Christ will not break the Bruised Reed

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, Isai. lxi. 1. At his baptism the Holy Ghost sat on him in the shape of a dove, to shew that he should be a dove-like 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. v, 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. xi. 28. How did his bowels yearn, when he saw the people as sheep without a shepherd, Matt. ix. 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, go he hath bowels of mercies and compassion ; a prince of peace, Isai. ix. 6. Why was he tempted, but that he might succour those that are tempted, Heb. ii. 18. What mercy may we not expect from so gracious a mediator, 1 Tim. ii. 5, that took our nature upon him that he might be gracious. He isa 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 ix. 4, cried the head in heaven, when the foot was trodden on earth. His advancement hath not made him forget 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 xix.17. He will ‘not show his strength against those that prostrate themselves before him.

What should we learn from hence, but to come boldly to the throne of grace 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. ix. 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 God, since we have such a mediator with him, that is not only our friend, but our brother and husband. Well might the angels proclaim from heaven, Behold, we bring you tidings of joy, Luke ii. 10: well might the apostle stir us up to rejoice in the Lord again and again, Phil. iv. 4: he was well advised upon what grounds he did it: peace and joy are two main fruits of his kingdom. Let the world be as it will, if we cannot rejoice in the world, yet we may rejoice in the Lord. His presence maketh any condition comfortable. Be not afraid, saith he to his disciples, when they were afraid as if they had seen a ghost, it is J, Matt. xiv. 27; as if there were no cause of fear where he is present.

Let this stay us when we feel ourselves bruised ; Christ his course is first to wound, then to heal; no sound whole soul shall ever enter into heaven. Think in temptation, Christ was tempted for me; according to my trials will be my graces and comforts. If Christ be so merciful as not to break me, I will not break myself by despair, nor yield myself over to the roaring lion Satan to break me in pieces.

Thirdly, see the contrary disposition of Christ, and Satan, and his instruments. Satan setteth upon us when we are weakest, as Simeon and Levi upon the Shechemites, when they were sore, Gen. xxxiv. 25; but Christ will make up in us all the breaches sin and Satan have made: he binds up the broken-hearted. And as a mother tendereth most the most diseased and weakest child, so doth Christ most mercifully incline to the weakest; and likewise putteth an instinct into the weakest things to rely upon something stronger than themselves for support. The vine stayeth itself upon the elm; and the weakest creatures have oft the strongest shelters. The consciousness of the Church’s weakness makes her willing to lean on her Beloved, and to hide herself under his wing.