Sermons, preached partly before His Majesty at White-Hall and partly before Anne Dutchess of York, at the chappel at St. James / by Henry Killigrew ...

What have I to do with thee?

This was a Phrase used among the Jews, to repulse those that moved any thing to them unseasonably, or unworthy of them to do in their Opinion; and also to express their Resentment, if they thought themselves hardly dealt with. The Widow of Ze∣rephath used it this last way to the Prophet Elijah, when she conceiv'd the Cohabitation of so holy a Person with her, and his near Inspection into her Life, was the Cause of her Childs death, What have I to do with thee (says she) O thou Man of God! art thou come unto me to call my Sins to remembrance, and to slay my Son? And David used it the first way, 2 Sam. 19. to Abishai, urging him to put Shimei to death upon the Day of his Restoration to the King∣dom, because he had Curs'd him in his Flight from Jerusalem. Says he, What have I to do with you, ye Sons of Zerviah? And notwithstanding the great Dislike and Offence this Phrase exprest, our Lord forbore not to use it to his Mother, intermedling in his Divine Employment, Woman, says he, What have I to do with thee?

I confess it was durum Dictum, a harsh Speech, con∣sidering the Person to whom 'twas spoken: but 'twas also, if rightly weighed, frugiferum Dictum, a Speech full of good Instruction and Profit: For it shews Christ's equal and impartial Deportment, as he is a Lord and Saviour, to all Persons whatsoever, with∣out Consideration of Country, Acquaintance, or Kindred: The very Womb that bare him, in an Un∣advis'd Action, shall not go away without a Rebuke; if his Mother does that which is Dishonourable to his Office, she shall hear that which is less honourable

to her Relation; if she forgets her Duty, he will for∣get her Name and Title. A good Lesson for those Favourites of Christ in these our Days, who call themselves his Elect, and his Darling Children, how∣ever they live in Disobedience to his Laws; and fansie he can see nothing in them that displeases him, what∣ever wickedness they commit. Though Propinquity in Grace be more in Christ's account, than Propin∣quity in Bloud: yet if even those that are ally'd to him by Grace, sin presumptuously against him, they will find him but a rough Kinsman. Though Coniah were as the Signet upon my Right hand, says God, yet would I pluck him thence. And if Peter, the most Zealous of the Apostles, shall take upon him to tempt Christ, he shall bear the Name of Adversary, Get thee behind me Satan. If the Provocations of the Servants of God be Great, however near and close their former Relation to him was, they will find him as far Estranged from them: and in Case their Pro∣vocations be of a less and meaner Allay, they will re∣ceive a Check, as the Blessed Virgin here did. And so I proceed to the Reason why Christ reprov'd her, Be∣cause she unseasonably interpos'd in what she ought not to have meddled, prompted him to work a Mira∣cle before his Time was come.