
Heb. 2:18. What mercy may we not expect from so gracious a mediator, 1 Tim. 2:5, that took our nature upon him that he might be gracious. He is a physician good at all diseases, especially at the binding up of a broken heart; he died that he might heal our souls with a plaster of his own blood, and by that death save us, which we were the procurers of ourselves, by our own sins; and hath he not the same bowels in heaven? 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' Acts
9:4, cried the head in heaven, when the foot was trodden on, on earth. His advancement hath not made him forgot his own flesh; though it has freed him from passion, yet not from compassion towards us. The lion of the tribe of Judah will only tear in pieces those that 'will not have him rule over them,' Luke 19:17. He will not shew his strength against those that prostrate themselves before him.
Use 1. What should we learn from hence, but 'to come boldly to the throne of grace,' Heb. 4:16, in all our grievances? Shall our sins discourage us, when he appears there only for sinners? Art thou bruised? Be of good comfort, he calleth thee; conceal not thy wounds, open all before him, keep not Satan's counsel. Go to Christ though trembling; as the poor woman, if we can but 'touch the hem of his garment,' Matt. 9:20, we shall be healed and have a gracious answer.
Go boldly to God in our flesh; for this end that we might go boldly to him, he is flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone. Never fear to go to