Christ will not quench small and weak beginnings

NOW for the second observation, Christ will not quench the smoking flax. First, because this spark is from heaven, it is his own, it is kindled by his own spirit. And secondly, it tendeth to the glory of his powerful grace in his children, that he pre serveth light in the midst of darkness,—a spark in the midst of the swelling waters of corruption.

There is an especial blessing in that little spark ; when wine is found in a cluster, one saith, Destroy it not, for there is a blessing in it, Isai. xy.8, We ’ see how our Saviour Christ bore with Thomas in his doubting, John xx. 27; with the two disciples that went to Emmaus, who staggered, whether he came to redeem Israel or no, Luke xxiv. 21: he quenched not D that little light in Peter, which was smothered : Peter denied him, but he denied not Peter, Mat. xxvi. If thou wilt, thou canst, said one poor man in the Gospel, Mat. viii. 2; Lord, if thou canst, said another ; both were this smoking flax, neither of both were quenched. If Christ had stood upon his own greatness, he would have rejected him that came with his if but Christ answers his if with a gracious and absolute, grant, I will, be thou clean. The woman that was diseased with an issue did but touch, and with a trembling hand, and but the hem of his garment, and yet went away both healed and comforted. In the seven churches, Rev. ii. and iii, we see he acknowledgeth and cherisheth anything that was good in them. Because the disciples slept of infirmity, being oppressed with grief, our Saviour Christ frameth a comfortable excuse for them, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, Mat. xxvi. 41.

If Christ should not be merciful, he would miss of his own ends; there is mercy with thee that thou mayst be feared. Now all are willing to come under that banner of love which he spreadeth over his: therefore to thee shall all flesh come, Psalm lxv. 2. He useth moderation and care, lest the spirits should fail before him, and the souls which he hath made, Isai. lvii. 16. Christ’s heart yearned, the text saith, when he saw them without meat, lest they should faint : much more will he have regard for the preventing of our spiritual faintings.

Here see the opposite disposition between the holy nature of Christ, and the impure nature of man. Man for a little smoke will quench the light: Christ ever we see cherisheth even the least beginnings.

How bare he with the many imperfections of his poor disciples ? If he did sharply check them, it was in love, and that they might shine the brighter. Can we have a better pattern to follow than this of him by whom we hope to be saved? We that are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of them that are weak, Rom. xv. 1. I become all things to all men, that I may win some, 1 Cor. ix. 22. O that this gaining and winning disposition were more in many ! Many, so far as in us lieth, are lost for want of encouragement. See how that faithful fisher of men, Saint Paul, labours to catch his judge, I know thou believest the prophets, Acts xxvi. 27; and then wisheth all saving good, but not bonds; he might have added them too, but he would not discourage one that made but an offer, he would therefore wish Agrippa only that which was good in religion. How careful was our blessed Saviour of little ones that they might not be offended, Mat. xii. and xiii. How doth he defend his disciples from malicious imputations of the Pharisees ? How careful not to put new wine into old vessels, Mat. ix. 17, not to alienate new beginners with the austerities of religion (as some indiscreetly). O, saith he, they shall have time to fast when I am gone, and strength to fast when the Holy Ghost is come upon them.

It is not the best way to fall foul presently with young beginners for some lesser vanities, but shew them a more excellent way, and breed them up in positive grounds, and other things will be quickly out of credit with them. It is not amiss to conceal their wants, and to excuse some failings, to commend their performances, to cherish their towardness, to remove all rubs out of their way, to help, them every way to bear the yoke of religion with greater ease, to bring them in love with God and his service, lest they distaste it before they know it. For the most part we see Christ planteth in young beginners a love which we call the first love, Rev. ii. 4, to carry them through their profession with more delight, and doth not expose them to crosses before they have gathered strength; as we breed up young plants, and fence them from the weather, until they be rooted. Mercy to others should move us to deny ourselves in our lawful liberties oftentimes, in case of offence of weak ones; it is the little ones that are offended, Mat. xviii. 6. The weakest are aptest to think themselves despised, therefore we should be most careful to give them content, It were a good strife amongst Christians, one to labour to give no offence, and the other to labour to take none. ‘The best men are severe to themselves, tender over others.

Yet people should not tire and wear out the patience of others: nor should the weaker so far exact moderation from others, as to bear out themselves upon their indulgence, and so to rest in their own infirmities, with danger to their own souls, and scandal to the church.

Neither hereupon must they set light by the gifts of God in others, which grace teacheth to honour wheresoever they are found, but know their parts and place, and not enterprise anything above their measure, which may make both their persons and their case obnoxious to scorn, When blindness and boldness, ignorance and arrogance, weakness and wilfulness meet together in one, it renders men odious to God, it maketh men burdensome in society, dangerous in their counsels, troublers of better designs, untractable and uncapable of better direction, miserable in the issue: where Christ sheweth his gracious power in weakness, he doth it by letting men understand themselves so far as to breed humility, and magnifying of God’s love to such as they are: he doth it asa preservative against discouragements from weakness, Seeing it bringeth men into a less distance from grace, as being an advantage to poverty of spirit, than greatness of condition and parts, which yield to corrupt nature fuel for pride. Christ refuseth none for weakness of parts, that none should be discouraged ; accepteth of none for greatness, that none should be lifted up with that which is of so little reckoning with God. It is no great matter how dull the scholar be when Christ taketh upon him to be the teacher: who as he prescribeth what to understand, so he giveth understanding itself even to the simplest.

The church suffereth much from weak ones, therefore we may challenge liberty to deal with them, as mildly, so oftentimes directly. The scope of true love is to make the party better, which by concealment oftentimes is hindered: with some a spirit of meekness prevaileth most, but with some a rod. Some must be pulled out of the fire, Jude 23, with violence, and they will bless God for us in the day of their visitation. We see our Saviour multiplies woe upon woe, when he was to deal with hard-hearted hypocrites, Mat. xxiii; for hypocrites need stronger conviction than gross sinners, because their will is nought, and thereupon usually their conversion is violent. A hard knot must have an answerable wedge, else in a cruel pity we betray their souls. A sharp reproof sometimes is a precious pearl, and a sweet balm. The wounds of secure sinners will not be healed with sweet words. The Holy Ghost came as well in fiery tongues, as in the likeness of a dove, and the same Holy Spirit will vouchsafe a spirit of prudence and discretion, which is the salt to season all our words and actions. And such wisdom will teach us to speak a word in season, Isai. 1. 4, both to the weary, and likewise to the secure soul. And, indeed, he had need have the tongue of the learned that shall either raise up or cast down: but in this place I speak of mildness towards those that are weak and are sensible of it. These we must bring on gently, and drive softly, as Jacob did his cattle, Gen. xxxiii. 14, according to their pace, and as his children were able to endure.

Weak Christians are like glasses which are hurt with the least violent usage, otherwise if gently’ handled will continue a long time. This honour of gentle use we are to give to the weaker vessels, Pet. iii. 7, by which we shall both preserve them, and likewise make them useful to the church and ourselves.

In unclean bodies if all ill humours be purged out, you shall purge life and all away. Therefore though God saith, that he will fine them as silver is fined, Zac. xiii. 9; yet, Isai. xlviii. 10, he said, he hath fined them, but not as silver, that is, so exactly as that no dross remaineth, for he hath respect to our weakness. Perfect refining is for another world, for the world of the souls of perfect men.